Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador is calling for a ban on commercial travel from West Africa, a call his Democratic challenger, state Rep. Shirley Ringo, criticized as “bordering on panic.” S-R reporter Jim Camden writes that Labrador, in his weekly newsletter late last week, said, “Halting travel will help contain the disease, dispel fear among Americans and give the government and health care providers time to take additional steps to prevent any further spread of the (Ebola) virus.”

Labrador went further than Washington GOP Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers, Camden noted, who is calling for the Obama administration to consider “immediate travel restrictions” from Liberia and other countries with the Ebola outrbreak, with a temporary ban on visas to people in areas most affected by the virus. Her Democratic challenger, Joe Pakootas, also disagreed with her position, saying the decision should be left to medical professionals.

Ringo said she thought the United States was “a long way” from considering travel restrictions, and said she doubted such restrictions would work for practical reasons, as people travel by indirect routes.  It makes more sense to stress protocols that identify people who might be ill and deal with them, she said. “Congressman Labrador’s suggestion really borders on panic.” You can read Camden’s full report here at his “Spin Control” blog.