WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) attended a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on the outbreak of Ebola and the government’s continuing preparedness and response efforts, after which he released the following statement:

“First, it should be understood that there are no direct flights from the affected countries to the United States. Mr. Duncan, the only known case to have entered this country, flew from Brussels. In light of this fact, the CDC and our partners abroad have implemented new screening measures both overseas and at the five major airports where the vast majority of travelers from West Africa enter the country. I firmly believe that our response to this crisis must be driven by science, and I also believe that these measures – in conjunction with the additional screening done before passengers even leave affected countries – will reduce risk of transmission here in the United States.

“At this point I am not convinced that a blanket travel ban against foreign nationals traveling from Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea would be effective in stopping the spread of Ebola. In fact, such a ban might actually keep aid workers from traveling to and from the region to combat the epidemic. Such a ban would also fail to stop people who traveled through those countries, and it would encourage people to leave their countries in ways we could not track, thereby possibly spreading the disease beyond the watchful eye of the international community. However, if the situation continues to deteriorate, we should consider the value of travel restrictions at least against tourists traveling from affected countries.

“These clearly are extraordinary times, and it is apparent to me that the international health community is taking this threat seriously and is fully determined to contain the spread. I will continue to monitor this situation closely and work with my colleagues and agencies to develop and implement strategies to that end.”

King, who is in Washington following a nine-day trip abroad to South Asia and the Middle East, today attended the hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to examine the U.S. public health response to the Ebola outbreak. Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), testified along with several other leading governmental public health officials. For more information on the hearing, click HERE.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) implemented additional screening measures for travelers identified as having a risk of exposure to Ebola at JFK International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dulles International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. These airports are the point of entry for 94 percent of travelers originating from the Ebola-affect nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. For more updates about the Ebola virus from the CDC, click HERE.

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