Or was discovered in 1976 and has killed 90 of its victims in some past outbreaks. Since march of this year, there have been more than 1700 cases of ebola, including more than 900 fatalities in guinea, liberia, sierra leone, and nigeria. This time, the average fertility rate in this outbreak is fromated at 55 , ranging 74 in guinea 242 in sierra leone. Ratessparity in mortality are partially linked to the capacity of governments to treat and contain the disease and Capita Health expending by effective governments. There is also concern giving given modern air travel and the latency time of the disease that the virus will jump borders and threat lies elsewhere in africa and even here in the United States. ,n my own state of new jersey and a hospital just a few hundred yards from my district office, precautions were taken. A person who had traveled from west africa Begin Manifesting symptoms including a high fever. He was put in isolation. Thankfully it was not ebola and the patient has been released. The new Jersey Health commissioner reiterated to me yesterday that new jersey programs have control in which they train and our deal ready to deal with infectious patients who come through their doors. She told me physicians and hospital workers follow specific protocols prescribed by the cdc on how to protect themselves as well as other patients and how to observe a patient if they have any concerns, which include protocols like managing a patient in isolation so they are not around others who are not appropriately protected. The commissioner also underscored that the federal government has u. S. Quarantine stations throughout the country to limit introduction to any disease that might come into the United States at words of entry liberty jerseys international airport. I hope our distinguished witnesses will confirm whether sufficient resources are available and are being properly deployed to assist victims and contained the ebola disease. Are there gaps in law and policy that Congress Needs to address . To the government witnesses, my plea to you is that if legislation is needed, i will work and i know i will be joined by colleagues on both sides of the aisle who will work with you to write those new policies. Symptoms of ebola include fever, weakness, joint, muscle thomas throat and stomach aches. The invite him then vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and bleeding. These symptoms are seen in other diseases besides ebola which make an accurate diagnosis early on uncertain. Earlier today, i had a full and lengthy reefing with the deputy chief of staff of the president of guinea. He said the virus has masked many other diseases, including loss of fever. Many doctors, including those who have never seen a bowl and is part of the world before, it has been in other parts of africa but not in west africa, just simply did not think this would be ebola. Many of them have died. Ebola punches holes in blood vessels by breaking down vessel causing massive bleeding and shock. Most people cannot fight the infection effectively and as a result, there is massive leading within seven to 10 days. The infection too often results in the death of the affected person. Fruit that are suspected of being a primary transmitter of ebola to humans in west africa. The virus is transmitted to humans with close contact in the blood, secretions or other organs of infected animals. Some Health Workers such as the heroic air heroic american missionary aid workers contracted the disease despite taking every precaution while helping ebola patients. Both of them are now being treated at emory hospital in atlanta, georgia in an isolated unit after being flown to the u. S. In a specially equipped air ambulance all stop air ambulance. While there is no known cure for ebola, the doctors have been given doses of the next bear mental antivirus cocktail developed by san diego company. They are reportedly both feeling stronger after receiving the drug but it is considered too early to tell whether the drug itself caused the improvement in their conditions all stop in their conditions will stop the Pharmaceutical Company has been working with an arm of the houndingsponsible for weapons of mass destruction to ebola to develop an ebola treatment for several years. The drug attaches to the virus itself and it has never been the twon humans before doctors who gave their consent to be the first human trials. That itll be great hope works in the two americans who bravely agreed to test it and it has a positive effect. Been it would be produced in great quantities and sent to people in west africa. It is still an experimental drug. Those who use it might the given complete information on its use but thats something our experts i hope will address. Theres also Promising Research a company who has come up with a drug and process one of the comments that has been made that it has never been tested on humans and that it has been provided 100 protection from an otherwise lethal dose of zaire ebola iris, but not zaire ebola virus, but not in humans. Unfortunately, it impacts the ability of the International Community and assisting the government to meet the self challenge. Some of the leading doctors in those countries have died treating ebola victims. The nongovernmental and american personnel there say they are besieged not only because they are among the lay medical personnel treating these exponentially spreading disease that because they are under suspicion by some people in these countries who are familiar with this disease and who are unfamiliar with this disease and fear doctors may have brought it with them. It is untrue and myths abound. The current outbreak as we know is unprecedented. Many people are not cooperating with efforts to contain the disease. There is an information gap. Despite the efforts through cell phone and radio to get the message out, there is a learning curve. To do tosider what meet this health challenge, i suggest we get funding levels for pandemic preparedness. This is for congress and the executive branch. In a restricted environment, funding has fallen from 201 million in fiscal year 2010 two an estimated in 2010. Change followrt efforts to save these people in this country. Our expert witness, tom frieden, is trying to assure the government we are doing what we can do to address the crisis. He announced the dispatch of 50 or more Public Health officials in the next 30 days. Who, the world bank him and many in andare also joining trying to meet this crisis. To those who say we have no plan, i would say planning is definitely underway and is being done so aggressively. Still, there is much more that needs to be done. Legislationduced known as the and neglected tropical disease act which broadishes to support a range of Research Activities to achieve costeffective and sustainable treatment and control and, where possible, the elimination of neglected tropical diseases. Ofla is not on the top list 17 neglected tropical diseases but it does fit the definition of an infection caused by pathogens that is proportionally impact individuals living in extreme poverty, especially in developing countries. It ebola had been thought to be limited to areas where it could be contained. We know that is no longer true. We need to take seriously the effort to devise more effective means of addressing this and all neglected tropical diseases. I now yield to my good friend and colleague, the Ranking Member. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your leadership and calling todays emergency hearing to give us an opportunity to learn about and work to address the current Ebola Outbreak in west africa. I look forward to hearing directly from our witnesses on the work their agencies are doing to combat the deadly outbreak and how they have coordinated with the government of impacted countries. I appreciate their efforts at outreach to Keep Congress informed on this devastating situation. This outbreak comes as nearly 50 african heads of state join us here in washington dc this week as part of the first in history u. S. Africa leaders summit. I have been honored to join my african and american colleagues as we join together to reach the full capacity and promise of the african continent. We had several production sessions that further cemented the relationships between u. S. And african nations and highlighted opportunities for us to continue to Work Together. Despite the meaningful dialogue and collaboration that occurred this week, there is still work to be done. Careevelopment of Health Capacity and Global Security is just one area of collaboration for the u. S. And african nations. That a little dismayed with all the activities that happened this week around the summit, the crisis we are dealing with today is very important, but when it came to coverage on africa, the coverage centered solely around ebola. I want to commend the steps being taken by the government of nigeria sierra leone, and the u. S. And the great work of the Health Professionals throughout the world who are doing everything they can to help people who have contracted this awful disease will stop with over 1700 suspected and confirmed cases and over 900 deaths since march, the current outbreak is the longest lasting, widest spread, and deadliest outbreak recorded. Its also the first Ebola Outbreak in west africa and the first outbreak to be spreading in both rural areas and capital cities. Thisnique nature of outbreak has made combating the disease difficult. West africa has not faced this disease before and immunities among governments and Health Care Professionals do not have the expertise and capacity to address the scale, spread, and proper treatment of the outbreak. This lack of logistical expertise, Health Care Workforce and supplies has hindered the ability of governments to identify, track and isolate new cases and properly care for those infected. Officials have had to fight against fear of the disease and culture the literal unfamiliarity with robert treatment which has really contribute to the spread and cap people from seeking care. Yesterday, i had the privilege to speak to president Ellen Johnson about the impact on her country and the work they have done to fight the disease. I asked what more we could be doing and one thing she talked about was the need for Logistical Support, the need for training of their Health Care Workforce so they would know how to prevent the disease. Tom frieden is going to say we do know how to prevent the spread of the disease but that is where our efforts need to be directed. The other thing the president said was the problem with the outbreak is all the resources are centered toward the outbreak and then routine medical care has suffered because there has not been the workforce to be able to handle both will stop so the call for increased International Assistance to provide food and water to impacted communities she said the communities that were most heavily impacted were quarantined and that there needed to be food and water brought into the areas, especially in situations like this where you have a concern civil unrest, there could be an outbreak in areas that are quarantined and feel they do not have access. That was one of the ways the United States could help the best. Its in our interest in the world interests to continue to support nations as they fight this outbreak and work to. Evelop health care is a human right. Were hoping to prevent future Health Epidemics from occurring. Both the chairman and i have introduced legislation to respond to this crisis and i look forward to your testimonies. Im interested in hearing from all of you about what more congress can do to assist your efforts to combat the disease, outbreaks, and support International Efforts to improve Health Care Systems around the world. Thank you very much. I would like to recognize in the audience the special representative to the secretarygeneral of the u. N. On Sexual Violence in conflict. Thank you for joining us today. To the like to now yield distinguished chairman of the state department, commerce and Justice Department subcommittee of the appropriations committee, congressman frank wolf, who has of a 34 year career tremendous support for the weakest and most vulnerable, and a matter of fact, the genesis of this hearing was a conversation with ken isaacs last week. A hearing oning on the ebola virus force number and the sense of urgency and chairman wolf set up the conference call, the sense of urgency was so great that the thought was it that are now and we can have more hearings in the future and more action plans and the like. So i would like to thank the chairman for his tireless efforts on behalf of the weekend vulnerable. Week and vulnerable. I like to thank my good friend for pulling todays hearing together amid the escalating outbreak of ebola across west africa, countries including liberia, sierra leone, and now nigeria. , i dogh im not a member serve on the state and foreign operations appropriations subcommittee which funds the state department and foreign aid programs. I would also say to the witnesses that if you need extra money, ask for reprogramming. Forshould not wait september, october you should ask for it immediately and him confident the appropriate committees will allow it. But if there is any doubt, there should be request for reprogramming. The current ebola epidemic has claimed over 900 people. It was detected earlier this year and is proving to be the worlds worst outbreak of the virus ever recorded. Alarming,ears this contagious disease could be on the verge of spreading. On july 28, i received a call from ken isaacs. Let me say samaritans purse and Doctors Without Borders have done more to help the poor and suffering in many faces than almost any other groups around. So i want to commend samaritans purse and Doctors Without Borders. Wherever you go in africa, they will either one other groups have long gone. Samaritans purse is on the front line, working to curtail the Ebola Outbreak. Absence of the United States was bleak. Obama administration underestimated the magnitude and scope of the epidemic. Despite wellintentioned efforts by local and International Aid workers, actors and nurses working on the ground, it seems the International Community in the u. S. Had been noticeably absent in helping these west african countries to get out in front of the spread of this epidemic. Of the first part epidemic, the International Community led three of the most impoverished countries in the world deal with it ebola essentially on their own. It should be no surprise the Health Systems and night in liberia, guinea and sierra leone do not have the resources or capacity to deal with this epidemic on their own. Despite early warnings from ngos working on the ground, there was little action taken to get in front of this problem and now we are seeing the consequences. Nothing can bring back the lives that were lost and money and personnel deployed to help may not be enough to contain the epidemic. I spent much of last monday on the phone with the white house, state department, cdc, and aj just trying to understand what, if anything the u. S. Is doing to contain the out rate and prevent the spread of ebola to the u. S. I was concerned no one could tell me who was in charge within the administration on this issue. No one could explain what actions would be taken to ensure the u. S. Was prepared to respond. Has beenmore progress made over the last week since these conversations, it is clear the government is still trying to catch up will stop to catch up. This requires efforts from agencies and countries, france, great britain, many of the countries experienced in africa should be brought in. It has also come to my attention that there seems to be deficiencies in the planning procedures and protocols in response to the ebola threat will stop as mr. Isaacs will share today and i have read his testimony when the Health Care Workers confirmed with ebola, getting guidance for returning Health Care Workers soon became apparent there were significant gap in existing procedures for dealing with this. The cdc had no available registry of medical facilities capable of treating ebola patients in the United States. There are no quarantines or travel restrictions in place and there was concerned the gaps in the protocols and how do you deal with them . I appreciate them very much. Heeciate dr. Frieden took the cold call when his getting on the airplane. I hope you will talk about any deficiencies and how they can be addressed by the government and the congress of stop and the congress. I want to thank chairman smith for calling this hearing during the august recess and i also want to recognize the men and women of the cdc and other International Response groups who are on the ground and soon will be on the ground in africa as well as the doctors and nurses helping the two patients in atlanta. I want to thank them because this is very dangerous, what a will be doing all stop and people we do not know their names, we should tell them we appreciate them. I want to thank the state department and department of defense for their invaluable assistance as this thing is taking place. This is important and serious work and i knew if the