Ebola Entry Rules for South Sudan Travelers

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SOUTH SUDAN · TRAVEL RULES

The Ebola entry rules for South Sudan travelers send every returning American through one of three US airports. They cover anyone who spent time in the country during the 21 days before arrival.

A second rule starts on Tuesday 3 November 2026, when every passenger flying to the United States must sign a health statement. That matters for anyone going to Juba for the vote on Tuesday 22 December 2026.

What the US Ebola Entry Rules Say

Ebola is a deadly virus that spreads through contact with the body fluids of a sick person. The outbreak centers on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which borders South Sudan to the southwest.

The CDC counted 9,964 confirmed cases and 4,841 deaths in DRC as of Saturday 24 October 2026. It also lists 20 cases in Uganda, 9 in Kenya and 1 each in Nigeria and France, and reports none for South Sudan.

Even so, South Sudan sits inside the US rules alongside DRC and Uganda. The CDC order names all three countries and has been renewed about every month since 18 May 2026.

The latest of the Ebola entry rules took effect at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday 11 October 2026, for 30 days. The CDC text gives no calendar end date, while a law firm’s summary reads it as running through Tuesday 10 November 2026.

Who Can Fly Home and Who Cannot

Under the Ebola entry rules, US citizens and US nationals can return, but those who were in South Sudan must enter through a designated airport. The CDC says they will undergo public health screening there.

Foreign nationals face harder Ebola entry rules, because the CDC order bars non-citizens, green card holders included. It applies if they were in DRC, Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days.

The order lists exceptions, among them US government staff serving overseas and their spouses and children. Officers of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the border agency, can also grant an exception with a supervisor’s approval.

The CDC can give a provisional exception, which officers confirm on arrival. Foreign passport holders back from South Sudan should ask their airline before booking, since the order suspends entry otherwise.

The Three Airports and What Happens on Arrival

The Ebola entry rules name three designated airports, according to the CDC: Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) and New York JFK. The list can change, so check the CDC page before you book.

Ask your airline how it handles passengers coming from South Sudan, because the CDC page does not explain how tickets are rebooked. Plan for extra time on arrival, since the CDC gives no estimate of how long screening takes.

At a designated airport, staff escort you to a screening area. You fill in a short questionnaire about your trip and symptoms, and your temperature is checked.

CDC staff observe you, and you are signed up for text reminders. Some travelers get an extra assessment based on where they went and what they did.

If you have a fever or Ebola-like symptoms, a CDC medical officer evaluates you further. After arrival, the CDC asks you to watch your health for 21 days from the day you left.

For South Sudan you take your temperature only if you feel sick, while travelers from DRC do it daily. The CDC also advises staying home and avoiding international travel and cruise ships during those 21 days.

The New Passenger Statement From Tuesday 3 November

From 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday 3 November 2026, every passenger flying to the United States from abroad must sign a statement. It says the passenger was not in DRC in the previous 21 days.

This second set of Ebola entry rules covers US citizens, nationals and green card holders too. A parent, guardian or other authorized person may sign for a minor or for a person with a disability.

Airlines must keep each completed statement for at least 42 days and may not board passengers without one, unless an exemption applies. Willfully giving false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment, the CDC warns.

The CDC issued the order on Thursday 22 October 2026, so it is brand new. For a traveler leaving Juba it means one more form at check-in, though the statement does not name South Sudan.

Is There Ebola in South Sudan?

South Sudan says it has no confirmed case, yet the Ebola entry rules still name it. At a Juba press conference reported on 26 June 2026, Undersecretary Oromo Francis of the Health Ministry said all seven suspected samples were negative.

Karamagi, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in South Sudan, said travel restrictions are generally not recommended under the International Health Regulations. He added that the priority should be building national capacity for early detection and response.

The ministry asked governments to lift visa and travel limits on South Sudanese citizens. Washington has not done so, and the CDC order and its renewals still name South Sudan.

The latest report we found is from 29 July 2026, when the Health Ministry said there was no case as of 28 July. The CDC’s summary of 24 October gives no South Sudan figures, and we found no newer ministry statement.

Tips for Travelers Heading to Juba

The US State Department tells Americans not to travel to South Sudan because of crime, kidnapping and armed conflict. Its page says violent crime and armed conflict are widespread and that the US government’s ability to give emergency help is limited.

A visa must be obtained before arrival, and your passport needs six months of validity and two blank pages. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry, and you also need it to leave.

The US Embassy in Juba sits on Kololo Road in the Tongping area. Its after-hours emergency number is +211 912 105 107.

Check every stopover with your airline, because Uganda falls under the same Ebola entry rules and Kenya has nine cases. Ask your insurer in writing whether the policy covers medical evacuation from South Sudan and quarantine abroad.

Anyone covering or observing the vote on Tuesday 22 December 2026 should leave a buffer before the flight home. If the order or the airport list changes in the meantime, check the CDC page again before departure.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The order of 11 October runs 30 days with no calendar end date, so a renewal around 10 November is not confirmed. The CDC has renewed it every month so far, but it can change the country list or the airports at short notice.

It is not confirmed whether the Ebola entry rules on the 3 November statement will later cover countries other than DRC. The CDC page names only DRC for now.

No official statement on South Sudan’s Ebola status after July has been found. We also found no reply from the South Sudanese government to the order of 22 October.

Airline policies on Juba routes are not confirmed, and carriers may add their own checks. Confirm with your airline before booking and again before you fly.

What Comes Next

For the vote itself, read our South Sudan election visitor guide, which covers the date, visas and security. Our explainer on South Sudan gives the wider background.

Check the CDC’s returning-travelers page for changes to the Ebola entry rules in the days before you fly. It was last updated on Thursday 22 October 2026.

More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a US citizen fly home from South Sudan?

Yes. US citizens and nationals can return, but they must enter through a designated airport and undergo health screening.

Does the 3 November Ebola statement apply to flights from Juba?

Yes, it applies to every passenger on an international flight to the United States. The statement only asks you to confirm you have not been in DRC during the previous 21 days.

Is there Ebola in South Sudan?

The Health Ministry said on 28 July 2026 that the country had no case. The CDC’s summary of 24 October gives no South Sudan figures, yet the country is still covered by the US entry rules.

Sources: CDC, Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation (entry restrictions, airports, attestation, case counts), updated 24 October 2026; CDC, Returning travelers (designated airports, screening, 21-day monitoring), updated 22 October 2026; CDC, Title 42 Order of 11 October 2026 (covered persons, exceptions, 30 days), signed 9 October 2026; CDC, Order Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons (history of renewals), accessed 27 October 2026; CDC, Attestation Order (passenger statement from 3 November), issued 22 October 2026; US State Department, South Sudan country information, accessed 27 October 2026; Eye Radio, No Bundibugyo Ebola cases recorded in South Sudan, ministry and WHO say, 26 June 2026; Sudans Post, South Sudan says Ebola-free, urges countries to lift travel restrictions, 26 June 2026; Radio Tamazuj, WHO: South Sudan raises Ebola preparedness capacity to 65 percent (Ministry: no case as of 28 July), 29 July 2026; EIG Law, CDC extends Ebola-related travel restrictions through November 10, 2026, 14 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief