A number of Americans who are in the Congo are believed to have had exposure to suspected cases in the country’s latest Ebola outbreak, sources have told STAT. www.statnews.com/2026/05/17/e...

Hantavirus (Andes virus) modelling with @jasonandrews.bsky.social: Long incubation & ~subclinical shedding in some may limit symptomatic screening, as transmission can occur before symptom onset. Longer isolation with periodic testing may reduce spread. Preprint: tinyurl.com/3n74863m

Challenges to control this Ebola virus outbreak: 1. Geographically widespread, including urban settings (Goma) & cross-border spread (Uganda) 2. Non-Zaire strain with no approved vaccines or therapeutics 3. Regional security challenges that can hamper a public health response

WHO has declared the #Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). First time this has been done without consulting an emergency committee. Extraordinary move that speaks to how concerning the facts on the ground look right now

Under the IHR (2005), @drtedros.who.int, the Director General of WHO, having consulted the States Parties where the event is occurring, has determined that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in DRC & Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern bit.ly/3P4ZDac

This is the week we’d expect hantavirus exposures linked to the ship/flights to begin testing positive or developing symptoms. The priority now is ensuring countries are implementing appropriate public health measures: contact tracing, isolation, and support for those who are ill.

1/ There is a large Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC. Challenges include: 1. Early findings suggest a non-Zaire Ebola virus species, limiting vaccine & therapeutic options. 2. Security complicating a public health response. 3. Proximity to international borders -> regional risk.

Human Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N5) Virus www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

A tablet to prevent COVID infections in close contacts: Ensitrelvir reduced the risk of transmission among household contacts with covid in this Phase 3 study from Japan. This could be extraordinarily helpful in Long Term Care among vulnerable people. tinyurl.com/3dfnman5

3 things I’m watching closely, re: hantavirus: 1. Cases linked to ship exposure within the next week. 2. Case in Johannesburg & possible in-flight/in country exposures en route to/at hospital. 3. Adherence to public health measures in countries receiving repatriated patients.

1/ We are living in an era of emerging zoonotic infections. While hantavirus is the focus today, preventing epidemics requires sustained investment in the tools needed to prevent, rapidly detect & respond to biological threats, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate.

Ontario's Infection Prevention & Control guidelines for suspected cases of Hantavirus include airborne precautions with fit-tested N95 masks & eye protection.

1/ A 2011 laboratory study suggested that ribavirin may have both therapeutic & post-exposure potential against Andes hantavirus. Outbreaks are tragic, but they also create a narrow window to empirically & ethically evaluate whether these approaches can actually work in humans.

A Chilean study from ~20 years ago found that 3.4% of household contacts exposed to Andes virus (hantavirus) became infected, with the highest risk among sexual partners. Viral RNA was detectable in blood 5-15 days before symptom onset. tinyurl.com/337h9jxf by Ferres et al.

Canada's published risk assessment on the Hantavirus outbreak: "At this time, ANDV is not considered to be a pathogen with pandemic potential." Link: tinyurl.com/ycpveenz

The word “if” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, but if all stakeholders (national public health agencies, the WHO, local health authorities, and others) do their part, this outbreak can be contained sooner rather than later, as seen in prior Andes virus outbreaks.

Clear recommendations from the European CDC on the management of passengers disembarking from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. Link: tinyurl.com/p6kfp4h5

It seems like the right steps are being taken (so far) to quell this hantavirus outbreak: the @who.int is coordinating across multiple countries, large scale contact tracing is underway, several Canadians are quarantining after returning home, and ill passengers are receiving care.

Re: human spread of hantavirus, here’s a description from the 2018 Argentina outbreak: “high viral titers in combination with attendance at massive social gatherings or extensive contact among persons were associated with a higher likelihood of transmission.” www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

WHO has a good overview of confirmed & suspected Hantavirus cases tied to a cruise. Hantavirus endemic to South America has some evidence of human-to-human spread; historical data demonstrates less efficient transmission. Awaiting deeper epi analysis. tinyurl.com/48nkzp5d

#Flu season is over, but pediatric flu deaths continue to be reported. In the week ending 4/18, 6 more deaths were reported to #CDC. They bring the season's total so far to 149 deaths in kids; more such reports may come. ~85% of those kids were not fully vaccinated. www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...

1/ In today’s mostly vaccinated populations, Paxlovid does not seem to reduce hospitalization or death from COVID in higher-risk adults. Earlier trials (EPIC-HR) showed ~90% risk reduction, but this was in unvaccinated high-risk patients. tinyurl.com/yc2fj8k5

An injection every 6 months can effectively prevent HIV infection. Wonderful to see the scale-up and expanded rollout of lenacapavir in regions most impacted by HIV, where it can make the greatest difference. With support from the Global Fund: tinyurl.com/36u8ubmm

mRNA vaccines continue to show major promise. In a small Phase 1 trial led by Dr. Balachandran, some patients with pancreatic cancer (one of the deadliest cancers) reached 6-year survival. This is why sustained investment in science & research matters. tinyurl.com/f4n4anhk

There is a new COVID sublineage (BA.3.2) circulating in many regions, including here in Ontario. *Clinical spectrum: same as before *Diagnosis: same as before *Risk factors: same as before *Treatment: same as before *Prevention: same as before

How well did this year's flu shot work? Interim results: Decently, not perfect. "the risk of medically-attended influenza A(H3N2) illness was reduced by 40% among vaccinated relative to unvaccinated individuals." tinyurl.com/emw36bfa by Separovic et al., in @eurosurveillance.org

There is a Hepatitis A outbreak in Manitoba. It spreads via the fecal-oral route (food, close contact, including sex). In adults it can be severe: unlikely to kill you, but you'll feel miserable. Vaccination is extremely effective. Dr. Drobot explains: tinyurl.com/4wwnty7d

Step 1: Insert bacteria ("Wolbachia") into mosquitoes. Step 2: Release mosquitoes. Step 3: Watch Dengue rates plummet. Phenomenal results from Singapore. Link: tinyurl.com/59c9t67u, by Lim et al.

Flu season (yellow) is winding down in Canada after a really difficult December/early January. RSV (red) is now rising later in the season, while COVID (blue) remains relatively flat, possibly picking up in the spring.

Influenza put considerable pressure on Canada's healthcare system through December but is declining sharply in the New Year.

Canada’s influenza season has finally peaked and is starting to ease off. RSV and COVID are now slowly ticking upward.

It’s been a tough flu season in Ontario. The good news is that it likely peaked and is now starting to ease, though we can expect several more weeks of widespread flu activity.

Happy new year!

Regardless of where you land on COVID’s origins, accidental laboratory leaks are a known risk - they can and do happen. Preventing them requires a serious, ongoing global investment in biosafety and biosecurity. A good read, by Manuel Ansede: tinyurl.com/a27pbr3p

Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Thank you to everyone working today, especially those keeping our healthcare system up and running.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne illness found in many tropical regions that can cause significant discomfort. A vaccine is available in Canada, but use should limited to specific situations because risks generally outweigh benefits for most people. Link: tinyurl.com/yr5bufdv

Antibiotic-resistant typhoid infections are a growing global health problem, made worse now by emerging carbapenem resistance. tinyurl.com/4uy7f6y3 by Thirumoorthy et al.

Canada is in the midst of a rough flu season. It's not too late to get a flu shot.

There is a lot of influenza circulating in Canada right now. The flu can be especially rough on older adults & young kids...see below for current flu hospitalization rates. It’s not too late to get your flu shot if you haven’t already.

#FDA has approved a new 1st-in-class oral antibiotic for the treatment of #gonorrhea, which has been making its way through the armamentarium of available antibiotics. Nuzolvence was brought to market through a private-public partnership involving @gardp.bsky.social. www.statnews.com/2025/12/12/f...

Flu season is here, and it might be a tougher one than usual. It is not too late to get your flu shot.

Two cases of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a dangerous viral infection, detected in France in travellers from the Arabian Peninsula. Another reminder that our world is deeply interconnected & vigilance for imported infections is essential. tinyurl.com/4mdhwfdz

On World AIDS Day, remember that HIV risk often changes over time & that our prevention tools keep expanding. PrEP, PEP & PEP-in-Pocket ("PIP") offer strong, flexible protection. A "buffet" approach lets people choose what best fits their lives. tinyurl.com/2zkf3hak

World AIDS Day is on Dec. 1. Since 2004, global deaths have been in decline due to greater access to diagnostics, treatment & prevention. This hard-won progress is now at risk due to major cuts to global public health. We can't afford to go backward.

More data outlining how COVID vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalizations & death, especially among those aged 65 and older. This aligns nicely with recommendations from Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization. 🇨🇦 Link: tinyurl.com/yuwmmtt4 by Hansen et al.

Mutations in #H3N2 #flu viruses have some experts worried we're facing a second bad #influenza season. The new variant, subclade K, may be able to escape antibodies generated by previous infections or this year's flu shot. But some experts are hedging their bets. www.statnews.com/2025/11/20/f...

Update on the wild #polio discovery in Germany: The virus was found in wastewater in Hamburg. @rki.de, the German public health agency, says the virus sequence is very similar to some isolated in Afghanistan, so the likely source was an infected human. (page 10 here: www.rki.de/DE/Aktuelles...)

Someone in Germany is shedding poliovirus - a crippling disease which should be eradicated. This is another stark reminder of the risks we face when global vaccination coverage slips. Link: tinyurl.com/y8t73dyc

Exciting to see a new compound showing promise against malaria. As drug resistance grows, mosquito ranges expand & public health resources remain limited, the need for new treatments has never been greater. tinyurl.com/42wb2efe by @kakape.bsky.social .

Canada has lost its measles elimination status...a sad milestone. Now is the time to double down on lowering barriers to routine childhood immunizations and ensuring Canadians have access to credible, science-based information. Link: tinyurl.com/c8nfxvk3