Bilirakis Continues Oversight of Ebola Crisis

Washington, D.C. – Representative Gus Bilirakis, member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, today continued his oversight of the Ebola crisis, questioning officials from the National Institute of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the development of medical products to treat Ebola.

"I am deeply concerned about the threat Ebola poses to public health. 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," Bilirakis said.

"The sparse availability of medical products to diagnose and treat Ebola patients has become apparent. This crisis is not over, especially in West Africa. Congress must continue its oversight. Private sector health care entities and federal agencies like NIH and the CDC need to be incentivized and leveraged to develop medical products. Eradication of the Ebola virus in West Africa will provide invaluable lessons for future efforts in combatting any potential infectious disease outbreak."

To view the entirety of Congressman Bilirakis' remarks, click here.