U.S. Implements Airport Screenings and Visa Pause for Ebola Outbreak

The United States announced Monday, May 18, 2026, that it will screen air travelers arriving from Ebola outbreak areas and temporarily suspend visa services for those regions. The measures follow the World Health Organization's declaration of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an international health emergency. Officials said the steps aim to prevent further spread of the virus.

U.S. passport holders who traveled to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or South Sudan in the past 21 days. The agency also said it will continue deploying personnel to support containment efforts abroad. Satish Pillai, the CDC's Ebola response incident manager, told reporters that one American had contracted the virus after exposure related to work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday, Pillai said. Efforts are underway to transport the individual to Germany for treatment, and the agency is attempting to evacuate six additional people for health monitoring, Pillai added.

International Context and Aid The U.S.

State Department said it mobilized $13 million in aid for immediate response efforts. Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba reported 91 suspected deaths and around 350 suspected cases as of Sunday. Most of those affected are aged between 20 and 39, and more than 60 percent are women, according to the latest figures.

President Trump said Monday he is concerned about the outbreak but believes it has been confined right now to Africa.

“I'm concerned about everything, but certainly I am. U.S. public as low but said it will continue to evaluate the situation and may adjust measures as new information becomes available.”