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Silence=Death Redux: Infectious Diseases, Public Health, and the Imperative to Resist
Eric A Meyerowitz1,2, Ilan S Schwartz3
1Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Summary
Political actions threaten public health progress in infectious diseases. The infectious diseases community must defend patients, institutions, and scientific principles against regressive policies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Social Justice
Background:
- The field of infectious diseases faces unprecedented challenges due to current political actions.
- Regressive policies threaten decades of scientific and social progress in public health.
- Vulnerable communities are disproportionately endangered by these developments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze early executive actions impacting infectious diseases.
- To highlight the critical juncture facing public health and social justice.
- To inspire advocacy within the infectious diseases community.
Main Methods:
- Perspective piece analyzing current political landscape.
- Historical context of activism in public health.
- Call to action for the scientific community.
Main Results:
- Executive actions have far-reaching negative impacts on infectious disease control and public health.
- Vulnerable populations face increased risks.
- A strong, unified response is necessary.
Conclusions:
- The infectious diseases community must actively defend public health institutions and the people they serve.
- Advocacy and defense of scientific principles are crucial.
- Lessons from past activism, particularly from the LGBTQ+ community and early HIV clinicians, offer a model for action.
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