US public health in crisis

The Trump administration made waves this week by dismissing the director of the centers for the control and prevention of diseases (CDC). Susan Monarez, who was only at the CDC mark for less than a month, has challenged his dismissal. Can we still trust the public health of the United States?

Who is Susan Monarez?

This 50 -year -old infectious disease specialist spent her career exploring new technologies. Her biography at the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA-H), of which it was number 2 from 2023 to 2025, lists a long list of innovations on which she worked: the use of artificial intelligence to fight the crisis of opioids, maternal health and organ donations, health sensors integrated into clothing, the fight against antibiotics and Microbiological attacks.

Why was she dismissed?

According to CNN and The Hillit would be an showdown with Robert Kennedy Fils, the Secretary of Health, about recent projects of the latter on vaccines, in particular the creation of a research group on links between vaccines and autism led by David Geier. A biologist who, with his father Mark Geier, a repeatedly crafted doctor, published most controversial studies binding autism and vaccines, according to a recent file New York Times.

The Hill report that Mr. Kennedy was furious that M^me Monarez contacted, after a meeting with him on Monday, Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana republican who heads the Senate health committee. Mr. Cassidy approved the appointment of Mr. Kennedy on the condition that the latter does not attack vaccine management systems. Senator Cassidy had contributed to the withdrawal of the first candidate from the Trump administration as CDC director, Dave Weldon, who had denounced vaccines for years.

Thursday, M^me Monarez told the media, through the mouths of her lawyers, that she would stay in office until she was dismissed directly by Donald Trump and accused Mr. Kennedy of “transforming public health into a weapon” and asking him to “approve non -scientific and dangerous directives”.

Certainly, the allies of Mr. Kennedy celebrate the dismissal of M^me Monarez. The Children’s Health Defense organization, which he directed from 2015 to 2023, said that CDCs “for two decades serve the pharmaceutical industry”.

Have there been other important departures at CDCs?

Four other major CDC players resigned in the wake of the dismissal of^me Monarerez, according to several media, including the chief doctor, the director of responses to infectious diseases, the head of public health data and the director of vaccination and respiratory diseases. The latter, Demeter Daskalakis, published on X his letter of resignation where he claims that “recent changes in the adult and infantile vaccination calendar threaten the lives of young Americans and pregnant people”.

Marc Steben, a Montreal family doctor who presided over the recent World Congress on ITSS and HIV, deplores that Canada does not unlock funds to attract leading researchers who leave CDC and other American government’s medical institutions. “They all go to Europe and Asia. »»

What is the role of CDCs?

The role of CDCs is to protect public health in the United States and worldwide. Their director is appointed by the American president and must be confirmed by the Senate, like many other political appointments.

“These are the best experts in the world,” says the D^R Steben. We are methodical when we establish medical guidelines, but they are hypermethodic. »»

Can CDC policies have an impact on Canada?

Yes. Directly by a weakening of the surveillance of emerging diseases and by a drop in vaccination rates, according to Prativa Baral, specialist in public health at McGill University. “Viruses have no border,” says Mr.^me Baral.

The documentation collected by CDCs and other American medical organizations when the time comes to recommend a new treatment or medication can also be used by the Canadian authorities, Note Vincent Poitout, vice-rector in search of the University of Montreal.

“Canada normally follows guidelines and CDC recommendations,” says M^me Baral.

The three Montreal specialists interviewed by The press Also worried about an upsurge in the people’s skepticism in the face of public health recommendations.