Obama, advisers weigh extra Ebola screening for travelers at US airports

President Obama is expected to meet with top health and security officials on Monday to consider whether to launch additional screening at U.S. airports for some travelers arriving from Ebola-stricken African nations. 

Two top U.S. health officials confirmed to Fox News on Monday that they were looking at those options as they try to contain the Ebola virus. 

"What will be discussed at the White House is the issue of entry screening," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said. 

He explained that the first line of defense right now is for travelers to be screened when they attempt to leave the affected African nations. Officials have said dozens of travelers have been stopped from boarding this way after they exhibited symptoms at these departure points. 

Fauci said the president and his team are now looking at imposing an extra layer of screening -- by instituting new measures at U.S. airports. 

"That's certainly open for discussion," he said. 

Dr. Tom Frieden, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also confirmed that officials are "looking at those possibilities and others as well." 

He confirmed the extra screening might include asking travelers who they had contact with and checking to see if they have a fever. 

Obama is scheduled to get the update on the Ebola outbreak Monday afternoon from his national security team and other senior officials. 

The Obama administration has said that it won't shut down flights from affected countries, particularly those in West Africa, arguing this would be counterproductive by restricting aid flights. 

Fauci reiterated that point Monday, and Frieden also alluded to it on Fox News. 

"Nothing's off the table in terms of keeping Americans safe, except doing things that might actually backfire," Freiden said. 

But some lawmakers have called for the Obama administration to at least consider the possibility of a travel ban, considering the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States was confirmed last week in spite of existing measures.