The Washington Post (Oct. 2) -- Invited Op Ed article from Sheldon H. Jacobson, a computer science professor in the College of Engineering at Illinois suggests that airport screenings for Ebola should have the same level of importance as screening for terrorists. "Certainly, implementing the various levels of screening for Ebola will require a delicate balance between public health and personal freedom — similar to the debates that occurred when aviation security was augmented following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But the severity of the Ebola threat requires vigilance. The challenge of Ebola prevention occurs at the interface of critical issues that include protecting the public, personal privacy, appropriate screening for a threat, and unpredictable human behavior." Also: Standard-Examiner (Oct. 6).
Related stories: Chicago Tribune (Oct. 7) -- President Barack Obama has that stopping Ebola is "a top national security priority." Federal authorities promise expanded screening protocols for airline passengers overseas and in the U.S. to control Ebola. What should those protocols be? On our Sunday Commentary page, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson suggested a smart move: Passengers entering the U.S. should have to document that they have not been exposed to Ebola in those West African countries over the previous three weeks, which is the incubation period for Ebola. Those who fail to do so "should be subject to more severe restrictions, beginning with blood tests and, in extreme cases, quarantine for up to three weeks." Also: The Tallahassee Democrat (Op-ed from The Chicago Tribune; Florida, Oct. 9).
The Associated Press (Oct. 4) -- Federal health officials and airlines have dismissed any risk to passengers who flew with the man last month and say they are protecting travelers by screening passengers and wiping down airplane cabins nightly. The article lists five things to know about efforts to contain transmission of the virus on planes. Also: MSNBC (video story, Oct. 4), The Current (CBC, radio, (Oct. 6), The Washington Post (from The Associated Press; Oct. 4), WAND-TV (Decatur, Ill., Oct. 5), ABC News (from AP; Oct. 4), Philadelphia Inquirer (Oct. 7), Omaha World Herald (Oct. 7), AviationPros.com (Oct. 6).
Live interviews: “Weekends with Alex Witt," MSNBC (Oct. 5), WANDTV (NBC affilitate, Decatur, IL, Oct. 5), “The Current,” CBC Radio Canada (Oct. 6), HuffPost Live (Oct. 6), WTOP CBS Radio (Washington DC, Oct. 6) WCIA-TV (Champaign, Ill., Oct. 6), HuffPost Live (Oct. 9), CBC News (Toronto, Canada, Oct.11).