What About The Congo?
Since an outbreak of Ebola hit the Democratic Republic of the Congo in July, the Obama administration has brought into the U.S. at least 1,900 refugees from the disease-stricken nation, this reporter has learned.
A report from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration shows that 944 refugees were admitted from the Congo in July, 628 in August, and 338 in September, for a total of 1,910 Congolese refugees. The exact number of arrivals from the Congo for this month are not yet published.
The Congo has had its own outbreak of Ebola that started in late-July reportedly after a hunter brought home an infected bush animal carcass. Since then, 49 people have died in the Congo.
Asked for comment on the issue, State Department Spokesman Daniel Langenkamp referred this column to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC has not returned phone and e-mail inquiries on the subject for the past week.