Now drink your lead and other poison.

[essentialsaltes]

CDC leaders ordered staff not to release their experts’ assessment showing the risk of catching measles is high in areas near outbreaks where vaccinations are lagging.

A CDC spokesperson told ProPublica the agency decided against releasing the assessment quote “because it does not say anything that the public doesn't already know.” [Next up hurricane warnings. What? People in the affected areas know it's windy out.]

As measles cases soared, Texas sought help from Trump’s CDC. No one answered​

As measles surged in Texas early this year, the Trump administration’s actions sowed fear and confusion among Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists that kept them from performing the agency’s most critical function — emergency response — when it mattered most, an investigation from KFF Health News shows.

The outbreak soon became the worst the United States has endured in more than three decades.

In the month after Donald Trump took office, his administration interfered with CDC communications, stalled the federal agency’s reports, censored its data and abruptly laid off staff. In the chaos, agency experts felt restrained from talking openly with local public health workers, according to interviews with seven CDC officials with direct knowledge of events, as well as local health department emails obtained by KFF Health News through public records requests.

“All of us at CDC train for this moment, a massive outbreak,” one CDC researcher told KFF Health News, which agreed not to name CDC officials who fear retaliation for speaking with the press. “All this training and then we weren’t allowed to do anything.”

[Lubbock Public Health Director Katherine] Wells was anxious the moment she learned that two unvaccinated children hospitalized in late January had the measles. Hospitals are legally required to report measles cases to health departments and the CDC, but Wells worried many children weren’t getting tested.

“According to one of the women I spoke with 55 children were absent from one school on 1/24. The women reported that there were sick children with measles symptoms as early as November.”

In that email and others, Wells asked state health officials to put her in touch with CDC experts who could answer complicated questions on testing, how to care for infants exposed to measles, and more.

“CDC hasn’t reached out to us locally,” ... “My staff feels like we are out here all alone,” she added.

A child would die before CDC scientists contacted Wells.

Wells heard from CDC scientists for the first time the following day. Also that day, the CDC issued a brief notice on the outbreak. The notice recommended vaccines, but it worried public health specialists because it also promoted vitamin A as a treatment under medical supervision.

West Texas children treated for vitamin A toxicity as medical disinformation spreads alongside measles outbreak​

Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock confirms it is treating children with severe cases of measles who are also suffering from vitamin A toxicity. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the CDC to update its measles guidance to promote the use of vitamin A.

Through private conversations, Benjamin learned that CDC experts were being diverted to remove information from websites to comply with executive orders.

“It’s not that the CDC was delinquent,” Benjamin said. “It’s that they had their hands tied behind their backs.”

 

[Hans Blaster]

As measles cases soared, Texas sought help from Trump’s CDC. No one answered​

As measles surged in Texas early this year, the Trump administration’s actions sowed fear and confusion among Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists that kept them from performing the agency’s most critical function — emergency response — when it mattered most, an investigation from KFF Health News shows.

The outbreak soon became the worst the United States has endured in more than three decades.

In the month after Donald Trump took office, his administration interfered with CDC communications, stalled the federal agency’s reports, censored its data and abruptly laid off staff. In the chaos, agency experts felt restrained from talking openly with local public health workers, according to interviews with seven CDC officials with direct knowledge of events, as well as local health department emails obtained by KFF Health News through public records requests.

“All of us at CDC train for this moment, a massive outbreak,” one CDC researcher told KFF Health News, which agreed not to name CDC officials who fear retaliation for speaking with the press. “All this training and then we weren’t allowed to do anything.”

[Lubbock Public Health Director Katherine] Wells was anxious the moment she learned that two unvaccinated children hospitalized in late January had the measles. Hospitals are legally required to report measles cases to health departments and the CDC, but Wells worried many children weren’t getting tested.

“According to one of the women I spoke with 55 children were absent from one school on 1/24. The women reported that there were sick children with measles symptoms as early as November.”

In that email and others, Wells asked state health officials to put her in touch with CDC experts who could answer complicated questions on testing, how to care for infants exposed to measles, and more.

“CDC hasn’t reached out to us locally,” ... “My staff feels like we are out here all alone,” she added.

A child would die before CDC scientists contacted Wells.

Wells heard from CDC scientists for the first time the following day. Also that day, the CDC issued a brief notice on the outbreak. The notice recommended vaccines, but it worried public health specialists because it also promoted vitamin A as a treatment under medical supervision.



Through private conversations, Benjamin learned that CDC experts were being diverted to remove information from websites to comply with executive orders.

“It’s not that the CDC was delinquent,” Benjamin said. “It’s that they had their hands tied behind their backs.”

The Democrats in Congress should start working to impeach and remove Kennedy. He is clearly a menace to public health and I don't think it is only Dems that would feel that way. I'm not talking about some stunt resolution forced on to the floor but some real effort to build up opposition to him and his destruction.

 

[LizaMarie]

The Democrats in Congress should start working to impeach and remove Kennedy. He is clearly a menace to public health and I don't think it is only Dems that would feel that way. I'm not talking about some stunt resolution forced on to the floor but some real effort to build up opposition to him and his destruction.

Agree. He is not qualified for that position. His appointment was purely political(Trump offered him the position in exchange for dropping out and endorsing him. Though he only polled at a small percentage, it was enough to take votes away from Trump in the general,not the Democrats) I was shocked that he actually got confirmed though. That position should at least go to a MD, if nothing else.

 

[LizaMarie]

Plenty of pro-life people, myself included, are VERY pro-vaccine and get the flu shot every year, thank you very much.

Yes I'm pro-life and conservative and I think this guy(RFK JR) is a disaster. And yes, I get the flu shot every year. I got the flu 20 years ago(was not vaccinated) and got very sick and got pneumonia in both lungs. If I'd been my current age it could have been even worse. And my daughter has a friend whose seemingly heathly high school child died of the flu, so do we want to go back to the era? Apparently RFK jr. would like to.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Agree. He is not qualified for that position. His appointment was purely political(Trump offered him the position in exchange for dropping out and endorsing him. Though he only polled at a small percentage, it was enough to take votes away from Trump in the general,not the Democrats) I was shocked that he actually got confirmed though. That position should at least go to a MD, if nothing else.

It's mostly a policy and management position. There are plenty of people with specific experience in health policy (including advanced degrees in it) who are neither medical professionals of any stripe (doctor, nurse, PA, therapist, etc.) or medical researchers. He didn't have that training either or any notable administrative experience.

 

[RileyG]

Yes I'm pro-life and conservative and I think this guy(RFK JR) is a disaster. And yes, I get the flu shot every year. I got the flu 20 years ago(was not vaccinated) and got very sick and got pneumonia in both lungs. If I'd been my current age it could have been even worse. And my daughter has a friend whose seemingly heathly high school child died of the flu, so do we want to go back to the era? Apparently RFK jr. would like to.

Oh no! I’m sorry for your loss. That’s awful.

 

[RileyG]

It’s worth repeating. Get your flu shot, get vaccinated, wash your hands, and care about others.

Simple.

(But don’t listen to me, listen to your doctor!!!)

 

[LizaMarie]

Oh no! I’m sorry for your loss. That’s awful.

Yes, I didn't know the friend or child, it was one of her co-workers, but thank you!

 

[RileyG]

Yes, I didn't know the friend or child, it was one of her co-workers, but thank you!

God bless them abundantly!

 

[essentialsaltes]

The CDC quietly scaled back a surveillance program for foodborne illnesses​

As of July 1, a critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight.

If you stop testing, the numbers go down!

As of July 1, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network(FoodNet) program has reduced surveillance to just two pathogens: salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told NBC News.

Before July, the program had been tracking infections caused by six additional pathogens: campylobacter, cyclospora, listeria, shigella, vibrio and Yersinia. Some of them can lead to severe or life-threatening illnesses, particularly for newborns and people who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.

It’s not entirely clear how the changes to FoodNet are affecting surveillance on the state level so far. Morris said it will come down to whether states can finance it without CDC funding.

 

[DaisyDay]

It’s worth repeating. Get your flu shot, get vaccinated, wash your hands, and care about others.

Simple.

(But don’t listen to me, listen to your doctor!!!)

This year, the covid shot may not be available for everyone and for those who qualify, their insurance may not cover it this year. The flu shot still should be and RSV if you haven't had it yet.

 

[Pommer]

The CDC quietly scaled back a surveillance program for foodborne illnesses​

As of July 1, a critical surveillance program is monitoring for only two pathogens instead of the usual eight.

If you stop testing, the numbers go down!

As of July 1, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network(FoodNet) program has reduced surveillance to just two pathogens: salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told NBC News.

Before July, the program had been tracking infections caused by six additional pathogens: campylobacter, cyclospora, listeria, shigella, vibrio and Yersinia. Some of them can lead to severe or life-threatening illnesses, particularly for newborns and people who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.

It’s not entirely clear how the changes to FoodNet are affecting surveillance on the state level so far. Morris said it will come down to whether states can finance it without CDC funding.

Ignorance is bliss (political version).

 

[essentialsaltes]

Measles outbreak growing in parts of Arizona and Utah, health officials say​

Measles vaccination rates have plummeted in the neighboring communities over the last 10 years.

In Southwest Utah, all but one of the 23 confirmed cases are among unvaccinated, school-age kids, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department reported. In Mohave County, Arizona, which health officials believe is connected to the Utah outbreak, there have been 42 confirmed cases of the highly contagious virus. Of the 42 confirmed cases, one child has been hospitalized.

About 79% of kindergartners in Washington County, Utah, are vaccinated against measles, according to NBC News data. That’s only slightly higher than rates in Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of the 2025 outbreak earlier this year — and well below the 95% level of herd immunity experts say is needed to protect against an outbreak.

“I’ve worked for this health department for about 18 years, and we’ve never seen a case of measles that I know of up until this point,” said David Heaton, the public information officer for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. [Question: Who needs a measles shot, when there's no measles? Answer: at least 95% of everyone.]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 1,491 cases and 38 outbreaks as of Sept. 17.

Last year there were 16 outbreaks.

 

[LizaMarie]

This year, the covid shot may not be available for everyone and for those who qualify, their insurance may not cover it this year. The flu shot still should be and RSV if you haven't had it yet.

I usually get my flu shot in October. I hope it remains available!!

 

[DaisyDay]

I usually get my flu shot in October. I hope it remains available!!

Flu shots should be the same as usual - available and covered or free (by county and town).

Covid shots, though, may be state dependent as some states have set up their own vaccine advisories since the anti-vaxxers took over the CDC. States also regulate insurance so which state you're in will determine whether your insurance will cover it or not.