The CDC Needs To Strengthen Its Response To Ebola
This past week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) informed my office that an Ebola patient traveled in Ohio’s 16th District by air on October 13, 2014, the day before she reported symptoms. Though I remain concerned about the CDC’s lack of stringent protocols, I am confident in Ohio’s strong response.
Over the past week, I participated in several calls with Governor Kasich to discuss Ohio’s response effort. I am encouraged that Ohio's quarantine protocols are stricter than the CDC’s guidelines. Ohio will use mandatory quarantine measures, rather than the voluntary measures, which allowed the Texas nurse to travel to Ohio in the first place. I learned that representatives from the Department of Health are on-site in Summit County to support local efforts and are in ongoing communication with the CDC. Additionally, the CDC is on the ground to track the contacts made by the infected nurse and they have expanded outreach to include those who flew from Dallas Fort Worth to Cleveland on October 10, 2014.
Though the vast majority of Ohioans are not at risk, I share concern with the people of Ohio’s 16th District regarding Ebola. It is clear that the protocols the administration currently has in place can and should be enhanced – the patient should have never boarded a flight out of Dallas. However, the CDC allowed her to travel. We need answers.
That is why I led a bipartisan letter signed by members of the Ohio delegation to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr. Tom Frieden requesting support to Ohio and with questions regarding its protocols. The letter asks that the CDC provide any and all necessary support to the state of Ohio, an explanation as to why they allowed a caregiver of an infected person to travel to Ohio, and what changes have been made to ensure the same situation does not happen in the future. Additionally, the letter asks that the CDC keep all options for containment on the table, including travel screenings and restrictions.
It is critical that the administration treats the outbreak at the source, as well as works to ensure that protocols and procedures are in place to detect those who have potentially been exposed to prevent them from exposing others. A travel ban should be considered, particularly at a time when the CDC’s protocols have failed Northeast Ohioans.
We must have efficient and effective preparedness procedures at the federal, state, and local levels in order to protect Ohioans and Americans across the country. I will continue to monitor the ongoing situation closely and work across all levels of government to ensure Ohio has all of the resources it needs to protect its residents.
If you have questions, you may call the Ebola information call center at 1-866-800-1404. Additionally, if our office can be of assistance to you, please don't hesitate to call us at our Wadsworth office: (330) 334-0040, Parma office: (440) 882-6779, or Washington office: (202) 225-3876. I also encourage you to visit our website at renacci.house.gov and subscribe to our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages to get the latest updates on my work in Washington and Ohio's 16th District.