Resolution calling on the United States Department of Health and Human Services to allocate funding to any hospitals, whether public or private, located in close proximity to the five international airports where all travelers flying into the United States from West Africa must enter.

Res. No. 599

Resolution calling on the United States Department of Health and Human Services to allocate funding to any hospitals, whether public or private, located in close proximity to the five international airports where all travelers flying into the United States from West Africa must enter.

By Council Members Cabrera, Eugene, Johnson, Kallos, Levin, Rose and Williams

Whereas, Ebola is a virus that was first discovered in 1976 and currently has no cure; and

Whereas, Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected and symptomatic person; and

Whereas, Symptoms usually begin about eight to ten days after exposure to the virus, but can appear as late as 21 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and 

Whereas, The most recent outbreak is believed to have started in a village in Guinea in December 2013; and

Whereas, Since then, Ebola has sickened more than 21,000 people in eight countries and killed 8,468, according to data released by the World Health Organization on January 16, 2015, making this the biggest outbreak on record; and

Whereas, Although the World Health Organization declared the outbreaks in Nigeria and Senegal were over and a downward trend in new Ebola cases in general by mid-November 2014, vigilance must continue to contain all outbreaks; and

Whereas, All travelers returning to the United States from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Mali are routed through one of five airports: Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, Washington Dulles International, O’Hare International in Chicago, and Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta; and

Whereas, These five airports are screening passengers for Ebola symptoms; and

Whereas, Additionally, New York, New Jersey and Illinois implemented quarantines for high risk individuals returning from West Africa; and

Whereas, From August to November 2014, ten Ebola patients were treated in United States health care facilities; and

Whereas, Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, which treated four patients, requested funding from Congress for full reimbursement for Ebola cases and has stated that one case can cost up to $1 million; and

Whereas, Fighting Ebola involves not only the cost of care, but also the cost of lost beds to create an isolation unit, the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with full body coverage, staff training and drills, and monitoring those who have potentially come into contact with the Ebola virus; and

Whereas, Hospitals also report lost revenue from potential patients avoiding the facility and health care staff calling out of work due to fear of contamination and stigma; and

Whereas, As of late November, New York City alone had spent over $21 million tackling the Ebola crisis, a number that has since risen significantly; and

Whereas, Nearly $2.8 billion in Ebola funding has been allocated by Congress to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and on January 15, 2015, the HHS Secretary issued a spending plan for this funding with $576 million designated for hospital preparedness; and

Whereas, It is unclear how much of the $576 million designated for hospital preparedness will be allocated to New York; and

Whereas, Senator Chuck Schumer, as well as hospital advocacy groups in New York, have called for a significant portion to be allocated to New York's hospitals; and

Whereas, Until all outbreaks are contained, the five cities receiving passengers from West Africa should be given the resources to handle any new Ebola patients that arrive; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the United States Department of Health and Human Services to allocate funding to any hospitals, whether public or private, located in close proximity to the five international airports where all travelers flying into the United States from West Africa must enter.

CP

LS 2420

2/3/15