Posted on 12/03/2001 4:03:57 PM PST by The Magical Mischief Tour
Monday December 3 6:06 PM ET
Surgeon General: CDC Labs a 'National Disgrace' SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters Health) - US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said that the United States should be ``ashamed of the condition of the laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.'' The labs are out-of-date and poorly equipped, he said, ``and these are laboratories that are relied upon around the world.''
Satcher, who held an impromptu press briefing at the American Medical Association House of Delegates meeting here, said ``the laboratories had no power for 15 hours during the early days'' of the anthrax bioterrrorism attacks.
Satcher, who previously served as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the whole US public health system needs an infusion of cash. ``I support the proposal by Senators Frist and Kennedy to boost the public budget by $3.2 billion.'' The Bush administration is asking for an increase of $1.5 billion.
Beyond problems at CDC headquarters, Satcher said that all public health labs--state and local--need to be re-tooled and updated. ``There are local public health labs that don't have fax machines, that have no computers so they cannot receive e-mail updates,'' he said.
Moreover, Satcher said, ``We need to train more epidemiologists. It's my understanding that there are 10 states that have no trained epidemiologists in their health departments.''
Satcher, who is a member of the AMA House of Delegates, was a featured speaker during a session on bioterrorism.
He is no doubt also left out of the loop because as a Clinton recess appointment, he cannot be trusted with information on the War on Terror.
Probably hoping he gets to testify before someone in the Senate...probably Ted Kennedy. Mark my words, Kennedy will call for an investigation.
Of course this has all sorts of opportunity to backfire, but they are desperate to find something to hang on President Bush. Ha!
The very same. This so-called "public health" facility is nothing more than another socialist front group, funded by taxpayers dollars, and advancing an increasingly leftist agenda. Since every issue contains a public health dimension, suddenly the CDC gets to be very political. And who do you suppose holds its political debts? Why, the Left, of course. The very people who provide it with funding and continued media support. So where do you suppose these "scientists'" allegiances lie?
Satcher, who previously served as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the whole US public health system needs an infusion of cash.
Well, well. As the former director, Satcher ought to know. After all, it happened on his watch! And of course, "an infusion of cash" will solve all the problems he left behind. It always does when dealing with Liberals.
Where was his voice in that period or did he have a sore throat?
They are that bad and still lab to the world - i.e., even if it is in bad shape, it's still the very best the entire world has to offer - just like most things in this country.
Thank you Mr. Satcher. YOUR TIME IS UP! I have now appointed (FILL IN THE BLANK WITH A COMPETENT SURGEON GENERAL) to take over. Nice knowin' ya.
Perhaps it is the folks who have been running the CDC that should be ashamed. I really am getting sick and damned tired of these lousy, stinking bureaucrats continually begging for money. If they can't do the job, get the hell out.
Where was his voice in that period or did he have a sore throat?
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