Barack Obama has ruled out imposing a US travel ban to help fight the spread of the Ebola virus.
The US president told reporters at the White House that he would not introduce a “flat-out travel ban” as current screening measures at airports are working.
The US government has been criticised by members of congress for not implementing a travel ban from West African countries, but Obama has responded by looking to employ an ‘Ebola Czar’.
“It may be appropriate for me to appoint an additional person to oversee efforts to contain Ebola,” said Obama. “But a flat out travel ban is not the way to go,” he added.
The call came after a congressional hearing in which several republicans said flights from West Africa should be halted.
“We need to look at all the options available to keep our families safe and move quickly and responsibly to make any necessary changes at airports," said Democratic Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa.
Calls for a travel ban to the US have increased after a nurse infected with Ebola may have been sick and contagious for four days, and took two flights, before diagnosis. Amber Vinson could have become ill as early as last Friday, when she flew from Dallas to Ohio, according to health officials in the US.
The Ebola outbreak has already killed around 4,000 people and infected more than 7,200, mostly in West Africa.
Earlier this week, UK health secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed screening for Ebola would start at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and the Eurostar hub, St. Pancras.