WASHINGTON, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - US President Barack Obama named Ron Klain an "Ebola czar", responsible for dealing with the virus outbreak in the United States, the White House said.
Ron Klain used to serve as a Chief of Staff for US Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Al Gore and currently holds a position of investment group president. Klain's professional expertise does not immediately point out to an extensive professional expertise in healthcare.
The announcement came a day after Obama has authorized the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security to use reserve and National Guard troops in the United States' response to the Ebola spread in West Africa.
The current Ebola outbreak started in Guinea in February, gradually spreading to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. A number of Ebola cases have also been registered outside of West Africa. Though there is no officially approved medication for the disease, several countries are currently working on developing Ebola vaccines.
