Posted: 10/09/2014 at 11:26am | IP Logged

Runaway Train? Nations Race to Stop Ebola Pandemic

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CBN News

The international community has "failed miserably" to stop the Ebola virus. That's the dire warning from the president of the World Bank as nations everywhere are scrambling to prevent a global pandemic.

Meanwhile, Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S., was remembered Wednesday night during a memorial in Dallas.

His death has health officials on high alert as they try to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in the U.S.

Officials are now monitoring the situation in Dallas where Duncan was visiting family, keeping a close eye on anyone who came in contact with him.

A sheriff's deputy who went to Duncan's apartment is being kept in isolation after coming down with flu-like symptoms. His family is taking a wait-and-see approach.

"We're very kind of scared, just want to make sure everything's okay, waiting to get all the facts now, nothing gets blown out of proportion. But we are just waiting to see," Logan Monnig, the sheriff deputy's son, said.

"While we're being told the risk is minimal, out of abundance of caution we're taking several actions to make sure the public health safety is protected," Frisco, Texas Mayor Maher Maso said.

Meanwhile, Ebola screenings are being put in place at key U.S. airports. Travelers arriving from West Africa will have their temperatures taken as a precaution.

"What we are doing is putting additional protection. We've been very clear that as long as Ebola continues to spread in Africa, we can't make the risk zero here," Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said.

President Barack Obama says the new efforts provide an extra layer of protection on top of procedures already in place at several airports.

But the focus is still on stopping the epidemic in West Africa. White House officials say the procedures will allow the U.S. to isolate, evaluate and monitor travelers.

"These five airports, as you may know, are the destination of 94 percent of individuals who travel to the United States from the three countries that are currently affected by Ebola right now. So the vast majority of passengers from those countries would be subject to an additional layer of screening," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

But some in Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, question what the Obama administration's plans are for tackling the crisis.

According to The Hill, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is urging colleagues to block any additional funding to combat the deadly virus until the president is clearer about his plans to stop the outbreak.

Vitter also suggests the administration bar foreign nationals from countries dealing with Ebola from entering the United States.

Several other lawmakers are also calling for additional details to be provided to Congress.