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New Report Warns About Threat of Emerging Infectious Diseases
by Anthony L. Kimery
Tuesday, 04 November 2008
The nation's defenses against emerging infectious diseases are insufficient
The already staggering number of Americans who die each year from merging and re-emerging infectious diseases could skyrocket during a worst case influenza pandemic or yet unknown disease outbreak, stated a new report by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH), ?Germs Go Global: Why Emerging Infectious Diseases Are a Threat to America.?
[snip]
Shortly before his recent death, the world renowned virologist, Dr. Graeme Laver, also expressed his concern to HSToday.us about the spread of HAIs during a pandemic and mass casualty events. He said "they would most assuredly spread" in overcrowded hospitals and temporary structures erected to treat the numbers of people who will need medical attention in a pandemic.
[snip]
?We?re looking at a little known and largely ignored health crisis secondary to a pandemic or large-scale terrorist bombing like a nuke or something,? a source involved in federal emergency medical preparedness planning told HSToday.us a year ago.
[snip]
Indeed, the NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) ?responds to a growing concern by senior US leaders about the Implications - in terms of health, economics, and national security - of the growing global infectious disease threat. The dramatic increase in drug-resistant microbes, combined with the lag in development of new antibiotics, the rise of megacities with severe health care deficiencies, environmental degradation, and the growing ease and frequency of cross-border movements of people and produce have greatly facilitated the spread of infectious diseases.?
[snip]
A crisis will compound the problem. ?Alone or in combination, war and natural disasters, economic collapse, and human complacency are causing a breakdown in health care delivery and facilitating the emergence or reemergence of infectious diseases,? the NIE emphasizes.
by Anthony L. Kimery
Tuesday, 04 November 2008
The nation's defenses against emerging infectious diseases are insufficient
The already staggering number of Americans who die each year from merging and re-emerging infectious diseases could skyrocket during a worst case influenza pandemic or yet unknown disease outbreak, stated a new report by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH), ?Germs Go Global: Why Emerging Infectious Diseases Are a Threat to America.?
[snip]
Shortly before his recent death, the world renowned virologist, Dr. Graeme Laver, also expressed his concern to HSToday.us about the spread of HAIs during a pandemic and mass casualty events. He said "they would most assuredly spread" in overcrowded hospitals and temporary structures erected to treat the numbers of people who will need medical attention in a pandemic.
[snip]
?We?re looking at a little known and largely ignored health crisis secondary to a pandemic or large-scale terrorist bombing like a nuke or something,? a source involved in federal emergency medical preparedness planning told HSToday.us a year ago.
[snip]
Indeed, the NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) ?responds to a growing concern by senior US leaders about the Implications - in terms of health, economics, and national security - of the growing global infectious disease threat. The dramatic increase in drug-resistant microbes, combined with the lag in development of new antibiotics, the rise of megacities with severe health care deficiencies, environmental degradation, and the growing ease and frequency of cross-border movements of people and produce have greatly facilitated the spread of infectious diseases.?
[snip]
A crisis will compound the problem. ?Alone or in combination, war and natural disasters, economic collapse, and human complacency are causing a breakdown in health care delivery and facilitating the emergence or reemergence of infectious diseases,? the NIE emphasizes.
