Paurvi Bhatt, MPH

Science’s big problem is a loss of influence, not a loss of trust Evidence shows that science and scientists remain highly trusted. But genuine scientific voices are not shouting loud enough over the noise to hold sway.

"Evidence shows that science and scientists remain highly trusted. But genuine scientific voices are not shouting loud enough over the noise to hold sway"

Heidi Larson & David Bersoff

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

This vaccine may protect against dementia, as well as a painful herpes zoster flare-up It’s been shown that reactivation of the chickenpox virus can lead to the accumulation of aberrant proteins associated with Alzheimer’s.

This is so exciting: Shingles vaccine may protect against dementia!!!

People who received the original shingles live virus vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia of any type than those who were not vaccinated

#VaccinesWork
#VaccinesSaveLives

www.nbcnews.com/health/aging...

The Texas-New Mexico #measles outbreak has claimed a second life. Unvaccinated adult. Measles is not a benign ailment. The only way to prevent it is vaccination. www.nmhealth.org/news/alert/2...

Second death reported in growing measles outbreak The death of a New Mexico adult comes after a 6-year-old died of the disease in Texas last week.

We’re going to see more of this: An unvaccinated New Mexico adult who tested positive for measles has died

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Excellent idea👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

The measles outbreak occurring in South Plains district, TX, is now the largest the state has seen in 30 years, with 48 cases. All cases are among unvaccinated people or people with unknown vaccination status.

source: www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/...

Never heard of ASPR?

It’s the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. For health emergencies. Like natural disasters or infectious disease outbreaks. You may not know or think much about ASPR on the regs, but you’ll notice when it’s not there for the next health emergency.

I think I shall just pin this post because ....👀

With its anti-science and anti-public health policies, the US is now at risk for outbreaks of tuberculosis

As @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social put it, "TB is both a form and expression of injustice"

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Are We Living in a Coup Yet? YouTube video by A Shot in the Arm Podcast (shotarmpodcast)

AIDS activists at home & abroad are on the frontlines (again) defending the weak, the marginalized and helping protect society from pandemics - not least the Trump/Musk administration’s attack on our collective future.

www.youtube.com/live/Xe4GRhW...

GAO: Public-health workforce shortage undermines ability to respond to outbreaks, other emergencies

Glad to see this published…bc no shit, Sherlock.

I’m a broken record on this, but the pause is completely illegal. It directly violates Section 1013 of the Impoundment Control Act.

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone declared for whole of England Mandatory enhanced biosecurity will now be required and the housing order extended to cover York, North Yorkshire and Shropshire.

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone declared for whole of England

www.gov.uk/government/n...

What Immigrant Communities Should Know About Their Rights All immigrants in the U.S. have rights, including the right to remain silent. Here’s what you should know if you encounter federal immigration agents.

“If ICE agents are conducting raids in your area, if you need help locating someone in ICE custody, or if you would like to report ICE activity, ICIRR has a hotline you can call at 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693).”

blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/17/w...

WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLDHEALTH ORGANIZATION – The White House WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the

And here it is. In the middle of an H5N1 outbreak, Marburg case in Tanzania, ongoing health crises, etc.
Ugh. A terrible decision that will have long-term implications.

Trump may decide to leave WHO next week. Here are seven possible impacts on the U.S. and the world Departure would be catastrophic for global health, diminish U.S. influence, and boost China’s role, scientists say

www.science.org/content/arti...

Culture & ethnicity & information matters: Important insight as care at home, support & caregiving systems, and family caregiver efforts are expanded.

All poultry activities suspended in Georgia after bird flu confirmed in a commercial operation | CNN All poultry activities have been suspended in Georgia after bird flu was confirmed in a commercial poultry operation, officials said Friday.

www.cnn.com/2025/01/18/u...

As bird flu concerns grow, scientists race to develop new vaccines The Department of Health and Human Services on Friday awarded $590 million in funding to Moderna in part to fast-track the development of an mRNA bird flu vaccine.

“On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it’s providing about $590 million in funding to Moderna in part to fast-track the development of an mRNA vaccine that targets the strains of bird flu currently circulating in wild birds, poultry and dairy cows.”

Can you read cursive? It's a superpower the National Archives is looking for. The National Archives is looking for volunteers with an increasingly rare skill: Reading cursive.

The National Archives is looking for volunteers with an increasingly rare skill: Reading cursive.

CDC is recommending a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens among hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza particularly human cases of #H5N1. This is a good recommendation.
bit.ly/3DSmr6Q

Subtyping faster is great and necessary. It’s flu season so the risk of H5N1 reassortment with a seasonal strain is higher than usual. Identifying H5N1 cases rapidly is critical to reduce risk of human to human transmission & possibly a pandemic.

www.cdc.gov/han/2025/han...

Maternal COVID-19 Infection Leads to Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns The risk of developing RDS was significantly increased among newborns born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.

a meta analysis of 22 studies found that "Maternal #COVID infection during pregnancy is significantly associated with increased risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in newborns" - 11 % after maternal COVID.

#MedSky + #PedSky + #IDSky.

www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/materna...

CDC confirms positive bird flu result in San Francisco child The CDC has confirmed a positive bird flu case in a child in San Francisco, the second juvenile case of H5N1 in the country.

abc7.com/post/bird-fl...

Been getting a lot of people asking about LA geography concerned that the images they see means the entire county is on fire. That's understandable.

But LA is a big place. So, to give an idea of scale it's time to cart this out again. It's a map of LA with other cities superimposed on it.

What an incredible book of seminal accomplishments for our field. 🙏🏽🙏🏽 looking forward to the work ahead for you at Duke!! Congrats

Biden Officials Prepare for Potential Bird Flu Outbreak With Added Money The administration is committing an additional $306 million toward battling the virus, and will distribute the money before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.

Good to see preparedness funding for H5N1 testing and tracing. Very important to keep systems warm as we do not want to be catch by surprise by another pandemic www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/u...

Can You Tell Me How to Get Someone to Save 'Sesame Street'? With its Warner Bros. Discovery contract about to expire, TV critic Alan Sepinwall explains why the beloved children's series deserves to survive.

We have larger concerns heading into 2025, but I can't let go of the idea that the next season of Sesame Street could be its last. So I wrote about why the kids' TV institution is still vital after more than 50 years:

Jimmy Carter will have funeral services in Plains, Ga., Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral services will span six days, three cities and multiple places of significance from his life.

Former President Jimmy Carter's state funeral services will span six days, three cities and multiple places of significance from his life.

Jimmy Carter’s Quiet but Monumental Work in Global Health (Gift Article) In his decades as a former president, he and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, helped bring lifesaving treatments and sanitation to poor people around the world.

“We believe access to health care is a human right"

President Jimmy Carter

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/h...