The last few months have been "frustrating and tiring and disheartening" for public health officials, said former West Virginia public health commissioner Dr. Cathy Slemp, who was forced to resign by Republican Gov. He said it was deeply concerning that public health officials who told "uncomfortable truths" to political leaders had been removed. At least 38,000 state and local public health jobs have disappeared since the 2008 recession, leaving a skeletal workforce for what was once viewed as one of the world's top public health systems. Brown said she knows many public health department leaders who are considering resigning or retiring because of the strain. The months of nonstop and often unappreciated work are prompting many public health workers to leave, said Theresa Anselmo of the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials.

Source: CBC News August 10, 2020 20:45 UTC