US Blocks American Citizens in DRC from Commercial Flights Home over Ebola Outbreak
International
The Trump administration has imposed restrictions preventing U.S. citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from boarding commercial flights directly to the United States, citing risks from a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak.
According to a White House official, the measure invoked under Title 49 transportation authority places affected Americans or those who recently left the DRC on a “do-not-board” list.
They must spend at least 21 days in a third country before being allowed to travel home, as the State Department will provide support to those impacted during the waiting period.
The order affects roughly two dozen Americans scheduled to fly on Tuesday, per the official. It follows confirmation of U.S. citizens contracting the virus in the DRC.
The DRC is experiencing a significant Ebola outbreak, primarily the Bundibugyo strain.
As of late Sunday, official data reported 1,926 confirmed cases and 702 deaths, even as the virus has spread to additional provinces, reaching areas just hours outside the capital, Kinshasa.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or animals. Symptoms include high fever, vomiting, and internal/external bleeding.
Earlier in 2026, the administration had already implemented entry screening and designated airport requirements for travelers from affected areas (DRC, Uganda, South Sudan), with exceptions and enhanced protocols for U.S. citizens.
Recent cases include a U.S. humanitarian worker who tested positive and was transferred to a hospital in Germany for treatment.
Another American, Dr. Peter Stafford, was treated in Germany earlier.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signed a related order Monday highlighting the heightened risks.
This latest step builds on prior measures, including temporary pauses on deportations to the DRC, arrival restrictions at specific U.S. airports (e.g., Dulles, Atlanta, Houston), and enhanced CDC screening. The administration has emphasized containing the virus overseas to protect public health in the U.S.
No immediate details were available on exact enforcement timelines or support logistics for stranded citizens, but officials stressed the temporary nature tied to the outbreak’s trajectory.
This development comes as global health partners, including MSF and the EU, ramp up responses with treatment centers, isolation units, and vaccinations in the region.
