Congressman Cicilline Praises Appointment of Ebola Czar, Calls on CDC to Take Critical Steps to Protect Public Health

PAWTUCKET, RI – Congressman David Cicilline today sent a letter to the President’s newly appointed Ebola Response Coordinator, Ron Klain, urging him to take critical steps to ensure the health of the American public. As a representative of one of the largest Liberian-American communities in the country, Cicilline is concerned that the current response to cases of Ebola in the United States has been inadequate and insufficient, and he reiterates that the response to the outbreak and the protection of American citizens from the virus must be a top priority for the federal government. Cicilline called on the Administration to review its procedures and protocols for protecting against the threat of the virus, and better inform the public about actions being taken. Most importantly, Cicilline raised the concern that not enough is being done to effectively identify and isolate individuals exposed to Ebola before they travel to the United States. Cicilline urged Mr. Klain to consider any proposals that could help safeguard public health and urged that steps be taken to prepare hospitals across the country to screen for Ebola cases and properly treat suspected cases. Text of the letter follows:

Dear Mr. Klain:

I am pleased that the President has appointed you to coordinate the United States’ efforts to respond to the serious threat of the Ebola virus. I represent one of the largest Liberian-American communities in the country and I remain very concerned that our country’s current response to this emerging crisis has been inadequate and insufficient. The lack of information from the Administration and the agencies charged with responding and protecting the public health has only increased people’s anxiety and fear of the virus.

I am writing to you today, as you begin your responsibilities, to request that you focus on certain important issues. First I urge you to be certain that strict protocols and uniform guidelines for effectively screening travelers to the United States are being implemented, that thorough and complete screening of potential cases of Ebola within the United States and proper isolation thereafter are in place, and that the care and treatment of Ebola patients within the U.S. is consistent with the best science and the full attention of qualified medical personnel. With your leadership, we absolutely must do a better job of containing this threat and keeping the public fully informed of all the steps that are being taken to combat this deadly virus.

After a hospital in Dallas, Texas failed to identify the first case of Ebola in the United States, I am concerned other hospitals in the country may not be prepared to deal with this virus. The mistakes and missteps made by the hospital in Dallas led to the subsequent infection of two nurses who were caring for an infected patient. It is absolutely critical that everything within our power be done to prevent another situation like this from occurring in other hospitals across the country.

Of primary concern to me is the failure to effectively identify and isolate all individuals who have been infected or exposed to Ebola before they travel to the United States. As the Administration has stated, I believe we should not rule out any proposals that will safeguard public health in the United States. Specifically, I am asking that you review the practices and procedures in place to screen all passengers for Ebola to ensure that these screenings are undertaken by individuals with appropriate expertise and training. I also ask that you continue to evaluate all possible options for identifying and isolating carriers of this disease prior to travel to the United States to ensure that they present no danger of exposing others to the virus. In addition, I strongly urge you to focus on what steps may be taken to improve or update the procedures used to identify these individuals and ensure procedures are in place to limit exposure of individuals that have been in contact with the disease so that others are not infected. While there has been much discussion about travel bans, I understand there are no direct flights from West Africa to the United States, making any ban extremely difficult to implement. Nonetheless, the issues I have outlined, properly addressed, will significantly enhance the protection of the public.

I also strongly recommend that steps be taken to ensure that hospitals across the country are prepared to screen for Ebola cases, and should they have a suspected case, properly treat the patient. In addition, I urge you to establish clear guidelines to ensure that future patients be transferred to institutions that have experience in handling highly infectious diseases, as in the case of Amber Joy Vinson, one of the nurses who treated the patient in Texas, and has been transferred to Emory University Hospital.

The response to the outbreak of Ebola and the protection of American citizens must remain a top priority at every level of the federal government. I appreciate your attention to the concerns that I have raised and look forward to your leadership on this issue. I remain committed to assist you and your office in any way that I can as you manage our country's response to this serious public health crisis.

Sincerely,

David N. Cicilline

Member of Congress

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