J.F.K. Airport to Begin Screening Some Passengers for Ebola

Key Points:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport will begin Ebola virus screenings for passengers from affected regions starting Thursday night, becoming the fourth U.S. airport to implement enhanced public health checks.
• Travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda are being rerouted to select airports, including Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Houston, and now JFK, for screenings to identify potential Ebola exposure.
• The Ebola outbreak has resulted in over 1,000 cases and more than 200 deaths, with experts criticizing the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development for weakening response efforts.
• The Trump administration aims to prevent Ebola’s entry into the U.S., including plans for a 50-bed quarantine center in Kenya for exposed Americans and efforts to establish advanced treatment facilities in Europe.
• All travelers from affected areas may be screened regardless of citizenship or immigration status, with JFK Airport having prior experience conducting such health checks during past public health crises.