Gag Order Puts Public Health at Risk, APIC Urges Immediate Action

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC)

(Image courtesy of APIC)

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) demands the immediate reversal of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) gag order. This unprecedented restriction restricts CDC experts from openly communicating with the public and media. It threatens public health by delaying critical infection prevention updates and reducing transparency in disease response efforts.

As APIC states, the lack of timely information directly impacts health care professionals, including infection preventionists. These professionals rely on CDC alerts to implement rapid risk reduction strategies during infectious disease outbreaks. The gag order not only erodes public trust in health agencies but also weakens national preparedness against emerging threats.

Additionally, the CDC has removed essential public health data on HIV, STIs, vaccines, and youth risk behaviors to comply with executive orders. APIC President Carol McLay DrPH, MPH, FAPIC, CIC, FSHEA, calls for the immediate restoration of transparent communication, warning that the suppression of public health information puts millions of lives at risk.

This is the statement in full:

Arlington, VA - February 4, 2025 — The Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC) is calling for an immediate and permanent end to the recent gag order issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which restricts CDC experts from proactively communicating with the public and the media. These restrictions endanger public health by limiting access to timely and transparent infection prevention and control (IPC) information.

The ongoing gag order restricting communications from the CDC has created a dangerous barrier to timely, transparent health information, putting public safety at risk. Infection Preventionists and other health care 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.

Furthermore, the need for transparency extends beyond outbreaks—routine sharing of IPC data is essential to identifying risks, strengthening prevention efforts, and driving meaningful improvements in patient safety. Without open communication and access to accurate information, health care professionals are left unprepared, and preventable infections continue to put lives at risk.

The growing number of public health threats we face today demands full transparency from our nation’s health authorities. Without open communication, our ability to respond effectively is dangerously compromised. Current infectious disease concerns include:

·Tuberculosis (TB) Outbreak: The Kansas Department of Health has confirmed a significant tuberculosis outbreak, with 67 active cases and 79 latent infections reported since January 2024.

·Growing Avian Flu Concerns: The first confirmed human death in the U.S. linked to avian flu in Louisiana, along with the detection of the rare H5N9 strain at a California duck farm, underscores growing concerns over transmissibility and the urgent need for real-time monitoring and transparency.

·Potential Ebola and Marburg Outbreaks: The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported 12 suspected cases of Ebola, including 8 fatalities, underscoring the urgent need for immediate containment. Meanwhile, an outbreak of Marburg virus—a highly fatal disease similar to Ebola—has been confirmed in Tanzania, with multiple deaths reported. Both outbreaks demand swift, globally coordinated action to prevent further spread and mitigate public health risks.

·Other Emerging Threats: Public health officials are closely monitoring rising measles cases in Texas, Georgia, and Washington. The resurgence of measles—a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease—raises concerns about declining immunization rates and the risk of further outbreaks.

The gag order restricts CDC experts from proactively communicating with the media and the public, leading to delays in critical health alerts. This is the most sweeping communication ban ever enacted by a US 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.

In addition, to comply with recent executive orders from the Trump administration, the CDC has removed a significant amount of public health information from its website. This includes data on HIV statistics, testing recommendations, LGBTQ-related resources, and guidance on how doctors should treat sexually transmitted infections, as well as vaccine information. Furthermore, the CDC has taken down the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), a vital survey that tracks health-risk behaviors among high school students, covering areas such as personal safety, physical activity, nutrition, mental health, substance use, and sexual behavior.

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.

"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)," said McLay, DrPH, MPH, FAPIC, CIC, FSHEA. "Silencing critical public health information endangers lives, weakens our ability to respond to outbreaks, and puts every community at greater risk.”