Illinois Ebola quarantine meant to 'quell fears'

Illinois officials say a mandatory home quarantine announced Friday for travelers from three West African nations won't be used for medical workers who wore personal protective equipment correctly while treating Ebola patients.

Mandatory quarantines in New York and New Jersey are being criticized by infectious disease experts who say they could discourage volunteers from fighting the disease in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said Monday that the state's 21-day quarantine is mandatory only for "high-risk" people. That would include anyone who reports touching body fluids of Ebola patients without protective gear.

The guidance was sent Friday to local health departments. Arnold says the quarantine is intended to "help quell fears while we continue to educate the public about the science of Ebola."