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The following email was sent to CDC All Hands yesterday from AHRC. Why does this only apply to the OD? This sound like a payoff for all the Dr. G loyalists before they leave or are removed with her departure in the coming months. Maybe it is designed to keep them from testifying or writing tell-all books about 7 years of chaos and corruption?

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As part of CDC’s Strategic Management of Human Capital Plan, CDC leadership is committed to providing strategic leadership direction, guidance, and services as efficiently as possible. To help achieve this goal, CDC has been authorized Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP), known as ”early out and buyout”, for up to 106 employees in the Office of the Director (OD) so that resulting vacancies can be realigned most effectively in accomplishing CDC’s mission.

Does anybody know why the IG has come down to PGO?

The Department of Health and Human Services Monday released a proposal that allows any federal grant recipient to obstruct a woman's access to contraception. In order to do this, the Department is attempting to redefine many forms of contraception, the birth control 40% of Americans use, as abortion.

Please! Can something be done about Citgo?

Has anyone noticed that despite all the laboratory and media attention the number of reported cases of salmonellosis in the United States this year is lower this year than in 2007 at the same time?

New article in the AJC furhter discusses the power outages and back up generators: Outage at CDC lab adds to concerns
From July 23, CDC leaders aren't letting on re the results of the test. CDC simulates lab blackout

So first on Saturday morning this email goes out to all CDC staff:
On Friday, July 11th, at approximately 5:43 p.m., portions of the Roybal Campus experienced a power outage when a Georgia Power Company transformer serving the campus failed. Buildings 1M, 1E, 3, 17, and 20 were without power for approximately 75 minutes, until normal power was restored at about 7:00 p.m. CDC is investigating the incident and will take additional corrective action measures over the next few days. Meanwhile, Georgia Power has confirmed that other non-related power outages were occurring in the Clifton Corridor at the same time, and that our incident was not related.

Because the outage occurred after the normal work day had ended, the buildings were sparsely occupied. When power did not immediately return, all persons working in the affected laboratory buildings safely exited without incident. There were no reported worker exposures or other risks to CDC personnel in the area during the outage, and no biosafety or containment issues were reported as a result of the incident. Security, health, and safety officials and additional facilities engineering staff were quickly on the scene to confirm that the facilities were safe and secure and remained on scene until normal operations were fully restored.

We will provide additional information as necessary.

William H. Gimson, M.B.A.
Chief Operating Officer

Conspicuously absent is any mention of labs and back up generators. Thanks to Alison we know the truth (below). Does leadership really think they can continue to hide from us and the public they are supposed to serve behind the walls of their expensive castles?

CDC lab containing deadly virus suffers power outage
By ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 07/12/08

If you are curious to see what you or, for instance William Gimson, are earning or got in bonuses in FY09, the information is publically available at Federal Employee Salary Database 2007.

Before getting all worked up, remember as public servants our salaries have always been public information. Just didn't used to be so easily accessible.

Farewell NIOSH’s Dr. John Howard

Anyone know what's up with the new EIS class that is just coming in this July?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Human Capital Planning Has Improved, but Strategic View of Contractor Workforce Is Needed. GAO-08-582, May 28.
GAO Report
Highlights - Highlights


Also the subject of CDC faces challenge of aging work force by ALISON YOUNG in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

CDC faces challenge

One of the catch words these days is preparedness. [pre·par·ed·ness, n. The state of being prepared, especially military readiness for combat. American Heritage Dictionary]. Dr Gs comments below relfect on public attitudes toward emerging infectious diseases and preparedness. Each week it seems there are multiple activities, work groups, organizational units concerned with preparedness at CDC.
How well prepared do you think CDC is for a health-related or natural disaster? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these efforts? What should/could we do better?

CDC chief: Threats are taken too lightly
Associated Press
Published on: 06/22/08

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia —- Complacency is now "public health enemy No. 1," as many people worldwide ignore the threat of a possible flu pandemic and other emerging infectious diseases, Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned Saturday.

By ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/22/08
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; AJC research

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new $214 million infectious disease laboratory in Atlanta, scientists are conducting experiments on bioterror bacteria in a room with a containment door sealed with duct tape.

The tape was applied around the edges of the door a year ago after the building's ventilation system malfunctioned and pulled potentially contaminated air out of the lab and into a "clean" hallway.

Most of us received an e-mail reminder that CDC has enacted a Smoke-free Conference Policy requiring that all conferences sponsored or organized by CDC be held in smoke-free communities in the United States and its territories.

Ex-Bush health chief's firm wins Sept. 11 work

By DEVLIN BARRETT
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 4, 2008; 8:25 PM

WASHINGTON -- As President Bush's health chief, Tommy Thompson trumpeted millions of taxpayer dollars to help workers sickened by the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center, even amid complaints that his agency wasn't doing enough.

Now, Thompson's private company has won an $11 million contract to treat some of those same workers _ the latest twist in a fitful government effort to determine how many people were made ill by the toxic debris _ and to care for them.

The contract awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is aimed at tracking the health of between 4,000 and 6,000 workers who live outside the New York City area, where a separate health monitoring program is in place. The CDC is part of the Health and Human Services Department, which Thompson headed in Bush's first term.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- State and federal health officials have finished collecting blood samples from more than 700 North Dakotans who ate wild game shot with lead bullets. North Dakota health officials and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are studying whether there are health risks for people who eat the meat, said Dr. Stephen Pickard, an epidemiologist with the state Health Department.

Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS use of government email and servers.

Where have you gone Joe?

Does anyone know the status of the plan to move everyone to two sites (Clifton and Buford Highway)?

Can anyone share their knowledge or experience with getting a lateral transfer to another FTE position with the same series and grade? I'm confused as to how the process works...

The supervision of contractors is performed by the contractor's manager. Unless explictly authorized by statute, personal services are illegal. FAR 37.104 provides guidance for distinguishing personal from nonpersonal services.

Is CCHIS establishing a senior/subordinate relationship? It is a violation to ask a contractor to change or extend his/her hours for the convenience of the FTE? If a contractor is hired to perform a technical function is it appropriate to ask them to schedule team lunches when this can be performed by a government employee? Is it appropriate to ask a contractor to adjust their leave or tell them when to take leave? Is it appropriate to split a contractor between multiple departments as a "use all" when this is not indicated on the "Statement of Work" and then ask them to provide a narration of where they have been and whom they have been supporting?

CCHIS management needs to rethink their practices when utilizing contractors to ensure that personal services are not being performed.

CCHIS Management and Business Services Organization (MBSO)

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new maximum-security laboratories in Atlanta were supposed to open in the fall of 2005.

But the suite of Biosafety Level 4 labs — designed to contain the world's most dangerous germs — still haven't been certified as ready to operate. The $214 million building they're in was completed 2 1/2 years ago."

By ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/15/08

Does anyone know what has happened to the SHARE Office?

Dr Gerberding recently introduced a new imperative, the Healthiest Nation Alliance, which "proposes that our Nation can and must change its fundamental strategy and invest more in protecting health – through health promotion, prevention of diseases, injuries, and disabilities, and preparedness for new threats." This includes a new "Coordinating Council", a full time senior coordinator, and "will involve people in every unit."


What does this mean to your work, to CDC, to the health of the nation? How can the work of your group impact on changing the health care system in the US?

ILA Fund Sweep?

NCEH/ATSDR appears to have curtailed and/or canceled portions of a public health investigation in Elmore, Ohio, because of pressure from politicians and business interests. Some of the pressure came from as high up as former Ohio Governor Bob Taft and HHS Secretary Leavitt.

For starters, see the CBS Evening News story at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/10/cbsnews_investigates/main4007926.shtml, the press release from the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology at http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=2154, and the Subcommittee's letter to Dr. Gerberding at http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/investigates_cdc_2.pdf. And stay tuned for more.

By BEN EVANS
Associated Press
Published on: 04/01/08

"WASHINGTON — A federal scientist said Tuesday his bosses ignored pleas to alert Gulf Coast hurricane victims about formaldehyde dangers in government-issued trailers and told him last year not to write e-mails about his warnings of potentially widespread health problems."


Katrina report slams CDC
Investigators: Agency failed to protect victims from fumes

By ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/01/08

"Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed in "almost every respect" to protect Hurricane Katrina's victims from dangerous formaldehyde fumes, despite knowing the trailers the government gave them were contaminated, according to a new report by congressional investigators."