After a long hiatus, Hot Topics in IPC is back! This article concerns the Trump Administration's executive orders and other health care updates.
Saskia v Popescu presents Hot Topics in Infection Prevention
We’re backkkk!
America and/vs Global Health
There’s no way around it: the news that President Trump had issued several Executive Orders (EO) impacting global health on January 20th created widespread concern. Three key issues will likely affect US efforts in global health, pandemic prevention, and One Health. First, withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), which will be devastating to global health efforts, ranging from biosurveillance to vaccine delivery, global data and sample sharing, pandemic prevention, research and development, addressing social inequities, etc. (The list could truly go on and on.) In this EO, other indicators point to a decrease in support for global health security, such as Section 2(e), which states. “The Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy shall review, rescind, and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy as soon as practicable.”
Second, an executive order (EO) focused on environmental protection withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, a widely supported agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Emerging infectious diseases and climate change go hand in hand, so even if we’re only worried about germs, this will have rippling implications. Third, an EO on foreign aid will likely pull back on key efforts abroad to strengthen health, such as those done through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State. The proposed assessment of US foreign development aid programs noted in the EO will occur in the future, but agencies like USAID have spent the last 60 years working to strengthen global health and improve resilience to infectious diseases...and often do so on shoestring budgets.
“Diseases knows no borders” is only partially accurate—some borders and countries are inherently more porous, more vulnerable, and even more oblivious to their vulnerabilities. Some are more protected and resilient to infectious disease threats, but as we saw with COVID-19, the US may not be as robust in global health as we think. In the midst of an unprecedented H5N1 outbreak, mpox cases, a newly identified Marburg case in Tanzania, increasing vaccine hesitancy, and surging influenza, now is simply not the time for a reduction in global health partnerships.
US Health Agency Comms
Do you love your CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and weekly reports on the latest outbreaks? It’s being reported that the White House has “instructed federal health agencies to pause all external communications, such as health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites and social media posts.” This would impact news releases on the H5N1 outbreak from the CDC, alerts from the Food and Drug Administration, and new studies from the National Institutes of Health.
In case you need some additional reading this week, these were some insightful articles.”
Second Strain of Bird Flu Found in US Dairy Cows: What It Means for Infection Prevention and Control
February 7th 2025A new H5N1 strain was found in Nevada dairy cows, challenging earlier transmission theories. This raises concerns about animal vulnerability, human health risks, and food safety. Experts emphasize the need for improved surveillance, biosecurity, and cross-sector collaboration to contain the virus spread.
Fungal Infections: The Silent Epidemic Threatening Global Health
February 6th 2025Fungal infections are a rising global threat, with antifungal resistance complicating treatment. Neil J. Clancy, MD, emphasizes the urgent need for research, better diagnostics, and stronger infection prevention strategies.
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Most Harmful and Costly Hospital-Acquired Infection
February 5th 2025Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is a deadly, overlooked infection impacting patient outcomes. With new diagnostic tools and prevention strategies, hospitals must prioritize oral hygiene to reduce risk.