Congressmen Urge Tighter Screenings Of International Passengers
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - While enjoying a day at the park with her grandchildren, Donna Rodriguez was startled to hear the latest about Ebola patient Thomas Duncan.
He's accused of lying on his health forms before leaving Liberia for Dallas.
"That's not good, that's not good for any of us," says Rodriguez.
Liberian officials say Duncan denied he had contact with Ebola patients -- even though he lived with those who had the virus. "It makes me very concerned for the children who've come into contact with others who've come into contact with him."
Duncan remains in serious condition at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Four of his relatives have now been quarantined, and health officials are trying to determine whether or not 100 people in the Dallas area came in contact with Duncan.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Democrat of Dallas says, "If that individual admitted he had contact with a person, he would have never been put on that plane."
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The Congresswoman says she hasn't decided yet whether the U.S. should stop granting visas to those who are coming from Liberia, or any other West African countries where the outbreak is ongoing. "We do have good protocols in place, but I do think they should be more seriously enforced."
Congressman Michael Burgess, Republican of Lewisville who's also a medical doctor, agrees. "I would favor a tightening for the application for the travel documents or provisional documents for someone seeking to travel from West Africa."
CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden says keeping people in their own countries -- is not the answer. "The best way to protect ourselves is not to seal off these countries, but to proivde the services needed so that the disease is contained there."
But North Texan Donna Rodriguez thinks more needs to be done to keep people out. "I think there needs to be tighter screening."
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