Dulles tightens Ebola screening; BWI airport sees no similar plan yet

Todd Karpovich, The Baltimore Sun on May 22, 2026

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Federal health officials have directed enhanced Ebola-related screening of certain international travelers through a Washington-area airport, but Baltimore’s primary air hub says it is not part of the effort and does not expect to be involved.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that it has issued an order suspending entry for foreign nationals who were in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of arriving in the United States. U.S. citizens, nationals and lawful permanent residents who have recently been in those countries are still permitted to enter, but may be subject to screening.

Under a separate Department of Homeland Security notice, affected travelers are being redirected to Washington Dulles International Airport for enhanced public health screening conducted by CDC staff.

The process includes temperature checks, symptom questionnaires and contact tracing procedures designed to monitor potential Ebola exposure. Officials said travelers without symptoms will be allowed to continue to their final destinations, while those showing signs of illness will be evaluated by public health officers.

The CDC emphasized that no suspected, probable or confirmed Ebola cases have been identified in the United States and said the risk remains low, though it described the screenings as part of a broader prevention strategy.

At BWI Marshall Airport, officials said they are not participating in the enhanced screening program.

“No, not at this time,” said Jonathan Dean, a BWI spokesman, when asked about the initiative. “There is no nonstop airline service between the African nations and BWI Marshall Airport.”

The CDC plan applies specifically to travelers who have been in the affected countries within the past 21 days and are scheduled to arrive in the United States during the screening period. Airlines are responsible for notifying passengers and rerouting them through Dulles if necessary.

Public health officials said the screening is intended to serve as a layered safeguard alongside existing airport monitoring systems. Travelers who are flagged during screening will be referred for additional evaluation and, if needed, coordinated follow-up with state and local health departments after arrival.

CDC officials said they remain prepared to support further response measures as Ebola outbreaks continue to be monitored in Central and East Africa.

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