The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended its entry ban tied to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in Central Africa for another 30 days, keeping restrictions in place through 4:59 p.m. ET on September 11, 2026. The extension, which took effect August 12, continues a series of orders the CDC has renewed roughly monthly since the outbreak was first declared.
The restrictions apply to travelers connected to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan — but the rules differ significantly depending on your citizenship and exactly where you've been.
What the outbreak is
The current outbreak involves Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola virus disease, first confirmed by DRC's Ministry of Health on May 15, 2026, in Ituri Province. Uganda reported related cases around the same time — 21 confirmed and probable cases and 3 deaths, with the last confirmed case reported June 21. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
The CDC currently rates DRC's Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces as Level 4 — "Avoid All Travel" — its highest travel health warning. DRC's Haut-Uélé and Tshopo provinces are rated Level 3, "Reconsider Nonessential Travel." The rest of DRC and Uganda carry a Level 2 rating, "Practice Enhanced Precautions." South Sudan has no specific area of concern identified, but is included in the restrictions because of its high volume of cross-border travel with DRC.
Who is banned from entering the US
Non-US citizens and non-US nationals who have been physically present in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan at any point in the 21 days before their planned entry are currently barred from entering the United States, regardless of their country of origin. This is the core entry ban the CDC has now extended multiple times since May.
What applies to US citizens and US nationals
The rules are different — and more specific — for Americans:
If you're a US citizen or US national who has been in DRC within 21 days of departure, you will not be allowed to board a commercial flight to a US destination. You're expected to remain outside the DRC for at least 21 days after leaving before attempting to travel to the US.
If you've been in Uganda or South Sudan — but not DRC — within 21 days of arrival, you won't be barred from entering, but your flight will be routed through one of four designated US airports for public health entry screening: Washington Dulles (IAD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), George Bush Intercontinental in Houston (IAH), or John F. Kennedy International in New York (JFK).
After screening, affected travelers are asked to enroll in CDC text-message monitoring and to avoid international or cruise ship travel for 21 days while they monitor for symptoms.
What this means if you're planning travel to the region
If you have travel planned to or from DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the coming weeks, a few things are worth confirming before you book or fly:
Check which specific province you're traveling to or through — the CDC's travel health advisory levels vary significantly between DRC's Ituri/Nord-Kivu provinces (avoid all travel) and the rest of the country (enhanced precautions).
If you're a non-US citizen who has recently been in any of the three countries, confirm your eligibility to enter the US before booking connecting travel — the ban applies regardless of your home country.
If you're a US citizen returning from Uganda or South Sudan, check whether your itinerary routes through one of the four designated screening airports, since this can affect connection times and routing.
Review the latest guidance directly on the CDC's website before finalizing plans, since the order has already been extended multiple times and could change again before September 11.
What happens next
The CDC has renewed this order every month since May, most recently on August 12, and has given no indication of when the restrictions might be lifted. Travelers with plans involving DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the coming weeks should treat these restrictions as active and subject to further extension rather than assuming they'll expire on schedule.
FAQ
Can I still travel to Uganda or South Sudan as a US citizen? Yes, but you'll be routed through one of four designated US airports for health screening on your return if you've been in Uganda or South Sudan (not DRC) within 21 days of arrival.
Can non-US citizens who've been in these countries enter the US at all right now? Generally no. The current order bars entry for foreign nationals who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days, regardless of their country of origin, with only narrow exceptions.
Is it safe to travel to DRC right now? The CDC currently advises against all travel to DRC's Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces specifically. Other parts of DRC and Uganda are rated for enhanced precautions rather than avoidance — check the CDC's current advisory for the specific province before traveling.
When will these restrictions be lifted? There's no confirmed end date. The CDC has extended the order multiple times since May 2026, most recently through September 11, and has not indicated when it expects to lift the restrictions.