Photo courtesy of Wiki Images
House Republicans who head major committees are calling for a ban on travel from the West African countries afflicted with Ebola.
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, head of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, chairman of the House transportation committee, and Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the ranking member of the Senate transportation committee, called for the suspension of visas issued to people traveling from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the West African countries where the epidemic is currently out of control.
Officials from the Obama administration oppose the ban on the grounds that it would hinder efforts to get aid to the current source of the disease in West Africa.
Opposing the travel ban is Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, who says a travel ban could hinder the efforts to stop the disease at its source by clogging the transportation routes that are essential for getting aid quickly to the stricken countries in West Africa.
On Wednesday, President Obama met with senior health, homeland security and national security advisors to review Ebola prevention strategies. According to a White House statement the group discussed ways to improve airport screening in the U.S., and focused on ways to stop the spread at its source in West Africa.
The U.S. launched a "civilian-led whole-of-government effort that leverages the unique capabilities of the U.S. military to help bring the epidemic under control," according to the White House statement.
"It is important for Americans to know the facts," said Obama. "Because of the measures that we've put in place, as well as our world-class health system and the nature of the Ebola virus itself - which is difficult to transmit - the chance of an Ebola outbreak in the United States is extremely low."
The White House released a fact sheet explaining the extent of the efforts currently in place to stop the spread of the disease.
The efforts include:
• Enhancing surveillance and laboratory testing capacity in states.
• Authorizing the use of a diagnostic test developed by the Department of Defense to detect the Ebola virus.
• Providing guidance and tools for hospitals and health care workers to prepare for and manage potential patients, protect health care workers and provide a coordinated response.
• Developing guidance and tools for health departments to conduct public health investigations.
• Providing recommendations for infection control and other measures to prevent further spreading of the disease.
• Offering guidance for flight crews, Emergency Medical Services units at airports, and Customs and Border Protection officers about reporting sick travelers to CDC.
• Providing up-to-date information to the public, international travelers, health care providers, state and local officials and public health partners.
• Advancing the development and clinical trials of Ebola vaccines and antivirals to determine their safety and efficacy in humans.
• Monitoring by the Food and Drug Administration for fraudulent products and false product claims related to the Ebola virus and implementing enforcement actions as warranted to protect public health.
• A special permit by the U.S. Department of Transportation, in coordination with CDC, to transport large quantities of Ebola-contaminated waste from Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas as well as from other locations in Texas for disposal.
• Stringent passenger screening efforts at home and abroad, working with airlines, airports, ministries of health, and other partners since the beginning of August to assist with the development of exit screening and travel restrictions in countries with Ebola.
• Screening of all passengers leaving affected countries, including a travel health questionnaire, visual assessment and measuring passengers' body temperatures.
President Obama said he is confident a serious outbreak of the disease can be prevented in the U.S., but added that it is of utmost importance to get the aid to the source in a timely fashion to stop its spread as soon as possible.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
