Former CDC official on agency's role in cruise ship hantavirus outbreak

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry about what role the CDC should play in helping Americans exposed to hantavirus. MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: We wanted to know more about the CDC's response to hantavirus so far, so we reached out to Dr. Debra Houry. She was the agency's chief medical officer until August of last year. Dr. Houry, good morning. Thanks for joining us. DEBRA HOURY: My pleasure. MARTIN: So as we just heard, our current understanding is there's a very low risk to the general public. You know, in any public health situation, there's a balance between keeping people informed without raising undue alarm. Has the CDC struck the right balance so far? HOURY: I don't think they have just yet. I think they're working on it. But I would like to see more daily briefings where we're hearing from the scientists directly so that I'm not the one speaking about it all the time, and my colleagues, and also posting more information. Like, they recently updated their guidance. I think it's helpful to say why it was updated. And then also, when there's differences between countries, really show the data. That way, people understand the transparent thinking that has gone behind these decisions. MARTIN: Yeah. Do you have any understanding or visibility into why they're not doing daily briefings? HOURY: I don't. My hope is that they will. During avian influenza, we did. …