Debate over calls for travel ban from West Africa due to Ebola

NEW YORK (WABC) -- As worry over Ebola spreads across America, there's a new call to ban flights from West Africa. But there's a problem with such a solution.

"There are no direct flights from any of these three West African nations to any part of New York, including JFK," said Pat Foy, the Port Authority Director.

The 70 to 100 travelers every day from West Africa to JFK transfer to other flights in Paris and Brussels.
Still, as long as the disease is at epidemic levels, there's another way to prevent incoming travelers from West Africa.

"I believe we need to suspend all travel from West Africa whether it's a direct flight or an indirect flight basically by suspending the visas of anyone, anybody from West Africa," said Rep. Peter King, (R) New York.

A lot of people support Congressman King's idea of a visa ban because the crisis that hit Dallas isn't going away.

"There has to be some level of control and they obviously don't really have it and that's my biggest concern," said Frank Quinones, a traveler.

Yet the president Thursday said screenings in Africa and at airports in the U.S. are sufficient and he said a ban would force travelers to lie to get in.

"They're less likely to get treated properly, screened properly, quarantined properly, and as a consequence we could end up have more cases rather than less," President Obama said.

And at JFK many travelers call a ban on all people coming from West Africa essentially unfair.

"In developed country like United States, Ebola in my opinion is not dangerous. So no need to deny visas," said Michael Makeyev, a traveler.

"Some action definitely needs to be taken but I'm not sure if the answer is really banning all traffic," said John James, a traveler.