The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has seen a decrease in health warnings to the public despite rising disease outbreaks nationwide. According to an investigation by NPR, the agency’s communication to the public on its platforms has either become silent or infrequent.
As the nation’s top health protection agency, the CDC aims to save lives and protect people from health threats through critical scientific research and health information. However, experts argue that communication with the public is essential for effective public health functions.
In 2017, the CDC used social media platforms and newsletters to disseminate health messages daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly. This included topics such as diabetes and food safety. After President Trump’s inauguration, however, the Department of Health and Human Services halted communication from the CDC, citing a need for approval on all posts.
This change has led to fewer updates on the CDC’s social media accounts, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and weekly publications on disease outbreaks have also gone silent. Despite this, Director of Communications at HHS Andrew Nixon claims that CDC staff are spreading false rumors.
Meanwhile, experts warn that public health functions best when experts can communicate their work in real-time. Without critical updates, people’s lives could be at risk. As the nation faces a historic rise in measles cases and other outbreaks, the need for timely and accurate information from the CDC has become more pressing than ever.
Source: https://www.blackenterprise.com/investigation-found-cdc-health-warnings-are-lower-as-diseases-spread