News Outlets Report On Emergency U.S. Congressional Hearing On Ebola, U.S. Response To Ebola Outbreak

News outlets report on various aspects of the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, including the proceedings of an emergency congressional hearing on Ebola on Thursday.

Associated Press/Seattle Times: CDC director: Scale of Ebola crisis unprecedented
“The current Ebola crisis in West Africa is on pace to sicken more people than all other previous outbreaks of the disease combined, the health official leading the U.S. response said Thursday. The next few weeks will be critical, said Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is sending more workers into the affected countries to help…” (Neergaard, 8/8).

The Hill: CDC confident it can prevent major Ebola outbreak from hitting U.S.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said it is confident the United States would not experience an Ebola outbreak. At an emergency congressional hearing, CDC Director Thomas Frieden assured lawmakers that the nation has the healthcare infrastructure to prevent the spread of the deadly disease that, in a new outbreak, has killed more than 900 people in West Africa…” (Al-Faruque, 8/7).

The Hill: Three lawmakers show up for Ebola hearing
“Only three lawmakers put their recess on hold Thursday to attend an emergency hearing to talk about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which is already considered the worst in history…” (Al-Faruque, 8/7).

New York Times: U.S. and Global Efforts to Contain Ebola Draw Criticism at Congressional Hearing
“Members of Congress questioned Thursday whether the American response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa had been effective, and a spokesman for a group battling the virus went further, saying no country had done enough…” (Siddons, 8/7).

Politico: CDC chief: U.S. trying to help stop Ebola crisis
“The nation’s top public health expert told Congress Thursday that the Obama administration is doing everything possible to stop the unprecedented Ebola epidemic in West Africa and pledged that the U.S. health care system is prepared to stop an outbreak on American soil. CDC Director Tom Frieden told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that the Ebola virus constitutes a ‘crisis’ of ‘unprecedented’ levels and warned that an infected person could travel to the United States and then be diagnosed with symptoms. Five people have already been tested here; none were found to have the virus…” (Haberkorn, 8/8).

Reuters: U.S. ratchets up Ebola response, officials on high alert
“The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told lawmakers on Thursday he has activated the agency’s emergency operation center at the highest response level to fight the worst Ebola outbreak in history…” (Zengerle/Steenhuysen, 8/8).

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. cuts resources for project involved in Ebola battle in Sierra Leone
“The U.S. government will not renew funding for a major research project into Lassa fever, a decision that will, in turn, cut resources for a facility in Sierra Leone that is at the forefront of the current battle against the Ebola virus…” (Clarke, 8/7).

Reuters: U.S. orders diplomats’ families to leave Liberia as Ebola spreads
“The United States on Thursday ordered families of its diplomats in Liberia to leave and warned against non-essential travel to the West African country because of the growing Ebola outbreak. A State Department statement said U.S. staff would remain on active duty at the embassy and additional staff were being sent to help the government tackle the outbreak of the deadly virus…” (Storey, 8/7).

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