SMFM Statement on Impact of Pauses to CDC Surveillance Databases and U.S. Membership in WHO
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and its members are deeply concerned by recent developments that threaten to further weaken the public health infrastructure clinicians depend on to protect patients—especially pregnant people and their newborns.
A new Annals of Internal Medicine study reports that a substantial share of routinely updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health surveillance databases—including systems tracking vaccination-related topics and infectious respiratory diseases—have experienced unexplained pauses or delays in updates. The loss of timely surveillance data undermines evidence-based decision-making and slows our ability to detect, analyze, and respond to emerging health threats. At the same time, the United States’ formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization erodes critical global partnerships that support disease surveillance, coordinated response, and shared scientific expertise. Together, these developments increase risk for our members, our patients, and communities nationwide.
SMFM members—along with clinicians and public health experts across the country—rely on accurate, timely CDC surveillance data and the international coordination enabled by WHO to protect pregnant patients, their families, and the public. Every unnecessary delay in routinely updating the critical CDC surveillance databases puts all Americans’ health at risk.
Evidence-based medicine demands transparent, unbiased, and current data. SMFM urges CDC leadership to immediately prioritize restoring and routinely maintaining all critical public health surveillance databases, including clear public communication when delays occur and timelines for resuming updates.
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About SMFM
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), founded in 1977, is the medical professional society for obstetricians who have additional training in high-risk, complicated pregnancies. SMFM represents more than 6,500 members who care for high-risk pregnant people and provides education, promotes research, and engages in advocacy to reduce disparities and optimize the health of high-risk pregnant people and their families. SMFM and its members are dedicated to optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes and assuring medically appropriate treatment options are available to all patients. www.smfm.org
Contact: Greg Phillips, Director of Communications, press@smfm.org