Wilson: Must Use All Means Necessary to Fight Ebola
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) released the following statement in regards to the current ongoing Ebola outbreak:
"The Center for Disease Control's (CDC) negligence to contain Ebola at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas has lead to the preventable infection of two American nurses. It has also escalated fear that a full-blown pandemic will spread across the United States. President Obama continues to stall and waste precious time, rather than enforcing proper protocols with extensive assistance that would curtail this problem. We must use all means necessary to fight against Ebola. This includes travel and visa restrictions, additional border support, increased airport screening, and access to appropriate hazardous material supplies at hospitals. We must not look back on this outbreak and believe that our government did ‘too little, too late.' The United States must proactively make the difficult decisions necessary to protect our families, rather than wait for outside groups like the World Health Organization to make these decisions for us."
*Congressman Wilson has been in touch with local healthcare officials to offer assistance and ensure hospitals within South Carolina's Second Congressional District are prepared to treat Ebola. He is confident that healthcare facilities will work hand in hand with DHEC and enforce protocols to prevent further exposure or infection.
Additionally, as Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personal, Congressman Wilson felt it necessary to ensure the 1,500 brave men and women serving in West Africa in Operation United Assistance remain safe and protected from contracting Ebola.
The text of the letter:
The Honorable Charles Hagel
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Hagel:
On September 30, 2014, the Department of Defense deployed approximately 1,500 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division to Liberia for Operation United Assistance. Additional personnel are expected to deploy in late October and November bringing the total number to roughly between 3,000 and 4,000.
With this deployment, I have concerns about the strategy associated with the role of the military in their response to the Ebola outbreak. I have a number of questions regarding the practical role of our troops in halting the outbreak and serving those affected. As the Ebola virus continues to spread throughout West Africa and has now surfaced in Dallas Texas, I would like to relay my serious concerns with the prospect of exposure and infection amongst the up to 4,000 deployed personnel serving in Operation United Assistance.
I am extremely concerned for the protection and well being of our servicemen and women who have been deployed to curtail the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. As the Ebola virus spreads throughout West Africa and more recently infected two healthcare workers in Dallas I would like to know what exposure risk our troops are expected to encounter while serving as support for command and control, logistics support, training, and engineering support? Will their exposure be comparable to that of the medical personnel who recently contracted Ebola in Dallas, Texas?
Additionally, what type of assurances are there that while serving in these roles the service member will not come into direct contact with an infected patient? And finally, could you please describe what a successful mission in West Africa would look like?
As Chairman of the House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, it is my top priority that our servicemen and women are properly trained and equipped during their deployment. Many thanks for your considerations and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Joe Wilson
Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman