Americans returning from Ebola-hit countries must enter US via Dulles airport in Washington

Americans who have recently visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan must now return to the United States through a single airport—Washington D.C.’s Dulles International—for enhanced Ebola screening, the State Department announced Thursday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are implementing these measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has killed 139 people and infected as many as 600.

Earlier this week, the U.S. also barred non-citizens who had traveled to these countries in the last three weeks from entering the country. On Wednesday, an Air France flight from Paris to Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger from the DRC boarded “in error,” according to CBP.

Experts Warn of Travel Delays

Directing all travelers to a single airport is a change from the 2014–2016 Ebola response, when the U.S. screened passengers at five international airports. Infectious disease experts warned this approach could create bottlenecks and logistical challenges.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy is aimed at “protecting the American people.”

“Objective number one is to make sure that Ebola never reaches the United States. Objective number two is to do what we can to help the people of DRC and neighboring countries so it doesn’t spread,” he said.

In past outbreaks, U.S. strategies focused on containing infectious diseases at their source before they could cross borders. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, travelers returning from affected African countries were screened at five U.S. airports, including Dulles, New York JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta.

Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, chief of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, noted that more widespread airport screening would be ideal but is limited by funding and resources.

CDC Staff Deployed at Dulles

The new policy applies to U.S. passport holders who have been in the affected countries within the last three weeks. Upon arrival, travelers will be escorted to a screening area where CDC staff will check their temperature and ask about travel history, symptoms, and contacts.

Asymptomatic travelers can continue their journeys, while anyone showing signs of illness or possible Ebola exposure will be transferred to a hospital for evaluation.

According to the DRC Ministry of Health, the outbreak has caused 160 suspected deaths among 670 suspected cases, with 61 confirmed.

Travel Ban Sparks Debate

Dr. Marrazzo expressed concern over the ban on foreign passport holders entering the U.S.

“Policies that single out individuals not for scientific or medical reasons, but because of their citizenship, won’t prevent outbreaks from spreading,” she said.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, as cases spread beyond the DRC’s epicenter. Currently, no treatments or vaccines exist for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for this outbreak.

Ugandan Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi criticized the U.S. restrictions, calling them an “overreaction.”

-Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Aurora Ellis, and Caroline Humer/Reuters