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Dulles International Airport has become the central U.S. screening point for certain travelers arriving after recent stays in three East and Central African countries affected by Ebola concerns.
A Department of Homeland Security rule that took effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday requires U.S.-bound passengers who have recently visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or East Sudan to travel through Dulles for enhanced screening before continuing to their destinations.
None of the three countries has direct flights to Dulles. Airlines carrying passengers who have been in the affected areas during the previous 21 days must reroute them through the Northern Virginia airport.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it will screen those travelers and verify their contact information so public health officials can follow up when recommended.
CDC guidance issued Thursday said airlines would contact travelers who had been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of their flights and rebook them through Dulles, whose airport code is IAD.
The screening measures followed a CDC order Monday suspending entry into the United States for foreign nationals from the three affected countries.
The virus behind the outbreak in the Congo is suspected of killing more than 130 people. Because that strain is less common than other Ebola viruses, the response has been complicated by the absence of specific treatments or vaccines.
The CDC described the current risk of the virus being brought into the United States as low. It said airport screening is one part of a broader public health strategy intended to identify sick arriving travelers and slow the spread of disease.
A DHS spokesperson said U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to coordinate with airlines, international partners and port-of-entry officials to identify and manage travelers who may have been exposed.
Federal officials have not disclosed whether screenings are conducted aboard arriving aircraft or in the area where international passengers normally pass through customs at Dulles.
Airport operations appeared normal Thursday, with no obvious delays or disruptions. An airport spokesperson said the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was providing federal partners with staff and public safety resources as needed and did not expect significant effects on passengers.