United States places first restrictions on Ebola travel | News

Officials within the United States have confirmed passengers originating from international locations prone to Ebola might be pressured to fly to airports with display screen procedures for the virus in place.

This is the first time the United States has positioned any restrictions on travel in relation to the illness, and comes after days of mounting strain to ban all travel from affected international locations.

All latest travellers to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will now be topic to primary exams for fever and face questioning on doable publicity to the illness.

“We are continually evaluating whether additional restrictions or added screening and precautionary measures are necessary to protect the American people and will act accordingly,” added Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson in a press release.

At current simply 5 airports within the United States – New York’s JFK, Newark, Dulles, Atlanta and Chicago –have the extra Ebola screening protocols in place.

Test supplied at these places are designed to complement exit screenings that happen in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

There are presently no direct flights from these three international locations into the US.

However, passengers who’ve been there within the final 21 days and travel by means of international airports will now be required to first enter the US by means of one in every of these 5 airports.

“All passengers arriving in the United States whose travel originates in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will be required to fly into one of the five airports that have the enhanced screening and additional resources in place,” mentioned Johnson.

“We are working closely with the airlines to implement these restrictions with minimal travel disruption. If not already handled by the airlines, the few impacted travellers should contact the airlines for rebooking, as needed.”
Interestingly, the information got here as Rwanda introduced new travel restrictions on travellers arriving from the United States and Spain.

Both international locations have been hit with confirmed Ebola infections in latest weeks.

“Visitors who have been in the United States or Spain during the last 22 days are now required to report their medical condition – regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms of Ebola,” mentioned a press release from Rwandan officers.