U.S. to block citizens in Congo from immediate travel home, citing Ebola
The US government has implemented a travel ban for citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to a significant Ebola outbreak. Travelers must now undergo a 21-day quarantine in a third country before entering the US.
Why it matters
This reflects the intersection of public health crises and international travel policy during a viral outbreak.
The Trump administration on Monday (July 13, 2026) said it is blocking American citizens in the Democratic Republic of Congo from travelling to the U.S. on commercial flights, according to a White House official.
The order, which is being taken under a transportation authority known as Title 49, will place U.S. citizens in Congo, or those who have recently left, on a “do-not-board” list until they have spent at least 21 days in a third country, the person said. The new restrictions come amid a widening Ebola outbreak, which has spread to a number of provinces within Congo. The number of confirmed Ebola cases across the country had risen to 1,926, including 702 deaths, official data showed late on Sunday (July 12, 2026).
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