A new health crisis?

Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

The nation’s progress in preparing for a disaster, public health crisis or bioterrorism attack may be undercut by the recession, according to a study released this week.

In its sixth survey of the states’ readiness, the nonpartisan Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found problems with preparations, noting budget cuts caused by the economic downturn.

“The economic crisis could result in a serious rollback of the progress we’ve made since September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina to better prepare the nation for emergencies,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health.

Levi said a 25 percent cut in federal funding for health projects is taking a toll on states.

The report reviews each state on 10 criteria relating to public health and a state’s ability to handle a crisis, from its plan to distribute antidotes and vaccines to funding for public health.

Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia received passing grades on at least seven criteria. Nevada received a passing grade in six of the 10 areas. It was one of only 11 states that did not maintain or increase public health funding from the previous fiscal year. It is the second consecutive year Nevada has failed to do so.

Nevada has never scored above a six on the Trust for America’s Health survey, and the state’s budget woes are only compounding the state’s long-standing failure to adequately fund needed services.

When it comes to public health, the results could be tragic. As has been noted, Las Vegas is a terrorist target, and with millions of people from all over the world coming to the region each year, Southern Nevada faces the risk of avian flu or another disease landing here.

Public health should be high on the Legislature’s list of priorities next year. It’s either pay now or pay later.