HEALTH

U.S. lifts restrictions for visitors from Mali amid West Africa Ebola outbreak

The Associated Press Published Monday, January 5, 2015 12:47PM EST

Malaria being overlooked amid Ebola outbreak

Mothers wait in line for their children to be vaccinated by heath workers at the Pipeline Community Health Center, situated on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia in this Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 file photo. (AP / Abbas Dulleh)

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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Homeland Security Department is ending Ebola-related airport screening procedures for travellers from Mali.

Starting Tuesday, travellers from Mali will not be subject to monitoring for possible symptoms of Ebola upon arrival. And, they will no longer be required to enter the U.S. through one of five designated airports.

Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control say the requirements are being lifted because two 21-day incubation cycles have passed since the last Ebola patient in that West African nation had contact with someone not wearing personal protective equipment. There are also no active Ebola cases in Mali right now.

Travel restrictions and monitoring remain in place for visitors from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.