State Spending Millions On Ebola Defense

TALLAHASEE, FL. -- The state of Florida is spending upwards of $4 million on "personal protective equipment" to fight Ebola should the deadly disease show up anywhere in Florida.

Dr. John H. Armstrong, MD, Florida's State Surgeon General and Secretary yesterday sent a letter to
Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, notifying him of the Florida Department of Health’s action to redirect about four million dollars in funds "to strengthen Florida’s preparedness efforts related to the emerging Ebola threat."

He said,the Department intends to redirect funds from two grant programs in the amount of $1.8 million from the Hospital Preparedness Program and $4.0 million from Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program for the purchase of additional Personal Protective Equipment "to further enhance our readiness for Ebola and other emerging diseases."

Armstrong says the Florida Health Department is immediately redirecting $250,000 of Hospital Preparedness Program funds and $1 million Public Health Emergency Preparedness funds.