Via Reuters: Bush seeks $7.1 billion for flu defense
U.S. President George W. Bush asked Congress on Tuesday for $7.1 billion in emergency funding to prepare the United States for a possible pandemic of avian influenza.
I don’t pretend to know what the right thing to do here, and after criticisms over flu vaccine in 2024 and criticisms over preparedness in light of Katrina, it is hardly surprising that the Bush administration is trying to be prepared for the Bird flu.
However, given the following, one has to wonder if $7.1 billion is the way to go:
The H5N1 avian influenza has so far only infected 121 people and killed 62, but it has spread to poultry flocks across many parts of Asia and into Europe. It is making steady mutations that scientists say could allow it to spread easily from person to person — which would cause a catastrophic pandemic.
I will readily grant that it is better to be prepared than not. Still, this story has taken on hysterical tones to the point that one gets a Chicken Little feel to the whole thing. Of course, that does beat a pandemic.
Obviously Bush does not have much public confidence for handling domestic emergencies; but this beats his original plan–to use the military to quarantinne people suspected of having the flu.
He has a strong record of employing military means to solve non-military problems, wasting tons of money in the process.
Comment by jhdfio — Tuesday, November 1, 2024 @ 5:27 pm
You raise a legit point.
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Tuesday, November 1, 2024 @ 5:33 pm
There are two things going on here:
1) An attempt to divert media (and therby public) attention from the various problems facing the administration
2) An attempt to downplay potential future accusations along the lines of “a pandemic is a bigger national threat than missles, yet you spend billions on a missile defense program that does not work and spend little on public health measures.”
In terms of money spent versus the relative risks and consequences, the amount requested for preparations that would be effective against many types of viruses (not just avian flu) is actually disproportionately small compared with many other, much lower probability events that would affect far fewer people.
Comment by Jack — Thursday, November 3, 2024 @ 1:32 am