Comments on: Swine flu risk communications, continued

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:42:05 +0000

Media now reporting that Janet N. Secretary DHS declared the National Health Emergency. See comments above.

Also reporting that a Navy lab not WHO or CDC picked up on the type of virus and label first! Would be interested to know facts of how surveillance turned up this problem. Noting that HLSWatch as recently as April 21, 2009, was following story of different virus in Egypt. Thanks NAVY if true.

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:32:22 +0000

Okay nit picks are eye of the beholder. Just heard NPR story on Health Emergency Declaration including the Secretary DHS giving her take on the declaration. First, extraordinary that DHS is the lead according to NPR. Second, The Secretary DHS stated on the record that this declaration was “Nothing Special” just like the declaration of an emergency for flood or hurricane. And that the feds were leaning forward. Well, it is authority in a separate statutory scheme with no formal authority delegated to the Secretary DHS or even the President (I would argue Congress goofed on this one) and vests authority exclusively in the Secretary DHS. Well HSPD-5 made the Secretary HHS the lead for all domestic events and of course that was later modified by statute to supposedly clarify the PFO (Principal Federal Official) position in the NRP (now the NRF) and the FCO concept imbedded in the Stafford Act. I believe only one othe “National Health Emergency” has been declared since 2002. What is interesting is that inferentially the Secretary by inject parallels to floods and hurricanes seemed to be suggesting Stafford Act authority was triggered. My guess in NO that is not the case and would be a substantial precedent if so. [Note that I have long advocated formal amendment of the Stafford Act for just that purpose, among others--since there once was a declaration for the West Nile Virus outbreak in New Jersey].

What I really wonder is exactly what legal authorities or programs, functions, and activities the Secretary DHS and others think were triggered by the declaration. IN other words what is its substance or is it in the minds of the White House just a “warning” to the public and health officials. Warning and alerting and notification are all terms of art of course and substantial research exists on all these terms. For example, Cheyenne Mountain was closed by DOD because it never really had been in the last few decades a warning facility (despite what observers of Ferris Bueller–opps Mathew Broderick’s classic about the mountain might have seemed) and really only a notification center. Real reason, not much warning from off shore SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles– the ones the missle defense guys choose to ignore when arguing for more billions.) Okay enough dribble. I want DHS/HHS/CDC to tell US exactly what they are doing and why or why not. Don’t tell us no screening of airline passengers from Mexico tell US why that is not necessary, e.g. No more nitpicks today I promise. Hey I liked the Acting CDC guy why not make him permanent. Even better line up a federal plane to get Mike Levitt and Julie Gerberding back to advise the White House and Brennan–was he even in the briefing after being announced by White House that he would “give” briefing? If some readers wonder about the specificity of all this Cumming drivel it is because if the senior echelons of the federal government don’t know what they are doing it is unlikely that they can efficiently and effective direct their minions in a crisis. By the way I believe Bioterrorism has been played in several TOPOFF Execises and now was expected to be played in TOPOFF V (sorry National Level Exercise V)!

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:08:48 +0000

Nice coverup by the White House. In June 2002 President signed into law Public Law 107-188 that gave directly to the Secretary HHS or her delegate (CDC?) authority to declare a Public Health Emergency. Since no Secretary HHS and no permanent head of CDC most of press conference featured Secretary DHS who has NO repeat NO authority to declare a Public Health Emergency. See some of these federal jobs are important. Surprise surpise. I should have mentioned Anthony Fauci’s full name in previous comment as expert at NIH but not sure he is still there. The vaccine stockpile (mainly Tamiflu in this instance) was in part to be biefed up under new legal authority granted in BIOSHIELD program, once housed in DHS and then returned by statute to HHS. It is called the National Strategic Stockpile not to be confused with the National Defense Stockpile under the Defense Strategic Stockpile Act of 1950, as amended. Not quite 100% sure of the information above but 90% confident.

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:57:46 +0000

Would like to have been fly-on-the-wall for run-up to Brennan’s briefing and who was there to help prep? Is there an MD on either HSC or NSC staff? A virologist or epidemiologist? Any kind of scientist?

By: William R. Cumming

William R. Cumming — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:59:10 +0000

Great follow up and thanks. Again EPI–Emergency Public Information could be critical in response to this growing story. A real test of White House now underway given the centralization of public information since 24/7 and 365 news cycle on TV began in 1982. A revolutionary development really and not fully analyzed for its impact on domestic crisis management!
Somewhat interesting is that if this turns out to be a real Pandemic event started in the Western Hemisphere while the “watchers” all looking at Asia.