Updated at 1:18 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2007
CDC confirms it will open a field office in Hawai'i
Advertiser Staff
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will establish a field office in Hawai'i as part of its mission to fight public health threats.U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye announced the opening of the office, saying the CDC believes the station will serve as a forward base to detect and respond to emerging diseases that come from the Asia-Pacific region. He said the agency plans on assigning at least two specialists here, including an epidemiologist who will work on avian flu.
As reported earlier, the CDC is considering a partnership with the University of Hawai'i's John A. Burns School of Medicine. It also could partner with Tripler Army Medical Center, the Hawai'i Department of Health and other medical and health organizations here, Inouye said in a news release.
"While funding and the location of the field station still need to be worked out, it is clear that the CDC is committed to expanding its Asia-Pacific focus with Hawai'i having a key role," said Inouye in the release.
