Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia wrote an alarming letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) referring to “reports of illegal migrants carrying deadly disease such as…Ebola virus.” Congressman Gingrey wrote that, “as a physician for over thirty years, I am well aware of the dangers infectious diseases pose.” Yet there is no evidence to support his claim that illegal migrants coming from Latin America are carrying Ebola into US territory. According to the CDC, all cases of human illness or human death related to Ebola have occurred in Africa.
Rep. Gingrey, who is also co-chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus – “a leading voice against the federal takeover of our health care system,” – lost the chance to run for the US Senate seat left vacant by retiring Saxby Chambliss. Gingrey’s now endorsing fellow representative, Jack Kingston, who has been endorsed by TV personality Sean Hannity.
