NMA Statement on Tuberculosis Outbreak
Trump Administration Halts Health Federal Agency Reports as Kansas experiences tuberculosis outbreak
For Immediate Release:
[Jan. 29, 2025]
The Trump Administration has placed a hold on external communications from top federal health agencies including U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This includes research reports, updates to health advisories, and many important aspects of public health communication.
Across the country, healthcare systems and providers look to federal agencies to apprise local health departments on new and emerging public health threats. One current example of the critical importance of public health communication is the current tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City, Kansas. The outbreak is reportedly the largest in U.S. history. The National Medical Association (NMA) is calling for a swift resolution to the federal health communications freeze, which has the potential to exacerbate this outbreak and other public health threats. Physicians and public health workers need to be able to communicate with the public to keep Americans informed, healthy and safe.
As of Friday, January 24, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced 67 active outbreak cases and 79 latent infections. There have been nearly 70 active cases since 2024.
The NMA advocates for the continued funding of the CDC, NIH, and HHS. The NMA also strongly recommends educating our communities on the potential impact of the recent policy changes, and advises patients in the Kansas City metro area to be aware of the tuberculosis outbreak and seek care if they have symptoms.
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About the National Medical Association:
The NMA is the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S. and promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. We serve as the voice of Black physicians and a leading voice for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities and promotion of optimal health. To learn more about the NMA, please visit https://www.nmanet.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sherelyn Weber
469-290-4495
