Letter to Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection - Stepping Up Screening Requirements and Other Methods To Keep US Even Safer from Ebola Outbreak in West Africa

Letter

Dear Dr. Frieden and Commissioner Kerlikowske,

I write today to applaud the work and tireless effort you have given to keep Americans safe in light of the recent confirmed case of Ebola in the United States, as well as to offer additional steps that could be taken to further address the spread of Ebola in the U.S. and abroad. As you know, currently there are several suspected cases of Ebola in several states. For the safety and security of the American people, I respectfully request the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilize its resources and authority to increase the surveillance and containment of Ebola in the U.S. and abroad. More resources are needed to accurately detect and track this emerging virus and the appropriate agencies need to work in concert with the CDC to ensure that Americans remain safe and healthy.

Since the emergence of Ebola in several West African countries, there have been three confirmed cases of U.S. citizens with Ebola as well as several other suspected cases of U.S. citizens with the virus in the US and abroad. I applaud the CDC's immediate response to those cases and their continued preventive efforts in the West African countries surrounding those that have had Ebola outbreaks. While the CDC has put significant investment into sending supplies, training materials for detecting the illness and volunteers overseas, I ask that CDC work with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in major U.S. ports of entry to increase the monitoring and identification of people arriving from the affected countries both by plane and by cargo ship. In addition, due to the importance of information gathering during any potential health epidemic, the CDC should work with CBP to initiate a "health declaration form," which should include an in-depth questionnaire asking specifics about a person's stay in West Africa. This should be implemented for travelers returning from Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, either directly, or through another secondary airport such as Munich, Brussels, London, Frankfort and Amsterdam.

Due to the severity of Ebola symptoms, there is a great need for accurate and immediate information to be shared with hospitals across the U.S. The CDC has certified only 13 states whose hospitals and local health officials are equipped to handle cases of Ebola. Therefore, I urge CDC to work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a database of passengers flying to and from West Africa, directly or indirectly, that can be shared with local hospitals nationwide. This database would allow hospitals to confirm whether patients exhibiting symptoms have been to one of the source countries and would ensure that physicians have the most truthful information of a patient's travel itinerary. It is important that this database only contain information relevant to a person health and travel and have an expiration date. The database should be shared and made available to local hospitals in the same way that similar information is shared and available to local law enforcement.

The CDC has been utilizing contact tracing to identify who has been in contact with a person infected with Ebola, which is a crucial factor in finding where a source of Ebola has arisen, additional people who may need to be screened and for containment of the disease. I ask that, as this is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and in light of the increasing plausibility of Ebola coming to the U.S, that CDC work with other agencies such as USAID to redirect significant funding dedicated to contact tracing in the U.S. and in West Africa.

I believe a coordinated effort between the CDC, CBP and DHS as well as local health departments is essential to protect the public's health. Thank you for your continued efforts to protect the health of all Americans, and for your consideration of this critical and urgent request. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

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