Paul, though, on Wednesday questioned Frieden’s statements and said health officials might be underestimating the disease’s potential impact in the U.S. and worldwide.
“I think because of political correctness we’re not really making sound, rational, scientific decisions on this,” the senator said. “It’s a big mistake to underestimate the potential for problems worldwide.”
Paul, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, also expressed concern about President Barack Obama’s plan — announced earlier this month — to send up to 3,000 troops to combat Ebola in West Africa, the major hub of the disease.
“You also have to be concerned about 3,000 soldiers getting back on a ship,” he said, expressing concern about the spread of disease in close quarters. “Can you imagine if a whole ship full of our soldiers catch Ebola?” he asked later.
The senator also referenced reports that the U.S. patient had contact with another individual who had Ebola, and helped her into a taxi in Liberia after the woman couldn’t get an ambulance. “There are people getting it who simply helped people get in or out of a taxicab,” Paul said.
Health experts have largely expressed caution about a potential outbreak in the U.S., saying that the country has superior treatment, sanitation, communication and medical practices than certain countries in West Africa.
CDC has not minimized the risk of the outbreak’s potential in West Africa, with a projection last month that included a worst-case scenario of 1.4 million cases by late January if the international mobilization in that region did not increase significantly and remain sustained for months.
And CDC Director Tom Frieden, as well as other top health officials, have testified that the longer and bigger the outbreak became, the greater the chance of the virus crossing borders and being spread to other countries and continents.
The CDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Health officials did not address Paul’s remarks at a briefing Thursday afternoon.
