Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine

A representative of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requests the opening of larger quarantine facilities along the border to manage disease outbreaks. The commenter argues that these facilities are necessary to handle infectious diseases among residents and recently arrived immigrants.

An individual traveler who visited Uganda and was subsequently stranded and inconvenienced by quarantine measures argues that the proposed ban is discriminatory and ineffective. They contend that the rule separates families and causes significant personal hardship without improving public health.

The commenter argues against blocking lawful permanent residents from Ebola-affected countries, stating that such restrictions are not supported by evidence. They contend that these measures may actually increase public health risks by encouraging travelers to bypass official screening points.

A public health professional with experience in Ebola response opposes the interim final rule regarding foreign quarantine. They argue that travel restrictions are ineffective and can increase risk by encouraging travelers to hide their history, suggesting instead that the focus should be on controlling outbreaks at the source.