Government health leaders believe that banning travelers from Ebola-infected countries could impede the efforts of aid workers to monitor and stop the spread of the virus.
After the first Ebola case was diagnosed in Dallas, Texas, the idea of banning travellers is gaining much popularity in the past few days, with proponents claiming it would ensure public safety.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci said Sunday that a travel ban on West African countries with Ebola would make it harder for them to contain and monitor the spread of the virus. He said isolating them could cause unrest in the country.
British Airways already have airlines that suspended flights from Ebola-infected countries.
Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk said the federal government should stop flights from those regions to protect American citizens. Meanwhile, House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations head Rep. Tim Murphy is planning to conduct a hearing on the ban this week.
Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Tom Frieden said banning flights from those regions could increase the risk of outbreak because it may spread to other countries in Africa. He also said, the ban would affect Americans from those regions who want to go back to their country.
