Gus Bilirakis Calls for 'Comprehensive Strategy' on Ebola

From his perch on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., weighed in on the Ebola threat on Wednesday night.

I am deeply concerned about the threat Ebola poses to public health, Bilirakis said. We must continue to provide diligent oversight of the response and preparedness efforts. The priority must be ensuring the safety of Americans, and stopping this outbreak in West Africa and around the world. In order to guarantee no further importation to the U.S., the Ebola virus must be immediately eradicated in West Africa.

We must have a robust, consistent, and comprehensive strategy to protect the public and fight this devastating crisis, and all options including a potential temporary travel ban to the affected areas should be considered, Bilirakis added. The federal government must coordinate with local governments and health care providers to ensure our doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals have the training and resources available to adequately diagnose and treat infected patients. We must also ensure members of the armed forces and first responders have the resources they need.