Instead of an effective response, what we have witnessed, i believe these past few months from various agency has been confusing and at times contradictory plans. For example, the cdcs guidance to hospitals has been a moving target. This uncertainty may have exposed Health Care Professionals to unnecessary risks. The administration also has sent mixed messages on the issue of quarantine. While the president has discouraged straight quarantine rules, defense secretary hagel has prudently put in place a 21day mandatory quarantine for troops returning from west africa. In addition, the administration did not call for enhanced airport screenings for travelers entering the u. S. From west africa until months after the epidemic became severe. It still remains to be seen whether these cursory screenings will be effective. Not surprisingly, americans have been frustrated by the lack of clarity and coordination within their government. Even though the president has named a socalled ebola czar t
And not zero risk maybe you would have liked that. If you are, were going out the door. Right. Doctor, to dr. Freeden, head of the centers for Disease Control, what can you say to the American People today about their and its widespread of a possibly Ebola Outbreak in this country . We certainly understand peoples concerns. Ebola is scary, deadly. And the images from africa are frightening. But ebola spreads by direct contact with we know unsafe care giving in the home or Health Care Facility and unsafe burial practices. The burial practices that are spreading ebola in west africa are not things that we do here, not to be concerned about. But care giving is. That means for every individual who comes back from a place that may have ebola, very important to be monitored actively for 21 days. At the first sign of any symptom, even if its not severe illness, what were seeing now is, as appropriate. People are coming in, being tested. Coming in and being isolated. As soon as that happens, w
[ gavel bangs ] good afternoon, everybody. The full committee of the Appropriations Committee will come to order. The purpose of todays hearing is on the United States government response to fighting ebola and protecting the United States of america. Today, we will hear what we are doing and we will hear what resources are needed to do that fight. First of all, the congratulations are in order to some of our checks who have won we want to acknowledge senator reid and senator cons victory and on this side, we want to acknowledge the victory of senator cochran and senator collins and we want to congratulate them and note the note their victory. Today is a day where we really have to Pay Attention to an international and National Challenge that we are examining. A look at an infectious horrific disease that is wasting a key continent in west africa and also threatening the United States of america. But for me, this will be the last full Committee Hearing that i will chair. Before we go in
, a have recovered, one has passed away. There have been nine in america. 13,005 hundred and west africa. The situation is serious. It means that all of government has to respond in a way to do so. My strong suggested principles of this, first we must fight the disease at its epicenter in west andca, in liberia, guinea sierra leone. We also want to look at countries near these areas where it has not spread. We want to use the expertise of the department of state, usaid, nih, fda, any Government Agency that can play our role in making the world, with africa, and america safe. That is what we want to do. The second principle is we must protect america. We must do it at our points of entry. Finally, we need to utilize the best science and a ploy of Public Health agencies in a way that is effective. That is for the cdc, our state and local Health Departments, scientists developing vaccines and treatments at nih and approving their safety and efficacy at fda. As we look at what government w
National standards for not only the equipment but the training so that we have a National Response regardless of whether where someone might appear that needs help . Could you share with us and did you respond or did the president respond to the National Nurses united request . So, with regard to the issue of make something you are that our Health Care Workers were prepared, i think we need to think about it in a number of different levels. The first is in that screening and monitoring and thats what state and local Health Care Workers are doing, with then checking on the people who have come from these countries. Second is that that initial front line worker, in a Health Care Institution that needs to be able to detect and isolate, ask the right question. If off fever what is your travel history . The next is the level where treatment will occur and as we describe in our submission, this will be in a more state by state basis and where the cases are in terms of treatment. The question