NIH Official Dismisses Fox Host’s Question On Ebola As Bioterrorism

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International O... Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations hearing on the Ebola virus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MORE LESS
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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Sunday cast doubt on concerns that undocumented immigrants will cross the southern border into the United States with Ebola or that terrorists will use the disease as a weapon.

Lawmakers, candidates and pundits have expressed concern that the disease will enter the U.S. either from immigrants or due to terrorism, prompting “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace to ask Fauci about potential threats.

“What are the chances that illegal immigrants are going to come over our porous southern border with Ebola or that terrorists will purposely send someone here using Ebola as a bioterror weapon?” Wallace asked.

Fauci said that both scenarios were incredibly unlikely.

“I wouldn’t be worrying about illegal immigrants coming from southern borders when we have an issue right now with Ebola in West Africa. That’s a hypothetical that’s very far-fetched,” he told Wallace.

“As far as terrorism, nature right now Chris, is the worst bioterrorist. I’m worried more about the natural evolution in West Africa than I am about a terrorist,” Fauci continued.

Wallace then concedes that Ebola would not be the best weapon.

“I also suppose if you’re going to do a bioterror weapon, Ebola isn’t the most effective one,” he said.

“If I were a bioterrorist, that would not be my choice,” Fauci responded. “It would be inefficient. Nature does it much worse than a bioterrorist.”

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