Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Fred Upton (R-Mich.), are the latest group seeking answers about the government’s reaction to the Ebola outbreak, sending a letter to the Obama administration on Thursday.
The 28 Republicans requested answers from President Barack Obama, Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson about the government’s response and preparedness efforts.
“Energy and Commerce Committee members have serious concerns about insufficient planning and preparedness from the administration in response to the ongoing Ebola threat,” Upton said. “In an effort to provide some peace of mind to the American people, we continue to ask the administration to outline a clear strategy and work with us to ensure that every step necessary is being taken to protect the public health. With a disease as deadly as Ebola, there is no margin for error.”
Among the information requested was the plan to prevent the spread of Ebola inside the country, reasons for the administration’s unwillingness to institute travel restrictions to and from West African countries most affected by the disease, and details on the U.S. public health system’s ability to identify and treat patients with Ebola.