René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH, FCPP

Faith, Fear, and Friendly Truckers: The Long Way to El Paso Getting to know three wonderful people who keep this country moving.

Back in the late 90s, I needed to get from Nebraska to Texas in a hurry, but the snow kept coming. Who came to my rescue? Truckers… Mormon truckers.
medium.com/the-memoiris...

Medicine and Public Health Are Like a Car Right now, in the United States, medicine and public health are more like an old Buick than a Rolls-Royce.

So we’re okay with driving around in an old Buick instead of a more modern, efficient, sleek, comfortable, and SAFE [insert your favorite car brand here]? Good luck to us all.
A rant on a Friday night:
epiren.medium.com/medicine-and...

The Theory and Math on Homeopathy Doesn’t Add Up Let’s do the math together and understand the beliefs around homeopathy to make it clear why homeopathy isn’t a viable medicine.

It turns out that the math doesn't math when it comes to homeopathy. It just doesn't. Sorry, not sorry.
medium.com/the-quantast...

Valley Fever: The Disabling Fungal Disease Airborne in Dust Flu-like illness after a dusty day in the American Southwest? It might not be the flu at all.

I discovered that Valley Fever often mimics the flu after dusty days in the American Southwest. Yet, it’s caused by a soil fungus that is often unrecognized by patients and providers. medium.com/microbial-in...

The Doctors Building a Public-Health Universe Outside the Government A growing contingent of physicians and policymakers are breaking away from federal health guidance under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Medical organizations and states are now taking independent action on vaccine guidance, breaking from federal recommendations under RFK Jr. The Vaccine Integrity Project and leading societies continue to analyze and share science-driven advice.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...

Quique Bassat: “Las vacunas infantiles siguen siendo la piedra angular de la salud pública pediátrica global” | Médicos y Pacientes - Portal informativo de la Organización Médica Colegial Desgraciadamente, la salud infantil tiene un papel relativamente pequeño en el ecosistema de la salud global. Es evidente que, en los países en vías de desarrollo, la salud de los niños sí es un…

La salud infantil enfrenta grandes desafíos globales, pero las vacunas siguen siendo esenciales para reducir la mortalidad y brindar oportunidades equitativas a todos los niños, sin importar su lugar de nacimiento. www.medicosypacientes.com/articulo/qui...

Oficial: la Salud Pública cubana ha perdido más de 77.000 trabajadores desde 2021, la mayoría médicos En tres años, la proporción de habitantes por médico en #Cuba ha aumentado de 104 a 131, reflejo de la pérdida acelerada de personal sanitario en la Isla.

Desde 2021, el sistema de salud pública cubano ha perdido más de 77,000 trabajadores, especialmente médicos y enfermeros. Esta escasez impacta la atención sanitaria y revela una crisis profunda que afecta a todo el país. diariodecuba.com/cuba/1760010...

The Hidden History of the Four Common Cold Coronaviruses Living Quietly Among Us These “nuisance” viruses give us hope for where the virus that causes COVID-19 will go.

In which I marvel at the hidden history of common cold coronaviruses and what their quiet evolution reveals about our ongoing fight with emerging pathogens.
medium.com/microbial-in...

Youth suicide rates are rising almost nationwide The numbers underscore the toll of the country's youth mental health crisis.

The suicide rate among U.S. young adults aged 18-27 rose nearly 20% from 2014 to 2024, with some states seeing large increases, especially in the South and Midwest. Firearms are now involved in most youth suicides. Source: www.axios.com/2025/10/07/y...

The Theory and Math on Homeopathy Doesn’t Add Up Let’s do the math together and understand the beliefs around homeopathy to make it clear why homeopathy isn’t a viable medicine.

Let me tell you about the time I was diagnosed with asthma, and my parents were almost suckered into going to a homeopath to treat me. The math didn't math!
medium.com/the-quantast...

Real-life experience drives Baltimore’s new health commissioner’s commitment to preventive care Baltimore's new health commissioner Dr. Michelle Taylor survived breast cancer and uses her experience to advocate for early detection and self-care.

Baltimore’s new health commissioner Dr. Michelle Taylor draws on her own breast cancer survival, advocating for early detection and self-care as cornerstones of community health. Her story highlights the power of prevention and support. www.wmar2news.com/news/region/...

Your fall 2025 vaccine guide Here’s what academic experts recommend to combat seasonal respiratory illnesses amid conflicting advice from the CDC, medical societies, and state coalitions.

AAMC has an up-to-date guidance on respiratory virus vaccines for this winter. They just updated it with the latest on COVID vaccines.
www.aamc.org/news/your-fa...

This is the part of the plot where the good guys are overrun, the bad guy is monologuing, and bystanders are doing just that, standing by.

I'm currently reading "The Formula for Better Health" by Tom Frieden. Interesting read. Lots of things I know (being an epi), but things not everyone knows, if you know what I mean.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Is Awarded for Work on Immune Systems Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi were awarded the prize for research showing how the body regulates its immune responses.

Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi earned the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine for breakthroughs in immune tolerance, paving the way for new therapies in cancer, autoimmune disease, and transplant medicine. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/h...

Seattle uses creative comic strips to help disseminate public health info One woman spearheaded a creative project to make health information easier to understand and more engaging.

Seattle's King County Health Department has been sharing public health information through vibrant comic strips for over 15 years, making important topics more accessible and engaging to the community.
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

Flu Season Hits Children with Developmental Delays Hardest: What Parents Should Know Understanding the overlooked risks and what we can do to protect our most vulnerable kids.

For various reasons, influenza and other respiratory infections affect children with neurologic problems and developmental delays more severely. But there is something we can do to help protect them, because they, their parents, and caretakers have enough to worry about.
medium.com/microbial-in...

Por primera vez el Estado de Chile lanza campaña de salud mental - Gob.cl “Estigmatizar cierra puertas. Abramos la conversación a la salud mental” se llama la campaña dirigida por el Ministerio de Salud que busca instalar de manera concreta la conversación sobre el tema.

Chile lanza su primera campaña nacional de salud mental, promoviendo el diálogo abierto y el respeto para disminuir el estigma.
www.gob.cl/noticias/por...

Fiji's HIV cases surge due to bluetoothing, chemsex and needle-sharing The small South Pacific nation is facing one of the world's fastest growing HIV epidemics.

A sobering reminder that we may be done with HIV, but HIV is not done with us. Fiji faces a sharp rise in HIV cases driven by needle sharing. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Infectious Disease Surveillance in the Era of Big Data and AI: Opportunities and Pitfalls The landscape of infectious disease surveillance (IDS) is undergoing a profound shift, driven by the rapid emergence of big data and artificial intelligence (AI). Traditional surveillance systems,…

While AI technologies offer powerful predictive capabilities and improved response times, challenges around data privacy, equity, and algorithmic bias must be carefully managed for effective public health implementation.
www.cureus.com/articles/378...

The Flu Rides in Winter, and a Half Dozen Other Viruses Ride With It It’s not just the flu, folks. Other viruses are making the rounds in winter, ready to strike you down. (And let me clarify that whole Human…

As winter arrives, it's not just the flu that's circulating—multiple viruses share the spotlight, contributing to sniffles and sick days. Understanding these patterns helps us stay informed through the chilly months. Read more: medium.com/microbial-in...

Impuestos a tabaco, alcohol y bebidas azucaradas, medida fiscal y preventiva con efectos positivos en la salud pública Diputados y especialistas indicaron que los “impuestos saludables” al tabaco, alcohol y bebidas azucaradas no sólo representan un mecanismo fiscal, sino una política de prevención que impacta posit…

Expertos y legisladores destacan que los impuestos al tabaco, alcohol y bebidas azucaradas reducen enfermedades crónicas y gastos médicos, mejorando la salud pública y apoyando la economía de México. comunicadores.mx/2025/10/04/i...

Another Canadian baby dies from measles as South Carolina reports outbreak In other developments, South Carolina suspects community transmission in an outbreak in the Upstate region.

A second Canadian child, a premature infant, has died from measles amid a surge in cases, mostly among unvaccinated children, while South Carolina is investigating a new outbreak with suspected community transmission.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/anot...

‘This is no longer a friendly request’: Annunciation doctors, health care leaders call for special session Minnesota health care leaders, along with doctors who cared for Annunciation patients, demand a special session on gun control as negotiations have reached an impasse

Minnesota doctors and health leaders urge lawmakers to address gun violence after the Annunciation Church shooting, calling it a public health crisis and demanding legislative action on firearm safety. Source: www.inforum.com/news/minneso...

Prenatal Infections and Autism Risk: The Biology Underpinnings Explained How infections can rewire the developing fetal brain in ways that may lead to autism.

New research sheds light on how prenatal infections may influence autism risk. Inflammation and maternal immune responses can disrupt fetal brain development, highlighting the critical link between maternal health and neurodevelopment.
medium.com/microbial-in...

Even if You’re Against Illegal Immigration, You Need It If the people you blame for all that ails you cease to exist, then you’re responsible for what happens to you. Who wants that?

When immigrants are no longer scapegoats for society’s problems, we may be forced to face social challenges head-on. Solutions require nuance, empathy, and evidence, not blame. Read more: medium.com/@epiren/even...

Autoridades de salud aprueban plan regional para prevenir y controlar las enfermedades no transmisibles en las Américas Washington, D.C., 1 de octubre de 2025 (OPS) – Autoridades de salud de las Américas, reunidas en el 62.º Consejo Directivo de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), aprobaron hoy un…

Autoridades de salud de las Américas aprobaron un plan regional para fortalecer la prevención y el control de enfermedades no transmisibles como cardiopatías, cáncer, diabetes y enfermedades respiratorias, con mayor enfoque en políticas y atención primaria.
www.paho.org/es/noticias/...

Whooping cough surges in North Carolina; fading vaccine immunity likely plays a role Even vaccinated children can catch and spread whooping cough. Here's why experts say booster shots and awareness are key.

Whooping cough is surging in North Carolina, affecting even vaccinated children as immunity wanes. Health officials note a rise in cases and urge awareness about pertussis symptoms amid changing vaccination coverage. Read more: www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2025/10/03/v...

¿Por qué son importantes las vacunas para los niños y niñas? Diez datos sobre las vacunas, la supervivencia infantil y los avances mundiales.

Las vacunas ayudan a proteger a niños de enfermedades graves y salvan millones de vidas cada año. Son seguras, eficaces y permiten a los más pequeños acceder a servicios de salud fundamentales para su bienestar.
www.unicef.org/es/historias...

Public Health Is Not About Radical Change Rarely is a public health program revolutionary, at least not instantly.

Public health isn't about demanding radical overnight changes. It's about meeting people where they are and nudging them toward healthier choices.
medium.com/the-quantast...