CDC

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. adds that he’s assembling a task force on fluoridation. Also, the EPA says it is reviewing “new scientific information” on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water.

Lori Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County & City Health Officials, said much of the funding was set to end soon anyway.

Susan Monarez has been serving as the CDC’s acting director since January. The 50-year-old came from an outside federal agency, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

Most of the 80,000 workers responsible for researching diseases, inspecting food and administering Medicare and Medicaid under Health and Human Services were emailed the separation deal.

A memo to senior leaders at the agency tells them that all staff who work with the World Health Organization must immediately end collaborations and “await further guidance.”

In an abundance of caution, the CDC last week advised hospitals and labs to do faster flu testing to help identify possible bird flu cases hiding in the flock of rising flu diagnoses.

President Donald Trump issued a flurry of executive orders and other actions on health care soon after reentering office. Other than signaling he intends to reverse many of Joe Biden’s moves, the orders will have little immediate impact.

The grand jury, convened at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, recommended policy changes including increasing transparency around clinical trials and banning advertisements for pharmaceutical drugs.

The most recent CDC hospitalization data and other indicators show that the flu virus is trending higher than the other germs. Several seasonal strains are driving cases.

Nonmainstream doctors and health leaders are wielding serious muscle in shaping the incoming administration’s health policies and challenging prevailing thinking on public health, disease prevention and chronic illness.