Fears of Lax Surveillance if CDC Program Cut

Author:
  • JCJennifer Couzin-Frankel
    Jennifer Couzin-Frankel
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Abstract
A proposal to stop funneling dollars directly to U.S. surveillance and research for most mosquito and other vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue has scientists wringing their hands. They are concerned that if the plan sticks, the country will be ill-prepared to handle new emerging diseases and manage existing ones. The proposal in President Barack Obama9s 2011 budget for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, combined with a $15.7 million cut for infectious disease work generally, would virtually eliminate the vector-borne program. Currently, CDC funds mosquito testing for a variety of diseases and investigations into patterns of disease spread in the United States.