[IUHoosiergirl88]

The answer to your first para is kind of complicated, as the definition of an 'airborne' virus/bacteria/fungi seemingly would include aerosols generated by an Ebola patient sneezing or coughing. But unlike influenza, measles, or other truly airborne viruses, Ebola doesn't stay airborne a particularly long period of time because the aerosol particles are too large. Influenza, for example, can float through the air in teeny tiny (think 1-10 picometers) for up to almost 3 hours, some studies show. That's why you can catch the flu or the common cold just by being near someone who has it.

Honestly, even if you stop flights from Ebola-stricken countries, it's not going to do much good for a few reasons. First, there aren't a lot of direct flights from those nations to the USA--most transit European hubs. Second, if you do stop entry of anyone originating from West Africa, that is going to induce immigration officials in those countries to just not stamp passports to keep travel flowing. Visitors/tourists have money, and money is important in that area. Third, corruption is rampant.

You'd have to screen travelers from ALL international flights, regardless of country of origin...and even that's not going to help, as you won't catch passengers who are currently asymptomatic or still incubating.