The H5N1 bird flu outbreak is growing more alarming, and experts warn that the federal response may become even less effective in the second Trump administration if drastic changes are made.
President-elect Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, for Health and Human Services secretary. This appointment could lead to a break in infectious disease research, leaving the nation unprepared for future pandemics.
The nomination of Jay Bhattacharya as National Institutes of Health director-designate and former Rep. Dave Weldon as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also causing concerns. These picks signal that Trump plans to pursue sweeping reforms, including firing career employees at federal health agencies.
Public health officials are worried about the potential consequences of these changes, citing a lack of situational awareness and inadequate planning. Even former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb has sounded alarms about the reemergence of long-vanquished diseases if vaccination rates continue to fall.
The Biden administration’s CDC has been reluctant to recommend vaccinations or take other steps to prevent the outbreak from becoming a crisis. Experts fear that the next administration will ignore surveillance and diagnostic testing of farm workers, putting them at risk.
Additionally, concerns arise about funding for infectious disease research, testing, and therapeutics. The proposed cuts to global infectious disease surveillance funding and the reclassification of career scientists could lead to a brain drain and undermine public health efforts.
The nomination of Trump’s health picks has sparked concern among experts, who worry that the administration will prioritize alternative cures over evidence-based medicine. The potential impact on the nation’s healthcare system is significant, particularly with significant cuts to Medicaid and potentially the Affordable Care Act on the horizon.
As the Trump administration takes office, it remains to be seen whether they will prioritize public health or follow a more radical approach to healthcare reform.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2024/12/02/bird-flu-response-trump-h5n1