Amesh Adalja

New analysis links flu vaccination to 18% lower odds of heart attack The findings of the meta-analysis draw on data from more than 23 million people.

“Subgroup analyses of the data found a consistent link between the flu vaccine and lower odds of heart attack across different types of studies and patient groups.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...

CDC’s FluView shows 8 more pediatric deaths as flu activity drops For the total 2025-26 flu season, 92% of flu specimens have been typed as influenza A.

“raising the season’s total to 60 pediatric deaths from flu complications. Approximately 90% of the 60 children were not fully vaccinated against influenza.” www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-ge...

Measles exposures reported in DC, Disneyland, as virus activity drops in Europe Preliminary data from 2025 show a drop in the number of measles cases reported across the European Union compared with 2024.

“In 2006, 92% of Somali 2-year-olds were vaccinated against measles; last year, only 24% of 2 year-olds were vaccinated. There have been at least four measles outbreaks in the community in the past decade.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/meas...

Lawmakers want answers on CDC-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Africa Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the acting CDC director regarding the $1.6 million award to a controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau.

“deliberately withholding a proven vaccine that has saved millions of lives globally for the sole purpose of examining theoretical, non-specific side effects may constitute a major breach of scientific ethics..using taxpayer dollars in such a study..is abhorrent.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/hepatitis/la...

Viewpoint: Threats to Gavi mean placing ideology over saving lives

“Like recent changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and other HHS actions, it was guided by politics and ideology, not facts—to the detriment of our health and, ultimately, to the detriment of Americans’ ability to trust their health agencies.” www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...

US cancer survival rate fell during first 2 years of COVID pandemic

“Those declines translated into an estimated 9,162 more cancer deaths within 1 year of diagnosis in 2020 and 8,228 in 2021, for a total of 17,390 more cancer-related deaths during the pandemic, which was 13.1% higher than expected.” www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/us-...

Most US women favor in-clinic to at-home cervical cancer testing; less screening may benefit Norwegian women

“Over time, as vaccinated cohorts age more into the screening population and herd protection extends to older unvaccinated populations, increased start ages and longer intervals can be considered for the entire population” www.cidrap.umn.edu/human-papill...

Updated PASTEUR Act reintroduced in Congress to boost antibiotic development

“Restoring a functional and predictable market is essential to rekindling private investment in this lifesaving field of medicine,” www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobia...

Maine confirms 1st measles case since 2019 The case was confirmed on Thursday in an adult from Penobscot County who recently traveled to a state with measles cases, according to the Maine CDC.

“The case was confirmed at St. Joseph Healthcare in Bangor on Thursday in an adult from Penobscot County who recently traveled to a state with measles cases” www.bangordailynews.com/2026/02/06/p...

Measles Isn't 'Just a Childhood Disease' -- And Outbreaks Could Have Lingering Effects The United States is on track to lose its "elimination status" for measles, and that could be bad for all of us.

“Measles was the first immunosuppressive virus that was described — long before HIV..These immunosuppressive effects of the measles virus create an increased risk of other infectious diseases.” www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

They're cured of leprosy. Why do they still live in leprosy colonies? Leprosy is one of the least contagious diseases around — and perhaps one of the most misunderstood. The colonies are relics of a not-too-distant past when those diagnosed with leprosy were exiled.

"If you think of a leprosy-affected person as the person doing IT in your office or your doctor, that's very different than a man standing on the corner with pus dripping down his hands and open wounds..As they become successful, then the stigma can die." www.npr.org/2026/02/07/g...

South Africa launches local foot-and-mouth vaccine as infections spread South Africa on Friday announced its first foot-and-mouth vaccine in 20 years as it seeks to boost local production of inoculation doses to fight the country's worst outbreak of the disease in many ye...

"What today means is that when we are able to manufacture at scale and at full production, this vaccine will ensure South Africa's vaccine sovereignty when dealing with foot-and-mouth disease,"
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

A drop in CDC health alerts leaves doctors 'flying blind' Doctors and public health officials are concerned about the drop in health alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since President Trump returned for a second term.

"Unfortunately, I think this is very emblematic of a decline in the communications, both in the amount as well as the quality," www.npr.org/2026/02/06/n...

WHO says one person dead from Nipah virus in Bangladesh The World Health Organization said on Friday that a woman had died in northern Bangladesh in January after contracting the deadly Nipah virus infection.

“The person had no travel history but had a history of consuming raw date palm sap. All 35 people who had contact with the patient are being monitored and have tested negative for the virus, and no further cases have been detected to date” www.reuters.com/business/hea...

More Than One Initial Option for Serious Fungal Infection, Study Suggests Individualized treatment, rather than presumed superiority, should shape decisions

“In this study, the 90-day mortality rate was 37.1% among those given a standard-treatment triazole first compared with 41.3% among those started on L-AmB.” www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdi...

Measles cases in South Carolina rise by 44 to 920, state health department says South Carolina reported a surge to 920 measles cases on Friday, state health data showed, including 44 additional infections since Tuesday, as officials warned the widening outbreak could last weeks o...

“Last month, there was a strong increase in measles vaccinations across the state and in Spartanburg. Over 16,800 doses of measles vaccine were administered statewide, an increase of more than 7,000 doses compared to January 2025, a 72% increase” www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show

“Lying to Congress about his role in the deadly measles outbreak in Samoa only underscores the danger he now poses to families across America..He & his allies will be held responsible”—doubt anyone does anything, they haven’t been able to stop him thus far www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

In this video I discuss interstitial cystitis and the potential role of viruses such as EBV and BK

China criticizes U.S. for WHO pullout, accusing it of sidestepping international law China criticized the United States for withdrawing from the WHO, saying countries should not place domestic politics ahead of international law.

“The United States has suggested bilateral agreements and “results-driven partnerships” can protect the country from infectious diseases threats, a major role played by the WHO.” www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/c...

‘Take the vaccine, please,’ a top U.S. health official says in an appeal as measles cases rise WASHINGTON — A leading U.S. health official on Sunday urged people to get inoculated against the measles at a time of outbreaks across several states and as the United States is at risk of losin...

“Take the vaccine, please..We have a solution for our problem.” triblive.com/news/health-...

In this video I discuss a scene from the movie *Contagion* that explains infectious disease contagiousness and spread (link to full video: youtu.be/Qsy1gX8Z2Nk)

I treated children for rotavirus in Denmark. The Danish vaccine schedule is no model for the U.S. In Denmark, pediatrician Michael Thwing once saw nearly 20 infants admitted simultaneously with rotavirus. His experience in the U.S. has been completely different.

“my time in the Danish wards taught me that ‘waiting and seeing’ comes w/ a heavy price. We should not have to witness a resurgence of preventable dehydration, encephalitis, or meningitis to remember why we started vaccinating to prevent them” www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/d...

In this video I discuss antibiotic resistant bacteria and how people acquire these infections

Federal Vaccine Advisers Take Aim at Covid Shots

“I saw nothing in Malone’s claims that has not been thoroughly rebutted and debunked over the past four or so years,”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/h...

Avian flu behind mass skua die-off in Antarctica, scientists say While H5N1 has been circulating in Antarctica since 2023, this is the first confirmation showing that it killed birds on that continent.

“Everything points toward this virus spreading further..If nobody is watching, we won’t know what is happening.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...

US allocates $5.9 billion for global HIV programs in spending bill The move was hailed by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS as providing life-saving support for millions of people across the globe.

“Of the $9.4 billion designated for global health programs, roughly $5.9 billion will be directed to HIV/AIDS programs, including $1.3 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; $45 million for UNAIDS; and $4.6 billion for the PEPFAR” www.cidrap.umn.edu/hivaids/us-a...

Estimated effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine against medically attended illness in low to mid range

“The effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine in Canada is 40% against medically attended infection with influenza A(H3N2) viruses, 37% against newly emerged and predominant subclade K of the H3N2 strain, and 31% against the H1N1 influenza A strain”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...

Trust in CDC near pandemic-era low after vaccine schedule changes

“The poll also finds that most Americans disapprove of Kennedy’s performance as HHS Secretary and his handling of US vaccine policy. Overall, 55% disapprove of how Kennedy is handling his role, compared with 44% who say they approve.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-healt...

US measles total grows by 145 as South Carolina outbreak hits 920 cases

“Of the 733 US cases, six were travel-related and 727 reported by 20 states. Fully 92% of confirmed cases (671) are outbreak-related, mostly outbreaks that began last year and continue to grow.”
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/us-m...

CDC study highlights growing threat of invasive E coli

In this @cidrap.bsky.social @cidrap-asp.bsky.social piece I’m quoted about E.coli infections, their burden, and antibiotic resistant versions. www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobia...