South Carolina State Rep. Rosalyn Henderson-Myers (D-Spartanburg) is seen outside a mobile clinic providing free measles vaccinations in Spartanburg, S.C. The CDC hasn’t raised any health alerts concerning a measles outbreak in the area.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s frequency of health alerts has notably decreased since President Trump returned to office. This change has sparked concern among healthcare providers and public health officials.
In 2025, the CDC put out only six alerts through its Health Alert Network, commonly referred to as HANs. While the number of alerts varies from year to year, the agency typically issues many more—often in the dozens.
“We’re pretty much flying blind,” comments Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “There are lots of unidentified health risks potentially affecting our communities right now.”
The reduction in alerts has made healthcare settings less prepared and more susceptible to unexpected challenges, according to Benjamin and others.
“HANs are essential,” says Dr. Lauren Sauer, associate director at the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska. “They guide clinicians on what to watch for during patient assessments, highlighting diseases they might not expect to encounter. That’s crucial in emergency departments where awareness of current threats is vital.”
Previous alerts have raised alarms about various health issues such as Ebola, bird flu, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They serve as an early warning system,” Benjamin explains. “Think of it as the public health version of a weather alert that helps us maintain situational awareness.”
Beyond informing medical providers, these alerts prompt hospitals to ensure they possess needed medications and supplies, as well as adequate staffing. They also prepare health departments to monitor for unusual disease occurrences.
“It’s one of the key pillars in our preparedness and response efforts,” notes Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, director of Boston University’s Center on Emerging Diseases.
The CDC hasn’t issued a HAN regarding the current flu season, despite a new variant causing what appears to be one of the worst seasons in years. Additionally, the agency hasn’t sent an alert about measles since March, even though a significant outbreak persists in South Carolina, which could risk the country’s measles elimination status.
“The lack of communication is striking,” says Benjamin.
Some critics, like Benjamin, argue that the slowdown in HANs reflects broader issues within the CDC. The agency has also been producing fewer reports in its key publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, and halted campaigns to promote flu vaccinations. They’ve also paused updates on vital databases and seldom engage with the media.
Dr. Debra Houry, who resigned as the CDC’s chief medical officer due to the current administration’s policies, remarks that the agency has significantly diminished in strength and is increasingly influenced by political appointments rather than scientific guidance.
The CDC did not address questions from NPR regarding the decline in HANs. However, Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Health and Human Services Department, contended in an email that claims of the agency pulling back were “false.” He asserted that CDC continues to keep the public informed about urgent health issues and collaborates closely with various partners to create effective response strategies.
In light of the communication gap, external organizations are stepping up to fill the role. “One positive thing is that alternative models are being tested. We’re witnessing regional collaborations where states come together to enhance public health initiatives,” remarks Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, who runs a newsletter aimed at improving communication in these areas.
