Stopping Flights from Africa Isn't the Answer for Ebola in U.S., CDC Head Says

The head of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that the best defense to prevent Ebola from spreading in the United States is a good offense, Atlanta Business Chronicle reports.

Dr. Tom Frieden remarked Monday morning that the idea of banning flights from Africa to the United States, which has gained traction in the days since a man who contracted the disease in Liberia was allowed to fly to Dallas and potentially and unknowingly infect others, would do more harm than good.

Rather than isolating the U.S. from the outbreak zone, Frieden argues that U.S. assistance is crucial to containing and ending the outbreak, which has killed 3,439 people since it began in December. Ending flights from Africa to the U.S. would also likely cause airlines to stop flying from the U.S. to Africa, further hampering the response to the outbreak.

Frieden will soon brief President Obama on the spread of the virus in the U.S., and said the CDC will consider proposals put forward by Congress and the American people on how to keep Ebola out of the country.