If you're flying to the United States, there's a new form to sign before boarding. The CDC has brought in an attestation order requiring every traveller — and every crew member — on flights to or connecting through the US to declare they have not been in the Democratic Republic of Congo within the past 21 days.
The rule took effect at 11:59 PM EST on November 3, covering all flights departing for the US from that point. It applies to passengers, working crew, deadheading crew (those riding along off-duty) and even cargo aircraft — a broader scope than the original version the CDC issued on October 2 before clarifying it on October 28.
The logic behind the 21-day window is that it's the maximum incubation period for Ebola, which is currently spreading in remote parts of the DRC. Presence in the country counts as entering or passing through by land, air or sea — even without leaving the airport. The clock starts on the day you exit the DRC, and anyone affected can only enter the US from day 22. The CDC stresses the overall risk to the American public and travellers remains low.
Practicalities worth knowing: you sign the attestation before boarding, and one person (say, a parent) can sign for everyone in their travel party. Refusing to sign means being denied boarding, and submitting false information can lead to prosecution and fines. Airlines must keep the signed attestations for at least 42 days and hand them to the CDC if requested for public health investigations.
Each carrier handles the paperwork its own way, so check your airline's process before you travel. Delta lets travellers complete the attestation during check-in via its app or website, and sends a link in the 24-hour check-in reminder. American Airlines offers the widest range of options — online or app check-in, at the airport, or a printable PDF. United has streamlined it into a confirmation step during check-in, while JetBlue allows one person to fill in the form for everyone on a single booking, which is handy for group trips.
The order is currently set to run until December 18, but the CDC can extend it or tighten the rules if the outbreak worsens — so if your US trip is in the coming weeks, keep an eye on your airline's guidance and any CDC updates before departure. For most travellers, though, this changes nothing beyond an extra form during check-in.
