Senator Chuck Schumer of New York says he's moving to block a plan that would reduce the CDC's budget by up to $2 million.
© Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – US Senator Chuck Schumer — New York’s Senior Senator and the Senate Majority Leader — says he plans to block a Republican proposal that would cut nearly $2 billion from the CDC’s budget. He argues the funding is needed amid the ongoing listeria outbreak — which has impacted the Tri-state area directly.
Listeria is caused by bacteria and it’s considered especially dangerous for people age 65 and over, especially patients with compromised immune systems. People across the Midwest and East Coast have been sickened. Three people have died — one in New Jersey, one in Illinois, and most recently in Virginia.
Millions of pounds of deli meat — including from Boars Head — has been recalled. Dr. Suraj Kumar Saggar is the chief infectious disease expert who worked at New Jersey’s Holy Name Medical Center. He says it’s still not entirely clear where the listeria outbreak is coming from, in terms of the supply chain. The disease can survive refrigeration. Washing foods is extremely important for that reason, including organic foods.
