Ohio Congress members express Ebola concerns to Centers for Disease Control

Published October 20, 2014 at 3:50 p.m.

By Sabrina Eaton from the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Ohio's 16 U.S. House of Representatives members on Monday sent a joint letter that asks the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to explain the policies that allowed a nurse who took care of an Ebola patient in Texas to visit Ohio over the Columbus Day weekend.

The nurse, Amber Joy Vinson, tested positive for the disease upon her return to Dallas and is being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. She was visiting relatives in Ohio to plan for her wedding. Nobody who had contact with her has experienced disease symptoms, though several are quarantined.

"We write today to ask that the CDC provide any and all necessary support to the state of Ohio in determining any potential exposure, identifying those most at risk, and if necessary, containing and treating anyone that may have come in contact with the Ebola virus," said the letter spearheaded by Wadsworth GOP Rep. Jim Renacci and Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

"We further ask for an explanation of the policies which allowed a direct caregiver to an infected person to travel to Ohio and what changes have been made to ensure the same does not happen in the future," it continues. "Finally, we ask that the CDC keep all options for containment in mind moving forward, including travel screenings and restrictions, if appropriate."

Vinson's family issued a statement Sunday that said she obtained Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clearance for her travel and said that "suggestions that she ignored any of the physician and government-provided protocols recommended to her are patently untrue and hurtful. It said the family has hired well-known lawyer Billy Martin "to provide us with legal counsel during this unfortunate and troubling time."

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, sent a separate letter on Monday to Frieden, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain that urged CDC to "take a more active role in helping state and local officials prepare for any potential next steps."

It described actions Brown felt public health officials should take to manage any emerging cases of Ebola, such as collaborating with local public health experts and monitoring quarantined individuals.

"Ohio is home to some of the best hospitals and infectious disease experts in the country," said a statement from Brown. "But it's critical that federal officials outline strict and effective protocols to harness that expertise and ensure the safety and health of all Ohioans."

Below is a copy of the letter that Ohio's U.S. House of Representatives members sent Frieden:

The current Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and its subsequent arrival in the United States, has become a source of anxiety for many Americans. Over the past week, Ohioans in particular grew concerned about potential exposure to the virus when it was discovered that a nurse caring for an Ebola patient travelled within the state before subsequently testing positive for the virus.

As elected Representatives of the people of Ohio, our primary concern is the health and safety of those we represent. It is our understanding that the Ohio Department of Health and the Governor's office are working to ensure effective protocols are in place and medical professionals are prepared should any resident of Ohio present symptoms of Ebola. We also understand that strict quarantine procedures have been designed by the Ohio Department of Health that would effectively prevent the spread of the disease if it is found in the State. We are encouraged by these proactive steps and hope that they ultimately prove unnecessary.

We write today to ask that the CDC provide any and all necessary support to the state of Ohio in determining any potential exposure, identifying those most at risk, and if necessary, containing and treating anyone that may have come in contact with the Ebola virus. We further ask for an explanation of the policies which allowed a direct caregiver to an infected person to travel to Ohio and what changes have been made to ensure the same does not happen in the future. Finally, we ask that the CDC keep all options for containment in mind moving forward, including travel screenings and restrictions, if appropriate.

We appreciate the effort being put forward to effectively prevent widespread exposure by federal, state, and local entities and will continue to monitor the effect of the Ebola virus on the people of Ohio and the rest of the country.

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