Republican Lawmakers Lobby Full Air Travel Ban Against Passengers From Ebola-Stricken Countries
Rubi Valdez | | Oct 17, 2014 10:03 AM EDT |
(Photo : Reuters/Jim Bourg,) Visitors walk past protestor Jeff Hulbert of Annapolis, Maryland as he holds a sign reading "Stop the Flights!" while demonstrating in favor of a travel ban to stop the spread of the Ebola virus, in front of the White House in Washington October 16, 2014.
Republican lawmakers are lobbying for a total air travel ban against anyone flying from West Africa until the Ebola virus is controlled. But the White House disapproves, saying there are more effective measures and the proposal will only be counterproductive.
Rep. Fred Michigan (R-MI) understands that health officials are trying to isolate the case in Africa, but insisted on banning 100 to 150 nationals traveling from West Africa until the case is down to zero infection. Some Democrats also support Upton's proposition.
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White House spokesman Josh Ernst insisted that the government is taking all necessary precautions to prevent a full outbreak of Ebola in the country. Air passengers are screened both in departure terminals and their arrival in American airports.
President Barrack Obama warned legislators that raising the flight ban would only increase public hysteria, making it more difficult to trace human infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Dr. Thomas Frieden said they were not ruling out implementation of any travel restrictions depending if there is an immediate need. He did not go into details of limitation that the agency will support but recognized the fact that Obama's administration is opposing it.
Currently, five U.S. airports are servicing flights from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, three of the Ebola hotspots. Upon arrival, passengers are required to pass a biometric screening where temperatures are measured before they undergo questioning. CDC officials would then quarantine Ebola suspects for further investigations.
The New York City government last weekend tightened their security measures after eight from 155 passengers were sent to CDC for close monitoring of Ebola. Frieden added that 74 others were refused to go on board to United States because they showed Ebola-like symptoms.
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