George Bush Intercontinental Airport becomes the third U.S. gateway to implement Ebola entry screening, effective tonight at 11:59 PM, as federal health authorities expand their response to a fast-moving outbreak that the World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency.
What Travelers Need to Know Right Now
Starting tonight, all U.S.-bound passengers — including American citizens and lawful permanent residents — who have been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days must route their return through one of three designated airports: Washington Dulles (IAD), Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), or now Houston IAH. Upon arrival, travelers will be escorted to a designated screening area, complete a questionnaire about their travel history and symptoms, have their temperature checked, and be observed for signs of illness. If no symptoms are present, they may continue their journey.
CBP confirmed it is working with the CDC to expand enhanced screenings to protect Americans, though the agency has not indicated how long the measures will remain in place. The new restrictions do not apply to crew or flights carrying only cargo.
Why This Outbreak Is Different
This is not the Ebola strain the world has learned to fight. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus — one of four types of Ebola that affect humans — for which there is no vaccine and no approved treatment. Previous Bundibugyo outbreaks recorded death rates of 25% in Uganda in 2007 and 50% in DRC in 2012. The two existing licensed Ebola vaccines target the Zaire strain and offer no confirmed cross-protection.
As of May 21, DRC had reported 746 suspected cases and 176 deaths. Five confirmed cases have been linked to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16.
Houston, World Cup, and a City on Alert
The timing is significant. Houston is a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city, with millions of international visitors expected in the coming weeks. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the area is prepared and not in a state of alarm, emphasizing that local, state, and federal agencies are working to stay ahead of any potential risks while keeping the public informed.
The White House has already required the DRC World Cup squad to complete a 21-day isolation period before entering the United States, as the team is scheduled to play Portugal in Houston on June 17.
Travelers with itineraries touching the affected region should contact their airline immediately to confirm routing, and can monitor live State Department health alerts and the CDC’s Ebola situation page for updates.
