Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Books are my comfort food!

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Rupert, come get your orange boy, you petrified old dinosaur turd.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

The words do not have to be perfect.

You are here: Home / Healthcare / COVID-19 / H5N1 & COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: March 19, 2025

H5N1 & COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: March 19, 2025

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FAO urges nations to ramp up actions to blunt impact of H5N1 avian flu
Amid economic and food supply concerns, officials continue to track animal detections and scientists shed new light on pathogenicity and treatment.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a…

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM

H5N1 dairy cow study finds sustained milk production drop, extensive transmission across herd
Milk losses, mortality, and herd removal led to an estimated $737,500 loss to the farm over the observation period.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a…

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM

#USDA confirmed 1 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herd in California, the 755th in the state to test positive for H5. CA says 384 of those herds have cleared infection & been released from quarantine.
Cumulative national total: 986 herds in 17 states.
www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po…

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— Helen Branswell (@helenbranswell.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 9:36 AM

#USDA confirmed 3 more #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds in Idaho, bringing the state's total to 41 and the cumulative national total to 989 herds in 17 states. www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po…

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— Helen Branswell (@helenbranswell.bsky.social) March 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM


Important brief commentary in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social summarizing licensed H5 vaccines
– Most are inactivated vaccines.
– 80% produced in chicken eggs.
– All require a 2-dose schedule
– Good safety data from 32,000 trial participants cumulatively
– Only Finland is deploying a vaccine currently

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— BK. Titanji (@boghuma.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM

#Birdflu virus is infectious for months in cheese made from raw milk, posing health risks. Cornell scientists made the discovery. U.S. law bans sales of raw milk across state lines yet sales of raw milk cheese are legal if aged 60 days—but that's not long enough for H5N1 www.cnn.com/2025/03/14/h…

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— Delthia Ricks (@dricks.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM

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CDC continues the SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance which today shows steady rise of the LP.8.1 variant; no others emerging with clear growth advantage. This is consistent with relatively low levels of circulating virus. For now.

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— Eric Topol (@erictopol.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM

Some input at the 5-year mark of Covid
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202…

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— Eric Topol (@erictopol.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM

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Abrupt cessation of US aid funding has plunged programs to fight #malaria, #TB, & #HIV into a crisis, #WHO said Monday. Director-General Tedros said while the US has the right to decide how to spend its money, if it is to withdraw it should do so in a planned way. www.statnews.com/2025/03/17/w…

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— Helen Branswell (@helenbranswell.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM

Nothing will kill more children than the ongoing decimation of CDC, NIH, and USAID work to lift vaccine uptake in the US and world.
Child survival rose 75% in the last 50 years. Vaccines account for 40% of that. Measles vax alone was 60% of the benefit. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan…

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— Atul Gawande (@agawande.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 8:05 AM

Study: #COVID pandemic stole nearly 17 million years of life from adults in 18 European countries
If the pandemic hadn't occurred, over half of the person-years of life lost would likely have been lived without disability, the authors say.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c…

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM

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New and encouraging results for a combined flu and Covid mRNA vaccine randomized clinical trial in >1,200 healthy adults age 18-79
www.nature.com/articles/s41…

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— Eric Topol (@erictopol.bsky.social) March 18, 2025 at 7:31 AM

A pill to prevent #Covid is showing promise in Japan. The drug is made by pharmaceutical giant Shionogi. Researchers say the drug—ensitrelvir—blocked #SARSCoV2 among people exposed to it. Ensitrelvir is approved in Japan at a lower dose, which helps reduce hospitalizations time.com/7267886/pill…

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— Delthia Ricks (@dricks.bsky.social) March 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM

A #SciencePerspective by @zalaly.bsky.social and @erictopol.bsky.social identifies key issues that need to be prioritized in the study of #LongCovid.
Learn more on #LongCovidAwarenessDay: scim.ag/3XKbds3

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— Science Magazine (@science.org) March 15, 2025 at 10:07 AM

1 in 8 #COVID survivors still have symptoms 2 years after infection, researchers say
From 2021 to 2023, 23% of participants developed long-COVID symptoms, with 56% of those infected in 2021 reporting symptoms for 2 years.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c…

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 2:48 PM

How does SARS-CoV-2 lead to the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare, potentially fatal condition?
www.nature.com/articles/s41…
High levels of TGFβ interfere with the child's response to control Epstein Barr virus, leading to its reactivation and severe inflammation @nature.com

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— Eric Topol (@erictopol.bsky.social) March 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM

3 vaccine doses cut #long-COVID risk by over 60%, analysis suggests
Lower risks for vaccinated participants were also seen when restricting analyses to the pre-Omicron and Omicron periods, sex, age, or previous infection.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c…

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 17, 2025 at 2:59 PM

My colleague @scripps.edu @julialmv.bsky.social today on Long Covid

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— Eric Topol (@erictopol.bsky.social) March 16, 2025 at 1:19 PM

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FDA announces flu strain picks for next season's vaccines
Like the recent WHO recommendation, the picks swap out the H3N2 strains for egg- and cell-based vaccines.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i…

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 2:03 PM

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Vermont reports measles case; Europe warns of highest case count in 25 years
Last year, European countries reported 127,350 measles cases.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m…
Photo: CDC / Tatiana Lanzieri, MD, MPH

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— CIDRAP (@cidrap.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM

Facts: Measles is unlike other viruses. It seriously damages 11%-73% of a patient’s antibody stockpile. A 2015 study estimated this: Before vaccinations, when measles was common, the virus was likely implicated in 1/2 of all childhood deaths from infectious diseases www.nbcnews.com/health/healt…

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— Delthia Ricks (@dricks.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 8:09 AM

Hey RFKJr:
Measles Can Damage the Immune System for Years www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/w…

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— Timothy McBride (@mcbridetd.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM

RFK Jr.'s claims on the safety of vaccine safety aren't backed by the data.

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— STAT (@statnews.com) March 14, 2025 at 10:33 AM

Texas public health official predicts the measles outbreak could take a year to contain

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— STAT (@statnews.com) March 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM

Reader Interactions

20Comments

  2. 2.

    Baud

    Nothing will kill more children than the ongoing decimation of CDC, NIH, and USAID work to lift vaccine uptake in the US and world.

    As long as the female doesn’t get to decide for herself, it’s all good.

    @Matt McIrvin:

    We’ll see. People like predicting the worst more than they like preventing the worst.

  3. 3.

    JoyceH

    @Matt McIrvin: And you know how you leave the dentist appointment with that little sampler bag with the toothbrush and trial sized toothpaste and floss? With your flu shot, you’ll get the DAHA Wellness Sampler – it will contain a little bottle of cod liver oil, a package of beef tallow, and sample doses of horse paste and fish tank cleanser.

  4. 4.

    New Deal democrat

    I’ll start with the best news: deaths from COVID over the entire last 52 week period declined further for the last reporting week, February 15, to yet another new record low of 39,000. This compares with 60,200 in the 52 week period ending 6 months ago, and 69,900 death in the 52 weeks ending one year ago.

    In the week ending February 15, there were 673 deaths, the lowest since December 28. The first preliminary number for the latest week March 8, was 253 deaths, suggesting a final number of about 500-600 deaths for that week.

    Wastewater particles declined further in all four census regions, and nationally were 2.94 per mL, compared with 5.49 at the Holiday peak and last autumn’s low of 1.83, suggesting further declines in deaths in the weeks ahead. JP Weiland’s forecast is for further declines in wastewater particles as well in the weeks ahead.

    As to measles, I read a report a day or two ago indicating that the measles outbreak has spread to Chihuahua, Mexico. I continue to believe a nationwide outbreak is likely in the near future.

  6. 6.

    p.a.

    When a majority(?) of a political party’s supporters think the earth is 6k years old and the odd scribblings of a bronze age wandering clan (H/T The Onion) are the basis of all knowledge…

  7. 7.

    bjacques

    There’s currently an outbreak of Spontaneous Tesla Combustion (STC). I believe it should be allowed to rage through the Tesla population unchecked, to establish herd immunity.

  9. 9.

    Soprano2

    @New Deal democrat: So, so glad I got my titers checked and got a booster a few years ago. I’ve been on FB encouraging everyone I know who is around my age to do that NOW. I had  no idea I had no more immunity until I was tested. I know I got my shots when I was young, but there was something about some vaccines given in the late ’60’s-early ’70’s that made the immunity wear off. As for hubby, he had measles when he was a kid so I don’t have to worry about it for him.

  10. 10.

    Scout211

    Scientific American:

    National Institutes of Health officials have urged scientists to remove all references to mRNA vaccine technology from their grant applications, two researchers said, in a move that signaled the agency might abandon a promising field of medical research.

    The mRNA technology is under study at the NIH for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including flu and AIDS, and also cancer. It was deployed in the development of covid-19 vaccines credited with saving 3 million lives in the U.S. alone — an accomplishment President Donald Trump bragged about in his first term.

    A scientist at a biomedical research center in Philadelphia wrote to a colleague, in an email reviewed by KFF Health News, that a project officer at NIH had “flagged our pending grant as having an mRNA vaccine component.”

    “It’s still unclear whether mRNA vaccine grants will be canceled,” the scientist added.

    NIH officials also told a senior NIH-funded vaccine scientist in New York state, who does not conduct mRNA vaccine research but described its efficacy in previous grant applications, that all references to mRNA vaccines should be scrubbed from future applications.

    Scientists relayed their experiences on the condition of anonymity for fear of professional retaliation by the Trump administration.

    A senior official at the National Cancer Institute confirmed that NIH acting Director Matthew Memoli sent an email across the NIH instructing that any grants, contracts, or collaborations involving mRNA vaccines be reported up the chain to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s office and the White House.

    Make America Sick Again.

  12. 12.

    Scout211

    @Cliosfanboy:

    California Department of Public Health.

    Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness.

    Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection. Symptoms of bird flu infection in humans include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing and fever. Anyone who has consumed these specific products, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department.

  13. 13.

    Gretchen

    I saw an interview of the parents of the child who died of measles in Texas. They seemed very young and innocent, and seemed more comfortable speaking in German than English – they’re Mennonites. The people interviewing them seemed to be encouraging them to think that it was medical negligence that killed their child rather than measles. They noted that their other 4 children also got measles and were fine. They talked about steps the doctors were going to take and then didn’t – breathing treatments, removing fluid from the lungs. They weren’t allowed to stay in the ICU overnight with her, but didn’t understand why. The mother wanted to give her daughter water before she was intubated, and didn’t understand why they wouldn’t let her. It sounds like the hospital could have done a better job explaining things to them, but they didn’t seem medically knowledgeable. They still thought that vaccine injuries were more dangerous than disease, and that measles enhances the immune system rather than undermines it. They felt that it was God’s will that she died, that she was too good for this world, that she’s in a better place, and didn’t think their decision not to vaccinate her was wrong. The mother hadn’t been vaccinated either, and got measles when her children did.

    In sum, I felt very sorry for these young, innocent, poorly educated people being targeted by awful cynical people wanting to use their sad story.

  15. 15.

    Old School

    @Matt McIrvin:

    So, there’s going to be a seasonal flu vaccine next season after all?

    The FDA did it on their own.

    The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued recommendations for the composition of influenza shots for the upcoming respiratory virus season, but without input from its independent vaccine advisers.

    The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee had been scheduled to meet Thursday to weigh in on the composition of the flu shots, but that session was canceled without explanation in late February.

    Instead, experts from within the FDA, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Defense gathered Thursday to go over surveillance data from the US and around the world about flu viruses that are currently circulating.

  16. 16.

    Fair Economist

    @Cliosfanboy: So far no humans are proven to have caught H5N1 from ingestion (although there are a few unexplained cases). But cats have definitely caught and even died from drinking H5N1 infected raw milk.

  17. 17.

    Bill Arnold

    @bjacques:

    There’s currently an outbreak of Spontaneous Tesla Combustion (STC).

    I expect that investigation will determine that some of those STC incidents were/are/will be insurance fraud.

  18. 18.

    Bill Arnold

    Good to see that the NYTimes headlined measles-infection-caused immune amnesia.
    (I’d missed that because of NYTimes avoidance due to their pro-authoritarian (GOP) political coverage.)

  19. 19.

    Burrowing Owl

    Thank you, Anne Laurie, again and always for gathering information and keeping us up to date. You save lives.

  20. 20.

    Barbara

    @Soprano2: In the late 60s and early 70s, measles vaccination consisted of only one shot, rather than two, which became standard sometime in the 70s, and is now required for kids to be considered properly vaccinated.  If you only had the one-shot vaccine, you should get a booster.  I actually had measles prior to any vaccine requirements.  My secretary got measles when I was pregnant and I called my doctor, who told me that they always test pregnant patients for measles immunity and provide a vaccine if they don’t find it.

Comments are closed.