I cover infectious diseases for STAT (www.statnews.com). 2020 Polk winner. Nieman '11. She/her. I write about H5N1 (in all species), Covid, polio, flu, Ebola, RSV, mpox, STIs. Find me on Signal: HBranswell.01
Helen Branswell 🇨🇦
Loading...
#HHS refused for weeks to confirm what was widely known: Jeffery Taubenberger had been removed as acting director of #NIAID. Today HHS confirmed that John H. Powers is now acting director.
Why this happened & why HHS refused to admit it remains undisclosed. www.statnews.com/2026/06/09/n...
www.statnews.com
The NIH has appointed researcher John Powers III to lead its infectious disease institute on an acting basis, after weeks of being in leadership limbo.
#USDA reports a big jump in #H5N1 #BirdFlu in dairy cows in Idaho. 25 new herds have tested positive, bringing the state's total to 156 herds. Since this outbreak in cows was first detected in March 2024, 1,134 herd in 19 states have tested positive. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
Terrific Q&A with #WHO 's Chikwe Ihekweazu about DRC's #Ebola response: how long the outbreak has likely been underway, whether Bundibugyo virus is more transmissible than other Ebola species & what it's like not having US experts on the ground. By @kakape.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...
As we near 1 month since the #Ebola outbreak in DRC & Uganda was declared, #WHO estimates the risk of further spread as very high in DRC, high in Uganda & countries neighboring those 2, but low elsewhere in Africa & globally. WHO is worried about ETU capacity in DRC.
www.who.int/publications...
"Pathogens don’t recognize passports." Former #CDC chief scientist Deb Houry & @krutikakuppalli.bsky.social argue that the US approach to trying to keep #Ebola out of the country is not science based. www.wsj.com/opinion/the-...
Helen Branswell 🇨🇦
"Ebola can still be contained — but only if the world finds the will to do it." - @jeremykonyndyk.bsky.social on why the #Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda could be the worst on record and what needs to be done to stop it. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
A devastating story of a death that now could be prevented, and lessons unlearned. By @lizszabo.bsky.social. www.cidrap.umn.edu/human-papill...
DRC's confirmed #Ebola cases are now at 550, with 101 confirmed deaths. 19 people have survived and been released from care. 64.4% of case contacts are being followed, but that's 3489 of 5418 contacts -- just over 6 contacts being followed per case. Too few still, I fear. insp.cd/sitrep-n24-m...
These 2 new #H5N1 #birdflu infected herds in Texas & Utah have made it to #USDA 's official count. total now 1,109 herds in 19 states. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
Chikwe Ihekweazu, on the ground in Congo, discusses challenges of bringing the outbreak under control
There are media reports of 2 new #H5N1 #birdflu outbreaks in dairy cows, in Texas and Utah. They haven't yet been added to #USDA 's dashboard. If confirmed by USDA, there will have been 1,109 herds infected in 19 states.
www.telemundoutah.com/noticias/loc... and
www.kbtx.com/2026/06/04/h...
Helen Branswell 🇨🇦
De acuerdo al comunicado, no se anticipan impactos importantes en la cadena de suministro de alimentos.
