Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
JFK designated an arrival hub for travelers from Ebola-affected countries
By
Catalina Gonella
Published May 28, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Tony KARUMBA / AFP via Getty Images
By
Catalina Gonella
Published May 28, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
JFK Airport in Queens has been designated as one of four arrival hubs for travelers flying into the United States from countries affected by a deadly Ebola outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced.
Passengers from affected countries arriving at JFK and three other designated U.S. airports may be escorted to designated screening areas, complete questionnaires about their travel history, have their temperatures checked and be observed for signs of illness by CDC staff, according to the agency.
The screenings apply to passengers flying into the country from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan, the CDC said in a statement. Anyone showing signs they may be sick with Ebola will be transferred to a hospital for further medical evaluation and isolation, the CDC said.
The announcement comes amid an outbreak of the deadly virus that has killed 223, with a total of 906 suspected cases, according to the World Health Organization. Ebola symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after someone is exposed to the virus.
Initial symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, severe headache, which after around four to five days can turn into a loss of appetite, unexplained bleeding and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea, according to the WHO. Because of the long window for symptoms to become evident, the screenings are viewed as a broader response to the outbreak.
Flights from Ebola-afflicted countries have been rerouted to the other arrival hubs since last week, after the CDC issued an order restricting entry into the U.S. The other designated hubs are Washington-Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
New York State Department of Health spokesperson Marissa Crary said Thursday the agency is closely monitoring the situation in the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, and said there is no immediate risk to New Yorkers.
“The Department and its partners have extensive experience responding to past Ebola outbreaks and protocols are in place to protect public health in these situations,” Crary said in a statement. “None of the returning travelers in New York State are considered high-risk. All are being monitored by local health departments for a period of 21 days after their departure from the region.”
Tagged
ebola
jfk airport
public health
Catalina Gonella
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .