U.S. official says West Africa travel ban would hinder Ebola response

People walk past health workers wearing protective masks and gloves at the Felix Houphouet Boigny international airport in Abidjan August 12, 2014. REUTERS/Luc Gnago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A ban on travel from West Africa would impede the response to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, a White House official said on Friday. Asked whether she would recommend to President Barack Obama that he impose a travel ban on West Africa, White House adviser Lisa Monaco said: "Right now we believe those types of steps actually impede the response."