Besser returns to the CDC Thursday for live ‘GMA’ segments
4:29 pm October 7, 2009, by Richard Eldredge
As the nation reaches a critical point in the continued fight against the H1N1 “ swine flu” influenza outbreak, ABC News’ Robin Roberts and senior health and medical editor, Dr. Richard Besser will report live from inside the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during a special edition of “Good Morning America,” Thursday, October 8.
Roberts and Besser will bring morning viewers the first, live look inside the special command center tracking “swine flu” and other outbreaks around the world. Roberts and Besser will also introduce viewers to many of the CDC workers inside the labs that handle some of the world’s most dangerous germs and bacteria. Also, as the government begins distribution of the vaccine for the H1N1 influenza this week, Roberts and Besser will talk with the leading doctors and scientists behind the research and the first vaccine to fight this disease which has continued to sicken – and in some cases kill – Americans around the country. Besser and the experts will also answer viewer questions in real-time.
Dr. Richard Besser, M.D. is ABC News’ senior health and medical editor. Prior to joining ABC News, Dr. Besser served as director of the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Dr. Besser is one of the premiere and leading authorities on the H1N1 influenza as he served as Acting Director for the CDC and Acting Administrator for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry from January through June 2009, and during that time, led the CDC and it’s response to the H1N1 “swine flu” influenza outbreak. Dr. Besser began his career at the CDC in 1991 in the Epidemic Intelligence Service working on the epidemiology of food-borne illness.
ABC News’ “Good Morning America” is co-anchored by Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts. Chris Cuomo is the news anchor and Sam Champion is the weather anchor of the Emmy Award-winning morning news program. “Good Morning America” airs live Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 9:00am/EDT on the ABC Television Network. Jim Murphy is the senior executive producer and Tom Cibrowski is the executive producer of ABC News’ “Good Morning America.”
ABC News Media Relations – Bridgette Maney (212) 456-5902 / bridgette.maney@abc.com
Former Centers For Disease Control head Dr. Richard Besser will be back at his old Atlanta workplace Thursday morning with his new TV co-worker “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts. This summer, Besser was named the new senior health and medical editor for ABC News.
Given his knowledge of the facility, Besser will lead Roberts and “GMA” viewers on an unprecedented look inside the CDC as the country gears up for the potential H1Ni flu outbreak.
ABC reps tell Buzz that the pair “will answer viewer questions in real time and bring morning viewers the first, live look inside the special command center tracking ’swine flu’ and other outbreaks around the world. They will also introduce viewers to many of the CDC workers inside the labs that handle some of the world’s most dangerous germs and bacteria.”
In other words, try and consume your Pop Tarts during the commercial breaks. . .
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One comment Add your comment
Mary
October 8th, 2009
2:11 am
My child came home from school saying that they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don’t!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference. There is also an entertaining DVD that teaches them in a fun way the elbow cough, as well as other necessary hygiene habits.