News outlets report on a U.S. Senate hearing on Ebola, as well as comments made by members of Congress at a press conference.

ABC News: Ebola Experts Testify Before Senate Panel
ABC News presents a video report on recent announcements on Ebola, including the Senate hearing (Franzen/Travers, 9/16).

ABC News: Ebola Survivor Dr. Kent Brantly Urges Action From Congress
ABC News presents video of Brantly’s testimony to a Senate panel (Franzen, 9/16).

Associated Press: Ebola survivor: No time to waste as Obama ups aid
“An American doctor who survived Ebola said there’s no time to waste as President Barack Obama outlined his plan to ramp up the U.S. response to the epidemic in West Africa…” (Neergaard/Kuhnhenn, 9/17).

The Hill: Ebola survivor: Pleas for U.S. help fell ‘on deaf ears’
“One of the few American survivors of Ebola sharply criticized the U.S. government on Tuesday for what he called a delayed and inadequate response to the deadly outbreak ravaging West Africa…” (Ferris, 9/16).

The Hill: GOP senators: U.S. needs to contain Ebola epidemic
“Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said the threat of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. is just as dangerous as an attack by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)…” (Cox, 9/16).

The Hill: Official: Rogue state could weaponize Ebola
“A rogue state could turn Ebola into a weapon of mass destruction, a federal health official acknowledged Tuesday. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said it would take a ‘state-type’ actor to successfully weaponize the disease, noting that the Soviet Union stockpiled similar hemorrhagic fevers during the Cold War…” (Viebeck, 9/16).

The Hill: Boehner surprised Obama hasn’t acted faster on Ebola
“Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) took a swipe at the Obama administration Tuesday, saying it’s dragged its feet in responding to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. ‘I think this Ebola outbreak in Africa is a serious problem and I’m a bit surprised the administration hasn’t acted more quickly to address what is a serious threat, not only to Africans but to others around the world,’ Boehner said at a news conference…” (Wong, 9/16).

The Hill: Congress worries Ebola could hit U.S.
“Lawmakers are increasingly concerned about the spread of Ebola and worry that it could jump to the United States and become more contagious. … But lawmakers worry the president’s efforts might not be enough to contain the outbreak…” (Bolton/Sink, 9/17).

Reuters: U.S. leaders call for ‘war’ on Ebola outbreak, pledge troops
“U.S. lawmakers called for a government-funded ‘war’ to contain West Africa’s deadly Ebola epidemic before it threatens more countries, building on an American pledge to send 3,000 military engineers and medical personnel to combat the virus…” (Mason, 9/16).

Reuters: Ebola vaccine trial finds ‘no red flags’: U.S. Senate testimony
“A key safety trial of an experimental Ebola vaccine manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline has injected 10 healthy volunteers since Sept. 2, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told a U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday, and so far ‘no red flags’ indicating serious adverse reactions have been found…” (Begley, 9/16).

Washington Post: An Ebola vaccine was given to 10 volunteers, and there are ‘no red flags’ yet
“The first human trial of an Ebola vaccine has so far produced no adverse effects, according to a National Institutes of Health official. The comments were made by Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH’s Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases when he testified before Congress on the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa on Tuesday…” (Philip, 9/16).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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