No matter where it originated, it could have been contained there with adequate leadership. In March 2009, H1N1, was identified in Mexico before spreading quickly across the rest of the world. . The Obama administration acted early and decisively to prevent the swine flu pandemic from devastating the U.S. instructing every federal agency to play a role in preparing the U.S. for a pandemic. H1N1 was first detected in the U.S. on April 15, 2009 and within a week, the CDC had already begun working to develop a vaccine and activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond. By April 28, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new CDC test to detect H1N1 infections. There were an estimated 12,469 deaths from H1N1 in the United States.
In December 2014, then-President Barack Obama warned the United States: “There may and likely will come a time in which we have both an airborne disease that is deadly,” Obama said. “And in order for us to deal with that effectively, we have to put in place an infrastructure—not just here at home, but globally—that allows us to see it quickly, isolate it quickly, respond to it quickly, so that if and when a new strain of flu like the Spanish flu crops up five years from now or a decade from now, we’ve made the investment and we’re further along to be able to catch it.” . Obama’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak was similarly marked by action. . The U.S. sent thousands of health officials to Africa, where the virus was spreading, to help with response efforts and limit the virus’ spread. The Obama administration helped create 15 treatment centers in the region, provided PPE and medical relief supplies to the countries, and conducted aggressive contact tracing to identify how the virus was spreading to limit its spread beyond Western Africa. Only one person in the United States died from Ebola after traveling from West Africa to Dallas, Texas.
To help the incoming administration be better prepared to fight future pandemics, officials under President Obama took what they learned from these battles and prepared a 69-page playbook. written by Obama’s National Security Council, which detailed strategies for when and how to obtain personal protective equipment, and included recommendations on how the government should move quickly to detect and contain potential outbreaks, secure additional funding, and possibly even invoke the Defense Production Act to compel private companies to produce needed medical supplies..Outgoing Obama administration officials also prepared a “tabletop exercise” just days before Trump’s inauguration, in which they briefed Trump’s top aides on the potential dangers of a pandemic—such as the one now devastating the United States. As Politico reported in March, the Trump team was told it could face specific challenges, such as shortages of ventilators, antiviral drugs, and other medical essentials. Obama administration officials emphasized that having a coordinated, unified national response was “paramount.” But the Trump administration ignored the playbook Instead, spending weeks downplaying the virus, which they knew about in late December, spouting rampant misinformation and contradicting their own medical and scientific advisors. Even as he began to acknowledge the reality of the pandemic, Trump refused to take responsibility for the shortages of ventilators, PPE, and other medical supplies, stating “no one could have seen this coming.”Instead, the Trump administration wasted nearly two months bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed supplies and equipment. Federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators, and other equipment needed by health care workers. By then, it was too late. Trump likes naming things after himself. This is one he truly has earned: The Trump Plague.
RussellRogerBe1 over 4 years ago
Anyone else ever get the feeling that Doug MacArthur was right and Truman was wrong?
Jethro Flatline over 4 years ago
It’s kind of funny how this strip skews conservative but Deering’s own political cartoons skew more liberal.
Diane Lee Premium Member over 4 years ago
No matter where it originated, it could have been contained there with adequate leadership. In March 2009, H1N1, was identified in Mexico before spreading quickly across the rest of the world. . The Obama administration acted early and decisively to prevent the swine flu pandemic from devastating the U.S. instructing every federal agency to play a role in preparing the U.S. for a pandemic. H1N1 was first detected in the U.S. on April 15, 2009 and within a week, the CDC had already begun working to develop a vaccine and activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond. By April 28, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new CDC test to detect H1N1 infections. There were an estimated 12,469 deaths from H1N1 in the United States.
In December 2014, then-President Barack Obama warned the United States: “There may and likely will come a time in which we have both an airborne disease that is deadly,” Obama said. “And in order for us to deal with that effectively, we have to put in place an infrastructure—not just here at home, but globally—that allows us to see it quickly, isolate it quickly, respond to it quickly, so that if and when a new strain of flu like the Spanish flu crops up five years from now or a decade from now, we’ve made the investment and we’re further along to be able to catch it.” . Obama’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak was similarly marked by action. . The U.S. sent thousands of health officials to Africa, where the virus was spreading, to help with response efforts and limit the virus’ spread. The Obama administration helped create 15 treatment centers in the region, provided PPE and medical relief supplies to the countries, and conducted aggressive contact tracing to identify how the virus was spreading to limit its spread beyond Western Africa. Only one person in the United States died from Ebola after traveling from West Africa to Dallas, Texas.
Diane Lee Premium Member over 4 years ago
To help the incoming administration be better prepared to fight future pandemics, officials under President Obama took what they learned from these battles and prepared a 69-page playbook. written by Obama’s National Security Council, which detailed strategies for when and how to obtain personal protective equipment, and included recommendations on how the government should move quickly to detect and contain potential outbreaks, secure additional funding, and possibly even invoke the Defense Production Act to compel private companies to produce needed medical supplies..Outgoing Obama administration officials also prepared a “tabletop exercise” just days before Trump’s inauguration, in which they briefed Trump’s top aides on the potential dangers of a pandemic—such as the one now devastating the United States. As Politico reported in March, the Trump team was told it could face specific challenges, such as shortages of ventilators, antiviral drugs, and other medical essentials. Obama administration officials emphasized that having a coordinated, unified national response was “paramount.” But the Trump administration ignored the playbook Instead, spending weeks downplaying the virus, which they knew about in late December, spouting rampant misinformation and contradicting their own medical and scientific advisors. Even as he began to acknowledge the reality of the pandemic, Trump refused to take responsibility for the shortages of ventilators, PPE, and other medical supplies, stating “no one could have seen this coming.”Instead, the Trump administration wasted nearly two months bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed supplies and equipment. Federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators, and other equipment needed by health care workers. By then, it was too late. Trump likes naming things after himself. This is one he truly has earned: The Trump Plague.
Mark DeMist Premium Member over 4 years ago
I’m betting that right wing pro Trump characters will start disappearing from cartoons real soon.
AndrewSihler over 4 years ago
“Pack animals”?? You mean like burros and mules?
Daeder over 4 years ago
Just because there’s no evidence to support the president’s crack-pot “theories”, doesn’t mean Carl shouldn’t be gullible enough to believe them.