Cease Travel Until the Ebola Threat is Contained

Yesterday, I sent a letter to Dr. Frieden, Director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), regarding the recently confirmed case of Ebola in the United States. In the letter, Poe calls on the CDC to recommend that the President invoke his authority under 42 U.S.C. Title 42 Sec. 265 to prohibit non-essential travel to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea by all American citizens, resident aliens, and foreign nationals attempting entry into the United States, until this current outbreak is brought under control.

The health of our citizens should be the main priority of our government. Fortunately, there is a law already on the books with the very purpose of containing the spread of diseases into our country. The time to invoke this law to ensure Americans are not exposed to this deadly disease is now, not after the disease is spread even further within our borders.

LETTER:

Dear Dr. Frieden,

It is a serious concern for my constituents and I that there is now a confirmed case of Ebola in Dallas, Texas. While I am confident that the health practices that are in place in the United States will be effective to prevent a major outbreak, I remain concerned that it appears that Americans are still making non-essential trips to the affected areas despite the public warnings against such travel.

I believe that the recent Ebola case in Dallas highlights the fact that non-essential travel to the affected region is putting Americans at unnecessary risk. I have nothing but respect for the American military and medical volunteers that are operating in Liberia and the affected region right now. I am confident that the proper procedures have been put in place to prevent transmission to and from those groups. However, I do question why other Americans not in these groups would still travel to the region and whether or not they could become infected and bring the infection home with them.

Given the severity of this threat, I request that the Centers for Disease Control consider recommending to the President that he use his powers under 42 U.S.C. Title 42 Sec. 265 to prohibit non-essential travel to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea by all American citizens, resident aliens, and foreign nationals attempting entry into the United States, until this current outbreak is brought under control. The health and safety of the American population should always be the primary consideration in situations like this.

Sincerely,

TED POE
Member of Congress