New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport is the first in the U.S. to start screening passengers for Ebola symptoms. The AP reports starting today, travelers coming from three West African countries will have their temperatures checked as part of an enhanced Ebola screening program.

In a briefing about the program this morning at J.F.K, the AP reports officials said travelers arriving from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea will have their temperatures taken with no-touch thermometers. The screening is reportedly "part of a multi-layered approach," and will expand to four more airports in the coming week: New Jersey's Newark Liberty, Virginia's Washington Dulles, Chicago's O'Hare, and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson.

Because those infected with Ebola can take up to 21 days to show symptoms, the New York Times reports the program's effectiveness may be limited:

Over the last two months, 36,000 people have been screened in Africa and only 77 were kept off flights because of illness. While many of the 77 had malaria none were infected with Ebola.

According to the New York Times, airports in Canada and Europe plan to adopt similar screening programs this week.

[image via AP]