Poll: 77 percent support Ebola travel ban

More than three-fourths of U.S. residents support some form of an Ebola travel ban, according to a poll that was released on Thursday. 

The poll, which was conducted by Truven Health Analytics for National Public Radio, found that 77 percent “believe the U.S. government should take measures, such as suspending all travel to and from the affected areas of Africa, in order to prevent the spread of Ebola to the United States.” 

Support is building in Congress for some form of ban on travel to West African nations that are battling Ebola following the first domestic diagnoses of the deadly virus this month. 

{mosads}Approximately 90 lawmakers have said publicly that they support an Ebola travel ban since the death of the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola domestically, Thomas Eric Duncan, according to a tally that has been compiled by The Hill. 

Citing health officials, the White House has argued a flight ban would complicate Ebola relief efforts in West Africa as well as fail to boost security in the U.S. because there are few flights directly from the region to domestic airports. Most travelers from West Africa, including Duncan, have to pass through European airports to reach the U.S. 

Administration officials have also said an outright travel ban would make it more likely for passengers to lie about visiting countries that have been affected by Ebola. 

Obama administration officials have responded to the pressure by restricting travel between West Africa and the U.S. to airports in New York, New Jersey, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta that have been set up for enhanced Ebola screening.

The poll released on Thursday found just 51 percent of U.S. residents “believe that the [American] response to the current outbreak of Ebola has been adequate.” 

The poll also found that just believe 51 percent “believe that the U.S. healthcare system is properly trained and equipped to address a potential outbreak in this country.”

The full results of the poll can be read here.