"In early April, maybe the 10th or so, a number of us onboard came down with what felt like a flu-like illness"

WHO's official count of hantavirus cases doesn't include this from the oncology doctor, who said this to @erinburnett.bsky.social the other night: [1/2]

Erin and I discussed the "mild positive" for the doctor that's now negative. Combined with what he revealed on Erin's show the night before (he and others had illness w/ night sweats;) most likely means: [1/2]

Spot on, from @linseymarr.bsky.social, as always: --> “I don’t understand why we are so reluctant to acknowledge the inhalation route when we’re talking about person-to-person transmission" [1/2] www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/h...

I was on with Erin again last night, this time in the studio. Erin asked my opinion about this new info the ship doctor shared and confusing timeline: [1/5]

"Given just how little experience we have with this virus, any certainty is hubris. Thankfully, despite the flawed messaging, the system is broadly working...But what happens next depends on how well we communicate what precautions people should be taking." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

"In any outbreak, the single most important question is: How does it spread? Get it wrong and everything else breaks down." Me, writing for @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

people are nice on bsky!

-->

No one should be surprised more ship passengers tested positive - this was expected. The focus has been on how to prevent secondary transmission, and this is what I discussed last night on @msnownews.bsky.social [1/3]

I spoke with the ship's doctor over the weekend

Not sure what's happening here on Bsky, but the message that 'prolonged/close contact' being inconsistent with what we actually know seems to be finally breaking through

(Always read the Supplemental Information)

A lot of people saying only spreads via "close contact", but the investigation of a prior outbreak shows otherwise: "did not have any physical contact and simply said “hello” to each other as they crossed paths" "No direct or close contact between the two patients was reported."

I joined Erin Burnett. Some thoughts (but threading on bsky is annoying so details here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/... SITUATION ON THE SHIP IS SERIOUS RISK AND THREAT TO GENERAL PUBLIC IS LOW THERE IS EVIDENCE OF HUMAN-HUMAN SPREAD AND TRANSMISSION BEYOND "CLOSE CONTACT" vimeo.com/1190306668

It's official. I have a contract with Simon & Schuster for a new book! (fair warning, this will be a disappointing post...) The title? a secret! The topic? also a secret! Healthy Buildings 2.0? nope! When? publishes in March 2028! Audience? everyone!

HIGHER ED: you paying attention? @ginaraimondo.bsky.social has been really good on so many topics. Not surprised she nails it on AI and jobs. And this note about the role of higher ed is spot on: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/o...

Trump has collapsed cancer research. —> The National Cancer Institute hasn’t made a single grant this fiscal year www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Oh damn hahaha. We do equivalent of 5M worth of tokens per year at work. “hey chat, how much does 5M tokens cost?” www.instagram.com/reel/DVZVAMP...

Reagan: "If we don't explore, others will, and we'll fall behind. This is why I've urged Congress to devote more money to research. It is an indispensable investment in America's future"

Trump is surrendering our leadership in science, innovation, and economic and military might "Over the last year, the Trump administration has sent one discouraging message after another to young people aspiring to a scientific career in the US..." www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

"elite" should be in air quotes going forward

"We hope that clients looking for fearless lawyers and law students deciding where to work will remember which elite firms were unwilling to fight back. Meekness is not a quality most people seek in a lawyer." www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/o...

What is the value of a human life? According to the Trump administration’s EPA, the answer is zero dollars. www.statnews.com/2026/02/02/e...

Trump's America, as told by today's WSJ headlines: --> Trump warns more American deaths are possible --> Oil Prices Surge, Stock Futures Fall [1/4]

In a Harvard Chan News article, Dr. Kari Nadeau discusses the long-term health consequences of wildfire smoke exposure and the need for sustained research and prevention efforts, joined by colleagues including @joeallenjoe.bsky.social.

Asthma attacks can worsen disease through airway “squeezing" hsph.harvard.edu/news/how-air...

"Campus operations continue in alignment with guidance from the DOH." What's missing from the measles outbreak response at Ave Maria University in Florida? The DOH website doesn't mention improving ventilation and filtration. [1/2]

folks, I present to you...the person responsible for the health of the nation

I ran into Jake on Capitol Hill on Monday and we chatted in the hallway. He’s really sharp.

“I used to snort cocaine off toilet seats” - RFK Jr

The reduction in coal over a 10 year period from 2008 to 2017 led to ~80,000 fewer deaths due to air pollution healthybuildings.hsph.harvard.edu/reconstructi...

New research following the Los Angeles wildfires shows that toxic exposures can persist long after flames are out. @joeallenjoe.bsky.social highlighted how lingering pollutants may pose ongoing health risks for affected communities, via The Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026...

Join us for this semester's Planning for Health speaker series, co-organized by the Harvard GSD Healthy Places Design Lab, and Healthy places GSD! @joeallenjoe.bsky.social @gsd.harvard.edu @biobotanalytics.bsky.social

Pitchers and catchers report today

With NIOSH director John Howard. My read is that it’s 2-3 years for scientific research machine to get back to functioning. So, whatever gains someone thought there’d be w DOGE haphazard cuts, just know that it cost 10x in admin costs and slowed our country’s R&D machine down by a few years

On Capitol Hill today advocating for worker health & safety, clean indoor air, and healthy buildings.

We had the privilege of having Dean @meganranney.bsky.social join us at Harvard yesterday, and if you're in public health (and even if you're not), I highly encourage listening to this chat she had with our own Dean. [1/5] www.youtube.com/@HarvardPubl...

So sad to see the destruction at the Post. I worked with and knew really talented people there. I saw this shift first hand: I published **39** articles in the Post up to 2024, and then was able to land **0** once this shift happened

Hoping one day our provincial government will make good on its election promise. Imagine the scope of prevention of diseases possible in schools, daycares just by improving ventilation, filtration in their indoor spaces! Prevention also means dollars saved in many budgets @susanholtnb.bsky.social

Same guidance since early on after the fires were out: 1. Control the dust 2. Filter the air 3. Monitor

It is important to clean humidifiers regularly, or they can actually worsen indoor air quality and contribute to respiratory issues. EPA recommends **cleaning them every third day** (which no one does...) www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/w...

"cuddling"

"woman"

‼️a combination of advanced air filtration, ventilation, and purification could cut the average number of infected cases among all students in half‼️

We modeled measles risk in schools across the U.S. KEY FINDINGS 1⃣ Results highlight the primary importance of vaccination for reducing the risk of measles transmission among students 2⃣ Addt'l and significant benefits thru enhancing building ventilation and filtration systems

Same exact memory

🔥 “These agents, and the president who sent them, are no one’s heroes, no one’s saviors—just men with guns who have to hide their faces to shoot a mom in the face, and a nurse in the back.” www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

>225 people said they developed cancer after working or studying inside a building at NC State A group of former students, faculty and staff are suing, alleging they developed breast cancer after years of unknowingly being exposed to toxic chemicals inside Poe Hall www.wral.com/news/investi...

I got the shingles vaccine yesterday. 💪 Why? -shingles sucks! -turned 50 so at higher risk -vaccine is safe and effective -new studies showing this vaccine lowers dementia risk 👇 www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...