Obama: Don’t give in to Ebola ‘hysteria’

President Obama sought to quell fears that the federal government may be losing its grip on containing the cases of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. on Saturday.

“This is a serious disease, but we can’t give in to hysteria or fear-because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need,” Obama said during his weekly address. 

{mosads}“If we take the steps that are necessary, if we’re guided by the science — the facts, not fear — then I am absolutely confident that we can prevent a serious outbreak here in the United States, ” he added.

Obama stressed that the three cases of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. does not mean there is an epidemic.

“What we’re seeing now is not an “outbreak” or an “epidemic” of Ebola in America,” he said.

He urged the country to keep the three cases “in perspective,” but admitted that one infection is “too many.”

Obama reiterated that the disease is difficult to catch, and can not be transmitted through the air. 

“I’ve met with an Ebola patient who recovered, right in the Oval Office,” he said. “And I’m fine.”

It’s a disease, Obama said, that the U.S. knows how to fight as the federal response is being stepped up in Dallas and Cleveland. 

“We’re working quickly to track and monitor anyone who may have been in close contact with someone showing symptoms,” Obama said.

“And we’ll continue to constantly review our measures, and update them as needed, to make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep Americans safe.”

On Friday, Obama picked top Democratic operative Ron Klain to handle the government’s response to the disease, sparking outrage among Republicans who argue Klain has no public health experience.

A number of top Republicans have also urged the president to institute a flight ban. Speaker John Bohener (R-Ohio) hinted at a possible vote on the ban, stating the House would continue “rigorous oversight” of the administration’s response to the disease.

Obama shot back at calls for a travel ban to and from West Africa in his address, arguing it would make the situation “worse.”

“We can’t just cut ourselves off from West Africa…Our medical experts tell us that the best way to stop this disease is to stop it at its source-before it spreads even wider and becomes even more difficult to contain,” he said.

He admitted that fighting Ebola will be a long battle, and that more cases may pop up in the U.S. before its over.