Ebola outbreak kills 65 people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

While everyone is watching hantavirus I'm actually much more eager to learn more about the Ebola outbreak in DRC's Ituri Province that Africa CDC has confirmed. Early information makes it sound very large for an outbreak that has just been reported: "about 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths"

The title says it all. I'll add that this is entirely self-inflicted and will get much worse as the consequences compound in the years to come. "Hantavirus misinformation runs rampant as the US is unequipped to respond to infectious disease health scare" www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

The Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases were designed to study viruses that could jump from animals to people, including hantavirus, but the National Institutes of Health in 2025 said the work wouldn't continue

Looking for verified information on the #AndesHantavirus outbreak linked to #MVHondius? Latest updates, FAQs & #PublicHealth information on our dedicated outbreak page: bit.ly/4uB7eMC The page will be updated daily, or when new verified information becomes available. #Hantavirus #OutbreakResponse

I've spent yesterday and today talking to researchers across the globe trying to understand the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. My story in @science.org is here (and some threaded thoughts coming): www.science.org/content/arti... 🧪 #IDsky

Nearly 780 people die every day in Europe from liver disease—a largely preventable crisis. A new report from the EASL–Lancet Commission calls for urgent policy action to tackle Europe’s rising liver disease burden: spkl.io/63326AfOqr

Great to see this published with @thelancet.com + @easlnews.bsky.social: we developed a #HBV / #HDV coinfection model to look at the burden of HBV-related liver disease in five countries within Europe 👉🏼 Link to text: authors.elsevier.com/c/1n0hWV-4XW...

Enjoying the conference in Bangkok! ⬇️

Launch of the EASL–Lancet Commission 2.0 tomorrow - excited to have our contribution published! ⬇️ easl.eu/event/liver-...

At the @who.int launch of the Global Hepatitis Report 2026 at #WHS2026 - lots of progress but #HBV mortality still continuing to increase. Striking when compared with progress for #HCV

As the meningitis outbreak in Kent continues, with 29 cases and two deaths reported, experts look at what might be behind this “unprecedented event” https://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s549?utm_campaign=Usage&utm_content=1774025223&utm_id=BMJ208&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

“We are fearful that this is a prototype for other studies,” said @cdelawalla.bsky.social. My latest on the unlikely researchers at the heart of US vaccine policy: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

"The destruction that Kennedy has wrought in 1 year might take generations to repair, and there is little hope for US health and science while he remains at the helm" @thelancet.com www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

More than half of participants in a small HIV cure trial maintained a low enough viral load to stay off treatment for 20 weeks. One participant remains undetectable after a year. Note: while this is encouraging, the different responses indicate the prospect of a cure for all remains distant.

Dirty Water on @channel4.bsky.social ⬇️ should be compulsory viewing. What’s happening to our rivers and seas is unacceptable. Clearly extremely well researched but please, please stop calling E.Coli 0:157 a virus!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️ #DirtyWater #CleanUpBritain

France cuts its contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria by 58%. After years of slow but steady progress towards ending the global HIV epidemic, recent cuts in international aid will almost certainly result in more HIV infections and AIDS deaths.

Lots of focus on the impact of #funding cuts on #HIV but there are wider repercussions. Here we report 'Voices from the frontline: how global funding cuts are reshaping the viral #hepatitis response' 🧪 @lancetgastrohep.bsky.social @worldhepalliance.bsky.social www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

As a direct result of the obscene actions of Russell Vought and Elon Musk in destroying USAID, we can expect “at least 9.4 million additional deaths by 2030, if the current funding trend continues. About 2.5 million of those deaths are projected to be children under the age of 5.”

Gaza death toll in early part of war far higher than reported, says Lancet study

🤦🏼‍♀️

Oh my GOD King County Public Health is just wilding out for Valentines Day (and a lovely one).

“Resource constraints cannot be used to justify withholding proven care in a research study involving people.” @who.int with a much clearer and clearly argued statement than most of what I’ve seen on this. 🧪 www.who.int/news/item/13...

Staff at NIAID have been instructed to remove the words “biodefense” and “pandemic preparedness” from the US institute’s web pages, according to e-mails Nature has obtained. Read more about the shift in direction for NIAID. go.nature.com/4twztMV

Director-General @drtedros.who.int minced no words today when asked about the proposal to run a trial of a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose in Guinea-Bissau. It would be "unethical to proceed with this study," he said. "Maybe it's better to say it bluntly & straight." www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/h...

Indian authorities are rushing to contain a #Nipah virus outbreak after five cases were reported and nearly 100 people quarantined in the eastern state of West Bengal www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/i...

💥 denmarkification.com?utm=.share.b...

Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled. $1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease. | Vaccines and immunisation | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

The CDC just announced a new study on hepatitis B vaccination on newborns in Guinea-Bissau – a move that researchers call “highly unethical” and “extremely risky”. Happy to team up with @katlay.bsky.social on this story: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

On the same day he stripped AAP of millions in grant funding in retaliation, RFK Jr awarded $1.6M to Tracy Høeg's Danish friends for a grossly unethical study that will expose African babies to hep B for no reason than it's politically expedient. Steal from American taxpayers, give to MAHA cronies.

Feeling festive? Why not deck the halls with @cvrinfo.bsky.social's papercraft #VirusSnowflakes and celebrate the science of viruses and the fight against viral diseases. Download for free: cvr-engagement.co.uk/virus-snowfl... #scicomm #sciart #decorations

“Delaying the first hepatitis B vaccine dose beyond the newborn period introduces risks that have lifelong detrimental consequences and no measurable health benefit.” Important and timely piece by an amazing team - Mike Abers, Angela Ulrich, & Rochelle Walensky. 👏👏 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Not good at all

The deadly fever in Ethiopia has been identified as Marburg disease. It’s the first time a Marburg outbreak has been identified in Ethiopia. #IDsky 🧪 www.afro.who.int/countries/et...

Always shocking to see these kinds of data collected together. "[publishers made]US$12 billion in profits between 2019 and 2024" - That's $12 billion diverted away from actual research or materially supporting the community - these are disgusting numbers.

UNAids is set to close in 2026 – four years early. Are experts right to be alarmed?

“The notion that hepatitis B is only confined to transmission for prostitutes, drug users, etc., is such an ignorant and uninformed way of approaching infectious disease” - Dr. Jason Goldman of @acpimphysicians.bsky.social. Bingo... #MedSky + #IDSky www.medscape.com/s/viewarticl...

Our new study shows HIV infections look set to significantly increase in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of funding for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) being halted under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Published in Lancet #HIV hpruebs.nihr.ac.uk/news/new-stu...

New paper from colleagues @bristoluni.bsky.social @hpruebs.bsky.social estimating the increase in #HIV infections across sub-Sahahran #Africa as a result of #PEPFAR cuts - showing key populations hardest hit #LancetHIV #PrEP authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

A new Ebola outbreak in Congo kills dozens as health officials warn of lack of funds. WHO says 57 cases and 35 deaths have been reported since outbreak was announced this month. www.statnews.com/2025/09/25/e...

The lack of oversight from regulatory bodies on diagnostic tests was shocking during #COVID19 - and put many lives at risk. Those in charge at the time should be held accountable.

Funding crisis for #HBV in #WHO #Africa region… A survey shows ⚠️0%⚠️ have sufficient funding to enact priority interventions for agreed international targets for #elimination. Presented by Dr Akudo Ikpeazu #COLDA2025 #SOLDA #NoHep #PublicHealth #hepatitis @who.int 🧪

The authors in today’s #readoftheweek📚 ran a survey on HDV infection in Africa and found that awareness of HDV prevalence & access to diagnostic tests is limited and suboptimal, though there is substantial regional variability. Read on JHEP Reports: www.jhep-reports.eu/article/S258... #LiverSky

Sequence data from the new Ebola outbreak in DRC suggests it is indeed a new spillover. And just incredible to see the virus sequenced and the data publicly shared less than 24 hours after confirmation of the outbreak. #IDsky 🧪 virological.org/t/the-16th-e...

New ebola outbreak in DRC. According to this 4 health care workers among the 16 already dead. actualite.cd/2025/09/04/r...

Important read for anyone working in addiction research - research institutes need to be more open to supporting individuals with lived experience, and dogma should be challenged www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se...

Malawi set to run out of TB drugs in a month after US, UK and others cut aid

Botswana declares public health emergency, partly due to Trump’s International aid cuts leading to shortages of vital HIV medicines. HIV treatment not only prevents AIDS, it also prevents transmission. Without treatment, people will die and more people will acquire HIV.

Anger, fear and a total rejection of politics: the Palestine Action protest was a snapshot of Britain today | Andy Beckett

The Legionnaire's Disease cluster in Central Harlem has now grown to 58 cases. 21 hospitalized. Tragically there has been a 2nd death. If you live or work in zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 or 10039 and you develop flu-like symptoms, contact a health care provider immediately.