A deadly disease has taken over the coast of West Africa once again, though never as deadly as this. Ebola is widespread throughout three main countries: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of October 8 there has been 8033 cases, with 3865 deaths. Other countries with diseased people include Nigeria, Senegal, and the United States.

The first American to have been diagnosed with Ebola, Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, has passed away in the Dallas hospital where he was being treated, on Wednesday morning. After going in and being sent home, Duncan was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed on September 28, after returning from Monrovia, Liberia, on September 19. There have been no other accounts in the United States, and measures are being taking to guarantee the safety of citizens.

Starting at the JFK International Airport on October 11, travelers from West Africa will be questioned about possible Ebola interaction and have their temperature taken. Next week, Washington-Dulles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will also begin this procedure, to ensure the safety of all travelers. In a CNBC media conference held on Wednesday, Alejandro Mayorkas, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said, “We are taking these additional measures in a dynamic environment to ensure a layered approach and that we take the security measures that we assess to be needed right now.”

With no known cure for Ebola, every country is taking necessary steps to ensure the safety of all. Various suggestions are provided by doctors to try to stop the chain of infection. Lists of symptoms and mandatory actions to be taken if suspected are also available. The CDC is working their hardest to send over volunteers, supplies, and support, as well as other various organizations.