A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
-
April 23-24, 2009 - First days of public awareness of the "swine flu" pandemic with the "quadruple reassortant H1N1 influenza A. Around the clock conference calls and meetings. In "battle mode" at HHS. I am handling everything for NIH, but there is something strange regarding relationship with HHS (see below re: Jenny Backus.)
-
April 25-27, 2009 - Intense weekend with the potential pandemic evolving. Started in Mexico and now person-to-person spread evolving in USA. At first only in TX and CA and now beginning to spread throughout USA in small numbers that are growing. Unclear why disease seems to be more severe in Mexico than in USA. Likely due to larger undetected denominator in Mexico for some time and we are only seeing the severe cases, whereas in USA with better surveillance, we see more mild cases. Also spreading to Europe with several countries reporting cases, almost all related to trips to Mexico or contact with people with Mexico exposure.
-
April 28, 2009 - Testified with Rich Besser (CDC) at Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related Agencies with Tom Harkin as Chair. Went well. Great praise for me by Senators despite the fact that the Department is only letting Rich Besser and CDC out on TV or any media.
-
April 29, 2009 - Testified with Anne Schuchat (CDC) at the Senate HELP Committee with Sherrod Brown as Chair. Again, great praise for me for being there during crises bcommittee on such as AIDS, SARS, Anthrax, and bird flu by Sen. Mikulski, Brown, Chris Dodd, etc. hearing went very well.
-
2009-04-30 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
April 30, 2009 - Real problems with the HHS public affairs people - Jenny Backus. It is clear that I am being muzzled to speak to any major Press. Reasons unclear (see above). Big issue today in that on the NBC Today Show, which Jenny reluctantly agreed to put me on, the VP was quoted as saying that he would not want his family to go to any crowded places like riding on a subway, in an airplane or in a crowded arena because of the danger of people coughing on them and giving them the flu. I was on next and said calmly that this is not the CDC Public Health policy and calmed the waters, etc. Jenny had tried to have me call her 1 minute before I was on the air, but I did not see her e-mail. After the show (in which everyone said I did a great job) we connected by phone and she critiqued my answer to a question about the WHO increasing the phase of the potential pandemic from 4 to 5 and asked me if I thought that it would go to 6. I said that based on what the WHO was saying and the evolving nature of the epidemic, I would not be surprised if they did boost it to 6. Jenny said I should not be making policy ahead of the CDC and WHO - give me a break!. In any event, FOX National News wanted me today and the subject of interview would surely be the VP's misstatement. Surprisingly, Jenny approved it and she said I should change the subject when they ask about the VP. She sent me a statement from the VP's office saying that when the VP was asked what he would tell a family member if they planned a trip to Mexico, he would say not to fly and that I should refer the press to his statement. The statement is a flat-out lie and they wanted me to explain what the VP meant. I decided not to go on FOX and get caught in that nonsense. Jenny is blocking me on all of the networks and cable shows that are good and allowing me to do very little and so I am reaching the point where I do not want to be involved with them. April 30 - May 3, 2009 - Continued evolution of epidemic/pandemic with continued real issues with Jenny Backus and me. She refuses to let me on TV and even yanked me at last minute after agreeing that I would do Good Morning America today. I got to studio and found out that overnight, she had substituted Rich Besser for me. The ABC producers were horrified and apologetic. Also, Wolf Blitzer, Lou Dobbs, Bob Bazell and others are getting pissed that they are not allowed to interview me. Even David Gregory noted that it is surprising that I am not being seen on TV at all.
-
May 4-5, 2009 - Epidemic seems to be stabilizing and looking like a classical seasonal flu , but out of season. Big issue is will it go underground over the summer and then reemerge with a vengeance next Fall and Winter just like in 1918.
-
May 6, 2009 - Testified before House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health with Anne Schuchat and a USAID person.
-
May 6 - 16, 2009 - It is apparent that the epidemic is "stabilizing' in that it is looking like a typical seasonal flu, only out of season in the Northern Hemisphere. Only exception is Mexico, where the apparent severity is not explained compared to the rest of the world. It still could be an issue of the "denominator, i.e. there may be very many undetected mild cases in Mexico and so we are only seeing the severe cases and are assuming that the disease is more sever in Mexico. As of May 15, there have been 4714 confirmed and probable case in the USA in 46 states with 173 hospitalizations and 5 deaths. Internationally, there have been 7520 confirmed cases in 34 countries. Clearly this is different from the "swine flu" situation in 1976 where the virus infected 230 soldiers in Fort Dix, NJ with one death, but the infection never spread outside of Fort Dix. This has important implications in the intense planning that is going on in HHS regarding the production and administration of a vaccine. I am part of the "vaccine team" at HHS made up of Bruce Gellin, Robin Robinson of HHS's BARDA, me, Jesse Goodman and Josh Scharfstein of FDA with input from CDC (Rich Besser et al.). We are being very careful to uncouple the decisions about going ahead to produce the vaccine for administration next Fall and Winter from the decision to actually administer the vaccine next Fall and Winter. We will have to observe what the virus does this summer here and in the Southern Hemisphere (their winter flu season). This drama is eerily unfolding like the situation in 1976. Thomas Frieden, Commissioner of NYC Dept. of Health, announced as Obama choice for CDC Director. Interesting in that many people thought that the choice would be Rich Besser because of the amazing public exposure he was getting, and the very nice job he did, during the flu crisis (every major network every day). Just goes to show you - sic transit glory or welcome to Washington!
-
May 27, 2009 - Went to Sons of Italy Awards Gala at the National Building Museum. Sat next to VP Joe Biden and his granddaughter Naomi who goes to Sidwell Friends. Also at table was his wife Jill (whose father is a Sicilian). Had nice conversations over the evening with the VP - very amiable person with whom I have interacted several times in the past re: anthrax, AIDS, SARS bird flu, etc. He was very complimentary to me during his speech. He received the NELA Award for Leadership and Achievement in Public Service (I received the NELA award for science in 1992). NELA = National Education Leadership Award. May 28 - June 2, 2009 - Continued activity working with HHS on flu preparedness. Little press associated with this and Jenny Backus has not been heard from for weeks since the press stuff has calmed down. Tom Freiden has been appointed as CDC Director and so Richard Besser is completely out of the picture. He did a good job, but see above regarding Jenny Backus. It is too bad, but my experience with Backus has seriously soured me on HHS and everyone there. They seem to have no idea who I am and certainly do not treat me with the reverence and respect that all other HHS people have for the past 25 years. I do not think that Sebelius even knows my history and who I am.