WASHINGTON, October 22 (RIA Novosti) -A 21-day active monitoring measure of all travelers coming from Ebola-stricken Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea will begin next Monday in six US states, the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] announced Wednesday.
"This is another step to protect families, communities and healthcare workers from Ebola," said CDC Director Tom Frieden.
He added that the new measure will affect every traveler coming to the US after a visit to one of the three affected countries, including the CDC employees and journalists.
The new active monitoring system will start next week in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey and will require travelers to report their temperatures to state and local public health officials upon their arrival to the US and over the course of the 21 day monitoring period.
Under the new system, travelers from West Africa will also be required to coordinate with state and local officials if they intend on any additional traveling. If a traveler does not report to local and state officials, immediate steps will be taken to find them.
Frieden added that it is up to state and local public health officials to ensure and that the new measure will continue until the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is stopped.
"We can't get the zero risk here until we stop the outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea," said Frieden. "We're seeing some kinds of progress but we have to keep our guard up," he added.
The announcement of the new measure comes after Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Tuesday that travelers from the West African countries affected the most by Ebola would have to go through five designated airports for screening before disembarking into the United States.
According to the October 17 WHO data, more than 4,500 people have died from the disease, with more than 9,200 confirmed, probable and suspected Ebola cases.
