Public Policy Updates

On August 5, the US Senate voted to confirm President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director. Schwartz is a retired rear admiral in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as deputy surgeon general from January 2019 to April 2021. She is the administration’s third CDC director nominee, following the … Continued

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory to notify clinicians of an outbreak of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis in multiple U.S. states. In addition to background on cyclosporiasis, the HAN advisory includes recommendations for clinicians, laboratories, public health, the public, and disinfecting in healthcare settings. Read the HAN advisory.

APIC submitted comments to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the Regulation of Federal Financial Assistance proposed rule. Although OMB claims that the proposed rule will increase transparency, oversight, and accountability in the federal funding framework, the results of the proposed rule could have a chilling effect on science. The proposal … Continued

CDC Releases 2024 HAI Progress Report The CDC released the 2024 annual National and State HAI Progress Report. The report provides a summary of select HAIs across four healthcare settings: acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals. Among acute care hospitals nationally, the report shows decreases in CLABSI, … Continued

Apply Now for HIPAG APIC and SHEA are accepting applications for voting members for the Joint Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG). The advisory group will provide national leadership in infection prevention and control to address gaps left by the elimination of CDC’s HICPAC. Applicants must be a member of APIC, SHEA, or both. Find … Continued

CDC Advisory: New World Screwworm near U.S. Border The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about recent New World screwworm (NWS) animal cases near the U.S.-Mexico border. This outbreak has impacted animals in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which borders Texas. While NWS infestations primarily impact livestock, it can also affect other … Continued

The CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) team is sponsoring a webinar, “From Cave to Clinic: Managing Histoplasmosis in Returning Travelers.” Presenters will focus on cave-associated outbreaks in travelers visiting Central and South America. The webinar is Thursday, January 15 at 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET. Learn more.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced that HHS has reduced the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11. Although the vaccine schedule overhaul is unlikely to result in families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, the move may lead to reduced uptake and increase cases of vaccine-preventable disease. Read the … Continued

The American Medical Association (AMA) will be hosting a webinar with CDC experts to inform clinicians about the unusually severe West Nile Virus outbreaks this year, with human disease cases across 45 states. The webinar will be Friday, October 24 at 3:00 pm ET. Register here for the webinar.