Typhus (epidemic louse borne) Sporadic cases of louse borne typhus were reported during the year in Mexico and several countries of South America, Africa, and Asia. Plague No ports were infected with plague during the year. Several countries reported cases occurring in the interior where the disease is endemic. The control of this disease in international traffic is dependent on the strict adherence to sanitary requirements on ships and in port areas in respect to the elimination of rats. REQUIREMENTS FOR 1961 An amount of $4,812,000 is requested to carry out the responsibility of the Public Health Service to protect this country against the importation of diseases from abroad, and for the examination of visa applicants. The $126,200 increase requested over the 1960 appropriation will be used primarily to meet (1) the impact of increased traffic resulting from growing interest in tourism and travel, (2) the cost of Federal Employee Health Benefit Act of 1959 (Public Law 86382), and (3) mandatory increased personal service costs. TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES Senator HILL. That is an interesting statement, Doctor. You have certainly made a splendid presentation here, not only for your budget but to let the people of our country know that we are no longer an isolated land, so to speak, in this time of modern transportation, that these diseases can move mighty fast from one country to another. Is that not true? Dr. SACKETT. Yes, sir. WORK ALONG THE MEXICAN BORDER Senator HILL. Doctor, I was interested that you spoke about the use of the funds which we added in the bill last year for the coverage points on the Mexican border. On the whole, how is that coverage now? Are there any entry points now not adequately covered? Dr. SACKETT. There is some degree of coverage at all of the recognized ports of entry. This coverage is not 24-hour coverage, however. The degree of coverage varies from 24-hour coverage to visits several times a week from adjacent larger stations. Senator HILL. What I am interested in: Do we need more coverage? Dr. SACKETT. The significance of traffic entering this country through these various points of coverage varies a good deal from our point of view among the various points. We are interested primarily in the traffic from the deep interior of Mexico, and with respect to the local crosser traffic we feel it is adequate to carry out a program in which we vaccinate these crossers and X-ray them and issue them a local crosser permit in cooperation with the Immigration Service. So we are interested in maintaining adequate coverage, full coverage, at those places where there are substantial amounts of traffic. Senator HILL. Do you have full coverage now? Dr. SACKETT. No, sir, not at these points. Senator HILL. That is what I wanted to bring out. of those points do you not have full coverage? At how many Dr. SACKETT. I believe there are some eight points where we do not have full coverage, but where we feel that we should. Senator HILL. Can you estimate what it would cost to provide this full coverage? Dr. SACKETT. I wonder if I might supply that for the record. Senator HILL. If you supply that for the record, that will be good. Supply us figures in terms of personnel and in terms of the cost for additional personnel; and if there are any additional facilities you have to have, the costs as to them, too. (The information referred to follows:) Activities on the Mexican Border-Entries of persons, Federal inspectional personnel proposed for 1961 and additional PHS staff and funds required to maintain 24hour quarantine coverage at 8 principal points of entry Senator HILL. Is there anything else you would like to add, Doctor? Dr. SACKETT. No, sir. Senator HILL. We certainly appreciate your statement. You have said something here this morning that I have been trying to say, but you have said them so much better than I could. Dr. SACKETT. Thank you, sir. Senator HILL. Dr. Shaw, Indian Health. Dr. Burney, if there is anything you would like to add at any time, please feel free to do so. Dr. BURNEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You have made that clear. Senator HILL. Dr. Shaw, you are an old friend. You may proceed in your own way. INDIAN HEALTH ACTIVITIES STATEMENT OF DR. JAMES R. SHAW, CHIEF, DIVISION OF INDIAN HEALTH, ACCOMPANIED BY DR. LEROY E. BURNEY, SURGEON GENERAL; DR. ARNOLD B. KURLANDER, ASSISTANT SURGEON GENERAL; MR. HARRY L. DORAN, CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER; AND MR. JAMES F. KELLY, DEPARTMENT BUDGET OFFICER APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE "For expenses necessary to enable the Surgeon General to carry out the purposes of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2001) (including not to exceed $10,000 for temporary services at rates not to exceed $100 per diem for individuals, when authorized by the Surgeon General); purchase of not to exceed [thirty] twentyseven passenger motor vehicles, of which [twenty fourteen shall be for replacement only; hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; purchase of reprints; payment for telephone service in private residences in the field, when authorized under regulations approved by the Secretary; and the purposes set forth in sections 321, 322(d), 324, and 509 of the Public Health Service Act; [$45,500,000] $47,526,000.” Amounts available for obligation (a) Full-year operation of new hospitals opening in fiscal year (e) Increase in deductions for quarters and subsistence not Subtotal. 2. Increase in medical care through contractual arrangements. Gross increases... 244, 600 244, 600 193,600 4,000 2, 400 1,600 657, 855 657, 855 4,000 DECREASES A. Estimated savings and decrease of 90 positions from closure of the hospital at Tacoma, Wash., during fiscal year 1960. . The House of Representatives, in acting on the appropriations for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for 1961, increased the President's budget by $750,000 for Indian health activities. The increase of $750,000 approved by the House will permit the Public Health Service to apply $610,000 for medical care by contractual arrangement and $140,000 for professional and technical field staff for implementation of the sanitation facilities construction program, Public Law 86-121. For overall budgetary considerations, the Department has recommended that the increase over the President's budget be eliminated by the Senate. |