Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) continue to call risk to Americans by the Wuhan coronavirus — 2019-nCoV — low, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) became the latest federal lawmaker this week to call for a public health emergency declaration.
“Speed is essential in dealing with infectious diseases that threaten all Americans,” Buchanan said in a statement. “Taking precaution now could save lives later. That’s why I’m calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to formally declare a public health emergency so our government can respond quickly to contain the threat.”
While five patients in the United States have been confirmed with the virus since last week, dozens are being tracked by U.S. health officials across 26 states. Buchanan said that it is “especially troubling” that 2019-nCoV could be spread even before symptoms appear.
If the CDC were to declare a public health emergency, it would open access to up to $85 million in additional federal funds meant to help combat outbreaks. Buchanan said this could be used to increase staffing, enhance screening at ports of entry, and provide critical resources for state and local health departments. DHHS Secretary Alex Azar recently noted that, while all necessary actions were on the table, he would only invoke such authorities when appropriate.
But Buchanan pointed to Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, who stated the CDC has now screened around 2,400 people flying from Wuhan, China to five major U.S. airports and warned that the outbreak is unfolding rapidly. Indeed, the virus has now killed more than 100 people in China and sickened more than 4,500 worldwide, according to confirmation by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Last week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) also called for a public health emergency declaration, but went further with his request, denouncing China and calling for greater screenings of its products and produce as well.
“I don’t trust Communist China to coordinate in a transparent and efficient manner when it comes to combatting the [threat] of the virus, so we have to do everything we can to protect Americans,” Scott said in a statement. “Today, I’m calling on the Administration to declare a national public health emergency to stop the coronavirus from spreading within the United States. While all of the cases are still travel-related, we must take every precaution.”