Which of the following was NOT part of CDC's United States measures during the 2015 Ebola outbreak?

• A. Entry screening at five US airports
• B. Travelers from Guinea and Sierra Leone actively monitored
• C. Quarantine of all travelers from affected regions
• D. Designated ~55 hospitals as Ebola Treatment Centers

Answer: (C)

Understanding how the CDC approached the 2015 Ebola outbreak helps explain why blanket quarantines were not part of the official measures. The strategy was a layered, risk-based plan focused on preventing entry of cases and catching symptoms early, while avoiding broad restrictions that could burden civil liberties.

Entry screening at five US airports was used to identify travelers who might be ill from affected regions, allowing immediate public health action if symptoms appeared. Travelers coming from Guinea and Sierra Leone were placed under active monitoring by state or local health departments for the 21-day period after potential exposure, so any symptoms could be detected early while people continued with precautions. A network of Ebola Treatment Centers, about 55 hospitals, was designated to provide specialized care and contain transmission if a case emerged, ensuring patients would receive appropriate care in a controlled setting.

Quarantine of all travelers from affected regions was not part of the CDC’s nationwide approach. The policy emphasized targeted monitoring and risk-based precautions rather than a universal blanket quarantine for everyone traveling from the affected areas. Some local or state actions—outside the CDC’s national guidance—did impose stricter restrictions in specific situations, but these were not CDC-wide measures.

So, the statement describing a blanket quarantine for all travelers does not reflect the CDC's actual measures during that outbreak.