APIC Statement on Federal Agencies Pause in Communications

On Feb. 4, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) posted a statement on the pause of communications by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that restricts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from sharing information to the public and the media. APIC said that “These restrictions endanger public health by limiting access to timely and transparent infection prevention and control (IPC) information.”

The statement added, “The ongoing gag order restricting communications from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a dangerous barrier to timely, transparent health information, putting public safety at risk. Infection Preventionists and other healthcare professionals rely on these alerts for timely updates during infectious disease outbreaks, allowing them to implement critical risk reduction strategies that protect our communities and loved ones. Silencing this communication endangers every community, erodes public trust in health agencies, and weakens our ability to respond effectively to infectious health threats.”

Further, APIC’s statement pointed to the need for transparency extending beyond outbreaks, including sharing IPC data that is crucial to public health and safety. The association commented that without this communication and access to accurate information, healthcare professionals cannot prepare and preventable infections can jeopardize lives.

The statement also said that the increasing public health threats being faced “demands full transparency from our nation’s health authorities.” According to APIC, current infectious diseases concerns include a tuberculosis outbreak confirmed by the Kansas Department of Health, growing avian flu concerns, potential Ebola and Marburg Outbreaks, and other emerging threats (such as rising measles cases in Texas, Georgia, and Washington).

“The gag order restricts CDC experts from proactively communicating with the media and the public, leading to delays in critical health alerts,” the statement said. “This is the most sweeping communication ban ever enacted by a U.S. president, restricting the flow of critical public health information. Originally set to expire on February 1st, the order remains in place, leaving health professionals and the public in a dangerous state of uncertainty.”

APIC also addresses the removal of public health information (HIV statistics, testing recommendations and LGBTQ resources) from its website. “The removal of this critical information creates dangerous gaps in disease prevention efforts, limiting access to essential data that healthcare professionals and communities rely on to protect public health,” the statement said.

APIC President, Carol McLay, DrPH, MPH, FAPIC, CIC, FSHEA was quoted in the statement. She said, “We call upon the Trump administration and HHS to immediately lift these restrictions and restore open communication of critical public health information between health agencies, medical professionals, and the public, including the CDC’s Health Alert Network (HAN). Silencing critical public health information endangers lives, weakens our ability to respond to outbreaks, and puts every community at greater risk.”