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Helen Branswell@helenbranswell.bsky.social |
5379 followers 144 following 716 posts
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.
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA has added the 7th Minnesota dairy herd to the list of farms with #H5N1 #birdflu infections, bringing its cumulative national total to 140 in 12 states. It still hasn't confirmed Iowa's 13th herd. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 6 reposts 19 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado reports the 4th human infection with the #birdflu virus circulating in cows. Farmworker. Symptoms like cases 1 & 2 — conjunctivitis. Has recovered. At this point it's clearly an #H5 infection; @CDC will be testing to see if there is enough virus to confirm the N type. This is not surprising
1 replies 26 reposts 62 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Is it too late to drive #H5N1 #birdflu out of cows? Some experts fear the answer is yes. www.science.org/content/arti...
1 replies 8 reposts 15 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Rural veterinarians play a critical role in safeguarding the health of food animals. And they often alert public health to animal-human problems that are brewing. The role they're being asked to play detecting & containing #H5N1 #birdflu is putting them in a bind. www.statnews.com/2024/07/03/b...
0 replies 15 reposts 27 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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2. The pattern of #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herd discoveries — & non-discoveries — is so interesting. Are operations in large dairy states with no positive herds so different as to explain why some states are rife & others have no confirmed infections? Seems unlikely.
2 replies 2 reposts 9 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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1. #USDA added 2 Colorado dairy herds to its list of #H5N1 #birdflu infected farms today, bringing its total to 139 in 12 states since testing first started in late March. It is still missing 2 herds, 1 each in Iowa & Minnesota. And the day is young. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
1 replies 9 reposts 15 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado reports 1 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herd, bringing its total to 27. #USDA's total is unchanged today at 137, but they are missing 4 herds: 2 from Colorado & 1 each from Iowa & Minnesota. Cumulative national total is 141 in 12 states since 3/25/24.
1 replies 9 reposts 24 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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As I said earlier, numbers could change — and they have. Minnesota has detected #H5N1 #birdflu in a 7th dairy cow herd. Brings the cumulative national number to 140. www.bah.state.mn.us/hpai
0 replies 5 reposts 20 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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“My overall concern about this outbreak is that it’s being treated too much as an economic problem & too little as a public health & an animal health problem" — Thijs Kuiken on similarities between the US #H5N1 #birdflu in cattle & Dutch Q fever outbreaks in 2007-10. www.statnews.com/2024/07/01/h...
1 replies 24 reposts 62 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA has updated its count of #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds. It's now up to 137 in 12 states, adding 3 from Colorado & 1 from Iowa. It still hasn't announced 2 more herds, 1 each from those 2 states. And the day is young; numbers could change. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 3 reposts 15 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Some people in the Boston area could have been exposed to #measles on June 22 when an infected international traveler used public transit to get to Logan Airport (Terminal E), traveling from there to Amsterdam. This could well lead to local cases. www.mass.gov/news/state-p...
2 replies 49 reposts 43 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado reports 4 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy cow herds, including the long-absent #17! It overtakes Michigan for the number 2 spot nationally.
The cumulative national total is 139 in 12 states; #USDA is behind by 6 right now.
0 replies 4 reposts 23 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#FDA & #USDA release a preprint, I think, on what industry-style pasteurization does to milk containing #H5N1 #birdflu virus. "Heating from 38°C to 72.5°C in 9.9 seconds reduced virus to undetectable levels." www.fda.gov/media/179708/
2 replies 12 reposts 25 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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2. #CDC reports that last week, 2 people in PA. were infected with a swine #influenza virus, H1N2v. (v=variant, preferred term for swine flu viruses). Both attended a livestock auction where there were pigs. One needed to be hospitalized.
Let's hope there are no other cases.
0 replies 1 reposts 8 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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1. Couple of quick #flu facts from #CDC's FluView report for the week ending June 22:
3 more pediatric flu deaths were reported, bringing the 2023-24 total to 181 so far. This season has been one of the worse since pediatric flu deaths became reportable in 2004-05. www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
1 replies 7 reposts 15 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA reports another #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herd in Idaho, its 28th. The USDA tally (133) is missing 2 announced yesterday by Iowa, which reports based on USDA-lab confirmation. USDA has been consistently posting early mornings this week. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 5 reposts 19 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Iowa reports finding #H5N1 #birdflu in 2 more dairy cow herds, taking the state's total to 13. iowaagriculture.gov/news/HPAI-2-...
1 replies 22 reposts 45 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Mike Leavitt was HHS secretary back in the mid-aughts, the 2nd time the world was really worried #H5N1 #birdflu might be on the verge of triggering a pandemic. In an interview with @statnews.bsky.social, Leavitt makes a compelling argument for pandemic preparedness. www.statnews.com/2024/06/27/m...
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA has posted 4 new dairy herds to its list, 2 each in Colorado and Iowa, bringing the cumulative national total to 132 in 12 states. To the best of my knowledge, the USDA total is up to date with state totals at this precise moment. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 5 reposts 13 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Pretty interesting discussion today at #ACIP on efforts by makers of RSV vaccines for adults to expand usage. ACIP recommended everyone 75 & older get one, but deferred making a recommendation on use in people in their 50s, a blow to GSK. www.statnews.com/2024/06/26/c...
0 replies 8 reposts 16 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado reports 2 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds, overtaking Texas as the state with the 3rd most detections. USDA currently says there've been 129 herds nationally; with these 2 plus 1 from Iowa not yet on UDSA's list, it's 132. ag.colorado.gov/animals/repo...
0 replies 8 reposts 11 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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It's been 3 months since USDA confirmed #H5N1 #birdflu was spreading in dairy herds. Scientists watching the situation are startled by the lack of urgency in the response. “It’s not [being] managed as a zoonotic disease that is a potential dynamic threat." www.statnews.com/2024/06/26/b...
2 replies 19 reposts 32 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA has updated its list of dairy cow herds which have tested positive for #H5N1 #birdflu. Colorado + 2, Iowa +1, for a cumulative national total of 129.
One more confirmation from Iowa is pending.
www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 8 reposts 16 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Hoping other states with #H5N1 #birdflu infections in dairy cows can follow Michigan's lead here.
Figuring out if there are more human infections occurring and what activities pose the most risk if there are would be a very good thing. www.statnews.com/2024/06/25/b...
1 replies 34 reposts 98 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Iowa is requiring farmers bringing lactating dairy cows to fairs & exhibitions in the state to test the animals for #H5N1 #birdflu within the 7 days before arrival. And Ag Secretary Mike Naig reiterated an earlier request for more aid for affected farms. iowaagriculture.gov/news/HPAI-up...
0 replies 7 reposts 27 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA has fixed some missing data in its list of #H5N1 #birdflu affected dairy herds. Alpacas are back, as are some Texas herds that dropped off temporarily. 4 herds — 2 each from Colorado & Iowa — haven't yet made it to the USDA list. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 2 reposts 12 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado is really climbing the #H5N1 #birdflu in cows chart fast! 2nd new herd today. Up to 20 now, maybe another pending. ag.colorado.gov/animals/repo...
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado has reported another #H5N1 #birdflu outbreak in cattle, the state's 19th or maybe 20th. Number 017 is still missing from this list, but I suspect it will be posted eventually.
Am told USDA is working on its new data collating system & tomorrow's post will include the 3 missing Texas herds.
0 replies 7 reposts 17 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Per USDA, this is the cumulative number of herds in which #H5N1 #birdflu infection has been detected. To my knowledge, it is currently up-to-date for all states except Iowa, which has reported 11 herds.
0 replies 11 reposts 28 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA updated its list of dairy herds with #H5N1 #birdflu infections; it's now much closer to the counts that have been released by states. Still missing the 2 latest from Iowa & no explanation yet why Texas' total went from 20 a week ago to 17. Still, progress. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
0 replies 4 reposts 12 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Iowa has found another #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herd, its 11th. Interesting that it updates its numbers on the weekend; USDA does not. iowaagriculture.gov/news/highly-...
0 replies 5 reposts 21 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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8. The herd list has been separated from the main @USDA #H5N1 #birdflu landing page. Found this interesting info on the landing page proper. How many farms have enrolled in the Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program so far? Four. www.usda.gov/media/press-...
2 replies 1 reposts 13 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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7. A nice feature: If you hover over the state it tells you the number of herds in the last 30 days, if you're looking at that page, or since the beginning of the outbreak, if you choose that from the pulldown menu on the top left.
1 replies 0 reposts 8 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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6. A feature of the redesigned website is that by default it shows you how many herds have been detected in the past 30 days. Why? Not clear. The numbers certainly look better. But it doesn't tell you how many herds have managed to clear their infections. That I want to know.
1 replies 0 reposts 11 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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5. Another curious thing: @USDA added some Colorado herds to its list today. One appears to be cattle, but not dairy cattle. What kind of cattle? I've asked USDA & Col ag dept. No answers yet.
2 replies 0 reposts 11 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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4. The herd of llamas from Idaho that was originally on the @USDA's list is off the list. That may explain why USDA now says Idaho's total is 25, not 26. But Texas is now listed as having 17 herds, not 20. Why? I have no answer. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
1 replies 0 reposts 9 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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3. But @USDA threw a wrench into the works today. It updated its exceedingly wonky #H5N1 #birdflu in cows landing site. Some things work better, but the cumulative number of herds was lowered by 4 (from yday) with no explanation. USDA now says 112 herds in 12 states.
1 replies 0 reposts 9 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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2. To the best of my ability to keep up — and that's being challenged — I think there have been 125 herds reported in 12 states since the end of March. This graph combines @USDA's numbers from yesterday with the newly reported herds from Colorado & Iowa.
2 replies 1 reposts 18 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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1. Some thoughts on #H5N1 #birdflu in cows. A bunch of new herds were announced by a couple of states today — Colorado and Iowa. The former reported +5 & looks like it may have another pending; It now has 18 in total, maybe 19. Iowa reported 2 more, taking it to 10.
1 replies 10 reposts 25 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Colorado has reported a big jump in the number of #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds in the state. Was 12 this a.m., is now 18. Or maybe 19. There is no 017 in this list, but then earlier today, there was was nothing between 013 & 019, and & there is.
Will have a tweet thread later tonight.
2 replies 6 reposts 25 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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The #CDC has learned of another 3 children who died from #flu during the 2023-24 season. 2 died in mid-March, the 3rd in late May from a flu B virus.
They bring the season's total to 178 pediatric flu deaths. So much sadness. www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
2 replies 4 reposts 13 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Looks like Colorado has found 1 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy cow herd. Puzzled by the numbering. Why did they skip from 012 to 019? That about the intervening numbers?
2 more herds have been released from quarantine, in both cases after just under 1 month. ag.colorado.gov/animals/repo...
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#USDA has updated its list of #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds. It has almost caught up with the announcements states have made, adding 7 new herds in Colorado, Minnesota & Iowa. Unless state numbers change today, USDA is only missing 1 herd, from Iowa. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
1 replies 8 reposts 15 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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It's a holiday in the US today & I don't *think* #USDA will update its site. But a little info here in this online list of Colorado herds. This is the first time I've seen anyone disclose that some herds (not many) have come out of quarantine. Also: Colorado has 18 herds in total, up 2.
0 replies 1 reposts 10 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Idaho has overtaken Michigan as the state with the most #H5N1 #birdflu detections in dairy herds. USDA announced 7 new herds today: Idaho (3), Texas (2) & Iowa (2). It still hasn't added 2 other Iowa herds & 3 from Minnesota to its list.
Cum national total: 114. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
1 replies 15 reposts 40 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#Rabies is a terrible death, and an unnecessary death. With rapid access to post-exposure vaccine, rabies deaths can be averted. That still isn't happening often enough in the developing world. #Gavi is hoping to help fix it. www.statnews.com/2024/06/18/g...
1 replies 13 reposts 50 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#FDA has approved Merck's 21-valent pneumococcal vaccine, designed to protect adults against 8 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae that none of the other pneumococcal vaccines target. #ACIP and #CDC will recommend on how it should be used next week. www.statnews.com/2024/06/17/m...
0 replies 4 reposts 29 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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#H5N1 #birdflu update: Minnesota has announced 3 new herds and Iowa added another today (in addition to the one it reported on Saturday). I'll wait a bit to see if #USDA is going to update its list today.
0 replies 3 reposts 14 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Missed this over the weekend: Iowa announced it has detected a 6th #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy cow herd. This would bring the national total to 105 in 12 states. iowaagriculture.gov/news/highly-...
2 replies 16 reposts 32 likes
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Helen Branswell
@helenbranswell.bsky.social
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Tony Fauci was shaken by the politicization he saw in the Congressional response to the #Zika crisis. It was foreshadowing of things to come. @statnews.bsky.social's Jason Mast reports on some of the takeaways of Fauci's book, out Tuesday. www.statnews.com/2024/06/16/a...
1 replies 18 reposts 30 likes