Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola or EVD): Experts List

September 18, 2014 (R43736)

Ebola Experts List

Ebola virus disease (Ebola or EVD) is a severe, often fatal disease that was first detected near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1976. Originating in animals, EVD is spread to and among humans through contact with the blood, other bodily fluids, organs, and corpses of those infected. It is not transmitted through the air. In March 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that an EVD outbreak had begun in Guinea. The outbreak has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Senegal.

The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts who address various elements of U.S. and international responses to the ongoing outbreak, as well as other issues, including entry and exit rights of people infected with communicable diseases; research and development of Ebola treatments and vaccines; the appropriate use of experimental drugs; and whether U.S. biodefense programs have appropriately improved our preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.

Table 1. CRS Experts

Legislative Issues	Name/Title	Phone	E-mail
Coordinator and U.S. and International Responses to the West African Ebola Outbreak	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Global Health	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Federal and State Authority for Vaccinations and Quarantines	Jared Cole Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
U.S., Country, and International Responses to the West African Ebola Outbreak	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in African Affairs	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Aviation Law and Travel Restrictions	[author name scrubbed] Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Aviation Law and Travel Restrictions	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Aviation Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Bioterrorism and Development of Medical Countermeasures	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Science and Technology Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Department of Defense Responses	Don Jansen Specialist in Defense Health Care Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Domestic Public Health Response	Sarah Lister Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Immigration Screening Issues	[author name scrubbed] Section Research Manager	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Food and Drug Law	Jennifer Staman Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
FDA Regulation of Drug Development, Approval, Licensure, and Availability	[author name scrubbed] Specialist in Drug Safety and Effectiveness	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]