U. S. researchers have said that from January 2008 to December 2009, local health departments lost 23,000 jobs, or 15 percent of the local health department workforce.

Using survey results by the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the full report said 46 percent of the local health departments nationwide lost skilled people who protect the health of people in their communities.

Robert M. Pestronk, executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials said in a statement, "Continued cuts to local health department budgets threaten Americans' safety and health. The cumulative effects of these budget cuts and job losses have taken a major toll on the ability of health officials to respond not only to large-scale emergencies and disease outbreaks like H1N1 influenza, but to the everyday situations for which the health department is the first line of defense."

Pestronk further said that nationwide, the median number of employees who work at the local health department is 18, so even one job lost can have a large impact on improving childhood nutrition, preventing tobacco use or providing childhood immunizations, as well as dealing with public health emergencies. (With Inputs from Agencies)