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A disturbing trend from the Trump administration is the cultivation of mistrust in science and the dismantling of the CDC. The firings of leadership and senior veterinarians overseeing the bird flu response at the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, as part of HHS-wide reductions, exemplify this danger. As highlighted by “60 Minutes,” the increasing spread of avian flu to mammals raises concerns about its potential transmission to humans, leaving us unprepared and vulnerable.
U.S. scientists and researchers are not an enemy. They work tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of all people. Understanding how diseases spread, through scientific fields like epidemiology, allows us to implement measures like sanitation, clean water initiatives and quarantine procedures that prevent large-scale outbreaks.

The current administration’s disregard for scientific evidence has far-reaching consequences for all of us. It’s crucial that we demand accountability and prioritize critical thinking, insisting on verifiable facts and transparent information from all leaders, not just the president. Local officials like Peggy Bennett, Gene Dornink and Brad Finstad, we urge you to independently research critical issues and advocate for the well-being of our entire community. Stand for truth and evidence-based decision-making.

Peggy Olson
Albert Lea