Federal health data removals leave scientists scrambling

Researchers are racing to preserve critical federal health data as the Trump administration removes online access to key government databases, raising fears about future disruptions.

Margaret Manto reports for Notus.

In short:

• The removal of federal health data under Trump’s executive orders is disrupting public research and leaving scientists anxious about future data access.
• Key databases, like FluView and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), were taken offline, sparking fears of data loss that could affect public health responses, including monitoring avian flu.
• Researchers are creating DIY solutions to preserve data, but they warn these efforts won’t replace the integrity of long-running, federally managed datasets.

Key quote:

“It’s that sort of disruption that is equally endangering our ability to do research and evaluation to understand what’s going on in our community.”

— Amy O’Hara, president of the Association of Public Data Users

Why this matters:

The consequences of the Trump administration's actions could hit hard. You can’t prepare for what you can’t track, and with avian flu and other threats on the horizon, losing access to this data could mean the difference between staying ahead — or getting blindsided.

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