Subcommittee Briefing and Hearing: Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: The Next Global Health Crisis?
Date:
Location:
2200 Rayburn House Office Building
Webcast
Opening Statements
Chairman Smith on the hearing: âOur next great global public health crisis may very well be multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Just as Ebola surprised many at the ferocity with which it spread, I am concerned that the world is not prepared to meet the threat from this highly contagious airborne disease which killed 1.5 million people last year alone. We are very fortunate to have three of the worldâs leading experts on combating TB â UN Special Envoy Dr. Eric Goosby, CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden and USAIDâs top medical expert, Dr. Ariel Pablos-Mendez â address us on the need for proactive vigilance and steps we are taking to strengthen health systems in countries that are particularly vulnerable. A sustained focus on tuberculosis prevention today will save lives and money tomorrow, helping people the world over as well protecting the homeland from what otherwise could become a global pandemic.â
Witnesses
Tom Frieden, M.D.
Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[full text of statement]
The Honorable Ariel Pablos-Mendez, M.D.
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Global Health
U.S. Agency for International Development
[full text of statement]