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Ebola Highlights Cuts to Public Health

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

The current Ebola threat has called attention to cuts in public health programs essential for preventing such an emergency in the first place, the Tampa Bay Times reports. 

Gov. Rick Scott has demanded federal aid to prepare for the disease, but has also overseen a 13 percent cut in staff at the Florida Department of Health since 2010, the Times reports.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has experienced cuts, as current rates of funding for public health preparedness and response activities are $1 billion lower than they were in 2002, according to the Times.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.