Want a large language model that never hallucinates? Easy: just get it to always print “I don’t know”, regardless of the input. If you find this solution is a bit unsatisfying, you’re not alone. But it hits on a crucial trade-off with learning machines and decision-making more generally. New post:

Tell me you’ve never heard of reverse causation without telling me you’ve never heard of reverse causation….

At least 60 deaths recorded in the Fizi, one of the DRC's historical cholera hotspots. It would not be surprising to see a sharp increase in the number of cases, given the devastating impact of flooding on water and sanitation infrastructures. Preventive vaccination ! actualite.cd/2025/05/10/r...

In this second paper, clade Ib mpox outbreak in Uvira primarily affected children under 15 years (63.7%), with limited reported sexual transmission. Occupational healthcare and workplace exposures were rare. The overall case fatality ratio was 0.7%, but high among HIV-positive and infants < 1 yr.

Mpox Clade Ib incubation periods are longer than previous MPXV estimates and vary by exposure route, with shorter periods for sexual transmission. These differences suggest the need to revise post-exposure monitoring guidelines. doi.org/10.1101/2025...

New correspondence in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Disseminated mpox in an immunocompromised patient in DR Congo: a call for a shift from disease-focused to person-centred outbreak response www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

"Although reactive vertical approaches can provide rapid responses to outbreaks, they often fail to strengthen broader health systems, leaving countries ill-prepared for future crises and jeopardising progress toward universal health coverage and pandemic resilience www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

This raises an important point. The U.S. withdrawal from WHO would undoubtedly disrupt critical health programs and initiatives, potentially causing significant harm, especially in vulnerable regions. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Whether it’s Ebola, cholera, or mpox, the same issues persist—narrowly focused vertical programs driven by donor priorities. In an upcoming piece, we reflect on this challenge in the context of the current mpox outbreak in eastern DR Congo.

From HiV to Ebola to Covid and mpox, inequities in access is a defining feature Grateful to @craigspencer.bsky.social for his advocacy www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Who are you “performing” for? A book review and personal reflections on: The Foreign Gaze – Essays on Global Health by @seyeabimbola.bsky.social katribertram.wordpress.com/2025/01/06/w...

Such horizontal preventive programs have been notoriously hard to motivate and fund precisely because the impact of each dollar spent is diffuse across many health outcomes and donors struggle to see the selfish benefit of their specific investment.

The root causes of measles mortality and recent headline grabbing malaria outbreak in DRC are the same: poverty, access, infrastructure. All are legacies of oppressive history.

If the unknown disease X in the DRC is malaria... its concernig that in 2024, there are still areas on earth unable to diagnose malaria. How can we discuss advancements like genomics surveillance when we have yet to address the basics of infectious diseases surveillance in DR Congo?

This doctor raised the alarm about a deadly mpox outbreak that went global Placide Mbala is part of Nature’s 10, a list of people who shaped science in 202 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The DRC spends just $22 per person annually on health care. A single Mpox test costs $20. This is outrageous. Poorer countries shouldn't have to pay heightened test prices just so big pharma can make a bigger profit. Drop the price now.

Very happy to see this important collaborative work out on preprint now detailing clinical and epidemiological considerations for Clade Ib mpox www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

If you are interested in #emergingviruses, new #vaccines & #publichealth, save the date for this event! April 7-9, 2025 in Geneva, co-hosted by our Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases & the Centre of Vaccinology of the University of Geneva & University Hospitals of Geneva! Superb speakers list!

So here is a starter pack of African scientists and researchers across disciplines. It will continue to grow as I find more people and more migrate to this platform but gotta start somewhere 😊. go.bsky.app/GixA4xP

We can't avoid models - even insights from 'raw data' require assumptions... New post: kucharski.substack.com/p/we-cant-av...

Excited to see our working out in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on the effectiveness of one dose of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) in DR Congo. One dose of OCV protects against clinical cholera for up to 24-36 mo www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... with @justinlessler.bsky.social @andrewazman.bsky.social

We are recruiting for Research Assistant Professor positions at UNC to work on projects aimed at making epidemic projections and analytics more accurate and more relevant to those who need them most. Consider applying to join our team! unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/270...