Schumer: CDC will step up Ebola travel screening

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he expects the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to step up Ebola screening requirements at U.S. airports.

“As each day brings additional cases of Ebola and new countries are being forced to confront the epidemic, it makes eminent sense for the CDC to step up their efforts to keep this disease from taking hold in the United States,” said Schumer after speaking with CDC Director Tom Frieden on Tuesday. 

{mosads}On Monday, the White House announced that some travelers might have their temperatures checked before entering the United States. Schumer said Frieden assured him more would screening precautions would be announced in coming days.

“The CDC has been doing a very good job thus far in combating the threat, but you can’t be too careful when it comes to stopping a deadly epidemic,” Schumer said. “I’m pleased the CDC will be going further and ramping up their screening procedures so that we can prevent additional cases of Ebola here at home.”

Schumer applauded the CDC’s existing efforts but said more could be done to stop the “deadly epidemic” from spreading in the United States. He has suggested the CDC increase training of federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) airport agents, require detailed health disclosure forms from people traveling from West Africa, and heavily screen U.S. ports with cargo from the region.

Last month, Thomas Duncan became the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. He flew from Liberia to Texas with a connection in Washington.

Lawmakers have been pushing for additional screening, with some calling for a complete travel ban from countries battling the Ebola virus. Schumer said his suggestions would be a middle ground.

— Keith Laing contributed to this article.