Newsletter: closely monitoring

Statement

Dear Friends,

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the reported cases of infection here in the United States are concerning and understandably, there is a great deal of confusion and fear. Every possible option must be on the table and discussed to protect the public health -- travel restrictions, stronger quarantine measures, and an expedited review and approval of therapies and vaccines for Ebola.

Congressional Action

Since August, six House committees have been actively assessing the government's response to the Ebola outbreak.

In September, the House and Senate approved and President Obama signed into law a Continuing Resolution (CR) that would continue funding for government programs and services until December 11, 2014. The CR included provisions to address the Ebola crisis, including additional funding to accelerate Health and Human Services research on Ebola therapies, and additional funding for the CDC's response to the growing outbreak in Africa.

International Response

The U.S. and international effort must contain the virus and prevent the additional spread within our own and to other countries from countries in West Africa -- Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It is imperative to put in place a strategy to get ahead of the spread of this virus and restore the public's faith that we are safe.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, some of the poorest countries in the world due to neglect and years of conflict, do not have a health system to respond to the needs of their people. It is going to take an international coalition to create the health infrastructure necessary to do so and change community behaviors.

Non-governmental organizations are submitting proposals to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other entities to provide health care workers. The international community, including the United States, is providing support for Ebola responses in the affected countries and the WHO is coordinating those efforts.

American Response

Thus far, over 100 medical professionals have been deployed and roughly 4,000 troops are preparing to be sent to West Africa to help contain the virus. There are currently 556 troops on the ground in Liberia and Senegal. Department of Defense (DOD) officials have stated that DOD personnel will not provide direct medical care to Ebola victims, but are building health facilities and training health care units.

Travel

Customs and Border Patrol and airline officials are being trained on how to screen and detect travelers who show symptoms of the Ebola virus. Enhanced entry screening measures at five U.S. airports that receive over 94 percent of travelers from the Ebola-affect nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (New York's JFK International Airport, Washington-Dulles, Newark, Chicago O'Hare, and Atlanta International) have been put in place. It is important to note that there are no direct flights to the impacted countries in West Africa. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security announced that passengers arriving in the United States whose travel originates in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will be required to fly into one of the five airports that have the enhanced screening and additional resources in place. In addition, the CDC also announced that travelers coming to the U.S. from the three West African countries will be in daily contact with state and local authorities for a 21-day period; the traveler will report their temperatures and any other potential symptoms, as well as any future travel plans.

Local Response

In Mississippi, we are fortunate to have great examples of preparedness. I would like to extend my appreciation to the local hospitals, local officials, and state agencies that have been proactive in preparing for the Ebola virus.

The Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and several other state agencies are working together to ensure coordinated public health emergency plans. Local hospitals across the state have also been proactive in sharing their preparedness plans. Most recently, the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo hosted an Ebola preparedness meeting with federal and local officials.

Closely Monitoring

Earlier this week, positive news came out of Dallas, Texas when friends and family of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, were released from their isolation period, Ebola free. Although this is certainly positive news, as your Representative, I remain concerned about the spread of Ebola. My team and I will continue to closely monitor the federal government's response to this threat.

I pray for a speedy recovery for the health care workers who contracted the Ebola virus that are being treated in Bethesda, MD and Atlanta, GA. My prayers and thoughts are with their families and the medical professionals and military personnel who are helping to care and treat individuals here at home and in West Africa.

Stay in touch and God bless,

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