Newsletter: Special Dave's Weekly Wrap on Ebola - October 17, 2014

Statement

Friends,

Though I typically send my Weekly Wrap on Sunday afternoons, I wanted to get in touch with you sooner to discuss rising concerns about the Ebola virus.

The latest Ebola case hits home in Northeast Ohio and is a clear indication that our nation must act now to stop the spread of the virus. The second health care worker to be diagnosed with Ebola, Ms. Amber Vinson, flew Monday evening from Cleveland Hopkins to Dallas on Frontier Airlines after visiting family in the Akron area over the weekend. She was diagnosed with Ebola on Tuesday morning.

In my mind, it's obvious that a health care worker who had been in direct contact with an infectious Ebola patient should have never been permitted to board a commercial flight. But I was even more shocked to learn this young woman called the CDC multiple times before boarding her Monday evening flight to report a fever of 99.5 degrees, and the CDC still cleared her to fly because her fever did not meet the threshhold of a "high risk" temperature of 100.4 degrees.

The CDC's continued misteps have destroyed the American people's confidence in their ability to adequately handle this crisis. It took two weeks for the CDC to send a team to Dallas to train health care professionals how to safely care for Ebola-infected patients. This agency must start leading and providing a stronger response. We cannot wait any longer to put strict protocols in place to contain this virus and provide more resources to combat it.

When I spoke with the CDC for more than 45 minutes yesterday, they conveyed an overconfident attitude without inspiring much faith that they have a handle on this situation. When I asked directly how Ms. Vinson was allowed to get on a commercial airliner after reporting her fever, all I was told is that she should not have been allowed to do that. I told them bluntly that their response has been inadequate and that they must exercise more leadership and urgency in order to restore our confidence in their ability to protect the American people.

According to Chairman Ed Royce of the House Foreign Relations Committee, nearly 100 people from the three West African nations most impacted by the Ebola outbreak are applying for visas at our U.S. embassies each day. Once they are granted a visa, they are free to travel to the United States. Considering that 27 African nations have already implemented travel restrictions to protect their citizens, I do not understand what we are waiting for when it comes to protecting the American people from this deadly virus.

Since the beginning of October, I have called on the administration to immediately implement travel restrictions to protect American citizens from further exposure to Ebola. Ms. Vinson contracted Ebola from treating Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to die from the virus on U.S. soil after traveling from Liberia. It is time to impose targeted travel restrictions on nations impacted by the Ebola virus until the outbreak is defeated.

I can assure you that this situation will remain a top priority for me, and I will continue working with local, state and federal officials to ensure the safety of Northeast Ohioans. Remember that though we must be vigilant about this virus, there is no need to panic. Ebola spreads through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids who is already displaying symptoms. If you have any concerns, you are welcome to contact the Ohio Department of Health's 24-hour call center at 1-866-800-1404. My office is also happy to answer any questions we can about this evolving situation.

Thank you for the honor of serving you, and I will be sure to keep you updated on any important developments.

Sincerely,

Dave

Source