Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights Carrying Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise Present Within Rwanda, 83620 [2024-23956]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 83620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23956]



[[Page 83620]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

19 CFR Chapter I


Arrival Restrictions Applicable to Flights Carrying Persons Who 
Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise Present Within Rwanda

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: Announcement of arrival restrictions.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the decision of the Secretary of 
Homeland Security to direct all flights to the United States carrying 
persons who have recently traveled from, or were otherwise present 
within, Rwanda to arrive at one of the U.S. airports where the U.S. 
government is focusing public health resources to implement enhanced 
public health measures. For purposes of this document, a person has 
recently traveled from Rwanda if that person has departed from, or was 
otherwise present within, Rwanda within 21 days of the date of the 
person's entry or attempted entry into the United States. Also, for 
purposes of this document, crew and flights carrying only cargo (i.e., 
no passengers or non-crew) are excluded from the measures herein.

DATES: The arrival restrictions apply to flights departing after 11:59 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 15, 2024. Arrival restrictions 
continue until cancelled or modified by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security and notice of such cancellation or modification is published 
in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Watson, Office of Field 
Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 202-255-7018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), caused by the virus family 
Filoviridae, is a severe and often fatal disease. Disease transmission 
occurs via direct contact with bodily fluids (e.g., blood, mucus, 
vomit, urine) from people sick with MVD. The first known MVD cases were 
initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and 
Frankfurt, Germany and in Belgrade, Serbia. Subsequently, outbreaks and 
sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, Ghana, Guinea, the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa (in a person with 
recent travel history to Zimbabwe), and Uganda.\1\ Two concurrent but 
unconnected outbreaks of MVD occurred in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania 
in 2023. This was both countries' first MVD outbreak, which resulted in 
multiple deaths. MVD can have substantial medical, public health, and 
economic consequences if it spreads to densely populated areas as there 
are currently no licensed treatments for MVD. As such, MVD may present 
a threat to U.S. health security given the potentially high public 
health impact that an MVD outbreak could cause and the 
interconnectedness of countries through global travel.
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    \1\ World Health Organization, Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever, 
https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/marburg-haemorrhagic-fever 
(last visited Oct. 7, 2024); and Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, History of Marburg Disease Outbreaks, https://www.cdc.gov/marburg/outbreaks/ (last visited Oct. 7, 
2024).
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    On September 27, 2024, Rwanda reported cases of MVD in several 
provinces around the country, largely related to two hospitals. As of 
October 8, 2024, a total of 58 confirmed cases with 13 confirmed deaths 
have been reported from Rwanda. At present, most of the people infected 
are healthcare workers or their contacts. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Travel Health Notice--Level 
3, Reconsider Nonessential Travel.\2\
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    \2\ CDC, Marburg in Rwanda Travel Health Notice--Level 3, 
Reconsider Nonessential Travel (Oct. 7, 2024), https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level3/marburg-rwanda.
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    In order to assist in preventing or limiting the introduction and 
spread of this communicable disease into the United States, the 
Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services (HHS), 
including CDC, and other agencies charged with protecting the homeland 
and the American public, are currently implementing enhanced public 
health measures at three U.S. airports that receive the largest number 
of travelers originating from Rwanda. To ensure that all travelers with 
recent presence in Rwanda arrive at one of these airports, DHS is 
directing all flights to the United States carrying such persons to 
arrive at the airports where the enhanced public health measures are 
being implemented. While DHS, in coordination with other applicable 
Federal agencies, anticipates working with operators of aircraft to 
identify potential travelers who have recently traveled from, or were 
otherwise present within, Rwanda prior to boarding, operators of 
aircraft will remain obligated to comply with the requirements of this 
document. Department of Defense (DoD) flights, via either military 
aircraft or contract flights, will be managed by DoD in accordance with 
HHS guidelines.

Notice of Arrival Restrictions Applicable to All Flights Carrying 
Persons Who Have Recently Traveled From or Were Otherwise Present 
Within Rwanda

    Pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 112(a), 19 U.S.C. 1433(c), and 19 CFR 122.32, 
DHS has the authority to limit the locations at which all flights 
entering the United States from abroad may land. Under this authority 
and effective for flights departing after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time on October 15, 2024, I hereby direct all operators of aircraft to 
ensure that all flights (with the exception of those operated or 
contracted by DoD) carrying persons who have recently traveled from, or 
were otherwise present within, Rwanda only land at one of the following 
airports:
     Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois;
     John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York; and
     Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia.
    This direction considers a person to have recently traveled from 
Rwanda if that person departed from, or was otherwise present within, 
Rwanda within 21 days of the date of the person's entry or attempted 
entry into the United States. Also, for purposes of this document, crew 
and flights carrying only cargo (i.e., no passengers or non-crew) are 
excluded from the applicable measures set forth in this notification. 
This direction is subject to any changes to the airport landing 
destination that may be required for aircraft and/or airspace safety as 
directed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
    This list of designated airports may be modified by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and the Secretary of Transportation. This list of 
designated airports may be modified by an updated publication in the 
Federal Register or by posting an advisory to follow at www.cbp.gov. 
The restrictions will remain in effect until superseded, modified, or 
revoked by publication in the Federal Register.
    For purposes of this Federal Register document, ``United States'' 
means the territory of the several States, the District of Columbia, 
and Puerto Rico.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2024-23956 Filed 10-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-14-P