Obama acknowledges Ebola missteps

President Obama acknowledged breakdowns in the healthcare system that led to the transmission of Ebola to two nurses, and gaps in communication that allowed the second nurse to fly commercially.

While health risks to the general public remain low, the administration knows these missteps have created confusion and skepticism, reports CBS News correspondent Major Garrett.

The President scrubbed his first campaign trip of the midterm election cycle to discuss the federal Ebola response and demanded better performance.

"We're going to make sure that something like this is not repeated and that we are monitoring, supervising, overseeing in a much more aggressive way," he said. "We are taking this very seriously at the highest levels of government."

Lawmakers in Congress want more information and new policies.

California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer demanded help for front-line health care workers.

"There is more we can and must do to ensure that every facility and every health care worker is fully trained and ready to meet this threat," Boxer wrote to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden.

House Speaker John Boehner said the President should "absolutely consider" a temporary travel ban from West African countries in the grip of the Ebola epidemic.

Texas Republican Congressman and medical doctor Michael Burgess questioned why visas are still being issued to residents in the Ebola hot zone.

"That should be stopped and it should be stopped for a period of time," he said. "I don't know for how long, but at least allow our medical personnel here a chance to catch up.

Questions about a travel ban from West Africa or the appointment of a White House Ebola czar to oversee the federal response will be raised with top administration officials at a House hearing on Thursday.

The White House has ruled out a travel ban and said it has a completely reasonable management structure in place.