Perry Calls For Travel Ban From Ebola-Stricken Countries

Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) held a press conference on Friday outlining the state’s response to the Ebola virus.

“DHS officials have been in constant contact with the Centers for Disease Control and coordinated with federal and local health officials to locate and begin monitoring those who were exposed to Mr. Duncan,” Perry said. “The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been actively involved in the handling and disposing of the waste that’s been generated by all three patients, including the cleaning and decontamination of those residents.”

Perry said that he has asked President Barack Obama to “fast-track” CDC acknowledgement of facilities that are better suited to treat Ebola.

“This will let people know that there will be a place to go if they get sick in Texas,” he said.

Perry also took time during his statement to call for a ban on air travel from the countries hardest hit with the Ebola virus.

“Air travel is, in fact, how this disease crosses borders, and it’s certainly how it got to Texas in the first place. Based on recent and ongoing developments, I believe it is the right policy to ban air travel from countries that have been hit hardest by the Ebola outbreak,” Perry said. “Certainly, there should be an exception for aid workers so they continue their important work fighting this disease.”

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