LaurieGarrett.com

DAY SIXTY-ONE:

Nov. 10:

It was another beautiful autumn day in New York, though people are starting to take note of the lack of rain. The fall usually brings heavy showers, pelted especially hard by driving winds. But New York has barely felt a drop of precipitation in weeks, and weather experts say we're twelve inches below normal for this time of year.

No doubt the arid atmosphere has keep Ground Zero comparatively safe, though firefighters continue to take unreasonable risks in the area. The city dropped charges against the firefighters who got into a slugfest with cops a few days ago, and in exchange the firefighters agreed to stop their protests.

Wandering in Prospect Park today it was hard to even think about Ground Zero riots or anything but the vermilion, red, gold and ochre glory of the fall trees. Clusters of kids in their soccer uniforms practiced kicks and dodges. The Farmers Market was filled with a dozen varieties of northeastern apples. Hot, fresh-crushed apple cider and a blueberry muffin on a chilly autumn afternoon: yes, there is a heaven.

Pres. George Bush was in town today, though I doubt the autumn glory was much noted by the Leader of the Free Nation. He coptered into Ground Zero, had a look around and then headed up to the United Nations General Assembly session to tell the rest of the world that they should join in waging war on terrorism. Because Osama bin Laden released videotape declaring the UN as his new primary target travel by automobile anywhere in Manhattan is hell. The police have blocked off all of the main arteries on the East Side of the island, and the Coast Guard has all but stopped boat traffic on the East River.

Meanwhile, anthrax remains front-page news in this burg. Consider this press release, received last night from the city health department:

Friday, November 9, 2001

8:15 P.M.

UPDATE ON ANTHRAX SITUATION IN NEW YORK CITY

Blood Tests on The New Yorker Employee Do Not Confirm Anthrax Infection

The New York City Department of Health (DOH) announced that serology results received this evening from the CDC on the individual who works at The New Yorker did not confirm the presence of antibodies that would be indicative of an anthrax infection. Since this blood test is not definitive, and as a skin biopsy could not be taken and tested because the lesion had healed, precautionary environmental sampling will be conducted at the magazine to determine whether there is any presence of anthrax spores.

Earlier today the DOH announced that it was investigating the late September onset of illness of a New Yorker employee about whom the DOH was notified on November 6. After developing a small, non-specific lesion on September 23, the individual began taking antibiotics during the last week in September. The lesion has since healed, and the individual is back at work.

No possible source of anthrax exposure at The New Yorker has been identified but environmental sampling will be conducted. At this time, the Health Department has not received any other reports of possible anthrax-related illnesses at The New Yorker. Symptoms of anthrax generally develop within 1 - 14 days of exposure.

The FBI, it seems, hasn't a clue as to who is committing these crimes. One day the agency insists that all evidence points to Iraq, the next it's the work of a lone wacko. The truth, it seems, is that the lack of scientific expertise within the ranks of the FBI has left their agents running down an infinite number of blind alleys, completely failing to note roads that seem all too obvious to microbiologists.

And the very same Congress that two weeks ago was harping on the need for a strong public health system to defend American against bioterrorism now insists ample resources exist, but must be inverted from "unworthy" programs. A Washington DC pal sent this:

In a letter sent yesterday to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, Republican Reps. Joseph Pitts (Pa.), John Shadegg (Ariz.) and Christopher Smith (N.J.)

criticized the CDC's funding of "inappropriate" AIDS prevention programs. The lawmakers wrote, "[We have grown increasingly concerned about some of the activities that the CDC is funding and promoting-activities that are highly

controversial in nature and funding that could be better used for our War

on Terrorism." They offered examples of CDC grants being used by AIDS groups in San Francisco to sponsor a workshop to teach gay men how to choose and se toys "for solo and partner sex"; a $64,000 CDC grant that paid for a billboard campaign in St. Louis, Mo., that depicted bare-chested men

embracing, which Mayor Francis Slay ordered removed for being offensive to

families; and San Francisco's CDC-sponsored "HIV Stops with Me" campaign

featuring HIV-positive "spokesmodels," which KGO-TV refused to air for its

"questionable content."

Public health, it seems, is back in its familiar terrain of acute controversy. For a moment it seemed possible that the nation's leaders would comprehend the relationship between sound public health, across the board, and public safety. This week Dr. Martin Hugh-Jones, an anthrax expert at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, was asked by USA TODAY what he thought ought to be done. Hugh-Jones E-mailed me a copy of his reply to USA TODAY:

MY FRIENDS REFER TO ME AS A CYNICAL BASTARD.

EVERYTHING LAURIE GARRETT SAYS ABOUT THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. WILL IT GET THE NECESSARY EXTRA FUNDING AND LONG TERM POLITICAL SUPPORT? GOOD QUESTION. ASK YOUR SENATORS, AND THEN ASK THEM AGAIN IN 12 MONTHS TIME WHEN THE FUSS HAS DIED DOWN. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT P.H. IS NOT SEXY LIKE CLINICAL MEDICINE (JUST THINK OF HOW LONG A NEW TV DRAMATIC SERIES ON PUBLIC HEALTH WOULD LAST WHEN PROPOSED TO A TV COMPANY IN COMPARISON TO AN "ER" TYPE PROGRAM PROPOSITION AND REMEMBER THAT WITH A WELL FUNCTIONING EFFICIENT PH DEPARTMENT NOTHING SEEMS TO HAPPEN-LITTLE DISEASE, FEW EMERGENCIES). PLUS ALL THE BEST PEOPLE I KNOW IN P.H. LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY'S AUNT OR GRANDFATHER.

WE HAVE AN INFANT MORTALITY PROBLEM IN THIS CITY WITH A MORTALITY RATE OF 1.1%, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY; THIS CONVERTS TO ABOUT A KINDERGARDEN CLASS OF KIDS EACH YEAR DYING. TO TACKLE IT WE ( A BUNCH OF OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES & TWO LSU PROFS) HAD TO GET OUTSIDE FUNDING.

Hey, I didn't say it --- self-confessed cynical bastard Martin Hugh-Jones did.

Be well. Stay safe. Stand defiant.

Laurie Garrett



DAY SIXTY-ONE: Return to Index Nov. 10: It was another beautiful autumn day in New York, though people are starting to take note of the lack of rain. The fall usually brings heavy showers, pelted especially hard by driving winds. But New York has barely felt a drop of precipitation in weeks, and weather experts say we're twelve inches below normal for this time of year. No doubt the arid atmosphere has keep Ground Zero comparatively safe, though firefighters continue to take unreasonable risks in the area. The city dropped charges against the firefighters who got into a slugfest with cops a few days ago, and in exchange the firefighters agreed to stop their protests. Wandering in Prospect Park today it was hard to even think about Ground Zero riots or anything but the vermilion, red, gold and ochre glory of the fall trees. Clusters of kids in their soccer uniforms practiced kicks and dodges. The Farmers Market was filled with a dozen varieties of northeastern apples. Hot, fresh-crushed apple cider and a blueberry muffin on a chilly autumn afternoon: yes, there is a heaven. Pres. George Bush was in town today, though I doubt the autumn glory was much noted by the Leader of the Free Nation. He coptered into Ground Zero, had a look around and then headed up to the United Nations General Assembly session to tell the rest of the world that they should join in waging war on terrorism. Because Osama bin Laden released videotape declaring the UN as his new primary target travel by automobile anywhere in Manhattan is hell. The police have blocked off all of the main arteries on the East Side of the island, and the Coast Guard has all but stopped boat traffic on the East River. Meanwhile, anthrax remains front-page news in this burg. Consider this press release, received last night from the city health department: Friday, November 9, 2001 8:15 P.M. UPDATE ON ANTHRAX SITUATION IN NEW YORK CITY Blood Tests on The New Yorker Employee Do Not Confirm Anthrax Infection The New York City Department of Health (DOH) announced that serology results received this evening from the CDC on the individual who works at The New Yorker did not confirm the presence of antibodies that would be indicative of an anthrax infection. Since this blood test is not definitive, and as a skin biopsy could not be taken and tested because the lesion had healed, precautionary environmental sampling will be conducted at the magazine to determine whether there is any presence of anthrax spores. Earlier today the DOH announced that it was investigating the late September onset of illness of a New Yorker employee about whom the DOH was notified on November 6. After developing a small, non-specific lesion on September 23, the individual began taking antibiotics during the last week in September. The lesion has since healed, and the individual is back at work. No possible source of anthrax exposure at The New Yorker has been identified but environmental sampling will be conducted. At this time, the Health Department has not received any other reports of possible anthrax-related illnesses at The New Yorker. Symptoms of anthrax generally develop within 1 - 14 days of exposure. The FBI, it seems, hasn't a clue as to who is committing these crimes. One day the agency insists that all evidence points to Iraq, the next it's the work of a lone wacko. The truth, it seems, is that the lack of scientific expertise within the ranks of the FBI has left their agents running down an infinite number of blind alleys, completely failing to note roads that seem all too obvious to microbiologists. And the very same Congress that two weeks ago was harping on the need for a strong public health system to defend American against bioterrorism now insists ample resources exist, but must be inverted from "unworthy" programs. A Washington DC pal sent this: In a letter sent yesterday to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, Republican Reps. Joseph Pitts (Pa.), John Shadegg (Ariz.) and Christopher Smith (N.J.) criticized the CDC's funding of "inappropriate" AIDS prevention programs. The lawmakers wrote, "[We have grown increasingly concerned about some of the activities that the CDC is funding and promoting-activities that are highly controversial in nature and funding that could be better used for our War on Terrorism." They offered examples of CDC grants being used by AIDS groups in San Francisco to sponsor a workshop to teach gay men how to choose and se toys "for solo and partner sex"; a $64,000 CDC grant that paid for a billboard campaign in St. Louis, Mo., that depicted bare-chested men embracing, which Mayor Francis Slay ordered removed for being offensive to families; and San Francisco's CDC-sponsored "HIV Stops with Me" campaign featuring HIV-positive "spokesmodels," which KGO-TV refused to air for its "questionable content." Public health, it seems, is back in its familiar terrain of acute controversy. For a moment it seemed possible that the nation's leaders would comprehend the relationship between sound public health, across the board, and public safety. This week Dr. Martin Hugh-Jones, an anthrax expert at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, was asked by USA TODAY what he thought ought to be done. Hugh-Jones E-mailed me a copy of his reply to USA TODAY: MY FRIENDS REFER TO ME AS A CYNICAL BASTARD. EVERYTHING LAURIE GARRETT SAYS ABOUT THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. WILL IT GET THE NECESSARY EXTRA FUNDING AND LONG TERM POLITICAL SUPPORT? GOOD QUESTION. ASK YOUR SENATORS, AND THEN ASK THEM AGAIN IN 12 MONTHS TIME WHEN THE FUSS HAS DIED DOWN. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT P.H. IS NOT SEXY LIKE CLINICAL MEDICINE (JUST THINK OF HOW LONG A NEW TV DRAMATIC SERIES ON PUBLIC HEALTH WOULD LAST WHEN PROPOSED TO A TV COMPANY IN COMPARISON TO AN "ER" TYPE PROGRAM PROPOSITION AND REMEMBER THAT WITH A WELL FUNCTIONING EFFICIENT PH DEPARTMENT NOTHING SEEMS TO HAPPEN-LITTLE DISEASE, FEW EMERGENCIES). PLUS ALL THE BEST PEOPLE I KNOW IN P.H. LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY'S AUNT OR GRANDFATHER. WE HAVE AN INFANT MORTALITY PROBLEM IN THIS CITY WITH A MORTALITY RATE OF 1.1%, ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY; THIS CONVERTS TO ABOUT A KINDERGARDEN CLASS OF KIDS EACH YEAR DYING. TO TACKLE IT WE ( A BUNCH OF OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES & TWO LSU PROFS) HAD TO GET OUTSIDE FUNDING. Hey, I didn't say it --- self-confessed cynical bastard Martin Hugh-Jones did. Be well. Stay safe. Stand defiant. Laurie Garrett