Ebola at the airport

Although some airports will begin screening this weekend, until Ebola runs its course, the United States should consider denying entry to anyone coming from West Africa. Other foreign countries should have to certify that persons traveling from their country to the United States have not been in a West African country for at least the 21-day incubation period.

This will be harsh on business and a personal inconvenience for a while. But are we to rally the police, guarded transport, hospitals and their personnel, quarantine protection, and intense genetic testing each time a recent traveler from West Africa falls ill here? Have we no say over the financial cost and community apprehension each suspicion creates?

Worse, although the CDC is confident that any case diagnosed here can be treated and contained — and no doubt it is the best at what it does — it cannot prevent an asymptomatic Ebola carrier from entering America in the first place. We have to recognize that far better than treating Ebola here is taking steps to prevent it from coming here.

This story was originally published October 9, 2014 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Ebola at the airport."