Screening procedures have commenced at a prominent US airport following an Ebola outbreak in various regions of Africa. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated the screening of select travelers at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on May 20 in response to the outbreak.

Recently, the CDC announced a ban on entry into the US for any US passport holders who have visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past three weeks. This restriction, issued on Monday, will be in effect for at least 30 days.

Ebola, a highly contagious disease spread through bodily fluids, is known to cause fatal haemorrhagic fever, rapid organ failure, and bleeding. Dr. Tyler Evans, CEO of Wellness Equity Alliance, expressed serious concerns about the infectious nature of Ebola.

The Ebola cases are spreading in East and Central Africa, leading the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak a global public health emergency. Several Americans have reportedly been exposed to Ebola.

An American doctor infected with Ebola in the DRC has been transported to Germany for treatment along with his family, as the World Health Organization warns about the rapid spread of the outbreak.

Officials at O’Hare airport are conducting screenings to prevent the virus from entering the US. Travelers from Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the last 21 days are being denied entry, except for US citizens or permanent residents who must undergo additional screening.

Travelers are being checked for symptoms, temperature, and contact-tracing information. Those showing symptoms will undergo a secondary evaluation at a quarantine station, and if cleared, will receive a care kit with instructions for self-monitoring.

US President Donald Trump expressed his concerns about the Ebola outbreak, emphasizing the need to contain the virus. Trump acknowledged the current confinement of the outbreak to Africa but highlighted the potential risks associated with its spread.