Minnesota Could Monitor Travelers for Ebola Another Year

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota will likely continue to monitor travelers from West Africa until the Ebola outbreak has been officially declared over, despite a recent slowdown in new cases abroad.

Reports say the state Department of Health has spent more than $2 million monitoring all travelers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea for Ebola symptoms. Hospitals have also spent millions on preparations.

Travelers are called to see if they're experiencing any Ebola-like symptoms. If they've been exposed to someone with the disease, they undergo in-home checks by public health workers every day for three weeks.

None of the 323 travelers under the state's 21-day watch have developed Ebola. Four people were tested after reporting possible symptoms.

Officials with the state health department and Hennepin County say they're preparing for monitoring to go on for another year.