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Local Congressman Supports Call For Travel Ban Between U.S., West Africa

By David Madden

MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) - There's a growing call, in light of the spread of Ebola, to impose a travel ban from the United States to and from West Africa, and a local member of congress now supports that idea.

The U.S. needs to get better protective procedures in place in this country, according to Delaware County Republican Pat Meehan:

"It's prudent that steps are taken to contain it for a temporary period until we're able to be better prepared to resolve any issues that might arise in the United States and we're better prepared to do the kinds of checking to assure that we're doing everything possible to prevent it from coming here."

He says the temporary ban would include people on connecting flights, which are necessary to travel from West Africa to Philadelphia:

"Those who are emanating from those original West African countries may frequently travel through other kinds of junctions, so to speak, to get here. So I think it's prudent that the ban would include people traveling from those areas. You're already beginning to see some of that happening in Europe."

The Obama Administration would have to approve any travel ban.

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