CDC Official Who Warned Americans Coronavirus Could Cause 'Severe' Disruption Resigns

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Dr. Nancy Messonnier joins other officials during an early coronavirus briefing in January 2020: Dr. Robert Redfield (left), then CDC director; Alex Azar (center), then Department of Health and Human Services secretary; and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier had served as the agency's top respiratory disease official since 2016. Then-President Donald Trump reportedly threatened to fire her after her comments in February 2020.

(Image credit: Patrick Semansky/AP)