The United States has started rerouting travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda to select airports for enhanced health screenings. This effort aims to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus.
Starting after 11:59 p.m. Thursday, John F. Kennedy International Airport will join three other U.S. airports in conducting these public health checks. Previously, Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston have been performing similar screenings since the outbreak began.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a news release that J.F.K. Airport had experience from past public health crises and has procedures in place for the screenings. All travelers coming from the affected regions, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status, might undergo the checks. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the screenings would soon start at J.F.K. Airport.
The current Ebola outbreak has resulted in over 1,000 cases and more than 200 deaths. Public health experts have criticized the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development last year, stating it hindered detection and response efforts, allowing the outbreak to spread.
The Trump administration is committed to preventing Ebola from entering the U.S., even going so far as to deny entry to affected American citizens. On Thursday, senior administration officials announced plans for a 50-bed quarantine center in Kenya to accommodate Americans exposed to Ebola. Adjacent isolation and biocontainment facilities are planned for those testing positive or exhibiting symptoms during quarantine. The quarantine center is set to open on Friday, though the timeline for other facilities remains unclear.
The CDC and State Department are also working to identify advanced treatment facilities in Europe for Americans needing intensive care for Ebola.