'We need to work from the assumption that it's already introduced' in order 'to spot those outbreaks quickly and intervene to keep them small,' Scott Gottlieb told CNBC.
The coronavirus will likely grow into a pandemic, warned former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. But he says it's not too late for officials to prevent the disease from becoming an epidemic in America.
"I think it likely will [become a pandemic] at this point. We will have outbreaks here in the United States," Gottlieb told CNBC in a special "Outbreak" report. "Now, a small outbreak doesn't need to become a large outbreak, a large outbreak doesn't need to become an epidemic here in the United States. There's things we can do, but we're going to need to change our posture.
"Right now, the steps we've been taking is trying to prevent introduction," said Gottlieb, who is a physician and served as FDA commissioner from May 2017 to April 2019. "We need to work from the assumption that it's already introduced, it's circulating, there's community spread and we want to spot those outbreaks quickly and intervene to keep them small.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ASAP Mob DJ J. Scott Has DiedBorn Justin Scott, the Atlanta native went by the moniker A$AP Snacks—and was the resident DJ for ASAP mob and the duo Cozy Boys.
Read more »
A$AP Mob's J. Scott DiesA$AP Mob member J. Scott has died, the Mob's official Twitter confirmed on Monday (Feb. 3).
Read more »
What is a pandemic and will coronavirus become one? Experts weigh inA new study suggests there may be upwards of 75,000 cases of the Wuhan virus in China, suggesting a pandemic could be underway. Here's what you need to know to stay safe.
Read more »