Trump muzzles disease reporting

The Trump administration instructed federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, the Food and Drug Agency and the National Health Institute, to pause all external communications, such as health advisories, scientific reports and website updates, according to a report from the Washington Post. 

Reports on the H5N1 avian flu outbreak and other public health updates were expected this week but are now on hold. 

It remains unclear if the directive will delay urgent communications such as foodborne illness outbreaks or drug approvals, the report said.

Health officials expressed concern over the move, citing previous attempts during Trump’s first term to control messaging during the COVID-19 response.