Ebola fears hit fever pitch last night aboard an Arik Air Flight from Nigeria to JFK.
According to the NY Post, a passenger on the flight passed away after vomiting and complaining about chest pains. The New York airport was alerted about the 63-year-old man’s death and had members of the Center of Disease Control and Health Department meet the plane as soon as it landed.
The NY Daily News reports that passengers were kept on the plane for about 45 minutes as the CDC officials examined the deceased passenger. Officials determined that the man did not die of Ebola. Instead, he passed away after suffering a heart attack.
Despite the fact that the unidentified passenger did not die from Ebola, many feel that the United States needs to implements stronger security checks to stop the disease from entering the country or stop inbound flights altogether.
POTUS should suspend travel to US from W Africa & visas to citizens of W African nations until we get clearer analysis of Ebola transmission
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) October 14, 2014
Republican Congressman Peter King penned a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, writing:
“Given the high volume of travelers at JFK, it is essential that extraordinary measures are taken to intercept possible Ebola-infected passengers … These individuals transit the airport with the rest of the traveling population, including using the restrooms … It is only after they arrive at the Customs and Border Protection primary screening location that they are separated and sent to secondary inspection for a medical check and to complete the questionnaire.”
