UN urges Ebola-hit countries to start exit screening at airports, ports, major crossings

The U.N. health agency is urging Ebola-affected countries to start screening all passengers leaving international airports, sea ports and major ground crossings.

The World Health Organization says the risk of the Ebola virus being transmitted during air travel is low but anyone with an illness consistent with the virus should not be allowed to travel unless it is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.

In a statement Monday the WHO said even countries unaffected by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa need to strengthen their ability to detect and immediately contain new cases without doing anything that unnecessarily interferes with international travel or trade.

But it said countries don't need to impose travel restrictions and active screening of passengers if they do not share borders with Ebola-affected countries.