The program had worked with labs in Wuhan, China, and around the world to detect deadly viruses that could jump from animals to humans.
Two months before the novel coronavirus probably began spreading in Wuhan, China, the Trump administration ended a $200-million pandemic early-warning program aimed at training scientists in China and other countries to detect and respond to such a threat.
“Look at the name: Our efforts were to predict this before it happens. That’s the part of the program that was exciting — and that’s the part I’m worried about,” Daszak said. The PREDICT project, which operated on two five-year funding cycles that formally concluded last September, enrolled both epidemiologists and wildlife veterinarians to examine the types of interactions between animals and humans that researchers suspect led to the current outbreak of COVID-19.
“Coronaviruses were jumping easily across species lines and were ones to watch for epidemics and pandemics,” she said. Dennis Carroll, a widely respected scientist who headed USAID’s emerging threats division, oversaw the initiative for its duration, but retired around the time it was shut down. Carroll did not respond to an inquiry from The Times, but told the New York Times last year that by January 2019, the program had"essentially collapsed into hibernation," and that its conclusion was due to"the ascension of risk-averse bureaucrats.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Trump antagonism of China could hurt coronavirus cooperationDonald McNeil, science and health reporter for the New York Times, talks with Rachel Maddow about why the coronavirus expertise and resources of China could be an opportunity for the U.S., unless Donald Trump's behavior makes cooperation an impossibility.
Lire la suite »
Donald Trump says China coronavirus infections, deaths appear to be 'on the light side'The president's national security adviser said the U.S. 'was not in a position' to confirm the numbers coming out of China.
Lire la suite »
Trump campaign sends letter to Sessions demanding he stop invoking TrumpPresident Donald Trump's campaign has sent a letter to Jeff Sessions demanding the former attorney general stop using Trump's name in his campaign materials for his US Senate bid.
Lire la suite »
Trump admin moves toward promoting broader use of face masksThe Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president is aggressively defending his response to the public health crisis. A person familiar with the White House coronavirus task
Lire la suite »
Trump admin moves toward promoting broader use of face masksWASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is formalizing new guidance to recommend that many Americans wear face coverings in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, as the president...
Lire la suite »
Trump admin will not reopen Obamacare exchanges during coronavirus pandemicWhite House official tells NBCNews that President Trump will not reopen the Obamacare exchanges to allow uninsured Americans to purchase health care coverage during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lire la suite »