Dr. Syra Madad, DHSc
@drsyramadad.bsky.social
Epidemiologist 🦠 Biosecurity Advisor ☣️ Chief Biopreparedness Officer NYC Health + Hospital 🏥 Faculty Boston Uni CEID & NETEC 🧬 Fellow Harvard Belfer Center 🎥On Netflix, Discovery & History Channel 📝Write for NY Academy of Sciences
Three public-health alerts. One test for New York. “Rabbit fever” on Long Island. A surge of cyclosporiasis in NYC. A new federal fight over childhood vaccines. Different threats, same imperative: follow the evidence, communicate clearly & keep prevention accessible. www.nyas.org/ideas-insigh...
Three Public-Health Alerts, One Test for New York
Tularemia, cyclosporiasis and childhood vaccination present distinct challenges, but demand similar responses.
nyas.org
This A.I. Just Created Viruses Not Found in Nature Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/s...
This A.I. Just Created Viruses Not Found in Nature (Gift Article)
Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.
nytimes.com
The University of Oxford’s Oxford Vaccine Group has successfully vaccinated the first volunteer in the world’s first clinical trial of a vaccine designed to protect against Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV). www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-07...
First volunteer vaccinated in the world's first Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine trial
The University of Oxford’s Oxford Vaccine Group has today successfully vaccinated the first volunteer in the world’s first clinical trial of a vaccine designed to protect against Bundibugyo ebolavirus...
ox.ac.uk
Mapping Readiness: Why Special Pathogens Biopreparedness Needs Situational Awareness www.emjreviews.com/microbiology...
Mapping Readiness: Why Special Pathogens Biopreparedness Needs Situational Awareness
Explore how a biopreparedness map can strengthen special pathogens readiness, mass gathering planning, and frontline outbreak response...
emjreviews.com
🌍⚽ FIFA readiness starts before symptoms. A new @americanmedicaljournal.com feature by NYC Health + Hospital explores how a biopreparedness map links global outbreaks to local planning for special pathogens. www.emjreviews.com/en-us/amj/mi... #AMJMicroID @drsyramadad.bsky.social
FIFA Readiness and Special Pathogens
Explore how a biopreparedness map can strengthen special pathogens readiness, mass gathering planning, and frontline outbreak response...
emjreviews.com
“This isn't simply the return of a childhood rash illness,” says @drsyramadad.bsky.social as this year's cases already near 2025 totals. “Measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization & death, especially in young children & medically vulnerable people.” spr.ly/63329BDNmcl
‘World’s most contagious disease’ on track for highest US cases in 35 years — doc warns: ‘We are allowing it to spread’
“This is a major public health warning sign,” epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad told The Post. “The US is already close to last year’s total with about half the year still ahead.̶…
spr.ly
Marburg outbreak is reported in Uganda, threatening to complicate Ebola response in region The outbreak is said to be localized www.statnews.com/2026/06/30/m...
Marburg outbreak is reported in Uganda, threatening to complicate Ebola response in region
Sources confirm to STAT that Marburg cases have been detected in western Uganda, adding another viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak in central Africa.
statnews.com
France confirms 1st Ebola case linked to outbreak in the DRC Officials say it was detected quickly and there's no indication of local spread. abcnews.com/Internationa...
France confirms 1st Ebola case linked to outbreak in the DRC
France has confirmed its first Ebola case linked to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, officials said.
abcnews.com
Evidence for sexual transmission of Marburg virus during the 2024 outbreak in Rwanda www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Evidence for sexual transmission of Marburg virus during the 2024 outbreak in Rwanda - Nature Health
Two probable cases of sexual transmission of Marburg virus are reported from the 2024 outbreak in Rwanda, both following condomless sexual contact with male partners who recovered from the disease, bu...
nature.com
Hantavirus Quarantine Ends for 18 Americans Exposed on a Cruise Ship No cases associated with the outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship have been confirmed in the U.S., health officials said. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/u...
Hantavirus Quarantine Ends for 18 Americans Exposed on a Cruise Ship
nytimes.com
With the FIFA World Cup approaching, CEID affiliate faculty @drsyramadad.bsky.social highlights the health concerns that hospitals near stadiums and fan sites should be prepared for, including effects of strong heat, and infectious disease spread. spr.ly/63324B8IvjG
Opinion | The World Cup Is Coming. Here’s What EDs Should Prepare For.
Heat, cardiac events, behavioral health, security threats, and infectious disease are all at play
spr.ly
A disease of deforestation: how Ebola is linked to the smartphone in your pocket As demand for cobalt, gold and other minerals grows, mining is accelerating deforestation in the Congo basin – and increasing the risk of deadly Ebola outbreaks www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
A disease of deforestation: how Ebola is linked to the smartphone in your pocket
As demand for cobalt, gold and other minerals grows, mining is accelerating deforestation in the Congo basin – and increasing the risk of deadly Ebola outbreaks
theguardian.com
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo could top 20,000 cases in worst case, CDC says Experts said they hope the CDC report will help galvanize the response to the crisis. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo could top 20,000 cases in worst case, CDC says
Experts said they hope the CDC report will help galvanize the response to the crisis.
nbcnews.com
Because detection of the Bundibugyo outbreak in DRC was likely delayed almost 2 months, it is much harder to trace transmissions or know how many unsafe burials may have taken place in that time, explains CEID affiliate faculty @drsyramadad.bsky.social. spr.ly/63326B8sC4A
In this @medpagetoday.bsky.social article, my coauthors and I emphasize that preparedness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup must be all-hazards preparedness. www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
Opinion | The World Cup Is Coming. Here’s What EDs Should Prepare For.
Heat, cardiac events, behavioral health, security threats, and infectious disease are all at play
medpagetoday.com
WHO drastically reduces suspected ebola cases in Congo “When asked about the hundreds of suspected cases that have now been ruled out, Lindmeier said, “They have been cleared out and have either other diseases or just had fevers and nothing else.” thehill.com/policy/inter...
WHO drastically reduces suspected ebola cases in Congo
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday significantly reduced the number of suspected Ebola cases in Congo after initially estimating nearly 1,000 suspected cases. The latest figures were sh…
thehill.com
‘That could be a game changer’: antiviral pill gets first test for Ebola prevention Researchers are preparing to launch an unprecedented trial to protect people exposed to Ebola in the DRC and Uganda www.science.org/content/arti... @kakape
‘That could be a game changer’: antiviral pill gets first test for Ebola prevention
Researchers are preparing to launch an unprecedented trial to protect people exposed to Ebola in the DRC and Uganda
science.org
Ebola can be stopped — but only if world leaders prioritize public health The deadly disease was identified half a century ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is unacceptable that it continues to take lives. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Ebola can be stopped — but only if world leaders prioritize public health
The deadly disease was identified half a century ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is unacceptable that it continues to take lives.
nature.com
Inside the Ebola Epicenter, the Virus Rages With Little to Stop It www.nytimes.com/2026/05/30/w...
Inside the Ebola Epicenter, the Virus Rages With Little to Stop It
nytimes.com
CDC COCA Call for Providers: What Clinicians Should Know about Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Thursday, May 28, 2026 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET www.cdc.gov/coca/hcp/tra...
What Clinicians Should Know about Ebola Bundibugyo Virus
What Clinicians Should Know about Ebola Bundibugyo Virus
cdc.gov
More than 500 children have died in an outbreak that the world is virtually ignoring Measles outbreak in Bangladesh. www.npr.org/2026/05/24/g...
More than 500 children have died in an outbreak that the world is virtually ignoring
The number of cases — and deaths — in Bangladesh is staggering. As of Sunday, 528 have died, mostly children. How did this measles outbreak begin? And how is the country responding?
npr.org
Ebola outbreak dashboard by the Ministry of Health in the DRC: sante.gouv.cd/epidemie/ebo...
Ministère de la Santé Publique, Hygiène et prévoyance sociale
Site Officiel du Ministère de la Santé Publique, Hygiène et prévoyance sociale
sante.gouv.cd
Writing for NYAS, @drsyramadad.bsky.social gives an overview of key considerations around the current Ebola outbreak, including what this means for preparations for this summer's FIFA World Cup. spr.ly/63328B8EMyj
8 Things to Know About the Ebola Outbreak Now Spreading in DRC and Uganda - NYAS
A concerning Ebola outbreak is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with associated cases in Uganda. For many Americans, the risk remains low.
spr.ly
8 Things to Know About the Ebola Outbreak Now Spreading in DRC and Uganda www.nyas.org/ideas-insigh...
8 Things to Know About the Ebola Outbreak Now Spreading in DRC and Uganda - NYAS
A concerning Ebola outbreak is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with associated cases in Uganda. For many Americans, the risk remains low.
nyas.org
Regional Ebola transmission risk remains high, with spread driven by population movement, cross-border travel from Ituri to Uganda and South Sudan, mining activity, insecurity, weak contact tracing, delayed detection & movement of symptomatic people across health zones iris.who.int/server/api/c...
iris.who.int
In Ebola outbreak, a number of Americans in the Congo believed to have had exposure to suspected cases CDC says it supporting partners who are ‘actively coordinating the safe withdrawal’ of individuals ‘directly affected by this outbreak www.statnews.com/2026/05/17/e...
In Ebola outbreak, a number of Americans in the Congo believed to have had exposure to suspected cases
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.
statnews.com
WHO has declared the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in DRC & Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, not a pandemic emergency, but a call for urgent global coordination. We’ve added it to our Biopreparedness Map to support situational awareness www.biopreparednessmap.org
Special Pathogens Biopreparedness Map
biopreparednessmap.org
Ebola Virus Disease outbreak confirmed in Ituri Province, DRC: preliminary tests detected Ebola in 13/20 samples. About 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths reported, mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara. Africa CDC is coordinating urgent cross-border response efforts
