CDC postpones nuclear disaster response briefing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has postponed a briefing on how to plan and prepare for nuclear disaster. 

The briefing, originally scheduled for Jan. 16, has now been replaced on CDC’s website with an event focused on public health responses to severe influenza. CNN first reported that the nuclear briefing had been postponed. 

“With the spike in flu cases around the country, this Grand Rounds will provide key and timely information for public health professionals on how to reduce the spread of seasonal flu in communities and adjust to spot shortages in antiviral drugs because of high influenza activity in some areas,” a CDC spokesman told The Hill. “The previous public health topic will be rescheduled for a future Grand Rounds.”

{mosads}The planned event attracted attention early this month because it came the same week that President Trump boasted on Twitter that his nuclear button is “much bigger and more powerful” than that of North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim had said during an annual address, “The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, a nuclear button is always on my desk,” provoking the response from the president.

The events are part of the CDC’s “Grand Rounds” public health lectures, a monthly series that spotlights major public health issues.

“While a nuclear detonation is unlikely, it would have devastating results and there would be limited time to take critical protection steps,” the CDC said in an advisory earlier this month announcing the event on nuclear disaster. 

“Despite the fear surrounding such an event, planning and preparation can lessen deaths and illness,” the agency said. 

According to the website, the event will be rescheduled for a future Grand Rounds event, though the date is unclear.

This post has been updated to reflect comment from the CDC.