[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/index.html (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