Oklahoma lawmaker urges health emergency

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A state lawmaker who is one of two doctors in the Oklahoma Legislature is asking Governor Mary Fallin to declare a state of catastrophic health emergency relating to the Ebola virus.

Republican state Representative Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow sent a letter Wednesday to Fallin asking her to use her powers to authorize the state’s public health commissioner to quarantine individuals suspected of carrying the virus.

The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. died Wednesday, and the government announced it was expanding airport examinations to guard against the spread of the deadly disease.

There have not been any reported cases of Ebola in Oklahoma.

Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz says the governor is coordinating with health officials but that declaring a state of emergency now would be premature.