The deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) has reached the U.S. as a number of people got infected after returning from Ebola-hit regions. The fear of Ebola outbreak is increasing in the U.S. and President Barack Obama has appointed Ronald A. Klain as the Ebola czar in a bid to restrict the virus in the nation.
Ebola has taken a toll on thousands of people in West African countries and has also resulted in the death of more than 4,500 people in Africa. A number of cases have also been reported in the U.S. and the government has been criticized for its incompetence in handling Ebola cases.
Thomas Eric Duncan, who recently died of Ebola in the U.S., visited Texas Health Presbyterian in late September complaining of fever and other Ebola-like symptoms. However, doctors were unable to detect Ebola and Duncan was sent back home. Just within a couple of days Duncan was admitted to the hospital and was diagnosed with Ebola. Some healthcare experts believe that the negligence of the doctors resulted in Duncan's death.
President Obama has appointed Klain in a bid to address Ebola and Ebola-related cases swiftly. However, the appointment of Klain has also been criticized. Experts believe that Obama has taken a right decision to appoint a czar to effectively monitor the Ebola crisis; however, he has chosen the wrong person.
Klain may have relevant political experience but he does not have sufficient expertise in the medical field and community to handle the post as Ebola czar.
Texas Senator, Ted Cruz, a member of the Republican Party, also suggests that there should be a strong stance to battle the spread of Ebola in the U.S.
"We don't need another so-called 'czar,'" says Cruz. "We need presidential leadership. This is a public health crisis, and the answer isn't another White House political operative. The answer is a commander-in-chief who stands up and leads, banning flights from Ebola-afflicted nations and acting decisively to secure our southern border."
Ed Royce, the Chairman of the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, also a member of the Republican Party questioned Obama's decision to appoint Klain as the Ebola czar. Royce also raised his concern that the President should have picked an individual who has noteworthy public health or infectious disease background for the role of Ebola czar.
Despite of all the criticism, Klain has been appointed and Americans will hope that the government takes swift measures to treat reported Ebola cases in the U.S. and restrict any spread of the disease.
