"The secretary continues to doggedly pursue research efforts to look for a connection between vaccines and autism, chronic conditions and other ailments, despite scientific evidence to the contrary...." “I know you can never change his heart on this" www.politico.com/news/2026/05...

Nebraska Public Health Laboratory staff worked over the weekend to develop/ validate its own PCR test for the Andes virus. “What Nebraska did to stand up a test is one of those lessons learned—get ready before you even need to test," said Kelly Wroblewski, APHL. From @wired.com

Not sure what's going on here, but clearly at least some questions about Andes virus testing that need to be answered. Even if this particular outbreak ends soon (let's hope) the epidemiological signals from Latin America suggest it could become a recurring threat. 1/ www.wired.com/story/race-t...

I've been studying outbreaks for >25 years. The most common mistake that unprepared, inexperienced leaders make is to overstate what is known in an attempt to tamp down worries. Trust is built by explaining what is/not known, detailing what is being done, & telescoping what could change.

This is deeply distressing. We’re failing our kids.

I may have lots of complaints about the US government’s response to hantavirus, but our colleagues at @unmc.bsky.social are the best of us. I’m moved by their humanity 🥹

I don't expect the hantavirus outbreak to cause much (more) onward transmission, but I am worried this virus will become a recurring hazard. Argentina reports cases doubled since early 2025. We should prepare for repeated need to swiftly contain episodic outbreaks. www.cnn.com/2026/05/09/a...

Horrifying on several levels, including that the lack of seriousness shown for the woman’s symptoms.

“Mr. Kennedy, who came into office saying he would do nothing to discourage people from getting vaccinated, has already taken steps to scale back the number of vaccines children receive.” www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/h...

Scoop: SAMHSA will take down its website for locating providers that can prescribe buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder next month. news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-a...

“promising projects that had been shelved because of a lack of consistent funding” www.wsj.com/health/healt...

NYTimes article with a few excepts: Kennedy Is Driving a Vast Inquiry Into Vaccines, Despite His Public Silence www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/h...

Also, chalking this event up to a rare, freak occurrence made possible only because an infected person took a cruise doesn't feel right. This is no ordinary cruise. It was a smallish expedition vessel carrying passengers healthy enough to hike and adventure. Not a typical cruise ship. 2/

I'm not particularly worried there will be much onward spread of hantavirus from M/V Hondius passengers. But I am concerned that authorities are making confident statements based on VERY LIMITED data. IMO, there's too little data to say need symptoms to transmit or need close, prolonged contact.

Americans shouldn’t have to rely on Europe to get its health evidence and recommendations. The CDC needs to publish its own detailed threat assessment. Let the experts, not the political appointees speak.

Our Outbreak Observatory team the @pandemiccenter.bsky.social created a page to track the hantavirus outbreak. Trying to pull all the updates into one single situation report: www.outbreakobservatory.org/hantavirus

U.S. Schools Face a Crisis as the Number of Children Drops www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/u...

For comparison, here is an update from European CDC. 100% data and evidence-based recommendations. 0% braggadocio. www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/defaul...

Finally, a statement from CDC on the hantavirus outbreak….and, it’s a weird, empty one. CDC scientists are some of the best— but it’s not typical for it to brag like this. We need data & action—not showboating. www.cdc.gov/media/releas...

It's urgent that M/V Hondius passengers be evacuated ASAP. You can't safely keep them aboard the ship when you don't know where the red zones are. An important lesson from the COVID outbreak on the Diamond Princess. Delays accelerate infections. www.albasud.org/blog/en/1232...

Anyone know where the cruise ship passengers are being quarantined? I don’t need the location. Just want to make sure it’s not the actual ship. Need to make sure there isn’t ongoing exposure. Video from one of the passengers makes it look like they’re still on board. Hoping it’s a different ship.

A fitting tribute to a legend. I got to interact with Dr. Cox on many occasions throughout my career. No one knew flu better than she. She was always thoughtful and patient with my questions. The best of the best in the field of public health. Let’s carry her legacy forward.

Without the shots “kids would go without vaccines — which maybe is the desire — but that would lead directly to deaths from those diseases,” said @pandemiccenter.bsky.social ‘s @drsethberkley.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

Paying homage to Dr. Selman Waksman and his discovery of Streptomycin.

"“Whether or not forensic epidemiology unearths a smoking gun linking the cases, measles is now widely present across the US and showing no signs of ending anytime soon" by @reportergoodman.bsky.social kesq.com/health/cnn-h...

Want to shrink the US economy and reduce jobs? Cut federal science grant programs.

Check out the tracker here: iranwarcost.watson.brown.edu

This gutted me. “That’s why herd immunity is so important. If there hadn’t been an outbreak when Renae was a baby, I don’t think she would have contracted it. She was eligible for the vaccine just seven months later” www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/o...

🇨🇳 2 new human cases of #AvianFlu in China 🇺🇸 AZ reports 1st case of human #plague since 2015 📉 #Measles have declined the last 2 weeks; SC nears the end of its outbreak Stay updated on ongoing outbreaks, subscribe to our weekly Tracking Report: mailchi.mp/brown/tracki...

“We just need someone who’s not crazy” 🫠 “The White House…grew increasingly frustrated with HHS’ constant internal upheaval and was alarmed by polling showing that Kennedy’s vaccine agenda threatened to drag down the GOP in the midterms.” abc17news.com/politics/nat...

Today’s threats are fast-moving & interconnected. 🌐 New #TrendingGlobally from @watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social & the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Experts Rose McDermott (@brown.edu) & @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social rethink what "security" means in 2026. Listen ⤵️

Great to be back in Baltimore at the 2026 Preparedness Summit to as a plenary speaker and to moderate a discussion on “Staying Alert: New Models for State and Local Situational Awareness”. Thanks to Rebecca Katz Tommy George Andrew Pickett for sharing their expert insights on today’s panel.

Informed dialogue is a cornerstone of effective public health. Through thoughtful voices on @cidrap.bsky.social's Op-Eds, we aim to foster scientifically grounded conversations. Welcome, Jess @unbiasedscipod.bsky.social! Thanks for your important work, @jakescottmd.bsky.social! ow.ly/zm9950YIV90

It’s great to be back in Washington DC @jhu.edu for the 2026 Science Diplomacy Summit. I’m excited to moderate a panel on Global Cooperation and Vaccine Equity with @andrewpekosz.bsky.social @orinlevine.bsky.social & @cepi.net’s Nafisa Jiwani #sciencediplomacy2026

7:07pm! 4 Green crewmembers!!!😍

We’re excited to share that our director @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social will be moderating a panel on Global Cooperation & Vaccine Equity at the Johns Hopkins #ScienceDiplomacySummit You can join the conversation on April 13 in Washington, D.C. or on livestream: web.cvent.com/event/969846...

This stunning tracker calculates how much extra American consumers pay for energy due to the Iran war. By @watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social's @jeffcolgan.bsky.social iranwarcost.watson.brown.edu

STAT: Trump administration drops court fight to cap NIH payments for research overhead costs by Megan Molteni @statnews.com @mmolteni.bsky.social bit.ly/4tVncB5

"Despite Kennedy’s emphasis on vaccines during his first year as secretary, for instance, fewer than half of MAHA supporters — 42 percent — say vaccines are a core issue for the movement." www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

“it’s partly our own origin story we are reconstructing” Glad to see this @drfunkyspoon.bsky.social!! www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/o...

The Awe of a Moon Launch in an Age of Trump, Turmoil and Tribal Divisions www.nytimes.com/2026/04/02/u...

“We lost 27 staff and had to cancel over 20 of our community vaccination efforts, including to schools identified as having low vaccination rates,” he said. “There are simultaneous attacks on immunizations that are making our jobs harder.”

Taken in 2022!

All systems are go!!! Godspeed Artemis!!

Please join us ⬇️ I am delighted to be a part of this amazing group: 🎤 Zibusiso Masuku, Sandra Matinyi, Thokozani Nyasulu Liwewe, and @wilmotjames.bsky.social -- speaking about a deep passion of ours @pandemiccenter.bsky.social: Building the next generation of biosecurity leadership ⚡

John Friedman, dean of @watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social, hosts a fireside chat with Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown who explains that she decided to go into politics after volunteering to help respond to Ebola.

TSA Precheck line at San Diego airport extends outside and doubles back!