What to know
- The Public Health Service Act gives the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and by delegation CDC, the authority to make regulations to prevent the spread of communicable diseases into and within the United States.
- The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) gives HHS, and by delegation CDC, the authority to make regulations governing the medical examination (as required by the immigration laws) of immigrants and refugees intending to live permanently in the United States.
- NCEZID's Division of Global Migration Health is responsible for carrying out operations that use these authorities to protect public health.
CDC Regulations
NCEZID's Division of Global Migration Health (DGMH) is responsible for administration of interstate and foreign quarantine regulations, including carrying out public health activities at U.S. ports of entry, and establishment of requirements for the medical examination of immigrants and refugees intending to live permanently in the United States.
The regulations give CDC the ability to:
- Develop medical screening protocols for physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrants and refugees before their admission into the United States.
- Restrict the importation of certain items brought into the United States that may pose threats to public health. This includes certain animals, items made from certain animals, and human remains.
- Defend against the spread of infectious diseases into and within the United States. CDC has 20 port health stations located at or near the busiest ports of entry around the country. CDC and its partners, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and local emergency medical services, evaluate travelers entering the United States for signs of serious communicable diseases.
Who do these regulations apply to?
Federal regulations apply to the following if they are coming into the United States from another country by land, air, or sea:
- Any person (including U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and foreign nationals) as needed to prevent disease spread
- Conveyances (airplanes, ships, buses, or trains)
- Animals regulated by CDC
- Items that might spread diseases to people (bushmeat, hunting trophies, or other animal products made from CDC-regulated animals; some goatskin drums; and others)
- Human remains
Some federal regulations also apply to people and conveyances moving between U.S. states and territories, or in an emergency, items that could spread disease.
Certain federal regulations also apply to immigrants and refugees intending to live permanently in the United States who are required by the immigration laws to have a medical examination.
Laws and Regulations Fulfilled by CDC
Immigrant and Refugee Health
DGMH supports medical examination requirements for immigrants and refugees, intending to live permanently in the United States. This includes developing medical screening protocols for physicians who provide these exams. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), along with the Public Health Service Act, gives the federal government the authority to issue regulations explaining how to conduct these medical exams.
Port Health Protection
Federal regulations allow CDC staff at U.S. Port Health Stations to take certain actions to limit the introduction and spread of communicable diseases into and within the United States. These stations, located at or near major U.S. ports of entry, serve as focal points for responses to potential communicable disease outbreaks that may be caused by sick or exposed travelers or certain imported items.
Importation
Imported items can sometimes introduce diseases that are a severe threat to public health. As a result, CDC has the authority to restrict several types of items from importation to the United States. These items include certain animals, products made from certain animals, and human remains, that could pose a public health risk.
International Health Regulations
CDC works with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other countries to prevent serious public health threats from spreading internationally. Through the International Health Regulations, or IHR (2005), 196 countries have agreed to work together and with WHO for global health security by preventing serious public health threats from spreading beyond a single country's border to other parts of the world. Through the IHR, these countries have agreed to build public health capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging disease threats and outbreaks, and prevent unwarranted travel and trade restrictions so that traffic and trade disruption is kept to a minimum. The U.S. government has designated CDC Port Health Stations as the authority for implementing the IHR at U.S. ports of entry.