The Trump administration has taken steps to halt the release of key studies related to the bird flu, amid rising outbreaks throughout the United States.
One study aims to determine if veterinarians treating cattle have contracted the bird flu virus without realizing it. Another investigation looks into instances where individuals infected with the virus may have transmitted it to their pet cats.
These studies were meant to be published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the official journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has been continuously published since 1952. However, an “immediate pause” on communications from federal health agencies has been enforced by Dorothy Fink, the acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. In her memo, sent on President Donald Trump’s first full day in office, she stated that any document intended for publication must be reviewed and approved by a presidential appointee.
This intervention has raised concerns among former CDC officials, as there has traditionally been a barrier between the agency’s scientific reports and political influence. Tom Frieden, a former CDC director and current CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, remarked, “MMWR is the voice of science.” Anne Schuchat, a former deputy director at the CDC, expressed her fears that this pause might signify a form of censorship, saying, “The idea that science cannot continue until there’s a political lens over it is unprecedented.”
During the initial Trump administration, the White House was known to have interfered with scientific studies regarding COVID-19, but the MMWR continued to be published as scheduled. Schuchat noted, “What’s happening now is quite different than what we experienced with COVID, because there wasn’t a stop in the MMWR and other scientific manuscripts.”
As of now, neither the White House nor HHS officials have provided comments on the matter. CDC spokesperson Melissa Dibble stated, “This is a short pause to allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization.”
The news about the publication halt came unexpectedly last week, coinciding with Fred Gingrich, executive director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, preparing to lead a webinar for members. He intended to share the findings of a study he contributed to, which was scheduled for release in the MMWR that week. In September, approximately 150 members had participated in the study by answering questions and providing blood samples. The CDC analyzed these samples for antibodies against the bird flu virus to investigate whether veterinarians had been unknowingly infected.
Although the study’s findings would not help treat previous infections, they were expected to enhance understanding of how the virus transmits from cows to humans, its symptoms, and prevention methods. Gingrich noted, “Our members were very excited to hear the results.”
Like farmworkers, livestock veterinarians are susceptible to bird flu infections, and the study could offer insights to better protect them. Reducing infections could also lower the risk of the H5N1 bird flu virus mutating within humans, which could lead to a pandemic.
At least 67 individuals in the U.S. have tested positive for the bird flu, primarily after contact with cows or poultry, but many cases likely remain undetected due to inconsistent testing.
Just before the webinar, Gingrich was informed by the CDC that, due to an HHS directive, the agency could not publish the report or communicate its findings. “We had to cancel,” he said.
Another study related to bird flu, which was also set for publication in the MMWR, examined whether dairy industry workers in Michigan might have infected their pet cats. This issue was partially uncovered in emails obtained by KFF Health News last year. An epidemiologist had previously urged for the publication of this investigation to “inform others about the potential for indirect transmission to companion animals.”
Jennifer Morse, medical director at the Mid-Michigan District Health Department and a scientist involved in the pending study, mentioned receiving a note stating there were “delays in our publication — outside of our control.”
A source close to the CDC, who wished to remain anonymous due to fears of retaliation, anticipated that the MMWR would be on hold at least until February 6. The journal typically publishes on Thursdays, and the HHS memo indicates the pause will continue through February 1.
Frieden expressed alarm at the situation, stating that failure to restore the reports could be dangerous. “It would be the equivalent of finding out that your local fire department has been told not to sound any fire alarms,” he remarked.
The MMWR serves not just to publish studies but also to keep the nation informed about outbreaks, poisonings, and maternal mortality, as well as provide surveillance data on various health issues. Delays or alterations in these reports could impede the U.S. government’s ability to recognize and respond to health threats, Frieden warned.
This freeze serves as a reminder of the previous Trump administration’s interference with CDC reports on COVID-19, as revealed by a congressional investigation in 2022. The investigation found that political appointees at HHS modified or postponed the release of several reports in 2020.
In one instance, Paul Alexander, a former scientific adviser to HHS, criticized a report on a coronavirus outbreak at a Georgia summer camp, arguing that it conveyed the wrong message about reopening schools. Although the data was unchanged, the CDC removed commentary regarding the implications of the findings for educational institutions.
Schuchat, who was with the CDC at that time, stated she had never encountered such attempts to manipulate scientific reports in her over three decades with the agency. She hopes it won’t recur, asserting, “The MMWR cannot become a political instrument.”
Gingrich remains optimistic that the veterinary study will be published soon. “We’re an apolitical organization,” he affirmed. “Maintaining open lines of communication and continuing research with our federal partners is critical as we fight this outbreak.”
