SubscribeTB emergency
February 28, 2008
“Drug-resistant forms of the disease are widespread, and time and money to fight it are short.” (LA Times)
Birdflu outbreaks renew fears of epidemic
February 26, 2008
“China and Pakistan have announced bird flu outbreaks among poultry, a day after two women, one in China and one in neighbouring Vietnam, died of the virus.” (Sydney Morning Herald)
Most Flu Bugs Don’t Match Flu Vaccine
February 9, 2008
“As the U.S. flu season soars, the CDC says this year’s flu vaccine doesn’t match two of the three main types of flu bugs now in circulation.
That doesn’t mean the vaccine won’t work. Vaccinated people who catch the flu get a much milder disease. This can make a life-or-death difference to people who are at high risk of flu complications, such as the elderly.” (WebMD)
U.S. Flu Outbreak Plan Criticized
February 2, 2008
“The federal government’s voluminous plans for dealing with pandemic flu do not adequately account for the overwhelming strain an outbreak would place on hospitals and public health systems trying to cope with millions of seriously ill Americans, some public health experts and local health officials say.” (Washington Post)
Indonesia: Epicenter of bird flu
January 31, 2008
“The rooster started to crow at the unusually early hour of 3 a.m. and Partoparmin, a farmer in this small hillside village, went into his yard to look. All around him, chickens were lying on the ground, twitching and shaking.
“A few minutes later they were dead,” said Partoparmin, 60. “Right away I thought, this might be bird flu.”
Partoparmin, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, buried the chickens as he had learned to do from televised announcements, and no tests were done to confirm the cause of their death.” (International Herald Tribune)
Agencies deny they covered up formaldehyde in FEMA trailers
January 30, 2008
“House Democrats accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday of covering up the long-term health hazards — possibly including cancer — that are linked to formaldehyde in hurricane trailers.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said at a committee hearing it is “unacceptable” that FEMA did not begin testing formaldehyde levels in travel trailers and mobile homes until last month.” (Federal Times)
Homeland Security silent on TB carrier’s multiple U.S. entries
January 25, 2008
“The Senate Homeland Security Chairman urged the Department of Homeland Security to provide answers to questions submitted three months ago regarding the multiple entries of a Mexican national carrying a dangerous strain of tuberculosis.” (Washington Times)
CDC, Partners Publish Agenda for Public Health Legal Preparedness
January 22, 2008
“CDC and partners have issued the National Action Agenda for Public Health Legal Preparedness as a resource that public health officials, policy makers, and partners may use in assessing and improving their jurisdictions’ legal preparedness for public health emergencies.” (Occupational Health & Safety)
ACLU wants changed focus in pandemic containment planning
January 14, 2008
“Government planning for a disease outbreak is too focused on treating health emergencies as a law enforcement or national security problem rather than treating victims as patients and engaging the public, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The group on Monday released a report that asserts that plans made by the Bush administration since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to protect the nation against a possible influenza epidemic put the civil liberties of U.S. residents at risk.” (GovExec)
A-Tek awarded homeland security contract
January 12, 2008
“A-Tek Inc. said Friday it won a $57.5 million contract to staff laboratory technicians under the Department of Homeland Security’s BioWatch program.
The Leesburg-based company will fill 133 positions in 19 states under the contract, which lasts four years and four months.” (Washington Business Journal)