A White House petition to halt travel from Ebola-stricken countries into the U.S. has jumped by over 15,000 signatures in just three days, bringing its total number of signatures to 37,062.
The explosion in signatures comes as a second American, Amber Vinson, has now contracted Ebola. After Vinson called the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) several times, she was reportedly told she was fine to fly on an airplane despite having a mild fever. Shortly thereafter, Vinson tested positive for Ebola.
On Thursday, Air France activated emergency measures and grounded a flight in Madrid when a passenger aboard was suspected of having Ebola. Air France employees have been petitioning since August to halt flights to Ebola-stricken countries. Similarly, 200 New York airline cabin cleaners walked off the job citing Ebola safety fears.
The Obama administration has refused to put travel restrictions in place and claims doing so would make the Ebola crisis worse. However, on Thursday former Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney broke with President Obama and suggested that “flight restrictions” may be needed to combat an Ebola outbreak in America.
A bipartisan group of 26 members of Congress sent Obama a letter urging him not to waste time in halting incoming travel from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. So far, Obama has ignored and denied such urgings.
To receive an official White House response, the online petition must reach 100,000 signatures by the end of October.