Health officials defend their response to Ebola

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican lawmakers are criticizing the government response to the arrival of Ebola on U.S. shores.

The criticism came at a House hearing where top public health officials have been defending their actions.

Republican Fred Upton of Michigan, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, said Americans are “scared.” He said, “People’s lives are at stake, and the response so far has been unacceptable.”

Dr. Thomas Frieden, who heads the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said he remains confident in the ability of the U.S. health care system to fight Ebola.

But he also raised alarms of his own about threats to the U.S. if the raging epidemic in West Africa can’t be stopped. It has already claimed more than 4,000 lives.

Frieden said, “To protect the United States we need to stop it at its source.” He says if it spreads more widely in Africa, it could become a long-term threat to the U.S. health system.

Several lawmakers at today’s hearing suggested a partial travel ban for people who have been in West Africa.

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169-a-10-(Representative Diana DeGette, R-Colo., at hearing of House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee)-“these readiness gaps”-Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette says the Dallas hospital clearly didn’t know the correct procedures for handling Ebola. (16 Oct 2014)

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168-a-12-(Representative Diana DeGette, R-Colo., at hearing of House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee)-“of additional people”-Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette says authorities badly bungled the case of the Liberian traveler who came down with Ebola in Dallas. (16 Oct 2014)

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APPHOTO DCPM108: From left, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Director Dr. Tom Frieden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Robin Robinson, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Dr. Luciana Borio, assistant commissioner for counterterrorism policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and John Wagner, the Acting assistant Commissioner at the Office of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing to examine the government’s response to contain the disease and whether America’s hospitals and health care workers are adequately prepared for Ebola patients. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (16 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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