Ebola: US government stockpiles hand sanitiser in case of outbreak - but 84 per cent are expired
Audit reveals US government department failed to “adequately conduct a needs assessment”
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The US government has stockpiled thousands of bottles of hand sanitiser in the event of an Ebola outbreak in Washington – except 84 per cent of the stock has expired.
It is just one example found in an audit by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general John Roth which showed the US had failed to “adequately conduct a needs assessment” resulting in the purchase and stockpiling of products either out of date or useless – such as 16 million surgical masks.
The report may not make comfortable reading for government officials: out of 4,982 hand santiser bottles Mr Roth’s study discovered that 4,184 had expired, some up to four years ago.
In a written response to Bloomberg following the report, the department claimed the inspector general “has not appropriately characterized [sic] a number of issues discussed in the report, resulting in a misrepresentation of the information and evidence that DHS program officials and subject matter experts provided to the auditors.”
The department also claimed that he report had not taken account of their preparations to isolate infection, which included encouraging people to work from home in order to minimise infection.
An inventory revealed many of the items stockpiled by the government had been purchased since 2006.
The release comes as news that New York doctor Craig Spencer has tested positive for Ebola, having returned from Guinea in West Africa.
Although now in isolation in a Manhattan hospital, reports are emerging which claim that Dr Spencer could have used both the underground and taxis since his return to the US on 17 October. Health authorities were scrambling to ascertain who he may have come into contact with.
Ebola has now killed over 3,000 people, mostly in the West African nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments