Category Archives: Public Health

No on Kennedy

Posted on January 20, 2025 by mikethemadbiologist

The anti-endorsement of Kennedy for DHHS Secretary won’t surprise regular readers: he’s dangerously bonkers, unqualified, has a ton of personal issues, and is corrupt. But it is worth reminding people what Kennedy did to Samoan children:

Posted in Conservatives, Public Health, Resistance Rebellion And Death | 1 Comment

No, Kennedy Should Not Be Confirmed as HHS Secretary

Posted on January 9, 2025 by mikethemadbiologist

There seem to be some Democrats who are waffling about whether or not to support Kennedy for HHS secretary. Not only is he responsible for extending the Samoan measles epidemic, he is a long-term vaccine opponent whose closest advisor Aaron … Continue reading →

Posted in Democrats, Public Health | 2 Comments

Things That Should Be Done to Combat Avian Influenza, but Likely Will Not Be Done

Posted on January 7, 2025 by mikethemadbiologist

I hope I’m wrong! But if the previous Trump administration is any guide, along with the anti-public health radicalization of the right, they won’t be. Anyway, the RAND Institute offers several policy suggestions: Recommendation 1: Declare H5N1 a PHE and … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Influenza, Public Health | 1 Comment

A Modest Proposal for a Flu Vaccination Campaign

Posted on December 30, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

By way of background, we go to the Great State of Louisiana (boldface mine): Flu season is ramping up across the US, but Louisiana—the state that has reportedly barred its health department from promoting flu shots, as well as COVID-19 … Continue reading →

Posted in Influenza, Propaganda, Public Health | 1 Comment

Democrats Must Hold the Line Against Polio

Posted on December 16, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

Which means holding the line against Kennedy. The NY Times recently described how Kennedy’s laywer and colleague, Aaron Siri, has spent much of his adult life trying to stop vaccination, including polio vaccination (boldface mine): The lawyer helping Robert F. … Continue reading →

Posted in Democrats, Public Health | 3 Comments

Imagine RFK Jr. In Charge During a Pandemic

Posted on November 4, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

Be afraid, be very afraid if Trump wins (boldface mine): Former President Donald Trump said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would have a “big role in the administration” if he wins Tuesday, telling NBC News in a phone interview that he … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Public Health | Comments Off on Imagine RFK Jr. In Charge During a Pandemic

The De Facto Trump Administration Blueprint, Project 2025, Is Full of COVID-Related Insanity

Posted on July 17, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

Among the torrent of bullshit that is the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025–a blueprint for a second Trump administration–is this section on public health (pp. 451-452; boldface mine): Goal #4: Preparing for the Next Health Emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, Public Health | 3 Comments

Some Thoughts on Agricultural Surveillance

Posted on May 30, 2024 by mikethemadbiologist

Due to avian influenza concerns, there’s a non-negligible chance we’re going to have agricultural surveillance discourse here, so let’s discuss agricultural microbial surveillance briefly. Much of the surveillance in the U.S., especially on the agricultural side of things, is voluntary. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Public Health | Comments Off on Some Thoughts on Agricultural Surveillance

Given the Prevalence of STIs, We Need Doxy-PEP, but There Could Be Consequences

Posted on October 17, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

And not good ones. For those who don’t know what Doxy-PEP is, Apoorva Mandavilli provides a good, concise summary (boldface mine): In a bid to stem the resurgence of sexually transmitted infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibiotics, E. coli, Public Health | Comments Off on Given the Prevalence of STIs, We Need Doxy-PEP, but There Could Be Consequences

It’s Become Even Worse for PRoMED

Posted on August 4, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

A few weeks ago, I noted that PRoMED, an infectious disease alert system, was in trouble. Well, it seems it was far worse than anyone knew. Apparently, that letter from July 20 was sent out without any of the PRoMED … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Health, We're Really Fucked | 1 Comment