Interesting data shows that the March meningitis outbreak was as a result of a recombinant strain of the bacteria that had picked up microbiome genes. May explain its virulence but also why spread less. Flags that this can happen though and quickly! Greater need for vigilance and preventative vax

Scientists discover why Kent meningitis outbreak was so severe

The bacteria responsible picked up some new genetic material, say experts.

bbc.co.uk

Buy a book for a kid in memory of Dolly.

Rolling Stone@rollingstone.com · last mo.

Dolly Parton's family asked that, in lieu of flowers, fans make a donation to the singer's Imagination Library. Here's what the charity does ⬇️ www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjfT...

Dolly Parton adapts her song Jolene as she receives Covid-19 vaccine she helped fund

YouTube video by Guardian News

youtube.com

Delighted to share our paper-17 years of meningococcal genomic surveillance, looking at changes in diversity, distribution and demographics in Scotland. The positive impact of vaccines and what is now circulating following COVID-19/restrictions period url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/lJN8CM1Gzc...

Genomic epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in Scotland before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective observational study

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) remains a major global health threat. Despite vaccination, meningococcal genetic diversity means disease, includi…

url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com

IDSA Statement on decision to send Americans exposed to Ebola to Kenya @idsainfo.bsky.social bit.ly/4uGLtvt

Molecular Diagnostic Tests (RT-PCR) for Ebola Virus Bundibugyo Strain. africacdc.org/download/mol...

Atlantic: The U.S. Is Holding Global Vaccination Efforts Hostage by Katherine J. Wu @theatlantic.com bit.ly/4nRT1sv

The U.S. Is Holding Global Vaccination Efforts Hostage

Halting the distribution of vaccines that the U.S. objects to will mean depriving kids of protection against dangerous diseases.

bit.ly

#ALIMA is right to call attention to this. This #Ebola outbreak is extraordinarily complex, and will be impossible to bring it under control if the very places where patients seek care are under attack. Healthcare should never be a target under any circumstance.

The contrast between the number of media requests I got when rich people on a cruise were facing a deadly, but contained outbreak versus now that some of the poorest people in the world are facing a deadly and devastating epidemic is just so so stark and it just really annoys the hell out of me.

Let it be clear: you are wanted here.

🚨🧪 Our UK Public Health Rapid Support Team has deployed a fully functioning mobile laboratory to one of the world’s most remote locations to support the hantavirus outbreak response. Read our blog post for the full story 🔗 https://bit.ly/4wxnlwo

First genome sequence from Andes hantavirus strain from ongoing ship outbreak posted on Virological: virological.org/t/complete-s... courtesy Swiss National Reference Centre for Emerging Viral Infections, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Zurich

Complete sequence of Orthohantavirus andesense virus: Swiss resident 2026

Posted on behalf of the Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Viral Infections, Geneva University Hospitals and the Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich (Partner Laboratory Natio...

virological.org

The Trump administration is considering withholding HIV treatment from Zambia (where 1.3M people rely on it) if Zambia doesn't give the US more access to critical minerals, according to a draft memo prepared by the State Department's Africa Bureau for Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

U.S. Considers Withholding H.I.V. Aid Unless Zambia Expands Minerals Access

nytimes.com

"Research needs to shift from externally driven agendas to locally led initiatives that reflect African needs, values, and perspectives. This approach promotes equity, mutual respect, and shared ownership, while minimising harm." #HBV

The Lancet Microbe@lancetmicrobe.bsky.social · 9mo ago

New personal view article Strengthening #hepatitis B virus clinical research in Africa: the need for multistakeholder collaboration, funding, and political will www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... #IDSky #ClinMicro #ViroSky #HBV #OpenAccess #OA

Aka decolonising science🥰

Some perspective: The S&P opened down -1.3% on Trump's Greenland saber-rattling. That's $750 billion of wealth destroyed -- roughly equal to estimates of the value of Greenland. And so ~in dollar terms~ his shenanigans have already cost the US one Greenland, and we've got nothing to show for it.

We are recruiting for a number of PhDs in the HPRU in Public Health Genomics, based at @unibirmingham.bsky.social, in collaboration with UKHSA. 🦠🧬 Apply below to work on cutting-edge science and public health priorities! (NB deadline of 9th January / UK only due to funding restrictions) (1/7)

"Last week, the U.S. signed bilateral agreements with Kenya, Rwanda, Liberia and Uganda...which would give the U.S. extensive access to national health data systems and pathogen samples while providing no corresponding commitments on equity, benefit-sharing, technology transfer, pricing or....

African and Global Civil Society Call on African Heads of State and Government to Demand Fair Terms in U.S. Health Agreements - Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA)

ranafrica.org

Experts Warn: Trump’s Vaccine Rewrite Risks Public Health youtube.com/shorts/4wnNy... with @angierasmussen.bsky.social @ggronvall.bsky.social @gregggonsalves.bsky.social @drdemetre.bsky.social @gavinyamey.bsky.social @doritreiss.bsky.social @jeremyfaust.bsky.social @tnicholsmd.com

Experts Warn: Trump’s Vaccine Rewrite Risks Public Health

YouTube video by Save America Movement

youtube.com

👍

Congrats @efosternyarko.bsky.social and team for this great work building capacity for public health genomics to investigate cholera and other enteric bacteria, across Africa 👏 www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/cen...

Concerning levels of antibiotic resistance detected in cholera-causing bacteria

Concerning levels of antibiotic resistance detected in cholera-causing bacteria across Africa | LSHTM

lshtm.ac.uk

Microbiology Society@microbiologysociety.org · 10mo ago

📢Persistent antibiotic resistance of cholera-causing bacteria in Africa revealed from a multinational workshop for strengthening disease surveillance, hosted by PulseNet Africa and @lshtmamrcentre.bsky.social. Read more here: microb.io/4aDdPze%F0%9... #MGEN #AntimicrobialResistance #Microbiology

Honoured and quite blown-over to receive this award. I have been, and continue to be, very lucky - first with great mentors, and then really prodigious students, postdocs and collaborators. Working with them has been a joy.

Genetics Society UK@gensocuk.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Congratulations to @zaminiqbal.bsky.social from @milnerevolution.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Mary Lyon Medal!

I'm a very pro-vaccine physician. Last weekend, I went to the biggest gathering of anti-vaxxers. More of my public health colleagues should've been there. I explain why for @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/c...

I’m a physician who went to the anti-vaccine movement’s biggest gathering. More of my colleagues should too

A pro-vaccine physician went to the anti-vaccine movement’s biggest gathering. He warns that public health must learn what it’s up against.

statnews.com

🚨 New paper out on @narjournal.bsky.social. Many thanks to everyone involved, especially the project leader Professor @katholt.bsky.social and the wonderful #AMRnet team: @msmicrobiocode.bsky.social, Vandana Sharma, Mary Maranga, Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko, Megan Carey academic.oup.com/nar/advance-...

AMRnet: a data visualization platform to interactively explore pathogen variants and antimicrobial resistance

Abstract. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a substantial threat to global public health. Whole genome sequencing is increasingly used as a core method

academic.oup.com

Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term www.gov.uk/government/p...

The value of public R&D

gov.uk

Meningitis and septicaemia are rare but serious. Protect children with the MenB vaccine and ensure teens get MenACWY at school when offered. Know the key symptoms and keep a close watch on those who suddenly get sick. Read the full news story: https://bit.ly/3X606ZQ

#WHO report shows rising #antibiotic resistance in common bacteria @katholt.bsky.social & @josebengoechea.bsky.social explain resistance worryingly high in #Klebsiella & E.coli as 1 in 6 lab-confirmed #bacterial infections in 2023 shown resistant to antibiotics. www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...

🌍🧼 Today on #CleanHospitalDay we shine a spotlight on what’s often unseen: hospital cleanliness and the unsung heroes who keep it safe. 👉Surfaces matter. 💁‍♂️Cleaners matter. 🤝Patient safety matters. Let’s make the invisible visible👍 Read more 👉 bit.ly/3L3ILhn

Asked lots about this piece on Chronic Lyme disease, and disappointed in the @guardian (a publication I both subscribe and contribute to) for running it. Short thread explaining the multitude of problems with it, and why I consider it irresponsible to run as is..🧵

Across Southeast Asia most newborn infections are now caused #AMR bugs, making standard treatments for neonatal sepsis ineffective. Without updated, locally informed treatment guidelines and new antibiotic development, infant mortality rates will rise. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Pathogen distribution and antimicrobial resistance among neonatal bloodstream infections in Southeast Asia: results from NeoSEAP, a multicentre retrospective study

Neonatal sepsis in tertiary hospitals in Southeast Asia is predominantly caused by gram-negative bacteria, with high rates of non-susceptibility to commonly prescribed antibiotics.

thelancet.com