I watched the press conference today in which the Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, was coordinating the United States’ Swine Flu efforts.
From its inception, the Department of Homeland Security has been chargrd with taking the lead in a pandemic (which we do not yet have). I need convincing that this is the best policy.
Not only does a DHS Secretary lack the medical qualifications and expertise to lead the planning for this possible crisis, but this takes her attention away from the whole reason her position exists—protecting the United States from terrorism. The message is that we are not offering the most appropriate response in one area of concern while taking our eye off the ball in another area of concern.
She has been put in charge over the Cabinet Secretary (or actually Acting Secretary—that this position is still not officially filled three months into the administration points to another problem) whose assumed area of expertise is in the current area of concern—public health. The DHS Secretary was placed in charge over the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Charles E. Johnson and the various agencies under his direction, including the Centers for Disease Control.
The Department of Homeland Security was created specifically to guard against terrorism on U.S. soil. Being the DHS Secretary requires one’s area of expertise to be protecting the U.S. against terrorism. If her area of expertise is in health rather than terrorism, then why is DHS Secretary in charge of health policy? One can argue that a possible pandemic IS a matter of domestic security, but that is wrong, especially at this juncture. The Department of Homeland Security should only become involved only if a pandemic had caused a breakdown of society with the resulting chaos placing the country’s infrastructure and citizens at greater risk of terrorism. We are not even near that situation, but even then, the DHS Secretary would not have the lead but be one of many considerations. Instead, a Department Secretary whose supposed area of expertise is not even in the area of current concern is in charge of Secretaries who are better qualified to handle the situation than she is.
Showing posts with label swine influenza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swine influenza. Show all posts
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Swine Flu and the Right Thing to Do?
The outbreak of swine flu in Mexico (which has spread to the U.S.) raises some difficult questions.
As of this writing early Saturday evening (4/25/09), news outlets were reporting that 20 to 80 are dead in Mexico with over 1000 infected, and 0 dead in the U.S. with roughly 15 infected (California, Texas, Kansas and New York). The Mexican president has declared an emergency, giving himself broad powers to impose quarantines and cancel events. The Mexico City government has closed school indefinitely and canceled other activities involving gatherings. This strain of swine flu does not kill only the very young or very old. An unnamed Mexican government source claimed most of the dead there are between 25 and 45 years old.
I am not an expert in the spread of disease, so I do not know if it is too late for travel and trade restrictions, should conditions in Mexico deteriorate to the point where they may be needed. When should health-related travel restrictions be placed between countries, essentially placing a country under quarantine? A pre-mature travel ban could spark cries of racism or xenophobia. If a travel ban should be necessary, will authorities wait longer than they otherwise would out of racial or diplomatic sensitivity? Feelings and pride are irrelevant when lives are at stake.
There are other questions. What are the rights of private citizens to move around and conduct commerce vs. society’s right to be protected from the spread of disease? How far should worldwide swine flu conditions have to deteriorate before the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a pandemic? A pandemic declaration by the WHO asks for voluntary worldwide trade and travel restrictions. With the world economy already in shambles, there will doubtless be pressure to postpone a pandemic declaration as long as possible. Some countries would comply, while others would not. What actions should be taken against countries that are not complying and are thought to be endangering other populations?
If we are fortunate, we will not have to learn the answers to these questions.
Sources
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2443181920090424
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEsNownABJ6Q&refer=worldwide
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24449988.htm
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97PNI383&show_article=1
As of this writing early Saturday evening (4/25/09), news outlets were reporting that 20 to 80 are dead in Mexico with over 1000 infected, and 0 dead in the U.S. with roughly 15 infected (California, Texas, Kansas and New York). The Mexican president has declared an emergency, giving himself broad powers to impose quarantines and cancel events. The Mexico City government has closed school indefinitely and canceled other activities involving gatherings. This strain of swine flu does not kill only the very young or very old. An unnamed Mexican government source claimed most of the dead there are between 25 and 45 years old.
I am not an expert in the spread of disease, so I do not know if it is too late for travel and trade restrictions, should conditions in Mexico deteriorate to the point where they may be needed. When should health-related travel restrictions be placed between countries, essentially placing a country under quarantine? A pre-mature travel ban could spark cries of racism or xenophobia. If a travel ban should be necessary, will authorities wait longer than they otherwise would out of racial or diplomatic sensitivity? Feelings and pride are irrelevant when lives are at stake.
There are other questions. What are the rights of private citizens to move around and conduct commerce vs. society’s right to be protected from the spread of disease? How far should worldwide swine flu conditions have to deteriorate before the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a pandemic? A pandemic declaration by the WHO asks for voluntary worldwide trade and travel restrictions. With the world economy already in shambles, there will doubtless be pressure to postpone a pandemic declaration as long as possible. Some countries would comply, while others would not. What actions should be taken against countries that are not complying and are thought to be endangering other populations?
If we are fortunate, we will not have to learn the answers to these questions.
Sources
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2443181920090424
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEsNownABJ6Q&refer=worldwide
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24449988.htm
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97PNI383&show_article=1
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