US says Americans returning from Congo must wait 21 days, citing Ebola

The United States said on Wednesday that American citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo must spend 21 days in a third country before entering the United States, citing concerns about the Ebola outbreak in the region.



The restrictions, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a website update dated July 14, also apply to some travelers from Uganda and South Sudan. Other travelers from those countries will continue to undergo airport screening, as they have in recent months.



The CDC said exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian or law-enforcement reasons.



Reuters first reported the new policy on Tuesday, saying the Trump administration was blocking Americans in Congo from boarding U.S.-bound commercial flights.