CDC Suspends Entry of Non-Citizens Recently in Ebola-Affected Countries for 30 Days

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) invoked its quarantine powers on 21 May 2026, publishing an order in the Federal Register that suspends the “right to introduce” non-U.S. citizens who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days. The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC and imported cases in Kampala prompted CDC to act under Public Health Service Act §§ 362 and 365 and 42 CFR 71.40. The directive took effect retroactively to 18 May and will last 30 days, subject to renewal. The order does not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, U.S. military personnel and certain humanitarian exceptions vetted by CBP, but it bars most short-term visa holders, refugees and parolees who fall within the exposure window. Airlines remain responsible for compliance and may deny boarding at foreign airports.



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CBP retains authority to grant case-by-case waivers for significant law-enforcement or humanitarian reasons in consultation with CDC. For global mobility teams, the suspension halts new travel to the United States for affected third-country nationals working on projects in Central and East Africa, particularly contractors rotated through regional hubs such as Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Doha and Dubai. U.S. companies should review roster locations, arrange remote work or third-country staging, and communicate clearly with employees about the evolving public-health situation and re-entry timelines. Human-resources leaders must also plan for visa-appointment rescheduling once the suspension lifts, as backlogs at U.S. consulates could swell quickly. Public-health experts note that the Bundibugyo strain lacks an approved vaccine, increasing the urgency of preventive border measures. The CDC is using the 30-day window to expand diagnostic capacity and finalize contact-tracing protocols. If transmission accelerates, the agency could recommend extending the suspension or expanding it to additional countries, triggering wider business-travel disruptions.