Federal health officials have expanded the list of designated entry points for travelers returning to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been integrated into the enhanced Ebola screening program, joining Washington Dulles International Airport as a primary hub for monitoring incoming passengers from these regions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that Atlanta’s airport was selected due to its existing infrastructure and established operational procedures for handling public health screenings. This measure is part of a broader, multi-layered strategy designed to mitigate the risk of virus transmission, which includes exit screenings at overseas departure points, mandatory airline illness reporting, and ongoing post-arrival health monitoring for travelers.

These heightened safety protocols come amid a concerning outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Current data indicates dozens of confirmed cases and hundreds of suspected infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. In addition to the enhanced screening efforts, the U.S. government has implemented travel restrictions, prohibiting non-citizens who have recently visited the affected nations from entering the country.