A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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March 5, 2012 - It is starting to become clear that the NSABB are saying that the basis for their recommendation is the fact that the virus was made transmissible and the decision had little or nothing to do with whether or not the virus was lethal via aerosol transmission. I just cannot believe this. I believe that most of the NSABB group did not know enough about flu to know the importance of this distinction. They now are embarrassed that they missed this and are likely covering their asses. Interesting that the N.Y. Times (Phil Boffey) editor wrote another Sunday editorial yesterday (May 4, 2012) criticizing the process and implying that "the NIH, whose reputation is at stake....." is somehow at fault. He clearly is taking the side of the NSABB calling them fiercely independent. He wrote me an e-mail prior to the Sunday editorial giving me a "headsup". He implied in his e-mail that I was trying to have him retract his prior editorial based on information from Geneva. He is totally missing the point. I do not want him to retract anything nor do I want to influence the NSABB to change their minds. I merely want them to reconvene so that they can have all of the information that was presented in Geneva and at the ASM meeting on Feb. 29, 2012 in Washington. Things that they almost certainly did not know at the time of their December, 2011 recommendation: 1) aerosol transmitted H5N1 does not kill ferrets; 2) engineered H5N1 is poorly transmissible, i.e. it takes 3 to 5 days after exposure to transmit to 75% of ferrets compared to 2009 N1N1 that transmits in 100% of animals within 1 day; 3) pre-infecting ferrets with either seasonal H1N1 or H3N2 and letting them recover and then instilling 1 million infectious doses of H5N1 into their tracheas completely protects the ferrets from disease and death. If they still feel after they hear this that the papers should be redacted, then so be it. I believe that they are incorrect and were driven by the hysteria of Mike Osterholm, the know-it-all of David Relman and the lack of understanding of the rest of the NSABB.
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Mar. 8, 2012 - Went to special premier showing of the movie "Game Changer" about Sarah Palin starring Julianne Moore, Ed Harris and Woody Harrelson. All the usual DC glitterati were there, both political and media. Tammy Haddad was responsible for my invite. Went with Chris.
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Mar. 9, 2012 - PCAST meeting at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Presented on a panel with Paul Keim (Chair of NSABB), Bruce Alberts (Science editorin-chief), Peter Palese (Mt. Sinai) regarding the H1N1 manuscript controversy. Chaired by John Holdren and Eric Lander. Reviewed the pros and cons of publication. I gave presentation similar to my ASM presentation on Feb. 29.
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Mar. 12, 2012 - Gave my yearly talk to the Zuckerman Fellows on "A Career in Public Service". Very engaged group; was told by conveners that the fellows loved the talk and found it the best among many talks by White House people, and other government officials. Usual cocktail reception and dinner at the home of Ron and Beth Dozoretz. Mingled with the usual DC glitterati - Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan, Mort Zuckerman, David Gergen, Chris Matthews, etc.
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2012-03-20 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Mar. 20, 2012 - House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearings - Rayburn Building. Unusual situation that the Hearing was confined to a discussion about NCATS. Only official witnesses were Francis Collins and Tom Insel (Director NIMH) who was there in his capacity as Acting Director of NCATS. Harold Varmus and I were there as "token" attendees for rest of NIH. It was a disgrace that the Hearing was only NCATS. Chairman Dennis Reyberg is not the brightest bulb on the porch.
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Mar. 22, 2012 - Small intimate dinner at Café Milano sponsored by Wayne and Katherine Reynolds. Dinner in honor of Susan Hockfield the retiring President of MIT. Usual glitterati - Rick Atkinson (author), Head of National Geographic, etc.
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Mar. 25, 2012 - Went to Baltimore to present John Bartlett with an award from AIDS Action Baltimore. He was delighted at my laudation. It was run by AIDS activist and friend of mine - Lynda Dee.. er
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Mar. 26, 2012 - Gave my Nifty-Fifty Lecture on a "Career in Public Service" TO Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. It was fun since the students were so engaged with me.
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Mar. 27, 2012 - Went to National Portrait Gallery to have historical filming of my experience with HIV and my career. It is part of the National Portrait Project to film the histories of important Americans who have made major contributions.