The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have designated Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) as the exclusive entry point for all U.S.-bound travelers arriving from high‑risk zones in Central and East Africa. Effective immediately, any American citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who has been in any of the affected countries within the past 21 days must reroute their travel and enter the United States solely through Washington Dulles.
The mandate applies to travelers who have recently been in the following locations:
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Uganda
- South Sudan
Airlines are now required to coordinate with federal authorities to identify passengers who have transited these regions. The State Department has warned travelers to expect sudden itinerary changes, rerouting, or cancellations as carriers adjust operations to comply with the single‑port funnel.
Upon arrival at Dulles, passengers undergo enhanced health screening conducted jointly by CDC and CBP teams. The goal is to detect potential infections before travelers disperse across the country. The screening process includes:
- Symptom and Temperature Checks — Medical personnel assess travelers for fever and visible signs consistent with viral hemorrhagic fever.
- Risk Assessment Interviews — Passengers must answer detailed questions about their movements within outbreak zones, possible exposure to infected individuals, and visits to medical facilities.
- Mandatory Contact Tracing Information — Travelers must provide accurate contact details and their final U.S. destination to enable state and local health departments to conduct follow‑up monitoring.
Because Ebola’s incubation period can extend up to 21 days, individuals who clear airport screening are still required to self‑monitor, record their temperature daily, and report their health status to local authorities for three weeks after arrival.
Parallel to the Dulles funnel, U.S. health officials have invoked Title 42 of the Public Health Act, imposing a temporary 30‑day entry ban on all non‑U.S. nationals who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days. While American citizens and LPRs may re‑enter through the funnel, foreign nationals who fall under this category are barred from entry during the emergency period.
The federal response follows a sharp rise in cases in remote regions of the DRC and Uganda, where more than 500 suspected infections and over 100 deaths have been reported. The urgency intensified after an American physician working with a Christian aid organization in Bunia, DRC, tested positive for the virus. The doctor and several exposed colleagues were evacuated to Europe for treatment, prompting immediate U.S. containment measures.
Health officials are particularly concerned because the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, the Bundibugyo variant has no approved vaccine or targeted therapeutic. The widely used Ervebo vaccine does not protect against it. The CDC reports that the Bundibugyo strain carries a mortality rate ranging from 25 to 50 percent.
Although the CDC maintains that the risk to the general American public remains low, the Washington Dulles funnel is viewed as a critical firewall to prevent the introduction of a strain for which no vaccine currently exists.
Source : CDC
