News

Apr 21, 2025

Learn how a One Health approach to zoonotic diseases like bird flu is important in an ever-changing environment, with *Dr. Peter Rabinowitz (UW DEOHS).

SEE: A One Health approach to bird flu

YouTube·UW DEOHS·Apr 21, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhLg8xymNc0 

*Peter M. Rabinowitz, MD, MPH – Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Global Health, Department of Family Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease (adjunct) University of Washington, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Director, Center for One Health Research (USA)

Dr. Rabinowitz is a longstanding member of the Advisory Board - One Health Initiative and co-editor of the lodestar groundbreaking—first of its kind textbook—Human-Animal Medicine – Clinical Approaches to Zoonoses, Toxicants and other Shared Health Risks
:: Click Here :: – 1st Edition (2010).

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Editor comments:

Bird Flu (Avian influenza H5N1) is a serious potentially evolving Pandemic Threat like or possibly worse than COVID.  While currently the disease is is not being transmitted between humans, “ ... because of the possibility that bird flu viruses could change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person-to-person spread is extremely important for public health.”  

It is critically essential that U.S. governmental political leaders recognize that Key agencies—with the invaluable scientific expertise required—involved are the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The full collaborative proficiency of each of these agencies together are required to scientifically address adequate preventive measures and if needed control should Avian Influenza H5N1 mutate into a life-threatening PANDEMIC.

As of March 20, 2025 – “Following U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ recent announcement of emergency funding to combat avian flu and reduce egg prices, USDA in consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing initial plans for a funding opportunity to explore prevention, therapeutics, research, and potential vaccine candidates. USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects, which will identify and foster innovative solutions to fight highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and directly support America’s farmers and ranchers.”   See April 25, 2025, Emergence and interstate spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States | Science.

Notably, according to a Google Artificial Information (AI) search today and verified by concurrence from several VIP public health/epidemiologist colleagues past and present:

“Based on the information available, there are significant concerns regarding the impact of recent actions by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the capabilities of U.S. public health agencies. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Significant Staff Reductions:
  • Reports indicate that large-scale layoffs have occurred within HHS agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  • These layoffs have affected scientists, researchers, and other essential personnel.
  • The numbers reported are that HHS is planning to lay off 10,000 employees, as a part of efforts to eliminate 20,000 jobs overall.
• Concerns from Public Health Experts:
  • Public health organizations and experts have expressed serious concerns about the potential consequences of these staff reductions.
  • They argue that these actions could weaken the nation's ability to respond to public health threats, such as disease outbreaks.
  • Concerns have been raised that the ability for the FDA to properly function has been damaged.
• Impact on Public Health Capabilities:
  • The reduction in scientific staff could hinder research, disease tracking, and the development of public health policies.
  • There are worries that essential functions, like vaccine safety monitoring and food safety inspections, may be compromised.
  • The response to current health crisis's, such as the Bird Flu outbreaks, have been negatively impacted.
• Controversy and Criticism:
  • The HHS Secretary's actions have drawn significant criticism from lawmakers and public health advocates.
  • There are accusations of disregard for science and evidence-based medicine.
  • There are also claims that the current HHS secretary is spreading misinformation.
• Disruption of Essential Services:
  • Reports indicate that these layoffs are causing disruptions to critical public health programs, including those related to HIV, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis.
  • Vaccine clinics have been cancelled, and vaccine safety procedures have been disrupted.

In essence, the mass layoffs and changes within HHS have generated substantial concern about the potential erosion of U.S. public health capabilities”