In Public Health, Trust No Politician

I started this blog because I felt that Public Health Issues were being overlooked or, even worse, being used as a  Political Weapon by many Politicians to score points against other Politicians.  Also, most PEOPLE today care little about Public Health Issues unless it directly affected them – there is little “For the Greater Good” out there – only “What’s in it for ME”. Little did I know that it is even worse than I first believed.

I was a Baltimore Police Officer in the 1980’s and became hardened to the daily life of trash-filled alleys, homelessness, drug usage, filthy housing and rampant disease. In the 2000’s, I was the DIrector of Field Operations (Safety and Sanitation) Charles Village Community Benefits District and found that it was even worse than it was before – especially in trash piles, rodents, homelessness and filthy housing. Baltimore’s nickname was the “Syphilis Capital” of the Country and AIDs/HIV hit the City big time.

Baltimore was, and still is, a One Political Party Town and the “Old Guard” political types run the town.  Graft, Corruption and the “My way or the Highway” are the prevalent methods of Government. Add a “Press” that is also a One Party Entity to the mix and nothing will ever change.

So, I moved to a smaller town away from Baltimore and found that it is not much different than Baltimore. One Party Political Rule, Services and the like used as personal toys of the politicians and a “Press” that does what the Politicians tell them to do. Can’t get away from it.

Background explained and now Politicians and Public Health in the extreme:

This is about California and the rest of the West  Coast States (Oregon and Washington). Personally, I feel that those 3 states are THE classic examples of One Party Politics and the death of Public Health. One Party politics that try to control the entire narrative of what EVERYONE in those states is suppose to think and keep trying to export failed policies to the rest of the Country. The problems are many:

         ‘If Not Us, Who?’: Dr. Drew Urges Clinicians to Speak Up on West Coast                             Infectious Disease Crisis – posted 6/19/19

            https://www.contagionlive.com/news/if-not-us-who-dr-drew-urges-clinicians-to-speak-up-on-                   west-coast-infectious-disease-crisis

         Overall infectious disease articles:

         Homeless Camps Are Infectious Disease Time Bombs | American Council on                Science and Health – posted 4/24/19

           https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/09/13/homeless-camps-are-infectious-disease-time-bombs-11820

          Rotting Trash Piles Sky-High in LA, Attracting Rats and Raising Concerns of a               New Epidemic | NBC Southern California – posted 5/21/19

            https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/Rats-Fleas-Los-Angeles-Garbage-Trash-Piles-                     Health-Mayor-Eric-Garcetti-510171121.html

There are just to many issues to discuss in detail about what is going on in the Cities – especially those on the West Coast. What it breaks down to is that NO politician wants to address the problems because of the political cost. I’ve heard about bits and pieces of last night’s first Democratic debates and I don’t  think it was even mentioned – I refuse to watch ANYTHING political, so I can’t say for sure, but this articles did appear within the past week:

Homelessness is a crisis in some parts of the country. Why are 2020 candidates mostly ignoring it? | The Seattle Times – posted 6/13/19

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/homelessness-is-a-crisis-in-some-parts-of-the-country-why-are-2020-candidates-mostly-ignoring-it/?utm_content=buffer58a01&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=owned_buffer_f_m

The Seattle Times is not a “Conservative” Newspaper in any stretch of the imagination.

Overall, all Politicians blame other Politicians for the problems. In fact, the other day, I heard the Governor of California blame the State of Texas for California’s homeless problem. Scratching my head bout that one. All politicians want to be re-elected because it is a cushy job with lots of status, benefits and so on.  It’s not about “US” it’s about “THEM” – just remember that.

See my page at:  Public Health Issues – U.S. Cities, States and Areas  for more information

A Spreading Plague: Lessons and Recommendations for Responding to a Deliberate Biological Event | Analysis | NTI – posted 6/17/19

Bio_TTX_report_cover_use_this_one.png.2400x920_q85_crop_upscale.png

https://www.nti.org/analysis/reports/spreading-plague-lessons-and-recommendations-responding-deliberate-biological-event/

The Actual Report (PDF)

Report – A Spreading Plague: Lessons and Recommendations for Responding to a Deliberate Biological Event | Analysis | NTI

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A58da4d34-1a51-45ab-baae-ea9a91f55420

I’m not saying that I expect something to happen in the immediate future, but enough research is going on that I can forsee the “possiblity” of something occurring, at some point, because of the ongoing hatreds and conflicts occurring as we speak.

Some of the more recent articles along this line:

National Biodefense Strategy 2018 – posted 2/9/19

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/d0e6279b-37f5-4454-9502-1a0ea86769b8

National Health Security Strategy 2019-2022 – posted 2/15/19

Department of Health and Human Services – ASPR
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A53e0baa1-651f-4dc5-aa17-1afd5141e3db

Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism, 2019 – tfah – posted 3/3/29

https://www.tfah.org/report-details/ready-or-not-protecting-the-publics-health-from-diseases-disasters-and-bioterrorism-2019/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social_Paid&utm_campaign=2019_ReadyOrNot&utm_content=Fire

New research examines preparedness for smallpox attack – Homeland Preparedness News – posted 6/15/19

https://homelandprepnews.com/countermeasures/research/34370-new-research-examines-preparedness-for-smallpox-attack/

For further information, look at these links to my pages:

A Study Of History

Research Papers and Documents

WAR – Is It Coming?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Widespread outbreaks of hepatitis A across the United States | CDC

hepa

State-reportedHepatitisAOutbreakCases

The following groups are at highest risk for acquiring HAV infection or developing serious complications from HAV infection in these outbreaks and should be offered the hepatitis A vaccine in order to prevent or control an outbreak:

  • People who use drugs (injection or non-injection)
  • People experiencing unstable housing or homelessness
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM)
  • People who are currently or were recently incarcerated
  • People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
State-Reported Hepatitis A Cases and Clinical Outcomes
State Case Total Hospitalizations
n (%)
Deaths Outbreak
Start Date
Data Current
Through
Total 19723 11331 (57%) 189
States with an ongoing outbreak
Alabamaexternal icon 65 32 (49%) NR 9/1/2018 5/30/2019
Arizonaexternal icon 353 282 (80%) 2 11/1/2018 6/6/2019
Arkansasexternal icon 343 NR (NR) NR 2/7/2018 6/7/2019
Coloradoexternal icon 69 42 (61%) 0 10/1/2018 6/5/2019
Floridaexternal icon 1876 1353 (72%) 21 1/1/2018 5/31/2019
Georgiaexternal icon 402 270 (67%) 1 6/1/2018 6/7/2019
Illinois external icon 85 51 (60%) 0 9/1/2018 6/5/2019
Indianaexternal icon 1544 834 (54%) 4 11/1/2017 6/7/2019
Kentuckyexternal icon 4682 2262 (48%) 58 8/1/2017 5/25/2019
Louisiana external icon 243 146 (60%) 1 1/1/2018 6/7/2019
Massachusettsexternal icon 359 296 (82%) 5 4/1/2018 5/31/2019
Michiganexternal icon 914 734 (80%) 28 8/1/2016 6/5/2019
Missouriexternal icon 311 157 (50%) 2 9/1/2017 6/6/2019
New Hampshireexternal icon 125 76 (61%) 1 11/1/2018 6/4/2019
North Carolinaexternal icon 79 56 (71%) 1 1/1/2018 5/31/2019
Ohioexternal icon 2997 1759 (60%) 10 1/1/2018 6/3/2019
South Carolinaexternal icon 121 92 (76%) 1 11/1/2018 5/31/2019
Tennesseeexternal icon 1571 946 (60%) 9 12/1/2017 5/31/2019
Virginiaexternal icon 67 40 (60%) 0 1/1/2019 6/6/2019
West Virginiaexternal icon 2528 1249 (49%) 21 3/19/2018 6/7/2019
States with a declared end to their outbreak
Californiaexternal icon 708 465 (66%) 21 11/1/2016 4/11/2018
Utahexternal icon 281 152 (54%) 3 5/8/2017 2/12/2019

https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm

Problem:  Pennsylvania declared a Hepatitis A Outbreak on May 20, 2019 with 171 cases at that point.  Pennsylvania isn”t listed in the above data.

Hepatitis A outbreak declared in Pennsylvania – News – GoErie.com – Erie, PA – posted 5/20/19

https://www.goerie.com/news/20190520/hepatitis-outbreak-declared-in-pennsylvania

In a 4 day period of time – June 4 – June 8 –  the below articles have appeared. these articles include at least 18 deaths.

Florida hepatitis A outbreak death toll now 18Outbreak News Today posted 6/4/19

http://outbreaknewstoday.com/florida-hepatitis-outbreak-death-toll-now-18-82958/

Ohio hepatitis A outbreak nears 3,000 cases – Outbreak News Today – posted 6/4/19

http://outbreaknewstoday.com/ohio-hepatitis-outbreak-nears-3000-cases-84276/

Arizona hepatitis A outbreak tops 350 cases – Outbreak News Today – posted 6/8/19

http://outbreaknewstoday.com/arizona-hepatitis-outbreak-tops-350-cases-44533/

 

On my page “Vaccine Preventable Diseases in the News”, over a 3 month period, I’ve listed 39 articles concerning the ongoing Hepatitis A Outbreak in this country alone. 

VACCINE Preventable Diseases In The News

My main question is “Why aren’t the “News Networks” reporting on what is obviously a major Public Health problem in this Country?”