8/8 As a former EIS officer, CDC employee, and taxpayer, I want to extend my deepest gratitude and condolences to the CDC employees who were recently and callously let go. Your service and dedication to your country and to public health have been invaluable.

7/8 At this point in time, the U.S. should be thinking and talking about how best to move forward with sustained investment in public health infrastructure at the CDC, state, and local levels. Weakening these systems will cost lives.

6/8 Emerging threats—like the bird flu panzootic—underscore the need for strong, coordinated public health systems. Preparedness is about ensuring the right people, data collection, surveillance systems, labs, and response mechanisms are in place before the next emergency.

5/8 I also had a chance to speak with @cbsmornings.bsky.social about how CDC's EIS officers respond to public health emergencies and why sustained investment in outbreak detection and response systems is essential. t.co/2OU74I1l5C

4/8 I shared these and other thoughts in a recent @statnews.com op-ed, highlighting why programs like EIS are critical to national and global health security.

🔗 Read more: t.co/ndTmNQaGnb

3/8 Without them, and the cadres of other talented and committed staff at CDC, the U.S. risks slower outbreak detection, delayed cause identification and responses, and avoidable deaths.

2/8 EIS officers—also called “disease detectives”—are often on the front lines of outbreak response. They help CDC investigate emerging health threats. They help to prevent and stop epidemics and pandemics.