Obama approves reservists for Ebola fight; government under fire

Obama approves reservists for Ebola fight; government under fire. HT: Crof.

Via Reuters: Obama approves reservists for Ebola fight, government under fire. Click through for the full report and a series of photos—one of which implies Ebola is a biowarfare creation of the US. Excerpt:

President Barack Obama authorized calling up military reservists for the U.S. fight against Ebola in West Africa on Thursday, as lawmakers criticized his administration's efforts to contain the disease at home. 

Obama's move came after lawmakers held a congressional hearing to probe the federal response to the virus. Amid criticism of perceived missteps by the administration, many House of Representatives members joined calls for a ban on travel from the hardest-hit West African countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. 

Obama signed the executive order authorizing the use of U.S. military reservists to support humanitarian aid efforts in those countries, highlighting the need to launch an all-out attack against the disease. The order did not specify how many personnel would be involved. 

A congressional hearing on Thursday came as concerns about the virus in the United States intensified after two Texas nurses who cared for Liberian patient Thomas Eric Duncan contracted the virus. 

After the hearing, the White House said Obama met with top administration officials handling the government's response to Ebola. 

News that one of the nurses, Amber Vinson, traveled aboard a commercial airliner while running a slight fever ratcheted up public health concerns on Wednesday, prompting several schools in Ohio and Texas to close because people with ties to the schools shared the flight with Vinson. 

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) said it would take over the care of the first Texas nurse diagnosed with Ebola, Nina Pham, who contracted the virus while caring for Duncan, who later died. 

Lawmakers focused questions and pointed criticism at the hearing on Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

"The administration did not act fast enough in responding in Texas," Democratic Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa told the hearing. "We need to look at all the options available to keep our families safe and move quickly and responsibly to make any necessary changes at airports." 

Several Republicans said flights from West Africa, where the virus is widespread, should be stopped. Hmmm.....Calling up reservists for something they have not be trained for...not exactly the best move.