Members of the House GOP Doctors Caucus urged the Obama administration to implement a temporary travel ban to limit spread of the Ebola virus.
“Containment is the key to stopping the spread of this highly contagious and deadly disease, and we strongly urge your administration to consider implementing a temporary travel ban for individuals who are citizens of, or traveled to, affected countries in West Africa,” they wrote in a letter to President Obama.
{mosads}The lawmakers further recommended a quarantine period for anyone exposed to Ebola.
“For American citizens who have been exposed to Ebola, we support the recommended 21-day quarantine before they can enter the country,” they wrote.
The sixteen Republican signatories were Reps. Phil Roe (Tenn.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Diane Black (Tenn.), John Fleming (La.), Dan Benishek (Mich.), Charles Boustany (La.), Paul Broun (Ga.), Larry Bucshon (Ind.), Michael Burgess (Texas), Bill Cassidy (La.), Scott DesJarlais (Tenn.), Renee Ellmers (N.C.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Andy Harris (Md.), Tom Price (Ga.) and Brad Wenstrup (Ohio).
The Obama administration announced limited travel restrictions on Tuesday so that anyone coming from West Africa had to go through one of the five U.S. airports with enhanced Ebola screenings.