US Enhances Screening For Travelers From West Africa

The affected countries are Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The restrictions on passengers whose trips originated in those three West African countries were announced by the US Department of Homeland Security and are set to take effect on 23rd October 2014

The measures stop short of the travel ban sought by some US lawmakers in a bid to prevent further Ebola cases in the United States.

Affected travelers will have their temperatures checked for signs of a fever that may indicate Ebola infection.

The airports include New York's John F. Kennedy, New Jersey's Newark, Washington Dulles, Atlanta, and Chicago's O'Hare international airports.

The airports account for 94% of passengers coming to the United States from the Ebola-hit countries.

The restrictions apply to all travelers including US citizens and those who would have arrived by land or sea.

In New York City, residents said they were comfortable with the government's announcement.

Ebola has killed more than 4,500 people mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

The US has experienced three infections and one death from Ebola.

There are no US government-approved vaccines, medications or dietary supplements to prevent or treat Ebola.

By Bonareri Samaha