Several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing intended to help detect disease outbreaks in China, Reuters has learned
1 / 2FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Medical staff in protective gear work at a 'drive-thru' testing center for the novel coronavirus disease of COVID-19 in Yeungnam University Medical Center in DaeguBy Marisa Taylor
No other foreign disease experts were embedded to lead the program after Quick left in July, according to the sources. Zhu said an embedded expert can often get word of outbreaks early, after forming close relationships with Chinese counterparts. In a statement to Reuters, the U.S. CDC said the elimination of the adviser position did not hinder Washington’s ability to get information and “had absolutely nothing to do with CDC not learning of cases in China earlier.”
One disease expert told Reuters he was skeptical that the U.S. resident adviser would have been able to get earlier or better information to the Trump administration, given the Chinese government’s suppression of information. Azar told CNN on Feb. 14 that he and CDC director Redfield officially offered to send a CDC team into China on Jan. 6 but still had not received permission for them to enter the country. HHS oversees the CDC.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since then, as Trump has labeled the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” - a description the Chinese have condemned as stigmatizing. Last week, the Chinese government announced that Americans from three U.S. news organizations, The New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, would be expelled from China.The decision to eliminate Quick’s job came as the CDC has scaled back the number of U.S.
Nevertheless, the infectious disease experts who spoke with Reuters said, the United States could use people like Quick with contacts on the ground, especially if fears of a second wave of infections materializes.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Exclusive: U.S. axed CDC expert job in China months before virus outbreakSeveral months before the coronavirus pandemic began, the Trump administration e...
Leer más »
LVMH orders 40 million masks from China for France - Business InsiderThe world's largest luxury conglomerate orders 40 million masks from China to support coronavirus crisis in France
Leer más »
China, South Korea, Taiwan sending masks and medical staff to other countries in needThe Chinese Red Cross shipped 30 tons of medical equipment along with nine Chinese medical staff to assist with preventing and controlling the virus.
Leer más »
Trump uses China as a foil when talking coronavirus, distancing himself from criticismRace and global health experts argue describing COVID-19 as a 'Chinese' virus exacerbates xenophobia amid the rapidly unfolding outbreak while Chinese officials remain rankled by President Trump's repeated use of the phrase.
Leer más »