{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20141001165517/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/statement-of-senator-coons-on-confirmation-of-first-ebola-case-in-the-united-states", "Statement of Senator Coons on confirmation of first Ebola case in the United States", "2014-09-30", "2014", "2014-09", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Christopher Coons", "C001088", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 30, 2014\n                    CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-5042 \n\t\t\t\t\t Statement of Senator Coons on confirmation of first Ebola case in the United States \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWILMINGTON, Del. \u2013 U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, issued the following statement Tuesday after the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that a patient being treated at a hospital in Dallas, Texas, has tested positive for the Ebola virus \u2013 the first case in the United States.\n\u201cEbola is a grave and growing threat to populations in West Africa, where weak health infrastructures have been overwhelmed by this devastating virus. We take it for granted here in the United States that we have strong health care systems, access to clean water, and reliable electricity, but in countries where Ebola has spread exponentially \u2013 Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea \u2014 these basic resources and structures are lacking.\u00a0\n\u201cAmericans need to remain calm and listen to the precautionary measures being suggested by the CDC. Ebola cannot be contracted through the air or the water supply, and requires direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone already infected and exhibiting symptoms. It was only a matter of time before an Ebola case would emerge here in the United States, but as we\u2019re seeing in Dallas today, our public health system has the resources, capabilities, and knowledge to address and contain this virus quickly and safely.\n\u201cThe U.S. is doing the right thing by stepping up to the growing challenge of combatting the spread of Ebola in West Africa, and developing a vaccine and treatment. Without America\u2019s aggressive and proactive engagement, there is a real threat that this virus might become a global pandemic.\u201d\nEarlier this month, after calling for expanded U.S. resources for combatting the spread of Ebola in West Africa, Senator Coons praised President Obama\u2019s announcement of more than $750 million in resources and the planned deployment of 3,000 U.S. military personnel to help medical professionals contain the outbreak. Congress also authorized $58 million in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to expedite development, testing, and production of a vaccine and treatment.\nAdditional medical information about Ebola is available from the CDC here:http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n                    \n        \n        \n\t\t\n                    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags:\n                            \n                                \n                                Health,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Africa,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Foreign Relations,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Health Care,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Subcommittee on African Affairs,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Ebola", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141001165517/http://www.coons.senate.gov:80/newsroom/releases/release/statement-of-senator-coons-on-confirmation-of-first-ebola-case-in-the-united-states"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0434139985591173, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}