In response to ongoing global Ebola outbreak alerts, the Dominican Republic has rolled out strict new mandatory health surveillance protocols designed to stop high-risk infectious diseases like Ebola from entering the country via international air routes. The policy, formally adopted as Resolution 144-2026 by the nation’s Civil Aviation Board (JAC), aligns with directives from the Dominican Ministry of Public Health focused on shoring up epidemiological monitoring across all points of entry, including international airports, seaports, and land border crossings.
Under the updated regulatory framework, all commercial airlines operating inbound flights to the Dominican Republic are legally required to deny boarding to any passenger or crew member who has been classified by public health officials as a confirmed, probable, or suspected Ebola case. The boarding ban also extends to individuals who have documented recent exposure to the virus in regions currently experiencing active outbreaks.
Beyond the boarding restriction, air carriers are mandated to collaborate closely with local public health agencies and airport security teams to carry out enhanced entry screening. They are also required to immediately report any passenger who develops visible Ebola-compatible symptoms mid-flight to ground health authorities before arrival.
Officials have emphasized that the new rules do not bar Dominican citizens from returning to their home country. Any returning national who may have been exposed to the virus will, however, be required to complete a full public health evaluation, and may be subject to quarantine, isolation, or other control measures as outlined in existing Ministry of Public Health guidelines. The surveillance package is framed as a proactive, adaptive measure that will be updated regularly to reflect changing global epidemiological conditions as the international Ebola situation evolves.