Ebola Outbreak 2015 News Update: U.S. Eases Restrictions For Air Passengers Coming From Mali

Jonah Hicap Wednesday, January 07, 2015

A man has his temperature taken using an infrared digital laser thermometer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria, on Aug. 11, 2014. | (Photo: Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

Travelers entering the U.S. from Mali will no longer be required to undergo enhanced screening for the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

Mali has been removed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the list of Ebola-affected countries whose travelers must be screened when they enter the U.S.

Passengers from Mali will also not be required anymore to enter the U.S. through five designated airports that conduct screening, according to the CDC.

"Also on January 6, CDC will remove the Alert Level 2 Travel Notice for Mali, which advised travelers to practice enhanced precautions when visiting that nation," according to a CDC statement posted on its website.

Passengers who arrived in the US before Jan. 6 are mandated to continue active monitoring and report symptoms for 21 days after leaving Mali, the agency said.

CDC explained that Jan. 6 marks the two incubation cycles of 21 days each since the last patient in Mali had contact with a person not wearing protective equipment.

"The last Ebola patient in Mali tested negative on December 5, 2014, and there are currently no active cases."

CDC added that subsequent Ebola cases in Mali would not require the reimposition of the enhanced airport screening unless there is a risk of widespread transmission.

Mali had seven laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases with one death, according to the World Health Organization.

Travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, countries with widespread transmission of Ebola, are still required to undergo enhanced screening and monitoring when they enter the U.S.

As of Jan. 5, there were 8,219 reported deaths from Ebola in these countries out of the total 20,172 cases.

"Travel notices for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone remain at a Warning Level 3 and advise travelers to avoid nonessential travel to the three countries with Ebola outbreaks," the CDC said.

The U.S. reported four confirmed Ebola cases including one death.