To the Point provides insights from AU faculty experts on timely questions covering current events, politics, business, culture, science, health, sports, and more. Each week we ask one professor just one critical question about what’s on our minds.

The US public health infrastructure is facing multiple crises. A fast-spreading measles outbreak that began in the southwest has accelerated across the country, primarily affecting young children. At the same time, the nation is experiencing its worst flu season in 15 years, and a rapidly spreading bird flu outbreak is raising new fears about risks to humans. 

As health officials work to contain these threats, our public health system faces a major test of its resilience during a period of dramatic transition under the new presidential administration. According to recent media reports, some public health websites have been taken down or had sections of data removed, only to be reinstated later. The back-and-forth has created confusion, particularly for Americans trying to access reliable health information. 

In this To the Point, we ask epidemiologist and AU Health Studies Associate Chair Melissa Hawkins to weigh in on the current situation and where Americans can go for trustworthy health information. 

What is going on with public health websites, and how can we find key information about the flu, measles, bird flu, and general health issues?  

Many official government health websites and resources have been removed or altered as federal agencies comply with new executive orders. This has left many people unsure about where to find credible and up-to-date public health information. Among the many significant implications, the reduced transparency and access to routinely collected information could slow responses to outbreaks. Further, the removal of key health resources from government websites has created an information gap just as the United States faces several serious public health crises. Unfortunately, when credible resources and government health guidance disappear, there is an opening for misinformation to fill the gaps. 

However, while some federal and state websites have removed key health information, many organizations, including reputable news organizations and major medical institutions, continue to provide accurate information. For example, the University of Minnesota developed a valuable guide, Finding Information during the 2025 Administration, which includes a directory of university-created policy trackers and archives of deleted web pages. StatNews is a daily newsletter that provides current public health information. Another excellent resource is the Force of Infection weekly newsletter, in which Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, analyzes health trends including flu, RSV, and outbreak responses. The American Medical Association (AMA) also offers updates on a range of current health care topics including its AMA Update YouTube channel and its bird flu H5N1 Resource Center with the latest updates and map.

The coming months will test the resilience of the US health system—and the ability of Americans to navigate a shifting landscape of health services and communications. Ensuring access to health resources helps individuals protect themselves and their communities. There will always be a need for clear, available, evidence-based health information. Access to reliable data is essential to inform policy decisions, monitor health trends, and respond to emerging outbreaks. Without access to available data and health resources, health problems don’t go away; they are just concealed and can contribute to harming the public’s health.

About Professor Melissa Hawkins

Professor Melissa Hawkins is an epidemiologist with experience in the application of public health methodologies to government and private sector challenges. Her expertise is in maternal and child health, with an interest in improving pregnancy outcomes. Currently, her research addresses the integration of community health workers in the United States health workforce. She is also the co-PI on a project to improve health literacy in Washington DC, and an evaluation of the Safe at Home program to prevent falls among older adults in DC. She has served as research director for TMNcorp, a public health communications organization, where she led the design, conduct, and analyses for epidemiological investigations related to women, infant, and children’s health. She also served as a senior epidemiologist with Epidemiology International, focusing on resolving methodological and data collection issues in study design and evaluation.