Deb Houry

That “wild to mild” mesaaging hold up even if certain secretary of health tried to disappear it!

"The public health consequences of these manufactured undercounts and forced errors will be immediate and severe." Read the op-ed from Debra Houry, MD, MPH, at: https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/123540

Leaving people out of the census does not make their health needs disappear. An accurate count helps us plan care, direct resources, and prepare for disasters. Comment by Nov 2 in the FRN (link in my article) My latest in @medpagetoday.com: www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

In February, Rolling Stone reported on irregularities in Guinea-Bissau’s ethics review of the grant. The CDC’s former chief medical officer, Dr. Debra Houry, told us it’s “unfathomable that the CDC’s name is even implicated in this.” More ↓ www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

My voting outfit: CDC zombie apocalypse shirt. My priorities: health, science, and thriving communities. 🗳️ Vote for health. Our future depends on it. @standupforscience.net @ucs.org @altcdc.altgov.info @cdcmutualaid.bsky.social @firedbutfighting.bsky.social @defendpublichealth.bsky.social

Heartbroken by Helen Branswell’s passing. I always enjoyed talking with her and reading her reporting. She sought the truth, lifted up science, and asked questions that mattered. Her loss leaves a tremendous void in journalism and public health. @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2026/10/13/h...

RFK Jr: "Native health is not a footnote in my administration—it’s a top priority." And yet CDC's Healthy Tribes program was gutted last year. This older article (post April 1 RIFs) is still relevant. How can you do the important work when you've fired all the staff? #ZombifiedCDC

Public health is on the ballot this election. Join us on Oct 13, 2026 at 7:30pm ET for a virtual Town Hall hosted by MomsRising and National Public Health Coalition. Steps to take today: 1) Register ✅️ buff.ly/j2m8nvM 2) Share this post 📣 1/2 🧵

CDC has had to close down country offices overseas due to lack of funding... but the political leaders were able to use funds from global health security for this inappropriate and unethical study instead. Very clear what their priorities are

SCOOP in @rollingstone.com 👇 CDC has set aside new $1.6M for controversial hepatitis B vax clinical trial in Guinea-Bissau, halted earlier amid uproar over medical ethics. CDC director's office resurrected it, taking $$ from global health security funds: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

This was one of my leadership principles I leaned on during my last few months at CDC

"I'm supposed to be a tough guy," Curtis confided. "I can hold your hand," the mayor offered "What happens if I faint?" Sliwa asked. "I've got you," Mamdani assured him, grabbing his hand as Sliwa received his flu shot. abc7ny.com/post/nyc-may...

Missing from CDC back to school messages: get vaccinated, especially with MMR, as children head back to school, vulnerable, during a big outbreak, says Dr. Deb Houry in @time.com time.com/article/2026...

Children are back in school. Measles is, too. Families need clear vaccine recommendations and transparent reporting from federal health leaders. Behind every measles death is a grieving family and a life that deserves to be counted. My latest in Time time.com/article/2026... @altcdc.altgov.info

Moving piece from Dr. Mullen about her own experience with measles- this is not a harmless childhood disease- and we know how to prevent it... vaccines work www.statnews.com/2026/09/24/m...

KAINE: Did you or career scientists ever brief Sec. Kennedy about recent measles outbreaks? HOURY: We did not brief Sec. Kennedy

Dr Jernigan: "Maintaining a response culture that manages uncertainty and is open to science-driven evaluation is critical. However HHS has demonstrated an intolerance for internal dissenting dialogue — a significant impediment to rapid course correction." www.statnews.com/2026/09/26/a...

She also talked about how she finally made the decision to leave—after fighting for eight months, she felt she was becoming less effective from the inside. She acknowledged that no one likes to quit, but she had to leave to be able to continue the work from the outside.

I’m at the Women in Medicine Summit in Chicago (always a great meeting btw) and Dr. Deb Houry @drdebhoury.bsky.social is talking about what it was like to be working at the CDC when it got decimated by DOGE. What do you do when your workforce is suddenly slashed?

Our very own alum Dr. Deb Houry was the featured speaker at the 2026 Mary C. Parker Yates Lecture hosted by the Murphy Institute at the uptown campus Wednesday. She addressed the tumult at the CDC. More photos: www.instagram.com/p/DdrIBp_kY5...

As part of her visit to Tulane for the Mary C. Parker Yates Lecture, Dr. Deb Houry, former Chief Medical Officer of the CDC, visited with students and faculty at Tidewater on Tuesday. More on Insta: www.instagram.com/p/Ddo--unmZZ...

Dr. Deb Houry, nationally recognized physician and former Chief Medical Officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will deliver the 2026 Mary C. Parker Yates Lecture Wednesday at 4pm in the LBC. Come hear her speak! tulane.campuslabs.com/engage/event...

Great to run into @nenrich.bsky.social another Green Wave alum at @tulanesphtm.bsky.social. So important to discuss and raise awareness about the dismantling of global health and the impact this will have on us here

The Pennsylvania measles outbreak “seems to be accelerating,” one infectious disease specialist told me. “And we’re seeing, actually, types of measles we’ve never seen before.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Even after the CDC changed the way it counted measles deaths, it should now have updated numbers - but still nothing. My latest: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Such a fun and thoughtful conversation with Sonya about purpose, resilience, and leadership as well as the “burn and the spark”: the experiences that test us and the purpose that keeps us going. Thank you, Sonya, for having me on Spark Sessions! YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoaK...

Dr. Debra Houry: It shows you where RFK Jr’s priorities are, when we’re seeing record breaking cases of Cyclospora and measles, and he’s focused on this conspiracy theory.

The desk lamp has been declared “disobedient.” More than a few CDC scientists are nodding in solidarity. www.rawstory.com/rfk-jr-podiu... @firedbutfighting.bsky.social @altcdc.altgov.info

One year ago today I testified about the dismantling at CDC under RFK. Today, I was asked about his comments on chemtrails and health.... this was not on my bingo card. Our country deserves health leadership grounded in evidence, not conspiracy theories. www.cnn.com/2026/09/17/h...

CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz just parroted one of RFK Jr.’s favorite and false talking points: “If someone got hit by a bus, and they happened to have COVID, often that was called a COVID-related death”. She said this right before she spoke with a ballroom full of healthcare executives.

First time speaking as CDC Director at a health conference and she doesn't address measles or vaccines; and won't answer a question on 4th PA measles related death- not sure this is the path to rebuilding trust... which she states is her priority www.ajc.com/news/2026/09... @altcdc.altgov.info

Good that CDC Director has finally done a media interview- between 14:30-16 minutes- she says she's said "But sirs" to RFK and they have disagreed behind closed doors, but then she said he's the Secretary and at the end of the day he makes the decisions... www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/09/16/e...

Really helpful website with information by sector and state on funding for programs that has been cut or frozen: Clawson, J., Kaczmarek, U., Ross, N., et al (2026). Lost Funds: A States United and Grant Witness Project Tracking Funding Disruptions under the Trump Administration lostfunds.org

There should be zero deaths from ectopic pregnancies in the U.S. Yet the number has doubled since abortion bans were implemented in some states, and that’s exactly where the most marked increase has been observed.

"The “highly unusual” way the two deaths were treated sowed confusion and distrust in the ranks that could hamper the agency’s ability to operate, said Debra Houry..." CDC = Center of Disinformation Control Schwartz should be fired www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Proud to support @migrantclinicians.bsky.social MCN has spent more than 40 years advancing health justice for migrant communities and supporting the clinicians who serve them. Check it out and help make a difference! www.bonfire.com/store/migran...

STAT: Make infectious disease data boring again By Debra Houry and Demetre Daskalakis bit.ly/4xFjQUK @statnews.com @drdebhoury.bsky.social @drdemetre.bsky.social

It should come as no surprise to anyone that we have a big job ahead rebuilding the CDC after Trump and RFK Jr are gone. I talked to former CDC official @drdebhoury.bsky.social about what that effort will require. You can watch our conversation here: edwineisendrath.substack.com/p/watch-dr-d...

Former CDC official @drdebhoury.bsky.social joins me today on @heartlandsignal.com to talk about what's happened to the health agency since she & two others quit in protest last year. You can stream our conversation here at 3pm CT: heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/

Thoughts from me and @drdemetre.bsky.social in @statnews.com "If the data or definitions are subject to political interpretation, that trust and the nation’s ability to respond effectively are quickly lost." www.statnews.com/2026/09/04/p...

10/ Public health data isn’t just information; it’s a vital resource, as valuable as gold, for protecting Americans’ lives. Their power lies in their purity: reliability, accuracy, and accessibility. And now that is getting muddled which will do damage in trust beyond the measles page.

MMR is REALLY damn good at preventing measles. 💉 1 dose: 93% 💉💉 2 doses: 97% Those are some damn good percentages.

Discussed on @cnn.com @erinburnett.bsky.social the tragic deaths in PA and the need for political leaders to focus on responding to the measles outbreak with data, science, and compassion vs contributing to misinformation and confusion. www.cnn.com/2026/09/01/h...

Thanks to @camanpour.bsky.social @cnnipr.bsky.social for the discussion on CDC director's decision to not post measles data- her priority needs to be on responding to the active outbreak and ensuring kids are ready to go back to school- we need to hear from her. edition.cnn.com/2026/09/01/t...

NEW: The CDC is excluding two deaths reported by Pennsylvania from the agency’s weekly update on measles dashboard, a decision that came from new CDC director Erica Schwartz, per sources. Me and @Rachelroubein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Erica Schwartz, the new CDC director, ordered agency officials to challenge two measles deaths reported by PA, shunning the agency’s normal procedure of accepting state data and amplifying comments made by her boss, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/h...

PA cases are being handled differently than TX and NM. This further erodes trust and will damage CDC’s relationship with state health departments

The institution has been weakened, but we have not stopped fighting for its mission. @firedbutfighting.bsky.social @altcdc.altgov.info @cdcmutualaid.bsky.social are supporting displaced staff, preserving expertise, speaking truth, and defending public health. www.statnews.com/2026/08/28/c...

Essential reading www.statnews.com/2026/08/28/c... via @statnews.com

Brilliant piece on how CDC will not just have to be rebuilt after the MAHA destruction, but strengthened. Free to read, but need to register. “We quit the CDC last year. The problems we protested remain” www.statnews.com/2026/08/28/c... via @statnews.com