The Denver Post's Flu drugs stocked in Colo. as "social distancing" urged; Amid concerns, CSU and Sen. Udall (D-CO) see an opportunity to win influenza-research funds quotes Ambassador Barry Beaty, PhD. The article discusses Colorado's efforts to capitalize on the H1N1 virus outbreak. "Controlling these diseases where they occur reduces the chances of them being introduced into the United States," Beatty said.
Swine flu outbreak shows need for more health research funding: Lee B. Reichman, MD, points out in his Newark Star Ledger opinion editorial that "We need research that better understands how diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans. We need research that provides new and better drugs to cure cases of TB, including the deadly XDR-TB, which can be passed on the wings of a sneeze in the cabin of an airplane. We need research that finds highly effective vaccines against the range of mosquito-borne illnesses."
Melinda Moore, MD, MPH, tells Baltimore Sun readers why global health diseases like the H1N1, or swine flu, virus pose A Real Security Threat and why U.S. funding for global health research is crucial to our nation's health and protection. Our leaders' actions send "important signals to governments around the world and to the world's financial markets that there is a link between emerging diseases, such as swine flu, and national security. In the rush of constant news updates on swine flu, we must recognize that controlling the spread of this disease is not simply a health concern but also one of national security. And in today's globalized world, the spread of swine flu has become not just a U.S. national security threat but every country's national security threat."
Michael Cappello, MD, shares with the Connecticut Post, "If there is a big picture lesson, it's that this is a great example of how ineffective national borders are at preventing the spread of disease. If we are going to make any headway whatsoever in combating disease, we need to develop and improve global health, we need to develop a model based on international collaboration that cuts across national interests, cultures and religion. As long as I've been in infectious disease research, I've never met a parasite with an ideology."
"If this gets worse, you'll see the weakness of our system," said Jeffrey P. Koplan, MD, MPH in the New York Times. "In an event like this, where everyone's well-being is dependent on everyone else's, we will both feel and see the problems our system creates." Koplan also spoke to NPR on the importance of communication with the public and the CDC's crucial role.
Donald S. Burke, MD, speaks about the swine flu task force he's leading on WPXI Pittsburgh, as well as the public meeting planned in which city officials and residents can come and address any concerns they may have.
The University of Pittsburgh, where Burke is dean of the Graduate School of Public Health, just unveiled a new Center for Global Health. Of the current H1N1 situation, Burke says: "this is yet another example of the need for a global response to address health issues that impact all of us. The more international contacts we have, the better we will be able to deal with problems quickly. Activities on the ground and personal relationships with biomedical scientists allow you to work much more effectively when something does happen."