Monday, April 13, 2020

Trump administration ended pandemic early-warning program to detect coronaviruses ×

Two months before the novel coronavirus is thought to have begun its deadly advance in Wuhan, China, the Trump administration ended a $200-million pandemic early-warning program aimed at training scientists in China and other countries to detect and respond to such a threat.

The project, launched by the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2009, identified 1,200 different viruses that had the potential to erupt into pandemics, including more than 160 novel coronaviruses. The initiative, called PREDICT, also trained and supported staff in 60 foreign laboratories — including the Wuhan lab that identified SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Field work ceased when the funding ran out in September, and organizations that worked on the PREDICT program laid off dozens of scientists and analysts, said Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, a key player in the program.

Los Angeles Times 

Trump administration ended pandemic early-warning program to detect coronaviruses 

2 comments:

lastgreek said...

Trump, Trudeau, Boris -- because of their criminal negligence of not taking fast action when they had the chance, they all have blood on their hands. Sociopaths.

I still recall Dr Theresa Tam, Canada's Public Health Official, brushing off the corona virus and that it posed no risk to the general public. That was two and a half months ago! I want to call this doctor who is, btw, an immunologist(!) a dummy. But, you see, I am not really sure if what she had expressed was her professional opinion, or if she just listened to the Canadian government and did as she was told. So she is either a dummy or a sociopath.

You know why Greece has so far (and fingers crossed) a low number of corona cases and low death rate? Because the Greek government listened to their scientists.

You know why Sweden that has approx. the same population as Greece has about 5x the corona cases and about 10x the death rate of Greece? Because the foolish Swedish government listened to its economists and not their scientists.

PS: I watched a few minutes of today's White House briefing. What a sight, and a ghastly one at that, to see Dr Fauci perform a pornographic act on Trump right there on live television. Well at least the very short Fauci performed it standing up -- no need to worry about creasing his pants ;)

Matt Franko said...

c'mon China said it was only animal to human ...

Fauci just said this weekend they burned us...

We'll get them back...not just now...

Sen. Blackburn on this morning saying we should just take their $1T USTs...

Good start...