US to start screening travelers from Uganda amid Ebola outbreak
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The U.S. will start screening air passengers from Uganda as the outbreak in the African nation swells.
- Uganda is battling an Ebola outbreak with 29 reported deaths.
- The CDC said there have been no reports of Ebola in the U.S.
The Biden administration on Thursday said it will start routing travelers coming from Uganda to one of five different U.S. airports where they will be screened for Ebola.
All U.S.-bound passengers who have been in Uganda in the three weeks prior to their arrival will be routed to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, O’Hare International in Chicago, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, or Dulles International near Washington, D.C., starting Friday. This is for enhanced screening “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the U.S. Embassy in Uganda.
There have been no probable or confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States, according to the CDC.
The outbreak, however, is concerning because of its rapid growth. Add to that, it is being caused by a strain for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
In just two weeks, there have been more than 60 confirmed and probable cases reported and 29 deaths. Among the deaths included four health workers, the World Health Organization reported. Global health officials fear the virus has been spreading undetected for much longer.
According to an administration official, passengers can expect a temperature check and will fill out a health questionnaire about Ebola. Their contact information will be shared with U.S. state and local health departments to follow up with arrivals in their jurisdictions.
It’s unclear how long the screenings will remain in place.
Exit screening at airports in Uganda will remain the principal means of keeping travelers from spreading Ebola to other nations, the administration said.
While there are no direct flights from Uganda to the United States, travelers from or passing through affected areas in Uganda can enter the United States on flights connecting from other countries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a health alert.
The CDC urged clinicians to obtain a detailed travel history from patients with suspected Ebola infections, especially those who have been in affected areas of Uganda.
A person infected with Ebola virus is not contagious until symptoms appear, including fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms and unexplained bleeding.
The virus is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, infected animals, or with objects like needles that are contaminated with the virus. Ebola is not spread through airborne transmission.
Source: CBS News
Izzy
October 10, 2022 at 6:44 am
Why risk even letting them into our country?
Trish Gates
October 10, 2022 at 10:46 am
EXACTLY! CLOSE, SEAL AND ARM OUR BORDERS. STOP THE NONSENSE NOW!!! CUT OFF ALL AIRLINE INCOME FROM UGANDA!!! NOW
Trish Gates
October 10, 2022 at 10:46 am
EXACTLY! CLOSE, SEAL AND ARM OUR BORDERS. STOP THE NONSENSE NOW!!! CUT OFF ALL AIRLINE INCOME FROM UGANDA!!! NOW I DID NOT ALREADY SAY THAT
I just read above………So stop blocking my post
Angied
October 10, 2022 at 6:46 am
How about just don’t let them in!!!!!!
Ron B.
October 10, 2022 at 7:15 am
It’s impossible to keep anyone out of our borders thank to the illustriate Liberal Brain process
John Miller
October 10, 2022 at 8:07 am
Degenerate Liberal Brain Process sounds better to me!
John Longrifle
October 10, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Since Biden has been in Office some Ugandans and other African people have been caught entering the USA via an open border. So, this is what many of us have been saying and worried about for decades. Illegals are bringing in dieases and illness into the USA for years. Only being concerned with arrivals via airports is just stupid. Secure the border and send back illegals. They can apply for entry by complying with medical requirements like everyone else.
Patty
October 10, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Agree! Close the border! Infected people can just stroll in and go where they please! Biden sees to that! And, the illegals, if caught are not going to be truthful about anything. In case no one is aware, Ebola is a deadly disease, easily spread, and this strain has no known treatment.
D.D.
October 10, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Securing airports is a failed proposition as long as the southern border stays unsecure… Some of those people are just as, if not, more sick as anyone else !!!
Jeanette Cooper
October 12, 2022 at 5:08 pm
Biden,Harris. and Pelosi should be taken out of office NOW for not protecting us(one of their main jobs). Their ” Everyone come in as you are” policy looks to ruin our country and help the aliens more than Americans. Check out the cities with lots of carjacking and crime–bet they have had mucho migrant busloads dropped there !🙀
CharlieSeattle
October 12, 2022 at 7:13 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOO! Ban all of them! No Entre!