Glastonbury State Rep. Calls on Health Officials to Hold Ebola Hearing

House Republicans are calling for a public forum by the legislative Public Health Committee and the State Department of Health to identify protocols and procedures to respond to the deadly Ebola virus.

House Republican Leader Larry Cafero said the public is confused and anxious over the spreading virus and needs more information. “I believe we need to bring together experts to inform the public as best we can, and identify procedures in the event that there are cases that show up in our state,’’ Cafero said.

In a letter to the chairs of the Public Health Committee and Health Commissioner, State Rep. Prasad Srinivasan (R-31) of Glastonbury, the Ranking Member on the committee, asked that a joint public hearing take place as soon as possible and that the committee and the department work collaboratively on the issues.

“It is imperative that they work together to address the concerns on how best to protect and defend our healthcare professionals from contracting the Ebola virus while simply doing their job,’’ he wrote. Srinivasan, who is a physician with a practice in Glastonbury and Hartford, said state officials have a responsibility to the public to identify proper procedures and to allay their fears.

He wrote, “I hope this joint informational hearing will provide answers to several questions on the minds of concerned citizens regarding the training and protocol followed by our nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals who are on the front line of the Ebola outbreak.’’

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Photo: State Rep. Prasad Srinivasan. Credit: CT House Republicans.