On Thursday, Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was questioned at a Congressional hearing about screening protocols for airline passengers who are entering the United States. The topic of a total ban on passengers from affected countries was also discussed. This comes after a nurse traveled by airplane—even though she was suffering from symptoms of Ebola—and was cleared by the CDC. But first, a look at some numbers:
According to an October 15 statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has 8,997 suspected, probable, and confirmed cases. These cases have appeared in seven countries: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, and the United States. As of October 15, there have been 4,493 confirmed deaths.
Thomas Eric Duncan died from the Ebola virus on October 8, becoming the first person to die of the disease on U.S. soil. On October 15, the CDC contacted the Carnival Magic—which had a cruise in progress—to notify the ship that one of the passengers on board had been in contact with specimens from Thomas Eric Duncan. The passenger in question has been placed in voluntary quarantine in her room, but as of now, no ports are willing to let the ship dock.
As a result, Carnival will most likely remove the passenger—by helicopter at sea—and the ship will sail to Cozumel, where passengers will hopefully be allowed to disembark.
But the question remains: how can the Ebola virus be stopped from entering the U.S., or from spreading through travel? Many West African countries are screening exiting travelers, and now the U.S. is screening arriving passengers in five airports. While these efforts can make a difference, many other international airports are not screening travelers—particularly those that act as hubs for international travel.
Today, I went on CBS This Morning to discuss all of these variables and how they can impact the health of travelers.
For more information about the Ebola virus outbreak, visit:
- 5 U.S. Airports to Begin Screening for the Ebola Virus
- The Ebola Outbreak: How You Can Make a Difference
- The Ebola Virus: What You Need to Know
By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com
