DALLAS — President Obama raised the possibility on Thursday that he might appoint an “Ebola czar” to manage the government’s response to the deadly virus as anxiety grew over the air travel of an infected nurse.
Schools closed in two states, hospitals and airlines kept employees home from work, and Americans debated how much they should worry about a disease that has captured national attention but has so far infected only three people here.
A federal official said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had broadened its search for contacts of Amber Joy Vinson, the second nurse infected with Ebola at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital here, after interviewing family members who gave a different version of events from Ms. Vinson’s. The nurse had said she had a slight fever before boarding a flight from Cleveland to Dallas on Monday. But family members said she had appeared remote and unwell during her trip to Ohio over the weekend.
There have been school closings in Ohio where Vinson visited. Scores of airline employees have been given a 3 week paid vacation. The NY Times continued:
Mr. Obama spoke Thursday night after meeting with several top aides working on the Ebola issue. The president praised their work but said they were also responsible for other tasks, including national security matters and other health care concerns.
“It may be appropriate for me to appoint an additional person, not because they haven’t been doing an outstanding job, really working hard on this issue, but they are also responsible for a whole bunch of other stuff,” Mr. Obama told reporters.
He added that appointing an Ebola chief would make sense “just to make sure that we are crossing all the t’s and dotting all the i’s going forward.” He declined to say when he might do so.
Perhaps a Surgeon General would have made this process easier. The fact that there isn’t one is just political malfeasance. Appointing an Ebola Czar gets around this issue without involving the Senate.
Meanwhile many Americans are clamoring for our government to quarantine the countries where Ebola is rampant and refuse to allow flights from those countries to come to this country. Interesting question. All my instincts scream yes. My mind keeps coming up with reasons why quarantining wouldn’t work. What do you think?
You could ban direct air flights from west African countries. But with the way people fly nowadays, I’m not sure how effective that would be. A west African can easily fly from Europe to here. You would have to ban all international flights.
Incidentally, should we ban all flights from Texas as well? Why not?
That probably wouldn’t be a bad idea, having nothing to do with Ebola. [snicker-snark]
Why wouldn’t the passport out those trying to sneak in by rerouting to other countries?
Your question had to do with flights. There aren’t many direct flights from W Africa so most w Africans would fly here via some other country, not because they are trying to sneak in but because that’s how flights are routed.
Incidentally, a west African would need a visa to even board a plane headed here.
http://thefederalist.com/2014/10/14/president-obama-already-has-an-ebola-czar-where-is-she/#.VD00GzVpH9w.facebook
We already HAVE an ebola czar AND an agency that was supposed to deal with it. So…why haven’t we seen her?
Excerpt:
Or, as National Journal rather glowingly puts it, “Lurie’s job is to plan for the unthinkable. A global flu pandemic? She has a plan. A bioterror attack? She’s on it. Massive earthquake? Yep. Her responsibilities as assistant secretary span public health, global health, and homeland security.” A profile of Lurie quoted her as saying, “I have responsibility for getting the nation prepared for public health emergencies—whether naturally occurring disasters or man-made, as well as for helping it respond and recover. It’s a pretty significant undertaking.” Still another refers to her as “the highest-ranking federal official in charge of preparing the nation to face such health crises as earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, and pandemic influenza.”
She probably has other responsibilities.
You would be able to tell COO (Country of Origin) information before the passenger boards a US bound flight. That and passport information would let you screen virtually all people travelling from the countries that have outbreaks of Ebola.
I’m asking an honest question here: What is the reason not to temporarily restrict commercial traffic for Liberia et al.? It would calm the public down in the US and prevent any additional direct infections.
Again, I’m not trying to make a political point. I honestly want to know why people are against a temporary ban?
We stopped flights to Israel temporarily because of safety concerns during the most recent fight with Hamas. This seems to be the same idea and shouldn’t be controversial.
I think we might have to do it. I am thinking I wouldnt care as long as we provided for Americans and service folks.
Shepard Smith: ‘Do Not Listen To The Hysterical Voices’ In The Media About Ebola
Fox News’ Shepard Smith railed against the media’s Ebola hysteria on Wednesday.
“You should have no concerns about Ebola at all. None. I promise,” stated Smith. He went on to tell viewers, “Do not listen to the hysterical voices on the radio and the television or read the fear-provoking words online. The people who say and write hysterical things are being very irresponsible.”
He explained: “We do not have an outbreak of Ebola in the United States. Nowhere. We do have two healthcare workers who contracted the disease from a dying man. They are isolated. There is no information to suggest that the virus has spread to anyone in the general population in America. Not one person in the general population in the United States.”
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5992510
Excellent reporting from my man Shep Smith
Shep Smith usually distinguishes himself from the others. I like him.
Shep Smith deserves credit for trying to turn down the hysteria over Ebola. Restricting travel would be another way to do it. People would feel safer with flight restrictions in place.
There is plenty of irrational hysteria over Ebola. But, considering how just a few weeks ago it was “impossible” for there to be any Ebola cases in the US, people are a little skeptical this time around.
We don’t want to over react, but a temporary flight ban seems reasonable enough to calm public fears and reduce the risk of future cases in the US.
The R’s were screaming about “Obama’s czars” a while ago, and now they’re wanting another one! Silly men!!
@middleman
Well, we got one.
Completely unqualified political hack with experience in doing nothing but handing out money.
Please tell me what the qualifications are to be the Ebola Czar. Where are the desired attributes written down?
Who is it? Rev?
That for-profit hospital down in Texas sure made a mess of things. Time to stop private business with eyes on profit from managing our nation’s health care
We should maybe turn it over to the government folks who run the VA hospitals?
@Wolve and Starry,
Isn’t it owned by the Presyterians? Why is it a for-profit?
Heh, heh…Shep. He’s not a doctor. He just plays one on TV.
I am not even sure what “for-profit” means anymore. It seems to me that, if you get care at Texas Health Presbyterian, you and your insurance company will get bills to pay. However, the hospital has its own foundation and apparently a lot of other means to get donations to help to carry on its work, which happens to be centered on acute and difficult care cases.
I have no clue what it means. I thought it was owned by the Presbyterians and they funneled money into it. That’s not to say people don’t get billed. I think all denomination hospitals bill like private hospitals.
“You should have no concerns about Ebola at all. None. I promise.”
So now we are asked to bet the farm on the promise of a TV news reader?
I think he is just a breath of fresh air compared to the other behavior that was going on on the Faux News channel.
I have become without opinion on just about all that deals with Ebola.
@Moon-howler
His last gov’t experience was being in charge of the “stimulus” money.
So–
From what I have read he has experience dealing with people which is what this is going to take.
What did you want, a heart surgeon?
The hospital system Texas Health Resources owns Texas Presbyterian of Dallas. They are a non-profit that is able to pay its recently retired CEO $1 million salary and a bonus of $1.1 Million.
@Moon-howler
I want someone well versed in infectious diseases.
That is what the CDC is for.
What you need here is a policy wonk.
A person who is well versed in infectious diseases might be the last person I want in charge. Of course, I would want them to provide input, but to manage a response, the last person that needs to be in charge is the one that is going to micro-manage the response. Look who the Infection Disease control work at Texas Presby Dallas.