The Trump administration has restricted direct contacts between researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The ban took effect during the hantavirus outbreak. The institute, once led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, played a key role in the COVID-19 pandemic response.
According to CNN, restrictions were partially eased last week due to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some staff have been allowed to attend WHO virtual meetings as listeners.
However, all further communication must go through the Department of Health and Human Services. Experts worry that limiting information sharing could hinder the fight against dangerous infectious diseases.
