CDC Staff Volunteers Step Up for Ebola Screening Effort

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needed more hands to screen international travelers for Ebola, their own staff answered the call with a wave of volunteers.

The CDC launched a recruitment drive asking employees from different departments to help with frontline screening work at U.S. ports of entry. Public health advisers, emergency specialists, and licensed medical providers are signing up to check temperatures, assess incoming travelers for illness, and refer suspected cases for further evaluation.

Acting CDC Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya sent the call to action after the agency activated a Level 2 emergency response on May 18. The heightened alert came in response to an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The volunteer effort represents a significant scaling up of screening operations across multiple port health stations nationwide. These professionals are stepping away from their regular duties to staff the front lines of disease prevention.

Ebola is a severe viral disease that can be deadly without proper medical care. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and in more advanced cases, vomiting and unexplained bleeding. The virus isn't contagious until symptoms appear, making screening at entry points a critical tool for early detection.

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, first discovered near the Ebola River in 1976. While outbreaks appear irregularly in several African countries, coordinated screening efforts have proven effective at preventing spread to other continents.

Why This Inspires

What makes this response remarkable isn't just the logistics of disease prevention. It's watching professionals volunteer to take on additional responsibilities during a complex public health challenge.

These CDC employees already have full time jobs protecting American health. Now they're raising their hands to do even more, stepping into roles that put them on the front lines of international disease screening. They're conducting temperature checks, evaluating travelers, and making critical referral decisions that could prevent outbreak spread.

Their willingness to volunteer shows the dedication that drives public health work. When emergencies arise, these professionals don't wait to be assigned. They step forward.

The screening expansion means more eyes watching, more expertise deployed, and stronger defenses at every major entry point. Each volunteer adds another layer of protection for communities across the country.

Americans can rest a little easier knowing dedicated professionals are standing watch at our borders, volunteering their time and expertise to keep everyone safe.