A Dart From Germaine to Mr. Haynes

Context

The Washington Post reports on the CDC's failure to rapidly develop and distribute a test for the CARS-CoV-2 virus. It took the CDC in Thailand several hours to develop a test based on the WHO test. It took a couple more days before the first person in Thailand was diagnosed with COVID-19. It took the CDC in the US about six weeks to finish developing its test. WaPo writes:

Another breakthrough came the next day, Jan. 13, when the WHO publicly shared a protocol, essentially a recipe, specifying the materials needed to build a molecular test.

The Thais used that protocol to make a second test to detect the virus. This redundancy would eventually become the model for developing a vaccine against the virus.

Using their version of the WHO test, Thai health officials within days found other cases, including a taxi driver.

“The early availability of the RT-PCR testing definitely helped to reduce transmission and save lives,” Pongpirul told The Post by email.

John R. MacArthur, a physician who had led the CDC’s Thailand operations since 2013, said that when PCR testing confirmed the first case there, “I immediately contacted CDC leadership in Atlanta to let them know what was happening.”

“Seeing the first case outside of China, I thought, was a big moment,’’ MacArthur said in a phone interview. 

“The test that the WHO used early on was quite successful,” said Le Duc, a former senior CDC official who still serves as an adviser to the agency. “I frankly don’t know why CDC didn’t accept it.”

“If we would have put [tests] out there quicker, could we have saved lives? Well sure,’’ said Peter C. Iwen, director of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory in Omaha. “If we would have diagnosed quicker, we would have saved people.”

The dart

WaPo asked for an interview, but the CDC blew it off: 

Redfield and other CDC leaders declined to be interviewed or to respond to written questions about the agency’s handling of the test.“Appreciate the opportunity, but we are going to pass,” said CDC spokesman Benjamin N. Haynes.

Something about that blithe “appreciate the opportunity” response prompted me to write to Mr. Haynes. I wrote this: 

To: Media (Media@cdc.gov)

Regarding Benjamin Haynes' Washington Post comment (CC: Harmon, Bonds)

Dear Mr. Haynes,

I read your comment to the Washington Post regarding a request for an interview. Your response, “Appreciate the opportunity, but we are going to pass”, was disgusting and an insult to the American people. You and the CDC owe the American people an explanation, not smug deflection while you slither under a rock to hide from accountability. It is no wonder that so many Americans are hostile to the federal government. Your arrogant attitude directly feeds the hostility and distrust. Does this come mostly from you personally, the CDC or Trump?

You are derelict in your duty and should resign.

Sincerely,

My real name, PhD, JD

San Diego, CA

CC: Carrie Harmon, Michelle Bonds

Questions: Was Mr. Haynes derelict, or did I overreact? Does the CDC owe the American people an explanation, or should this story be kept a secret?