Irresponsible comments are now to be grounds to subject a citizen (DR is off the hook, the airline is not) to such treatment. We are not talking a bomb or some such other thing here.
According to the CDC, ebola cannot be transmitted simply by being in the same space with a ebola victim. Direct contact with bodily fluids is the only transmission mechanism, it is claimed. If this is true, the airline had no grounds to do anything other than be peeved at the nitwittery displayed by the passenger. The airline could have revoked the nitwits return travel, if it were a US Airways flight.
A airline, in my view, may deal with a passenger as they see fit, they are a private business. When they subject a citizen to state sanctions (the DR in the case) without just (lawful) cause, then they must be held to account. We are at the point now that a sniffle and runny nose can/will have your liberty seriously compromised by the state.