Ebola Screenings Begin At O'Hare

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security on May 18 imposed new Ebola-related travel restrictions for people arriving in the United States from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. The measures followed the World Health Organization’s May 17 declaration that the outbreak in Congo and Uganda was a public health emergency of international concern. Federal officials said the steps include enhanced traveler screening, monitoring and entry restrictions for some non-U.S. passport holders. CDC said the immediate risk to the U.S. public remains low, and no U.S. cases tied to the outbreak have been confirmed. ### Is O’Hare actually screening arriving passengers for Ebola? Chicago O’Hare was initially named by CDC as one of five airports tied to the federal response, alongside John F. Kennedy International Airport, Washington Dulles, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Los Angeles International Airport. Early local reports on May 20 said O’Hare had begun screening some international travelers under the 30-day order. (cdc.gov) CBS News Chicago reported later on May 20 that Chicago public health officials said O’Hare was not conducting enhanced Ebola screening and that a Department of Homeland Security memo directed commercial flights carrying travelers from the affected countries to Washington Dulles for those checks. The Chicago Department of Public Health told CBS that the CDC’s Chicago Port Health Station at O’Hare continues routine infectious-disease surveillance, but “at the moment” there is no enhanced Ebola screening there. (wgntv.com) ### Who is affected by the new U.S. restrictions? CDC said the order applies to travelers arriving from outbreak-affected areas in East and Central Africa and specifically restricts entry for non-U.S. passport holders who were in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or South Sudan during the previous 21 days. The agency said it is also coordinating with airlines, international partners and port-of-entry officials to identify travelers who may have been exposed. (cbsnews.com) The 21-day window tracks the period CDC is using for symptom monitoring. The agency said travelers who have been through affected countries should seek medical attention immediately if they develop fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained bleeding within 21 days of travel. ### Why did the federal government move now? WHO on May 17 said the outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda met the threshold for a public health emergency of international concern. (cdc.gov) WHO cited confirmed cross-border spread into Uganda and said the event posed a risk of international spread. CDC said on May 17 an American who had been caring for patients in Congo tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease and was transported to Germany for treatment. The agency said high-risk contacts linked to that exposure were also being moved to Germany and Czechia, and that no additional cases in Americans had been reported. ### What do health officials say about the risk inside the United States? (who.int) CDC said on May 20 that no Ebola cases linked to this outbreak had been confirmed in the United States and that the overall risk to the American public and travelers remained low. The agency said it was expanding port health response activities, contact tracing, laboratory testing capacity and hospital readiness nationwide. (cdc.gov) Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious-disease specialist at University of Chicago Medicine, told CBS News Chicago that the screening system is meant to assess travelers’ risk and connect them to care and follow-up if they become sick. Her description matched the federal approach of screening, monitoring and referral rather than mass testing of all passengers. (cdc.gov) ### How large is the outbreak federal officials are tracking? CDC said that as of May 19 the health ministries in Congo and Uganda had reported 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, 34 confirmed cases and 134 suspected deaths. The agency said 26 new confirmed cases and 143 new suspected cases had been identified in the prior 24 to 48 hours, while cautioning that the numbers were changing quickly. (cbsnews.com) WHO said the outbreak involves Bundibugyo virus, one of the Ebola viruses that causes disease in humans, and there is no vaccine for that strain. CDC said treatment consists of supportive care. ### What should travelers watch for next? The CDC order took effect immediately on May 18 and remains in force for 30 days unless federal officials change it. CDC said more information about enhanced travel security measures would be released as the situation develops, and current guidance is posted on the agency’s Ebola situation pages. (cdc.gov) Washington Dulles is the airport federal documents now identify for enhanced screening of commercial arrivals tied to the three affected countries, according to CBS News Chicago. (cdc.gov) Travelers and airlines are likely to get further direction from CDC, DHS and port-of-entry officials as the 30-day order continues. (cbsnews.com)