Republicans ramp up pressure for travel ban on citizens of nations affected by Ebola

[Shemp Howard]

15. I agree with you, candelista.

It is only common sense to quarantine the affected areas in Africa. Or, at a minimum, quarantine everyone who arrives from those areas for at least 21 days.

Those who disagree make one of two arguments.

Either they say that screening at airports will be enough, or they say that a quarantine will hinder efforts to fight the disease in Africa.

To the first point, no screening can be 100% effective. It is easy to mask a fever. And people will lie on forms. Of course, no quarantine can be 100% effective either. But a quarantine is certainly much more effective than a quick one-minute screening.

To the second point, a quarantine need not be total. There is no "rule" that states that supplies cannot still be flown into a quarantined area. One can carefully monitor personnel on a government supply flight. Not so with a commercial flight.

I wish the President would reconsider his position on this. The situation is not, at this point, critical. But it is also no longer theoretical.