U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)
ORDER UNDER SECTIONS 362 & 365 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
(42 U.S.C. §§ 265, 268) and 42 CFR 71.40
ORDER SUSPENDING THE RIGHT TO INTRODUCE
CERTAIN PERSONS FROM COUNTRIES
WHERE A QUARANTINABLE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EXISTS
I.Executive Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issues this Order pursuant to Sections 362
and 365 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 265, 268, and their implementing
regulations. This Order suspends the right to introduce “covered aliens,” as defined herein, into
the United States for a period of thirty days, subject to the outcome of an ongoing comprehensive
public health risk assessment. This Order is necessary to protect the health of the United States
from the serious risk posed by the introduction of Ebola disease into the United States by
covered aliens based on the emergent outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus
strain confirmed present in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
This suspension Order applies to covered aliens who have departed from, or were
otherwise present within, DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan during the last 21 days (regardless of
their country of origin). This Order is based on an assessment of the most recently available data
and current conditions regarding the Ebola disease outbreak.
This order is time-limited and shall be in effect for 30 days from the date of issuance.
This Order is intended to address the serious risk of introduction of Ebola disease into the United
States, while allowing the U.S. Government the time necessary to conduct a full assessment of
the unique public health risks posed by Ebola disease, assist with implementing surveillance,
diagnostic capabilities and contact tracing, and develop a comprehensive mitigation and
containment strategy in consultation with other stakeholders.
II.Authority, Scope, and Purpose
I issue this Order pursuant to Sections 362 and 365 of the Public Health Service (PHS)
Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 265, 268, and their implementing regulations under 42 CFR part 71,1 which
1 Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Suspension of the Right to Introduce and Prohibition of
Introduction of Persons into United States from Designated Foreign Countries or Places for Public Health Purposes,
85 Fed. Reg. 56424 (Sept. 11, 2020); 42 CFR 71.40.
1authorize the CDC Director to suspend the right to introduce2 persons into the United States
when the Director determines that the existence of a quarantinable communicable disease in a
foreign country or place creates a serious danger of the introduction of such disease into the
United States and the danger is so increased by the introduction of persons from the foreign
country or place that a temporary suspension of the right of such introduction is necessary to
protect public health.
This Order applies to persons who have departed from, or were otherwise present within,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan during the last 21 days (regardless of
their country of origin), subject to the exceptions detailed below. For purposes of this Order, I
refer to persons covered by the Order as “covered aliens.”
This Order does not apply to the following:
• U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents;3
• Members of the armed forces of the United States and associated personnel, U.S.
government personnel serving overseas, associated personnel, and their spouses and
children, subject to required assurances;4
• Persons whom customs officers determine, with approval from a supervisor, should
be excepted from this Order based on the totality of the circumstances, including
consideration of significant law enforcement, officer and public safety, humanitarian,
and public health interests. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will
consult with CDC regarding the standards for such exceptions to help ensure
consistency with current CDC guidance and public health recommendations; and
• Noncitizens who would otherwise be subject to this Order, who are permitted to enter
the United States as part of a DHS-approved process, where the process approved by
DHS has been documented and shared with CDC, and includes appropriate mitigation
protocols, per CDC guidance.
The purpose of this order is two-fold. First, this Order aims to immediately minimize the
number of covered aliens entering the United States who have been within countries
experiencing a known or suspected outbreak of Ebola disease and thereby reduce the risk of
introduction of Ebola disease into the United States. Second, this Order is intended to facilitate a
thorough assessment and complete understanding of the full public health risk profile associated
with the Ebola disease outbreak. Thirty days is the minimum amount of time necessary for CDC
to conduct the assessment, which will enable the acting CDC Director to make an informed
determination regarding what restrictions are necessary going forward and provide the
opportunity for the development of a comprehensive mitigation and containment plan in
consultation with other stakeholders.
-snip-
In testimony whereof, the Senior Official carrying out the delegable duties of the
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, has hereunto set his hand at Fairfax County, Virginia this 18th day of May, 2026.
__________________________
Jay Bhattacharya, MD, Ph.D.
Senior Official Carrying out the Delegable Duties of the Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/media/pdfs/2026/05/2026-05-18-Title-42-Order.pdf
