Illinois' O'Hare Airport is one of five in the nation where travelers from West Africa must undergo extra screening for Ebola. But now the state has additional guidelines to prevent the virus' potential spread. What to do is the latest disagreement in an already adversarial race for governor.
Gov. Pat Quinn says he's committed to new Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines, that call for three-week home confinement for anyone considered at high risk of exposure to Ebola. That doesn't apply to simply anyone who came into direct contact with an Ebola patient, just those who did not have proper protective gear.
"We definitely, definitely honor all of those heroes, men and women who go forward to help the health of others. At the same time, upon their return, if they've been directly exposed, it's just common sense."
The White House says such quarantines are “not grounded in science." Experts have also questioned the wisdom of travel restrictions, like those Republican nominee for governor Bruce Rauner supports.
Rauner's spokesman says he favors a visa and travel ban on those attempting to come to the United States from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. In a statement Rauner criticizes Quinn for not imposing a travel ban, saying that Illinois can't afford a potential health hazard.
