Health
Science backers say proposed federal research cuts pose dire risks.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s health secretary, has said that tackling a chronic disease “epidemic” would be a cornerstone of his Make America Healthy Again agenda, often invoking alarming statistics as an urgent reason for reforming public health in this country.
On Friday, President Trump released a proposed budget that called for cutting the funding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by almost half. Its chronic disease center was slated for elimination entirely, a proposal that came as a shock to many state and city health officials.
“Most Americans have some sort of ailment that could be considered chronic,” said Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, health director for the city of St. Louis.
Of the proposed cuts, she said, “How do you reconcile that with trying to make America healthy again?”
The federal health department last month cut 2,400 jobs from the C.D.C., whose National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion runs on the largest budget within the agency.
Programs on lead poisoning, smoking cessation and reproductive health were jettisoned in a reorganization last month.
Overall, the proposed budget would cut the C.D.C.’s funding to about $4 billion, compared with $9.2 billion in 2024.
The budget blueprint makes no mention of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, a $1.2 billion program. If that figure is taken into account, the cut may be even larger than Mr. Trump’s proposal indicates.
The agency would also lose a center focused on preventing injuries, including those caused by firearms, as well as programs for H.I.V. surveillance and prevention, and grants to help states prepare for public health emergencies.
According to the proposed budget, the cuts are needed to eliminate “duplicative, D.E.I., or simply unnecessary programs.” Congress draws up the federal budget, but given the Republican majority and its fealty to Mr. Trump, it is unclear how much his proposal will change.
C.D.C. officials had been told that the functions of the chronic disease center would be moved to a new organization within the health department called the Administration for a Healthy America.
And the proposal released on Friday appears to allocate $500 million to the health secretary in part “to tackle nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, overreliance on medication and treatments.”
But at the C.D.C., the chronic disease center’s budget was nearly three times as large. And even if part of the chronic disease center is resuscitated in the A.H.A., it’s unlikely that the new iteration would involve C.D.C. scientists relocated from Atlanta.
“The actual subject-matter experts, who administer the programs, might not be there at C.D.C. anymore,” said Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer at the Alabama Department of Public Health. “We certainly don’t have the same level of expertise in my state.”
The department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment.
The C.D.C.’s chronic disease center ran programs aimed at preventing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. But the center has also seeded initiatives farther afield, ranging from creating rural and urban hiking trails to ensuring that healthy options like salads are offered in airports. It also promoted wellness programs in marginalized communities.
Dr. Davis, the health director in St. Louis, said her department was already reeling from cuts to programs to curb smoking and reduce lead poisoning and health disparities, as well as the rescinding of more than $11 billion that the C.D.C. had been providing to state health departments.
“I would take back Covid-19 in a heartbeat over what’s happening right now,” Dr. Davis said.
In the proposed budget, the administration suggested that the eliminated programs would be better managed by states. But state health departments already manage most chronic disease programs, and three-quarters of the C.D.C. center’s funding goes to support them.
Loss of those funds “would be devastating for us,” said Dr. Harris, the health officer in Alabama.
The state has one of the highest rates of chronic diseases in the country, and about 84 percent of the public health department’s budget comes from the C.D.C., Dr. Harris said. About $6 million goes to chronic disease programs, including blood pressure screening, nutrition education for diabetes and promotion of physical activity.
If those funds were cut, “I am at a loss right now to tell you where that would come from,” he added. “It just seems that no one really knows what to expect, and we’re not really being asked for any input on that.”
Minnesota’s vaunted health department has already laid off 140 employees, and hundreds more may be affected if more C.D.C. funding is lost. Cuts to chronic disease prevention will affect nursing homes, vaccine clinics and public health initiatives for Native Americans in the state.
“The actions of the federal government have left us out on a flimsy limb with no safety net below us,” said Dr. Brooke Cunningham, the state’s health commissioner.
Until recently, “there seemed to be a shared understanding at the local, state and federal level that health was important to invest in,” Dr. Cunningham said.
The C.D.C.’s chronic disease center’s work touches American lives in many unexpected ways.
In Prairie Village, Kan., Stephanie Barr learned about the center 15 years ago when, working as a waitress with no health insurance, she discovered a lump in her breast the size of a lemon.
Through the C.D.C.’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, she was able to get a mammogram and an ultrasound, and staff members helped her enroll in Medicaid for treatment after a biopsy determined the lump was malignant, Ms. Barr said.
“It was caught in the nick of time,” said Ms. Barr, now 45 and free of cancer.
Since that program began in 1991, it has provided more than 16.3 million screening exams to more than 6.3 million people with no other affordable access, said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
The organization is one of 530 health associations that have signed a petition asking lawmakers to reject the proposed H.H.S. budget, which cuts discretionary spending by about one-third. The signatories said the cuts would “effectively devastate” the nation’s research and public health infrastructure.
The budget also proposes dismantling disease registries and surveillance systems.
“If you don’t collect the information or keep these surveillance systems going, you don’t know what’s happening, you don’t know what the trends are,” said Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services in Texas.
“You’re losing all of that history,” he said.
In a previous position as director of chronic diseases for Texas, Dr. Huang said he worked closely with C.D.C. experts who successfully reduced tobacco use among Americans.
“Eliminating the Office on Smoking and Health is just craziness if you’re still wanting to address chronic diseases,” he said.
Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year, according to the C.D.C.
More than one in 10 American adults still smoke cigarettes regularly, but rates vary drastically by region, and C.D.C. surveillance helps target cessation programs to areas where they are needed most.
“Smoking rates have come down, but if the federal government takes its foot off the gas, the tobacco companies are ready to pop back up again,” said Erika Sward, assistant vice president for advocacy at the American Lung Association.
She warned that tobacco companies are constantly developing new products like nicotine pouches, whose use by teenagers doubled last year. “It will take a lot more money to put the genie back in the bottle,” she said.
The C.D.C.’s chronic disease center works with communities and academic centers to promote effective programs, from creating quitting hotlines to reach young Iowans in rural areas to training members of Black churches in Columbia, S.C., to lead exercise and nutrition classes for their congregations.
In rural Missouri, dozens of walking trails have been developed in the “boot heel” in the southeastern part of the state, an area with high rates of obesity and diabetes, said Ross Brownson, a public health researcher at Washington University in St. Louis who directs the Prevention Research Center in collaboration with the C.D.C.
“There’s strong evidence now that if you change the walkability of a community, people will get more physical activity,” Dr. Brownson said. “There aren’t going to be health clubs in rural communities, but there is nature and the ability to have walking trails, and land is relatively cheap.”
With C.D.C. support, in Rochester, N.Y., people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing are being trained to lead exercise and wellness programs for other hearing-impaired people who can’t easily participate in other gym classes.
In San Diego, researchers are testing ways to protect farm workers from exposure to ultraviolet rays and heat-related illnesses.
“Once they are up and started, they are community-driven and don’t depend on the government,” said Allison Bay, who recently lost her job managing such projects at the C.D.C.
The C.D.C.’s reorganization also eliminated lead poisoning programs. Lead poisoning is also “one of our greatest public health threats in the city of Cleveland,” said Dr. David Margolius, director of public health for the city.
The C.D.C. does not directly fund Cleveland’s lead programs — the funding comes from the state. “But just having the federal expertise to call on to help lead us toward a lead-free future, I mean, yeah, that has a big impact on us,” he said.
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Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest.
Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have announced the development of an insulin pill to help lower blood sugar.
For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection, but the pill would offer a non-invasive treatment option.
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“Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients,” said associate professor Shingo Ito, a researcher in the study’s press release. “Our peptide-based platform offers a new route to deliver insulin orally, and may be applicable to long-acting insulin formulations and other injectable biologics.”
Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest. (iStock)
The study, published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, tested the delivery of oral insulin by building a carrier peptide called DNP-V. This peptide helps to transport insulin through the small intestine, where protein drug absorption is usually poor.
In diabetic mice models, the researchers administered the peptide by mouth with zinc-stabilized insulin, which was formulated with zinc ions to make it more stable, according to the study.
“Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients.”
The result was a rapid and significant drop in blood glucose, as well as a sustained (longer-term) decrease. The mice’s blood sugar was reduced to near-normal levels.
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When DNP-V was attached directly to insulin, the results showed enhanced absorption in the intestines and a similar glucose-lowering effect, the researchers noted.
The treatment was effective in different diabetes models, significantly reducing blood sugar spikes after meals with just one dose per day.
The study was done in mice, which leaves uncertainty if the treatment will translate to humans. (iStock)
The findings suggest that DNP peptides could serve as flexible, adaptable platforms for delivering large-molecule drugs by mouth, the authors concluded in the study abstract.
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“This technology can simply and effectively convert injectable biopharmaceuticals into orally administrable forms, offering a promising path to practical, patient-friendly oral therapies,” they wrote.
Although the researchers are optimistic about the findings translating to larger therapeutic models, they noted that the results in mice do not guarantee the same outcome in humans, and that more research is needed.
For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection to regulate blood sugar levels. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel commented on this development, noting that oral insulin could make a big difference in healthcare.
“Insulin use, especially in type 1 diabetes, is sometimes difficult to regulate by injection,” Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Oral use would have major advantages.”
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He added, “This is very promising provided that it works in humans, which is a big ‘if.’”
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.
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Students at the University of Kent in the U.K. are calling for a shutdown in light of an active meningitis outbreak.
The demands follow multiple alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) about the outbreak.
As of March 18, the agency had announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases and two deaths in Kent, a county in the southeast of England. The University of Kent is located in Canterbury, a historic city within Kent.
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Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It can cause two life-threatening conditions: meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord lining) and a bloodstream infection called septicemia, which can lead to sepsis, per the above source.
Two people have died amid an outbreak of meningitis at the University of Kent in Canterbury. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
Even with prompt treatment, meningococcal disease can become fatal within hours. Health agencies report a typical fatality rate of about 10% to 15%.
In response to the outbreak, students at the University of Kent launched an online petition calling for campus to be closed.
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“Students at the University of Kent are increasingly concerned about reports of meningitis and sepsis cases affecting members of the campus community,” the petition states, as posted on Change.org. “The confirmation of two deaths, along with reports of hospitalizations, has caused understandable concern among students and staff.”
The petition expressed concern that in-person exams, lectures and other campus activities are continuing amid the outbreak.
As of March 18, health officials had announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases and two deaths in Kent, a county in the southeast of England. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
“Many students feel that they are being placed in a difficult position: attend exams and in-person activities during a period of heightened concern or prioritize their health and well-being while risking potential academic consequences,” the petition states. “Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”
“Students deserve to feel safe on campus,” the petition concluded. “We are therefore calling on the University of Kent to consider precautionary steps to prioritize the well-being of students and staff during this situation.
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Preventative antibiotic treatment is being distributed to University of Kent students, according to UKHSA, as well as to those who visited Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, between March 5 and March 7.
“A vaccination program has started for students and staff who live in or work in the halls at the University of Kent Canterbury Campus — approximately 5,000 students,” the agency noted.
Fox News Digital reached out to the university requesting comment.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease
Described by the CDC as a “rare but severe illness,” meningococcal disease most commonly causes symptoms of meningitis, including fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or altered mental status.
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It can also cause meningococcal bloodstream infection, which is marked by fever and chills, vomiting, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe aches and pains, diarrhea, rapid breathing or a dark purple rash, the CDC notes.
Transmission and treatment
Meningitis infections can spread through close contact with someone who has meningococcal disease, “generally, through things like coughing or kissing, but it can also spread by being in the same household or room for extended periods of time with an individual who is infected,” Dr. Barbara Bawer, a primary care physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is contacting 30,000 students and staff of the university to notify them of the outbreak. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
Those who have symptoms of the disease should see their primary care physician immediately, according to the doctor.
As symptoms tend to progress quickly and can be life-threatening, it is essential that the patient receives antibiotics immediately.
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“It can become fatal or dangerous very quickly — within hours — for any individual, especially if antibiotics are not initiated in a timely manner,” Bawer warned. “Even with antibiotics, meningitis can be fatal.”
She added, “This is often due to misdiagnosis, because meningitis can mimic many other illnesses.”
Infection prevention
Most cases of meningococcal disease worldwide are caused by six variations of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria — A, B, C, W, X and Y.
In the U.S., the most common variations are B, C, W and Y. There are vaccines available to protect against types A, C, W and Y (the MenACWY vaccine) and type B (MenB vaccine), according to the CDC.
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“MenACWY vaccines are routinely recommended for adolescents and for people with other risk factors or underlying medical conditions, including HIV,” the agency previously stated.
“Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education.”
To reduce risk, Bawer recommends that people get vaccinated with the current meningitis vaccine as recommended by the CDC and avoid being in very closed-in spaces with others as much as possible.
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“If you know of someone who has meningitis in your household or you’ve come in contact with their oral secretions (i.e., you kissed them), then you should get preventative antibiotics,” the doctor told Fox News Digital.
This is even more important for those who are immune-compromised or who are on medications that decrease the immune system, Bawer added.
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The practice of combining cold exposure and breathwork — known as the Wim Hof Method — has gained popularity as a wellness practice, with some research suggesting benefits for stress, energy and mental clarity, though evidence for treating chronic disease remains limited.
And now, a recent study published in the journal Nature appears to support the technique’s potential health benefits.
The research included more than 400 healthy adults averaging 37 years of age, who practiced either the Wim Hof Method (WHM) or mindfulness meditation daily for about one month.
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The WHM practitioners were split into in-person and at-home groups, where one did ice baths and the other took cold showers.
The participants reported their energy, mental clarity, and stress and anxiety levels. The researchers also measured heart rate, breathing and sleep.
Wim Hof, creator of the Wim Hof Method that combines cold exposure and breathwork, is pictured among icebergs on Iceland’s Diamond Beach. (Wim Hof Method)
Participants in the breathwork and cold group had greater improvements in energy, mental clarity and ability to handle stress, benefits that were most noticeable right after their daily practice.
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The study also found that meditation reduced stress early on, but the WHM showed gradual improvements in stress levels over a longer time period. Differences in sleep, cognition and heart health measures were more subtle.
The short 29-day study period could pose a limitation in measuring long-term impacts, the researchers acknowledged.
Wim Hof is pictured meditating in the snow in Switzerland. “I felt that this was going to make a huge difference in people,” he said of his method. (Wim Hof Method)
The participants also knew which group they were placed in, which could have influenced the self-reported results.
“I felt that this was going to make a huge difference in people,” Wim Hof told Fox News Digital. “I had a lot of anecdotal evidence, but that doesn’t make it scientific.”
What is the Wim Hof Method?
The Wim Hof Method is comprised of three pillars: cold, breathing and mindset.
“It is a combination of the three … and when they come together, they reinforce each other and become stronger,” he said. “Use the cold well, and you bring the immune system, the energy system and your cardiovascular system to an optimum [state].”
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Breathing has been shown to lower inflammation, which is the main driver of disease, according to Wim Hof. Research has also shown that a change in mindset can re-circuit the brain to handle stress more efficiently.
Lowering stress levels is crucial to improving health, he noted, as high cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) and inflammation are drivers of chronic disease.
Sunday Swim, a group practicing the Wim Hof Method, does a cold plunge on a Long Island beach. (Sunday Swim)
Lead study author Dr. Jemma King, of the University of Queensland School of Psychology in Australia, said she entered the world’s largest Wim Hof study with a “healthy dose of scientific skepticism.”
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“People are really anxious, people are really burnt out, and the world is very destabilized at the moment,” she told Fox News Digital. “People are increasingly dependent on healthcare systems, and profits keep growing and people keep getting sicker.”
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“We’re glued to screens; we’re reaching for pills every time life feels hard. And so we really wanted to [find out] — is there a better way?”
Sunday Swim founder Brendan Cooke assists participants with breathwork on a Long Island beach. (Sunday Swim)
Although meditation is an important tool for some, an alternative method that involves more activity may be a better option for those with “busy brains,” according to the researcher.
“You’re not sitting there just accepting energy,” she said. “You can actually face it head on, and you can overcome your aversion to the cold, which is very invigorating.”
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“If you choose to do small doses of the right kind of stress, it doesn’t break you down. It actually makes you stronger,” King added.
Scientifically, breathwork can help flush the brain of toxins, clearing mental fog while increasing levels of the beneficial chemicals adrenaline and dopamine, she noted.
Cold exposure may not be safe for everyone, especially those with certain cardiovascular conditions. (iStock)
“We also found something really shocking and unexpected: The people doing the Wim Hof Method became more willing to speak up at work,” King shared. “They were more likely to raise hard issues or have a voice or take interpersonal risks.”
“If you train yourself to step into the cold water every morning, you kind of override that voice that says, ‘Don’t do that,’” she added. “This bravery, this toughness that you train every morning, starts to show up everywhere else in your life.”
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Starting safely
For beginners, Hof recommends simply stepping into a cold shower at home, which activates the cardiovascular system and boosts energy.
“Take the cold shower, go into that breathing, and suddenly you’ll feel an innate power awakening,” he said. “That is the nervous system, and you have control over that.”
Cold exposure may not be safe for everyone, especially those with certain cardiovascular conditions, such as abnormal heart rhythms, heart disease or Raynaud’s syndrome, according to Harvard Health.
Those with underlying conditions should get a physician’s approval before embarking on a cold plunge or another mode of cold exposure therapy, experts advise.
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“[For those who] have conditions, I say start with breathing alone,” Hof recommended. “Breathing trains the nervous system like weightlifting trains the muscles.”
“Know that you are built to have willful control over your health, happiness and strength,” he added.
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