Sunday, October 26, 2014

Should Ebola Response Include W. Africa Travel Ban?

The opposition to the banning of travel from W. Africa to the U.S.A, hinges on the following idea:

Banning travel from A (W. Africa) to C (USA) is incorrect because persons leaving A (W. Africa) could go to B (a nation other than the USA that is not in W. Africa) and then from B to C, thereby circumventing the travel ban.

Regardless of whether or not a W. African travel ban should be implemented, this argument contains logical mistakes.

1. Even if travelers could circumvent a travel-ban by stopping at B before going to C, the travel-ban could still significantly improve the infection situation in the USA.

2. If B bans travel from A to B, it would not be possible for persons to travel from A to B and then from B to C.

3. Government & the private sector are capable of keeping track regarding which individuals travel from A to B, and then attempt to travel from B to C.

The pros of not implementing a W. African travel ban have to be balanced against the cons. A laundry list of the cons does not suffice.

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