© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Texas Gov. Creates Task Force To Address Ebola, Infectious Diseases

A general view of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is seen where patient Thomas Eric Duncan is being treated for the Ebola virus on October 4, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. The patient who had traveled from Liberia to Dallas marks the first case of this strain of Ebola that has been diagnosed outside of West Africa. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
A general view of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is seen where patient Thomas Eric Duncan is being treated for the Ebola virus on October 4, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. The patient who had traveled from Liberia to Dallas marks the first case of this strain of Ebola that has been diagnosed outside of West Africa. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Texas Governor Rick Perry today announced he’s mobilizing a special task force to respond to Ebola and other infectious diseases.  Dr. Brett Giroir of Texas A&M Health Science Center will oversee the 17 person task force which includes state officials from environmental, health, and public safety agencies.

Gov. Perry also called for the federal government to step up its screening of travelers coming from West Africa. He suggested using temperature monitors at airports and creating quarantine centers at ports of entry in the U.S.

Reporter  Eric Aasen of KERA tells Here & Now‘s Robin Young how health officials are preparing to prevent the spread of the disease in the state and how the Liberian community in Texas is responding to the disease.

Guest

  • Eric Aasen, digital news editor at KERA. He tweets @aasen.

 

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.