Republicans question federal response on Ebola

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some members of Congress say the new Ebola infection in New York City is exposing flaws in the system and raising new concerns.

At a House hearing today, they criticized the federal response to Ebola, and questioned the credibility of top officials.

Republican John Mica (MY’-kuh) of Florida said the system is “not working.” He said, “All you need to do is look at Craig Spencer.” He’s the doctor who was diagnosed with Ebola late yesterday, a week after returning from Africa.

Spencer didn’t exhibit symptoms until yesterday — so the temperature screening that is in place at the five U.S. airports receiving passengers from Ebola countries would not have caught him.

Democrat Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts says anyone who travels to the United States from West Africa should be quarantined for 21 days before even boarding a plane to the U.S.

Committee chairman Darrell Issa (EYE’-suh) complained about wrong information and shifting standards coming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But Dr. Nicole Lurie, an assistant HHS secretary, defended the government’s response. She said the failures “largely relate to the fact that we’re learning some new things about Ebola.” She assured lawmakers that a large-scale outbreak in this country is unlikely.

%@AP Links

153-w-33-(Jerry Bodlander, AP correspondent, with Representative Darrell issa, R-Calif., chairman, House Oversight and Government Reform and Representative Elijah Cummings, D-Md, ranking Democrat, House Oversight and Government Reform committee)–Lawmakers debate whether the administration has a handle on dealing with Ebola. AP correspondent Jerry Bodlander reports. (24 Oct 2014)

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134-a-13-(Representative Darrel Issa (EYE’-suh), R-Calif., committee chairman, at hearing of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee)-“have already seen”-California Congressman Darrel Issa says the Obama administration has clearly botched the response to the Ebola crisis. (24 Oct 2014)

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138-a-13-(Representative Elijah Commings, D-Md., at hearing of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee)-“hospital last month”-Maryland Congressman Elijah Commings says he’s encouraged by how health officials in New York have responded to the new Ebola case. (24 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO DCSA106: Dr. Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Health and Human Services Department, appears on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, before the House Oversight Committee hearing as lawmakers examine the government’s response to the Ebola outbreak. In a prepared statement Thursday, Dr. Lurie said the likelihood of a significant outbreak of Ebola in the U.S. is remote, while assuring Congress that government agencies are preparing for any contingency. However, her statement came before news broke late Thursday of a fourth Ebola case diagnosed in the U.S. — a doctor in New York City who had treated patients in Guinea. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (24 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO DCSA111: House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., with Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the committee’s ranking member, left, leads a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, as his panel updates its examination of the government’s response to the Ebola outbreak. On Thursday, a fourth Ebola case was diagnosed in the U.S. — a doctor in New York City who had treated patients in Guinea. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (24 Oct 2014)

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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