US imposes travel restrictions due to Ebola virus

MANILA, Philippines — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has imposed additional travel requirements for US-bound travelers due to the Ebola outbreak in the Republic of the Congo, according to the Bureau of Quarantine.

In an advisory, the BOQ said passengers traveling by air to the US must complete a mandatory attestation confirming that they have not traveled to the Republic of the Congo during the preceding 21 days.

The requirement covers passengers who transit through any airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, regardless of whether they disembark from the aircraft or leave the airport premises.

The BOQ said all airlines operating flights to the US have issued travel advisories and are adapting passenger procedures to comply with the CDC requirement.

The quarantine bureau advised travelers to coordinate directly with their airlines regarding applicable attestation and documentation requirements.

“Declare your complete travel history, including countries visited and transited within the past 21 days,” the BOQ said.

The Department of Health assured the public that the Philippines remains free of the Ebola virus, saying health authorities are on alert amid global monitoring efforts.

In May, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in parts of Africa.