Medical Alert (Global SARS Response & Bioterror Preparedness)

The Washington Times ^ | June 8, 2003 | Tom Carter

[FairOpinion]

Doctors, scientists and public health officials across the nation went into overdrive within hours of the World Health Organization's first global alert on SARS, the deadly new virus from Asia. The word went out over phone trees, blast faxes, BlackBerry alerts, e-mail. And inside 24 hours, the U.S. public health system stood ready to tackle SARS

[FairOpinion]

In any epidemic natural or result of bioterror attack, fast response is key, and apparently SARS tested out the system, which they will continue to improve, hopefully.

"Congress has allocated $1.1 billion for bioweapons preparedness since September 11, and that figure is expected to increase tenfold in the next two years."

[FairOpinion]

I think this is the answer:

"I think a successful, large-scale bioterror attack with anthrax or smallpox is a low probability, but the consequences of something like that are so great, we have to be prepared," he says.

Just the direct cost of the WTC attack was $87 BILLION, which didn't include the cost to the economy. So in comparison to an attack, spending Billions on prevention is vastly preferable.

It's pay now, or pay later, and if you pay later the cost will be lives AND huge amounts of money.


AND to put it in context:

"Total pork identified by Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) since 1991 adds up to $162 billion. "

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2003

[FairOpinion]

ping

[FairOpinion]

As they say, it's all in the perspective and everything is relative.

[Judith Anne]

Bump to myself.

[flutters]

For example, a run on Kaopectate at pharmacies in a particular area should tell health specialists that something is amiss. A spike in absences from work and school, or visits to the doctor could indicate release of a biological agent.

I remember hearing about this right after 9/11. I wonder if some form of surveillance is already in place.

Despite progress, many gaps in planning remain. The CDC convened a meeting of child care specialists in Alexandria on May 21 to discuss recommendations for addressing the needs of children during a bioterror event.

Children pose different medical needs and psychological reactions, especially if separated from parents. Most participants in the meeting were concerned that these needs have been overlooked in government planning. A total of 53 million children attend 117,000 public schools in the United States.

Last year I got a letter from my daughter’s school about this. It basically said that the school would be locked down in the event of a disaster. But for real contingency plans, I don’t think they have any.

I’m looking forward to the second part of this article.

[FairOpinion]

Here is part 2:

Germ Research Becomes Urgent
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/925789/posts

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting all of this!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[RightWhale]

At least they can do something about an epidemic that would put a hole in the GDP for months, so setting up the communication network is not unreasonable. Too bad they can do nothing about a killer asteroid or a nuclear broadsides that would flatline the GDP for centuries.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[flutters]

Ping