CDC chief on Ebola: We can’t shut the border

[lostinblue 1,989]

CDC chief on Ebola: We can’t shut the border

By JONATHAN TOPAZ | 10/3/14 7:03 AM EDT

Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Friday said restricting travel between the U.S. and West Africa would likely “backfire” and put Americans more at risk of contracting Ebola.

Appearing on MSNBC, Frieden was asked about potentially prohibiting air travel between the U.S. and West Africa, where the Ebola outbreak is most widespread. He said that such a restriction would likely be ineffective and would make it harder for health officials to root out the virus.

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“The only way we’re going to get to zero risk is by stopping the outbreak at the source” in West Africa, Frieden said.

“Even if we tried to close the border, it wouldn’t work,” the top health official added. “People have a right to return. People transiting through could come in. And it would backfire, because by isolating these countries, it’ll make it harder to help them, it will spread more there and we’d be more likely to be exposed here.”

Frieden’s comments come as health officials continue to screen up to 100 people in Texas in connection with Liberian national Thomas Eric Duncan, who is in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Duncan flew to the U.S. on Sept. 19, but the CDC said that he was screened before his flight in Monrovia and showed no symptoms of Ebola. Health officials say his temperature was 97.3 degrees and that he was not contagious on the flight, meaning his fellow passengers were not at risk.

While in Liberia, Duncan had contact with a woman who had the virus and helped carry her from a taxi, according to The New York Times.

On Friday, Frieden said airport screenings are reducing risks. “There are a lot of checks in place. It’s not perfect,” he said.

In several interviews and at a Thursday news briefing, the CDC director has expressed confidence that health officials will be able to contain the spread of the virus in the U.S.

On Thursday evening, NBC announced that a freelance journalist working for the network in Liberia had contracted Ebola and quarantined himself on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/ebola-us-border-111581.html#ixzz3F5Igsj6d

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

There's only one solution, lib - the bunker. Hunker down, man!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Seems logical to me.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Seems logical to me.

It seems logical because it is logical.

I always wonder whether lib was crying foul back in 2003 when we didn't cut off travel to China where the SARS outbreak - an airborne virus - originated. Actually, I don't wonder. I'm quite certain he wasn't crying foul then.

[aaydrian 479]

Even if the "border" of direct flights from West Africa was closed, what about connecting flights leading to America? Wasn't that how the Liberian man got to the US? What if people travel to northern, southern or eastern Africa to get direct flights to America?

It seems logical because it is logical.

I always wonder whether lib was crying foul back in 2003 when we didn't cut off travel to China where the SARS outbreak - an airborne virus - originated. Actually, I don't wonder. I'm quite certain he wasn't crying foul then.

Maybe because he was on the other side of the globe. You can't offer solutions that might end up having you in the group that gets left behind.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Even if the "border" of direct flights from West Africa was closed, what about connecting flights leading to America? Wasn't that how the Liberian man got to the US? What if people travel to northern, southern or eastern Africa to get direct flights to America?

Closing that "border" is complete nonsense. Following that logic (it's not really logic), we should cut of Dallas, scratch that, Texas right now.

[decocker 7,198]

completely isolate america! no one gets in or out! thanks for giving america ebola, obama!

[lostinblue 1,989]

Even if the "border" of direct flights from West Africa was closed, what about connecting flights leading to America? Wasn't that how the Liberian man got to the US? What if people travel to northern, southern or eastern Africa to get direct flights to America?

Maybe because he was on the other side of the globe. You can't offer solutions that might end up having you in the group that gets left behind.

You have a visa system use it. Anyone from that country needs to free from infection before entry. . Pass the health requirements and you are not in the group left behind.

[decocker 7,198]

You have a visa system use it. Anyone from that country needs to free from infection before entry. . Pass the health requirements and you are not in the group left behind.

you'd like to require visas for us citizens to exit and/or return to the us?

[lostinblue 1,989]

Closing that "border" is complete nonsense. Following that logic (it's not really logic), we should cut of Dallas, scratch that, Texas right now.

Then you would have to stem the flow of undocumented democrats into the united states ... Cannot have that can we. Use the visa requirement to control the influx of folks into the us.. ebola free in 2014....

[Teddy B 17,252]

Then you would have to stem the flow of undocumented democrats into the united states ... Cannot have that can we. Use the visa requirement to control the influx of folks into the us.. ebola free in 2014....

That doesn't have enough of a catchy ring to it. How bout "Ebola Clean In Twenty Fourteen"?

[lostinblue 1,989]

you'd like to require visas for us citizens to exit and/or return to the us?

quarantine anyone returning from an ebola country until they pass the health requirement... The quarantine is in that country. No need to worry about airports in this country.

[decocker 7,198]

quarantine anyone returning from an ebola country until they pass the health requirement... The quarantine is in that country. No need to worry about airports in this country.

we'll...terrifying news. we're now an ebola country. you heard it from uncle beer first!

[aaydrian 479]

Closing that "border" is complete nonsense. Following that logic (it's not really logic), we should cut of Dallas, scratch that, Texas right now.

Well they did want to secede. Texas free by the end of Twenty Fourteen.

You have a visa system use it. Anyone from that country needs to free from infection before entry. . Pass the health requirements and you are not in the group left behind.

So you're saying being Ebola free is a get into America free card? Hmm.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Then you would have to stem the flow of undocumented democrats into the united states ... Cannot have that can we. Use the visa requirement to control the influx of folks into the us.. ebola free in 2014....

In case you haven't heard, we're not ebola free. We have a case in Texas. Possibly more. So you're saying that we will now require Texans to obtain a visa and undergo ebola testing before they can enter the rest of the US? Is that the grand strategy?

As for blocking off countries that are ebola hot spots - what do we do with those that come here from non-ebola hot spot countries but have been to ebola hot spot countries? How do we identify them? How about those that the latter have been in contact with in non-ebola hot spot countries?

Face it, the only way you stay safe is to lock that bunker and hunker down for the next couple of months or years.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog