Coronavirus: George Bush warned US to prepare for pandemic back in 2005
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If allowed to smoulder, undetected, it can grow to an inferno that can spread quickly beyond our ability to control it.” Mr Bush predicted the situation the US currently finds itself in, with a lack of medical supplies, including masks and ventilators, that are needed to tackle Covid-19. “In a pandemic, everything from syringes to hospital beds, respirators masks and protective equipment would be in short supply.” Dr Anthony Fauci, the chief infectious disease expert leading the US response to the pandemic, was in attendance the day of Mr Bush’s speech, as he highlighted the importance of a vaccine. “If a pandemic strikes, our country must have a surge capacity in place that will allow us to bring a new vaccine on line quickly and manufacture enough to immunise every American against the pandemic strain,” he said. ABC reports that the US put extra emphasis on pandemic preparations after Mr Bush’s speech, but that plans diminished as other crises took hold.