Following disconcerting shortfalls revealed in the wake of a second nurse's Ebola diagnosis, U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden proposed steps to halt the spread of the deadly disease, which include mandatory quarantines and travel bans.

"We are not remotely prepared to deal with an Ebola outbreak in the United States," McFadden said, adding that there are four state-of-the-art contamination centers in the country, each of which is equipped to hold just three to 10 patients. "As a result I believe we aggressively make sure that Ebola is not allowed to take hold and take root in the United States."

McFadden, the Republican challenger to Sen. Al Franken, said the spread of Ebola is the currently the concern he's heard more than any on the campaign trail, and proposes the following:

  • A temporary ban on travelers entering the U.S. who have recently been in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Aid workers would still be allowed to travel after a mandatory 21-day quarantine.
  • Boosting staffing at the Centers for Disease Control call centers to handle increased call volume from the public.
  • Lowering the CDC fever guidelines for people who have had contaqct with Ebola patients so that they may not travel with an elevated temperature.
  • Reiterating a call for President Obama to designate a cabinet member to coordinate the United States' response to the disease.

McFadden compared President Obama's reaction to the crisis a failure to be proactive, similar to when Islamic State militants beheaded the second of two American hostages last month. He also leveled criticism at Franken for a lack of action.

"They came back and said 'We don't have a strategy,'" he said. "I have the exact same feeling now that there is no strategy. The CDC allowed this nurse to get on a flight. That's not acceptable. Someone needs to take responsibility for this."

The country is currently without a U.S. Surgeon General, a position that requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Some Republicans have stood in opposition to Obama's current nominee, Dr. Vivek Murthy. McFadden wouldn't say whether he was concerned that Murthy hasn't been confirmed, and said it is only important that a cabinet member is in charge, and wouldn't say whether he would vote to confirm Murthy.

"The president can just appoint a cabinet member to take responsibility for the role of Ebola. That's the role of the president." he said.

In the wake of concerns about a possible walkout of Texas nurses staffed with caring for Ebola patients, and for the welfare of U.S. aid workers who continue to care for Ebola patients in west Africa, McFadden said he had empathy for the risk they're taking. Reports Thursday say Obama may deploy National Guard troops to Africa to build Ebola treatment centers. McFadden said he would back this as long as troops were adequately protected.

"Here they are trying to help people that are gravely ill, and I think that what we're seeing down in Dallas is the nurses have very little faith in the system, and the way we're responding to things," he said. "I would guess that they were told 'We're doing everything right in this hospital, you're going to be adequately protected.' And they weren't. They lost trust in the system."

Franken spokeswoman Alexandra Fetissoff shot back at McFadden, saying that while McFadden held a news conference, Franken "went to work," pushing for increased screening at Minneapolis-St. Paul International AIrport, ensuring Minnesota healthcare providers have the necessary federal resources and backing legislation to fight Ebola. He backs any steps that need to be taken to prevent further spread, she said.

"Senator Franken finds it outrageous and unacceptable that CDC allowed a nurse to fly after she had been exposed to the virus." Fetissoff said. "The CDC has acknowledged this was a mistake and that they are now immediately take steps to make sure that additional Ebola infections are prevented. He will be watching to make sure they do so and there should be consequences if they do not."