UT System Board of Regents statement regarding Ebola preparedness

The following statement was made by Vice Chairman Gene Powell at a special called meeting of the University of Texas System Board of Regents tonight:

The University of Texas System is fortunate to have some of the nation’s leading experts in the research and treatment of infectious diseases, and we have the largest national biocontainment laboratory in the world located on an academic campus at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Our research expertise, world-class health care and state-of the art medical facilities across Texas position us among the most experienced resources in the nation and the world. 

On behalf of the Board of Regents and the thousands of UT System health care professionals, we are fully prepared and committed to bring all of our resources to bear on public health threats to our citizens. We offer our full support to Governor Perry and his Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response and its chairman, Dr. Brett Giroir. We continue to collaborate and discuss strategies with Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Dr. Kyle Janek and State Health Services Commissioner Dr. David Lakey, as well as other public health experts, epidemiologists and leaders involved in responding to pandemic threats. The safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff on our campuses and of all citizens across our state is of utmost importance, and we are mobilizing efforts and taking precautionary measures to be fully prepared as Texas faces today's unfortunate health threat.