New York City’s health department just lost $100 million in federal funds. That has consequences

If a child in New York City showed up with a fever and a rash that might be measles, it should be simple to have a blood test quickly confirm one way or the other. But  $100 million in federal funding  was just cut from New York City’s health budget, and that included money for staff and supplies at its public health labs. 

Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse told STAT on Wednesday that measles is just one example of infectious diseases New Yorkers might be more vulnerable to because of budget cuts and policy changes by the Trump administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted many grants to local departments across the country on March 24, and on Tuesday the Department of Health and Human Services issued layoff notices to some 10,000 employees.

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