JFK Airport in Queens has been designated as one of four arrival hubs for travelers flying into the United States from countries affected by a deadly Ebola outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced.
Passengers from affected countries arriving at JFK and three other designated U.S. airports may be escorted to designated screening areas, complete questionnaires about their travel history, have their temperatures checked and be observed for signs of illness by CDC staff, according to the agency.
The screenings apply to passengers flying into the country from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan, the CDC said in a statement. Anyone showing signs they may be sick with Ebola will be transferred to a hospital for further medical evaluation and isolation, the CDC said.
The announcement comes amid an outbreak of the deadly virus that has killed 223, with a total of 906 suspected cases, according to the World Health Organization. Ebola symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after someone is exposed to the virus.
Initial symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, severe headache, which after around four to five days can turn into a loss of appetite, unexplained bleeding and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea, according to the WHO. Because of the long window for symptoms to become evident, the screenings are viewed as a broader response to the outbreak.
Flights from Ebola-afflicted countries have been rerouted to the other arrival hubs since last week, after the CDC issued an order restricting entry into the U.S. The other designated hubs are Washington-Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
New York State Department of Health spokesperson Marissa Crary said Thursday the agency is closely monitoring the situation in the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, and said there is no immediate risk to New Yorkers.
“The Department and its partners have extensive experience responding to past Ebola outbreaks and protocols are in place to protect public health in these situations,” Crary said in a statement. “None of the returning travelers in New York State are considered high-risk. All are being monitored by local health departments for a period of 21 days after their departure from the region.”
