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Congresswoman Cites 'Growing Concern' About Ebola From Airport Workers, Nurses

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Southland Congresswoman is calling for a meeting with Los Angeles city officials to review current procedures being used to screen passengers for – and respond to – a potential incident involving the Ebola virus.

In a letter (PDF) to to Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports, Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles cited "growing concern" among airport police officers, flight attendants, and nurses" about the "threat that Ebola poses to public health."

Waters called for a meeting with Lindsey and other officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review procedures "in the event that an infected passenger is identified."

"Given the potential for the spread of Ebola through air travel, it is critical that officials in the community surrounding LAX understand the procedures that are being followed at LAX to protect passengers, employees, and the community," Waters wrote.

Waters told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO there are still questions over how the screening process locally could detect a passenger who flew to another U.S. city from West Africa and then boarded a connecting flight to LAX.

"We're gonna ask for all the detailed information about what if any flights are coming directly, what is the transfer port, how are they getting to the airports?" she said.

Waters' district includes Los Angeles International Airport and residents in surrounding communities.

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