U.S. Disease Experts Blocked From Talking With Global Health Agency

Key public health officials who lead U.S. research on infectious disease threats have been barred from speaking directly with the World Health Organization, according to documents and multiple sources familiar with the directive.

The Trump administration issued the order as part of a broader pullback from global health forums. It effectively shuts researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases out of international conversations about virus outbreaks, including those that could reach American communities.

The restriction was in place during a recent hantavirus outbreak that exposed some Americans, raising concerns about the U.S. government's ability to stay informed and act quickly. The ban has since been relaxed slightly as an Ebola epidemic continues to unfold, though the broader communications block remains in effect.