"Recent budget cuts have health agencies in bind for pandemic; Recession could hurt response if virus spreads" by Kevin Sack, New York Times | April 30, 2009
NEW YORK - The recession has drained hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of workers from the state and local health departments that are now the frontline in the country's defense against a possible swine flu pandemic.
Health officials in affected states said they had thus far been able to manage the testing and treatment of infected residents and mount vigorous public education campaigns. But many said they had been able to do so only by shifting workers from other public health priorities, and some questioned how their depleted departments might handle a full-fledged pandemic.
"I'm very concerned," said Robert M. Pestronk, executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. "Local health departments are barely staffed to do the work they do on a day-to-day basis. A large increase in workload will mean that much of the other work that is being done now won't be done. And depending on the scale of an epidemic, capacity may be exceeded."
At a news conference on Monday, Dr. Richard E. Besser, the acting director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the public health system was in a tough situation. "We hear about tens of thousands of state public health workers who are going to be losing their jobs because of state budgets," he said....
Strange how this comes at a time when the states are pushing to raise taxes, huh?
Better RAISE TAXES or you will DIE, 'murkn!!!
Public health officials said Congress had missed an opportunity by excising nearly $900 million in proposed financing for pandemic flu preparation from this year's stimulus bill. It was to be the final installment of President George W. Bush's request for $7 billion in federal spending on vaccines, medical equipment, and planning.
False flag operations cost, 'murkns!
Dr. Paul E. Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said: "The entire system is lining up to decrease resources at the time we need them most," Jarris said. "We have to realize that we're at the starting line...."
Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America's Health, said the financial strain made "it more important that we luck out" with a mild outbreak....
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