United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized on Monday the new restrictions set by U.S. states on health workers returning from countries in West Africa hit by Ebola.
The UN Chief expressed his concern and dismay on the mandatory 21-day quarantine policy for people returning from West Africa who had direct contact to Ebola patients. The restrictions were set by U.S. states New York, New Jersey and Illinois over the weekend.
"Returning health workers are exceptional people who are giving of themselves for humanity," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson of the Secretary-General, citing the views of the UN chief.
"Those who develop infections should be supported, not stigmatized," added Dujarric coming from a statement sent by Ban Ki-moon.
The spokesman also said that Ban "believes that these restrictions have particular pressure on health care workers and those who have been on the front line" responding to the Ebola outbreak in three West African countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The states of New York, New Jersey and Illinois implemented the new restriction for fear that they are not doing enough response to prevent Ebola from spreading over the region.
Tom Frieden, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, told The Guardian at a conference call, that only those who are considered "high risk" should automatically be required quarantine in their homes. People who are "high risk" with Ebola are those who did not wear proper protective clothing or were exposed to the infection through needles or other injury.
The CDC Director cleared that the new rules intend to "increase the level of protection of the health and safety of Americans" while "protecting those who are doing the heroic work of protecting us from Ebola as they fight it on the shores of Africa as well".
The White House explained on Monday that the different Ebola restrictions were inevitable as public health policies rely to the decision of individual states. "We have a federal system in this country in which states are given significant authority governing their constituents. That is certainly true when it comes to public safety and public health," said Josh Earnest, White House spokesman in a briefing.
The United Nations secretary-general however emphasized that United Nations will still abide by the rules and restrictions of the federal and state governments. "The Secretary-General reiterates that the best way for any country to protect itself from Ebola is to stop the outbreak at its source in West Africa," Dujarric said.
