In what it calls an “abundance of caution,” Cleveland-Hopkins International (CLE) says it is taking steps to disinfect areas of the airport after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcement that an Ebola patient was on a flight that originated in Cleveland earlier this week.
The passenger had a slightly elevated temperature at the time of her flight but was not displaying any other symptoms and was not diagnosed with Ebola until the following day.
“Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport has implemented its infectious disease protocol, all employees have been provided personal protection equipment and key areas of the airport are being disinfected,” CLE said in a statement. “These efforts at the airport exceed CDC guidelines at this time.”
CLE is one of several airports that are involved in trying to tamp down the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Select others around the country are integrating enhanced screening on select passengers from abroad. Screenings are being undertaken at five airports that serve passengers traveling to the United States through or from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea. There are about 150 such passengers daily, and nearly 95 percent of them land first at one of the five airports.
The enhanced screenings are being led by two federal agencies, the CDC and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and are conducted by Customs officers.
John F. Kennedy International (JFK) began screening passengers Oct. 11; the other four airports – Washington Dulles International (IAD), Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), Newark Liberty International (EWR) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) – were added to the list Oct. 16, according to the CDC. Screenings involve taking the temperatures of passengers using no-touch thermometers. If fever is present, further screening is undertaken.
Although airport personnel are not directly involved in the screening process, airports remain on alert about any potential danger.
“Communicable disease detection and response is nothing new at Dulles,” Chris Browne, airport manager at IAD, said in a statement. “We regularly train and drill with our federal, state and local partners, who would lead the response to a potential incident. We will continue to work closely with our partners to support their efforts and ensure that airports authority personnel are ready to respond if necessary.”
Kevin Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International-North America, said in a statement that the enhanced screening is “a positive step in protecting health and security without impeding travel.” He added: “Airports will continue to actively coordinate with government and public health officials as they continue to serve their passengers.”
