Americans avoid air travel as Ebola spreads
Nearly half of Americans are avoiding international air travel due to fears of catching the deadly Ebola virus which has killed more than 4,000 people in West Africa and infected two US nurses who treated a Liberian victim.
The results of the poll by Reuters came as health officials try to trace passengers who travelled on a US domestic flight with one of the two nurses who was tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
The nurse, who had been part of a team treating Eric Thomas Duncan, who died, had flown from Dallas on Friday and returned on Monday from Cleveland on a Frontier Airlines flight before reporting symptoms.
In a poll, 45% of 1,577 Americans said they were so concerned about the spread of Ebola that they were avoiding international air travel.
Only 19% of those surveyed said they were unconcerned by the epidemic, which has killed at least 4,493 people, predominantly in West Africa, in the worst Ebola outbreak since the disease was identified in 1976.
Cases of the virus, which can cause fever, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhea, have been limited in the US and Europe.
Among those surveyed, 79% said that if there was an outbreak of Ebola in the US, they would be very or somewhat likely to avoid international air travel.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026