Top in ID: CDC resumes journal publication; concerns rise over removal of health resources
Last week the CDC published Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the first time since the Trump administration froze public communications from various national health agencies.
The journal, which contains epidemiologic studies, outbreak reports and new vaccine recommendations, had not been published since Jan. 16. Reports concerning the U.S. bird flu outbreak were supposed to appear in the Jan. 23 issue but are “still in the pipeline,” according to a CDC spokesperson.
“There are several types of external communications that are no longer subject to the pause,” they added, although the pause has not been fully lifted.
It was the top story in infectious disease last week.
The second top story was about concerns over the removal of online health resources for conditions like HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
CDC resumes publishing top scientific journal
The CDC published its famed Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the first time since the Trump administration ordered the nation’s various health agencies to freeze public communications. Read more.
Removal of online health resources ‘dangerous’ to public health, experts say
The CDC’s removal of online resources related to HIV, STIs and other health topics following a Trump administration order to scrub references related to “gender ideology” has alarmed experts, who say it threatens public health. Read more.
WHO: Niger first African country to eliminate river blindness
Niger became the first African country to eliminate the parasitic infection onchocerciasis — also known as river blindness — and the fifth worldwide, according to WHO. Read more.
On its 5th anniversary, experts address questions about COVID-19
In 5 years, COVID-19 has impacted nearly every aspect of life. Although tens of thousands of cases continue to occur each week, the world’s top public health agencies have considered the pandemic phase of COVID-19 to be over for years. Read more.
Q&A: Recent international mpox outbreaks highlight health care stigma, inequities
In July of 2022, mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, or PHEIC, by WHO during a surge in infections that led to more than 100,000 cases in 122 countries. Read more.