Diary Prequel Package — page 137

contact "Doctors without Borders" and Bono's people (Jamie Drummond). I will help them out to connect. They had already approached Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, but felt that they did not really have a substantive network. Nov. 10, 2005 - Frenetic activity continues. Briefed together with Bill Raub and Julie G. (by phone) and Jerry Parker (Stewart Simonson's Deputy at OEPHP) Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez (he is last of the Cabinet Secretaries to be briefed). Bruce Gellin is in Geneva with Stewart for Global Planning meeting for Pandemic Flu. They stopped in Paris to visit Institut Pasteur. This was in the middle of the riots around Paris by Muslim French Nationals who are enraged at poor living conditions and alleged prejudice in French Society against them. We also briefed the House Armed Services Committee and I gave a personal 1on-1 briefing to my old friend Sen. Barbara Mikulski. She was gracious and very glad to see me. This evening Sec. Leavitt and I and Michael Osterholm (connected from Minnesota) did the Nightline Show with Ted Koppel from D.C. Nov. 20, 2005 - Press still hot and heavy. I appeared on "Meet the Press" with MOL, Julie Gerberding, and Mike Ryan (WHO) about bird flu. Many e-mails saying that I gave a great interview. Nov. 23, 2005 - Press activity still very heavy. I appeared today on the Diane Rehm Show and CNN's "The Situation Room". Michael Osterholm sent me an e-mail saying that he was concerned that I was saying on the air that the probability of an H5N1 pandemic this winter is low. He says that "health reporters" are e-mailing saying that I am giving confusing messages. I am absolutely certain that the "health reporter" in question is Laurie Garrett who is inherently hysterical. I am disappointed in Michael since it is very clear that I am saying that the probability of a pandemic (in the broad sense - any new virus) occurring is very high based on historical precedence. However, the probability of there being an H5N1 pandemic of the scale of the 1918 Influenza over the next month or two is low. NONETHELESS, we must assume the worse case scenario and prepare as if it will happen in its worse form and it will happen soon. I have been very consistent about this. I am actually asking the actuarial and probability people like Don Burke to figure out if we can add some science to this concept. Nov. 25, 2005 - HHS Flu Summit for States will take place on Dec. 5. Julie Gerberding and I are at collegial "odds" with the DHHS people (Laura Lawlor and John Ogwanobi) in that we feel that the Department and the CDC specifically should be the first ones discussing the Plan. The Agenda as of today has MOL (as appropriate) speaking and then we bring on Rajeev from HSC, Jeff Runge from DHS, a person from DoA. Julie does not come on until after lunch. Even I (speaking on the science of flu as I usually do) come on before Julie. There is already concern in Congress and in the Press as to "who is in charge". I feel that the CDC should be right up front on this. HHS and MOL are is charge, but the major health instrument for preparedness and response is the CDC.