Dr. Leana Wen says for bird flu, "we should have learned our lesson from COVID" in testing

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: December 29, 2024 / 11:11 PM EST


Dr. Leana Wen said Sunday that the lack of testing for bird flu doesn't mean that the virus isn't alive in humans, and that she feels the federal government "should have learned our lesson from COVID" and should be proactive in making tests available for Americans — and not wait for labs to characterize the cases and their severity.

"I feel like we should have learned our lesson from COVID, that just because we aren't testing doesn't mean the virus isn't there," said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "We should be having rapid tests, home tests, available to all farm workers, to their families, for the clinicians taking care of them, so that we aren't waiting for public labs and CDC labs to tell us what's bird flu or not," she added.

The recent outbreak of bird flu stems from a mutation of the H5N1 virus that affects humans more easily, compared to past mutations of the virus that targeted birds and not mammals.

On Thursday, the CDC reported its first severe case of bird flu in the U.S. found in a patient in Louisiana who was infected from a backyard poultry flock. The Louisiana case was first confirmed by health officials Friday, adding to the total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States. Another severe case of H5N1 has been reported in a teen in British Columbia.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/leana-wen-bird-flu-testing-h5n1-virus-face-the-nation/

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From the OP excerpts -

"I feel like we should have learned our lesson from COVID

She wasn't paying attention when the "lesson" was this -

v

[Irish_Dem]

1. What's the point of testing if no one will take precautions or seek treatment?

[Hekate]

7. Don't know who you mean by "no one" -- I would certainly take heed, as would many others

[Irish_Dem]

9. Drug companies don't make products for a few people.

Right now it is very doubtful any one is going to get a bird flu vaccine or test kit.

And once Trump is in office it is unlikely he will endorse such a vaccine or test.
And in fact will discourage or forbid it.
Drug companies may fold like everybody else in the US.

We have to face reality.

[yankee87]

10. So true

I agree that President musk will be against testing. Just take your horse dewormer

[Evolve Dammit]

2. We have to acknowledge that tens of millions aren't that bright and/or don't give a shit. n/t

[Walleye]

3. Nothing was learned from Covid,the people in charge never admitted they did anything wrong.Can't learn anything that wa

[FirstLight]

4. Yep...

another pandemic will cull our population even more. Is that what "They" want??

I am definitely considering switching to a plant-based protein diet as much as possible. I've done it before and my body was really happy...it was a really good way to manage my autoimmune disease.
Right now my son and GF and her baby are staying with us till they get a place...I've had to put much of my own dietary choices on the back burner. She gives the little one egg almosyt daily, told her I was gonna get some tofu scramble and see if she'll eat it...
The whole meat and animal production industry is scary AF...if it wasn't bird flu, it would have been something else. And since they use so many antibiotics on these animals, I wouldn't be surprised of they breed some superbugs that we can't handle either.
Add into the mix how many of the people in that industry are illegals, or don't speak english...and yo9u're asking for trouble.

It's gonna be a shitshow. And the Govt will be less than equipped to handle any of it.

I wish I lived in a more fertile area (not where it snows for 5 months a year) so I could grow my own food. If I could ever get the energy or help, I'd set up an indoor grow room. That is an idea lingering in my mind...

[Hekate]

8. Babies just starting solids like tofu as part of a mixed diet. Mine were born in Hawai'i, & they did

[sakabatou]

5. Nope, we didn't learn the lesson

People will die, and then wonder why it happened.

[durablend]

6. "The LEFT caused it"

[sakabatou]

11. I forgot their answers were conspiracy theories

[littlemissmartypants]

12. Thanks for sharing this, BRDS. ...

I actually laughed at the cartoon and laughter is rare for me these days. I'm wondering though...

Who's the reference to here?

"She wasn't paying attention when the "lesson" was this -"

Not the cartoonist, surely? Dr. Leana Wen? I'm confused. Which shouldn't be a surprise. I see things so differently than most, lots of times.

I'd appreciate it if you could explain the reference. Thanks! ❤️

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Well the point was

that when COVID was raging, the medical community (including leading virologists) DEMANDED more testing and communications about measures for guarding against that virus. And all of that was met with the depiction in the editorial cartoon - "No masks! "No mandates!" - basically a temper tantrum that accompanied a complete rejection of and pushback against "any government demands" for steps to protect the public health.

There were lawsuits galore and a lack (and/or misappropriation) of funding to obtain PPE, as well as properly fund the development of vaccines and rapid tests until Democrats took over after the 2020 election, and people like Dr. Fauci could finally breathe free and bat away the myriad of wacky and woo "solutions".

So this doctor is basically "lecturing" into a void.

Yes, there are many millions who would abide but their voices are drowned out by the contrarians - and especially now that the GOP is putting forth someone like RFK Jr to head up HHS (which overseas CDC, NIH, and FDA).

[littlemissmartypants]

14. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. ..

I had a general idea of what you were suggesting but it's so important to hear it in your own words.

We should never forget that time. We still have so much to learn. Unfortunately, we are not much better off now and it appears that our predicament has potential for being much worse.

Thanks again, BRDS. I hope you have a Happy New Year.



❤️

[BumRushDaShow]

15. I think people are trying to blank that whole period out

which is unfortunate but then I think probably as a need to remove an extra layer of stress.

Hope you have a good New Year as well! We certainly need to turn the page and find some sort of positive to aim for!!