Day 8 with no power. Two young kids (4 & 7), a sweet senior dog (10.5) and their grown ups (physicians serving VUMC & the State of TN) are desperate to get back home. It's a simple repair of a severed line between 2 NES poles. @wsmv.com @thetnholler.bsky.social @freddieoconnell.bsky.social

I’m so sorry to see this news from Los Angeles 💔 Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive, almost uniformly fatal, neurological disorder caused by reactivation of the measles virus or an inappropriate immune response to the measles infection. abc7.com/post/child-d...

Child dies from rare measles-related complication, LA County health officials say

Health officials reported the death of a Los Angeles County child from a complication of measles infection acquired during infancy.

abc7.com

"The vast majority of [state health department] communicable-diseases budgets are paid for with C.D.C. dollars". In fact, ~80% of CDC's budget goes directly out the door to state, tribal, local and territorial health departments. @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

Inside the Chaos at the C.D.C.

A former senior official and two current employees describe the turmoil at the agency under R.F.K., Jr.,’s stewardship.

newyorker.com

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted all 17 members of a panel that advises the CDC on the safety, efficacy and clinical needs of vaccines.

RFK Jr. fires entire CDC vaccine advisory panel

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted all 17 members of a panel that advises the CDC on the safety, efficacy and clinical needs of vaccines.

bit.ly

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead) As we kick off the CSTE 2025 Annual Conference, I am immensely grateful to serve among these incredible STLT public health leaders.

Immensely grateful to Dr. McDonald (@milbankfund.bsky.social) and many others lending their voices to this critically important conversation.

Milbank Memorial Fund & The Milbank Quarterly@milbankfund.bsky.social · last yr.

In a new blog, Milbank Memorial Fund’s Morgan McDonald highlights the challenges and dangers of the abrupt termination of $11 billion in federal funds that occurred on March 24 and the mass layoffs at US Department of Health and Human Services that followed. www.milbank.org/2025/04/pray...

In a new blog, Milbank Memorial Fund’s Morgan McDonald highlights the challenges and dangers of the abrupt termination of $11 billion in federal funds that occurred on March 24 and the mass layoffs at US Department of Health and Human Services that followed. www.milbank.org/2025/04/pray...

The CDC's cruise ship inspectors have been laid off, as well as agency's head epidemiologist for investigating cruise ship outbreaks That baffled health officials since this program is paid for by cruise ship fees, not taxpayer dollars www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-cru...

CDC's cruise ship inspectors laid off amid bad year for outbreaks

The steep cuts to the cruise ship inspection team baffled officials in the program, which is not paid for by taxpayer dollars.

cbsnews.com

These comments from Secretary Kennedy are quite disappointing. The abrupt clawback of $11B in federal funds allocated to state & local HDs has had dramatic negative impacts on public health capacity nationwide. A more cohesive approach between DOGE & HHS would be beneficial. www.com/news/rfk-jr-...

RFK Jr. says he's "not familiar" with all health program cuts in exclusive interview

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed health program cuts and the measles vaccine in his first network TV interview since joining the Trump administration.

cbsnews.com

50 canceled vaccination clinics, and other local impact from HHS cuts: ‘Mass layoffs is not how you make America healthier,’ city and county health officials say www.statnews.com/2025/04/01/h... via @statnews.com

50 canceled vaccination clinics, and other local impact from HHS cuts

"Mass layoffs is not how you make America healthier," city and county health officials say in reaction to large-scale dismissals of federal health workers.

statnews.com

NEW: Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.

The CDC Has Been Gutted

Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.

wired.com

Hearing from all corners of HHS this morning about a total bloodletting — firings of scientists, analysts and many more as delayed RIFs take effect. Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.

Employees of #HHS and its agencies who are being fired — RIF'd — started to receive termination notices today starting at 5 am. Big swaths of the #CDC appear to have been cut. Developing story. www.statnews.com/2025/04/01/h...

HHS starts layoffs of thousands of workers across its agencies

Layoff notices began arriving early Tuesday for thousands of employees of HHS and its subsidiary agencies, with as many 10,000 workers potentially expected to be hit by the cuts.

statnews.com

“Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary," federal health authorities wrote to funding recipients this week.

CDC is pulling back $11B in Covid funding sent to health departments across the U.S.

“Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary," federal health authorities wrote to funding recipients this week.

nbcnews.to

In 2011, the city of Calgary took fluoride out of their water. Children developed a higher rate of cavities (+ req'd treatments, i.e. general anesthesia) than in other communities. Calgary is now in the process of putting fluoride *back* into their water supply. Let's learn from other communities.

NBC News@nbcnews.com · last yr.

Utah is gearing up to make history as the first state to ban fluoride in public water systems if Gov. Spencer Cox signs a bill to prohibit the addition of the tooth decay-fighting mineral.

As flu rages, the Trump administration has pulled the plug on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu immunization campaign that targeted high-risk groups, including pregnant women.

Trump administration yanks CDC flu vaccine campaign

As flu rages, the Trump administration has pulled the plug on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu immunization campaign that targeted high-risk groups, including pregnant women.

npr.org

Some lots of raw pet food sold in two states are being recalled after two indoor cats became ill with bird flu earlier this month and were euthanized due to the severity of their illnesses. https://cbsn.ws/41xxzzH

Raw pet food is recalled and warnings issued in two states after cats die of bird flu

Pet owners cautioned after tests confirm Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in two cats living in different households.

cbsn.ws

BREAKING: At least 8 injured after Delta plane crash landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport - CP24

While reports are that the EIS program has been spared, many other brilliant, dedicated, experienced public health professionals were terminated yesterday. Our country is healthiest when we have a strong public health enterprise (from the federal to local levels). bsky.app/profile/alex...

Mary-Margaret Fill, MD, MPH@mmfill.bsky.social · last yr.

I had the great privilege of serving in the EIS Class of 2015, responding to dozens of disease outbreaks and novel health threats. The program is a crowned jewel of U.S. public health and a model for other countries. Cutting this program does not, in any way, make our country healthier.

I had the great privilege of serving in the EIS Class of 2015, responding to dozens of disease outbreaks and novel health threats. The program is a crowned jewel of U.S. public health and a model for other countries. Cutting this program does not, in any way, make our country healthier.

Katelyn Jetelina@kkjetelina.bsky.social · last yr.

You know Kate Winslet in Contagion? Where she runs into a hot zone, risking her life, so Americans could be safer? She was an EIS officer. That’s who was just fired at CDC today. EIS officers. And many, many more public servants fighting every day for your health.

68 children have died of influenza this season. And I've heard anecdotes that busy children's hospitals are at capacity with available ECMO circuits to support children critically ill with influenza. The *vast* majority of these children are unvaccinated.

CIDRAP@cidrap.bsky.social · last yr.

US flu reaches high severity status as deaths outpace COVID The CDC says it's now classifying the flu season as high severity for all age-groups for the first time since the 2017-18 season. www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...

#Breaking - Trump administration to fire thousands at health agencies. Employees across agencies who were hired in the past one to two years are being targeted

Trump administration to fire thousands at health agencies

The Trump administration is set to eliminate thousands of federal health care jobs Friday, targeting employees across agencies who were hired in the past one to two years.

buff.ly

I am SO THRILLED to finally present our new paper on reforming observational studies in epidemic settings, published in @bmj.com BMJ Global Health. gh.bmj.com/cgi/content/... #Episky #Epidemiology #clinicalresearch #observational #IDSky

Observational research in epidemic settings: a roadmap to reform

Observational studies are critical tools in clinical research and public health response, but challenges arise in ensuring the data produced by these studies are scientifically robust and socially val...

gh.bmj.com

So there's a new development in the bird flu situation -the bird genotype of the virus (D1.1), which has, in the current panzootic, been responsible for all of the severe cases of H5N1 in humans- has been detected in 4 dairy herds in Nevada. Here's what that could mean:🧵

USDA milk testing shows different strain of H5N1 bird flu in Nevada dairy herds

The USDA said four Nevada dairy herds were infected with an H5N1 bird flu strain that has circulated in wild birds, making prospects for containment in cows appear dim.

statnews.com

4 dairy herds in Nevada recently diagnosed with #H5N1 #birdflu were infected with a different version of the virus than has been spreading in cows elsewhere. Evidence of a second (at a minimum) spillover points to the challenge of stopping spread, experts say. www.statnews.com/2025/02/05/u...

USDA milk testing shows different strain of H5N1 bird flu in Nevada dairy herds

The USDA said four Nevada dairy herds were infected with an H5N1 bird flu strain that has circulated in wild birds, making prospects for containment in cows appear dim.

statnews.com

If you feel like everyone is sick right now, you are right. Flu is doing something unusual - outpatient visits just hit 7.0%, surpassing January's peak. substack.com/home/post/p-...

Flu spikes

Influenza-like illness hits a second peak

substack.com

60 passengers and four crew were on board American Airlines jet that collided with Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, DC. Follow live updates.

Live updates: American Airlines plane crash near Washington, DC; Reagan National Airport takeoffs and landings halted | CNN

A passenger aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, DC, after it collided midair with a helicopter as it approached the runway, according to the Fed...

cnn.com

The American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) has submitted ~200 pediatrician stories to Senate committees about the importance of childhood vaccinations. Almost every pediatrician has experienced cases like these. They are not imagined, they are devastating. And they are preventable.

The partisan divide in this @kff.org poll is staggering but not surprising. There is much work for public health to do to (re)build trust with all Americans. These data also reinforce the critical educational role of front line clinicians. Full poll data here: www.kff.org/health-infor...

At least 15 state legislatures have proposed bills to "create new religious exemptions from immunization mandates, establish state-level vaccine injury databases or dictate what providers must tell patients about the shots." apnews.com/article/vacc...

Vaccine bills stack up in statehouses across the US

Vaccination bills are popping up in more than 15 states as lawmakers aim to potentially resurrect or create new religious exemptions from immunization mandates, establish state-level vaccine injury da...

apnews.com