Port Health Stations

At a glance

U.S. Port Health Stations are part of a comprehensive system that serves to limit the introduction and spread of contagious diseases in the United States. They are located at 20 ports of entry and land border crossings where most international travelers arrive. U.S. Port Health Stations are staffed with CDC medical, veterinary, and public health officers and managed by CDC's Division of Global Migration Health.

CDC Port Health Stations and their Jurisdictions

Port Health Stations ‎

Port health stations previously were known as quarantine stations. The practice of quarantine, which began hundreds of years ago, has evolved over time. Although we honor the history of quarantine and continue to carry out CDC's public health authorities—including using federal quarantine or isolation, if needed—port health is broader than the name "quarantine" and reflects our goal of keeping travelers and destination communities safe.
View Larger
Colored map of the United States showing the regions port health stations serve and the locations for port health stations
U.S. Port Health Stations are located at 20 ports of entry and land border crossings where international travelers arrive.

Port Health Station Contact Information‎

To get contact information of the port health station for a region, visit the port health station contact list.
Port Health Station Contact List

Authority

CDC has the legal authority to detain any person who may have a communicable disease that is specified by Executive Order. CDC can also require medical examination and isolation or quarantine for a period of time to prevent the spread of disease.

Activities

Port health officers decide whether ill persons might have a contagious disease that poses a public health threat and what measures should be taken to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

They are responsible for various activities including:

Response

  • Respond to reports of illnesses on airplanes, maritime vessels, and at land border crossings
  • Distribute immunobiologics and investigational drugs
  • Plan and prepare for emergency response
  • Provide travelers with essential health information

Migration

  • Monitor health and collect any medical information of new immigrants, refugees, asylees, and parolees
  • Alert local health departments in the areas where refugees and immigrants resettle about any health issues that need follow up
  • Respond to mass migration emergencies

Inspection

  • Inspect animals, animal products, and human remains that pose a potential threat to human health
  • Screen cargo and hand-carried items for potential vectors of human infectious diseases

Partnerships

  • Build partnerships for disease surveillance and control

Partners in Protection

CDC relies on an important network of partners who are part of the comprehensive system that supports the public health work of the U.S. Port Health Stations including, but not limited to:

U.S. government agencies

  • Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Department of Agriculture: Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Department of State
  • Department of Homeland Security: Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard
  • Department of Transportation: the Federal Aviation Administration
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation

Travel industry

Airline associations, cruise line associations, and port agents

Public health and medical care

State, tribal, local, or territorial public health departments and laboratories, hospitals, health care providers, and emergency medical services

International

World Health Organization, International Organization for Migration, Public Health Agency of Canada, Secretariat of Health (Mexico), and other border authorities and foreign governments

Low Resolution Video
Print
Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)