Cicilline, Liberian-American Leaders Meet to Discuss Ebola Outbreak

U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) today met with Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island President Winston Gould, African Alliance of Rhode Island President Julius Kolawole, and Rhode Island Department of Health Director Dr. Michael Fine to discuss the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia and other West African nations. Earlier today, Cicilline received a briefing from officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on the outbreak and U.S. and response from the U.S. and international community.

Rhode Island is home to an estimated 15,000 Liberian immigrants, many of whom have family and friends living in Liberia where there have been over 516 suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola.

"This health crisis is the largest of its kind and one that the international community can't ignore," said Cicilline, a member of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that oversees federal policy for Africa. "Today I spoke with officials at the CDC and USAID and shared updates about U.S. efforts to combat this deadly disease with leaders of the Liberian community. I thank all of the advocates in Rhode Island for bringing attention to this important matter and gathering medical supplies to aid Liberia and all the West African Nations affected by Ebola."

"I want to thank Congressman Cicilline for meeting with leaders in our community to discuss this serious health emergency that has hit Liberia and other countries in the area," said Gould. "It's essential that Liberian-Americans and our friends in Rhode Island and across the United States come together to help in any way that we can, such as collecting food and supplies, rallying to keep international attention on this crisis, and supporting efforts to send experts and health authorities to the region."

The recent Ebola outbreak, which is the largest in history, has spread to four countries -- Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. WHO estimates there is a cumulative total of 1711 suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola and 932 deaths. Cicilline is an original cosponsor of H.RES.701, bipartisan legislation calling upon the United States to work with international health authorities to assist Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in the development and fielding of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics to treat victims and those at risk of contracting this deadly disease.

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