CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former chief of staff for Vice President Joe Biden is President Barack Obama’s choice to coordinate the federal response to any threat of an Ebola outbreak in the United States. Ron Klain’s likely appointment was reported nationally on Friday.
Up to now, 3rd District Congressman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) said he has not been happy with the Ebola response from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The CDC has not given us the greatest deal of confidence or increased our trust in government agencies, far from it,” Rahall said on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
“They’ve bungled this just like they bungled the water crisis in West Virginia.”
Ebola is a severe, often deadly virus that is transmitted in humans through bodily fluids. In West Africa, more than 8,900 people have been diagnosed with Ebola and 4,500 have died.
According to the World Health Organization, there are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines, but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.
Overall, Rahall said the U.S. is off to a bad start with Ebola. “I think now that the President and the Secretary of State are getting all of our government agencies and our allies, and our allies, on board in this effort, I feel confident that we’ll get it under control,” he said.
The longtime Congressman was a guest on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline” as part of a series of interviews with the statewide candidates ahead of the Nov. 4 general election. His Republican challenger, state Sen. Evan Jenkins (R-Cabell) was a guest on the show earlier this week.
Overall, with just more than two weeks until Election Day, Rahall said he likes his reelection odds. “I’m ahead,” he said of the race that he admitted was “a tough one.” Rahall has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since first being elected in 1976.
“I’m very confident that I’m ahead and know that I’m ahead. That doesn’t mean that I’m overly confident. Of course, we know the only poll that counts is Election Day,” he said.
Early voting ahead of Election Day begins on Wednesday and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 1.