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Antigenic Drifting

@antigenic-drift.bsky.social
76 followers 273 following 39 posts

Infectious disease epidemiologist with a focus on influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory pathogens. Interested in viral evolution, social commentary, politics, anthropology, science fiction. All opinions are my own. #GetVaccinated #EpiSky

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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
This is nuts tbh
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zoonoses.bsky.social @zoonoses.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Seroprevalence of Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Domestic Cats at Epicenter of Dairy Cattle Outbreaks, California, USA, 2024-2026 📰 Emerging infectious diseases #Zoonoses #OneHealth #InfectiousDiseases #PublicHealth 🔗 doi.org/10.3201/eid3209.260785
wwwnc.cdc.gov
Seroprevalence of Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Domestic Cats at Epicenter of Dairy Cattle Outbreaks, California, USA, 2024-2026
We conducted a serologic study of domestic cats near the epicenter of the dairy cattle outbreaks of influenza A(H5N1) in California, USA. Three of the 12 cats sampled within 2 km of farms had neutr...
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Physicians for a Healthy Democracy @physiciandemocracy.medsky.social · 05/08/2025
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-ge...
cidrap.umn.edu
Influenza, not Tamiflu, may raise risk of neuropsychiatric events in kids
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Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
I wrote about a reason not to use generative AI in your writing that I haven't seen anyone talking about. Once I realized this, banning GenAI in our lab's writing became a no-brainer. Feel free to share, I think this is probably useful especially for trainees: www.carlsonlab.bio/thoughts/the...
carlsonlab.bio
The only reason you’ll ever need not to write with AI — The Carlson Lab
Over the last year, our lab has been developing a policy on AI use. To do this, we did three main things: We read a lot of academic publications and tech news. We set up an #ai channel on our la...
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Stop trying to make fetch happen
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I appreciate all the early COVID post but legit just had my first PTSD flashback in a couple of years about that time period and its nor great
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mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
It's absolutely insane we've somehow let the Covid recriminations debate become like "why didn't we reopen in person schools before there was a vaccine" and not "why did none of the trump guys go to jail for stealing PPE from New York hospitals in March 2020"
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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The evidence supports the alt theory of a spillover from animals sold at the market. Spillovers also happen to account for all other novel infectious disease epidemics. I'm tired of writing about this since I'm tired of the harassment. Pretty much every science writer I know feels the same.
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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The lab theory is v hard to reconcile w/evidence: So, two (2 lineages initially) infected WIV researchers didn't infect anyone in their community or around WIV (invisible masks?). They went to the market to pet (?) mammals, left traces of SARS2, coughed on people. Then put invisible? masks back on.
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LymeScience @lymescience.org · 23/07/2026
Also notable that the lowest paid specialties in medicine are: Pediatrics Public health and preventive medicine Infectious diseases Residencies may have a tough time recruiting for these specialties. www.beckersasc.com/asc-coding-b...
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By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 22/07/2026
If you really want an "AI strategy" for your country, it should be this: wait for the bubble to burst, then buy hardware and talent at fire-sale prices in the wave of ensuing bankruptcies, and use them to extract more performance from free, open source models. 50/
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innes mck @innes.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
but they already made a historically accurate version of the odyssey?
three men, grinning, stand in front of an old timey microphone in a still from O Brother Where Art Thou
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The process of applying for a PhD in the UK is so needlessly complicated. Anyone looking to take on a student with an MPH and ten years of infectious disease epi experience in the US? Interested in genomic epi, one health, emerging infectious diseases, respiratory viruses?
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Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
This is one of the most insane and irresponsible things I have _ever_ seen from @theatlantic.com. And that's saying a lot. Just unbelievable stuff.
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Jeffrey Mervis @policyhound.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Been wondering why NSF isn't spending most of its FY26 appropriation? A $1.5B tech initiative may be the reason. And big cuts to hundreds of research programs could be just the beginning of the bad news. www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Exclusive: NSF slashes research programs to support new tech initiative, insiders say
Unexpected shift in funds has meant sharp drop in grants this fiscal year
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Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
When they came for the 47-year-old Angelas over dumb made-up virology BS, I did not speak out because I was not a 47-year-old Angela and virology is boring and it’s only our democracy at stake.
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
If I had $500 million to spend on reducing respiratory illness transmission, I would simply restore the $500 million dollars #RFKjr cut from #mRNA vaccine research, but I guess #Anthropic and #OpenAI can't inject their asbestos into those walls so instead we get this: www.interceptfund.com
interceptfund.com
Intercept
A philanthropic initiative accelerating technologies to reduce and ultimately eliminate respiratory viruses.
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The Vertlartnic @thev.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Nothing Is Wrong, But The Things That Are Wrong Were Not Caused By That.
Doctors
Headline:
Nothing Is Wrong, But The Things That Are Wrong Were Not Caused By That.
Story by Brian Lopez and Evan Baldurgate

Photo from Adobe
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Onisillos @onisillos.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Dear pundits, I’m begging you. Please stop calling Bundibugyo virus a strain. 🙏
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Ed Rybicki 🇿🇲🇿🇦🇬🇧🍷🚀 @edrybicki.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Oxford Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate receives CEPI backing — Oxford Vaccine Group
ovg.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate receives CEPI backing — Oxford Vaccine Group
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced today that it will urgently accelerate the development of three investigational vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus that has caused a rapidly spreading epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and...
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Asked on a CDC call if they'd be releasing #MVHondius passengers for home monitoring so the space could be used for the #Bundibugyo #ebolavirus response. My question was watered down & passengers were referred to as "guests" - absurd given the threats to do a legal order if they try to leave
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Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Harm Reduction Works. 'Wellness Farms' Won’t. We should follow the evidence in choosing options, but HHS is restricting access to approaches that work. www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco... via @medpagetoday.com Dr. Deb Houry.
medpagetoday.com
Opinion | Harm Reduction Works. 'Wellness Farms' Won’t.
Funding restrictions remove lifesaving support for those at risk of overdose
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Ed Hutchinson @socialinfluenza.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🚨New paper!🚨 Our study showing that H5N1 influenza viruses can remain infectious in unpasteurised milk for, basically, as long as you are likely to encounter that milk has now been published: www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
A drawing of a Fresian cow whose markings resemble influenza viruses (image: Ed Hutchinson, 2025)
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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
My first piece at MSNOW (RIP NBCThink): on #hantavirus, but the biggest worry isn't the virus, but the US's hobbled ability to respond if something worse shows up on our shores.
ms.now
Opinion | We’re focusing on the wrong aspects of the hantavirus outbreak
Tara C. Smith: At least for now, the Andes virus outbreak is frightening, but the risk to the global population is low. The next outbreak may not be.
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Melody Schreiber @melodyschreiber.com · 09/05/2026
This is so wild. "CDC developed health guidance for impacted American passengers, which was delivered by the U.S. Department of State." CDC's experts have responded to Andes virus outbreaks in the past! Why is State taking this over?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CDC Provides Update on Hantavirus Outbreak Linked to M/V Hondius Cruise Ship

The U.S. government is actively monitoring and responding to a hantavirus outbreak linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship. At this time, the risk to the American public remains extremely low.

CDC developed health guidance for impacted American passengers, which was delivered by the U.S. Department of State. CDC's premier infectious disease experts are continuing to work closely with international partners to develop consistent monitoring guidance. This guidance will be distributed today, in addition to resources targeted for state and local health departments.

The U.S. government's top priority is the safe repatriation of American passengers. These individuals are planned to be evacuated on a U.S. government medical repatriation flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, where they will be transported to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

The CDC deployed a team of epidemiologists and medical professionals to the Canary Islands, where the M/V Hondius is expected to dock. The team will conduct an exposure risk assessment for each American passenger and provide recommendations for the level of monitoring required. An additional CDC team will deploy to Offutt AFB to support public health assessment of returning passengers.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/andesvirus.html
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Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 07/05/2026
3/ How did the cats get HPAI, you might ask? Well, their owners had fed them raw milk 🥛 raw poultry 🐔 or raw pet food before they got sick This isn't the focus of the article, but we'll let you draw your own conclusions...
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Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 07/05/2026
We get some of the first evidence of HPAI transmission from cats 🐈 to humans from LA County But before you cat lovers panic... Of the 25 people with documented exposures to cats with HPAI, only 1 (a vet) had serologic evidence that they'd been infected More at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
cdc.gov
Serologic Evidence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ...
This report describes 139 human exposures to cats infected with A(H5N1) in Los Angeles, California.
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
We report serological evidence that a veterinary professional likely caught #H5N1 from a sick cat. The vet professional was asymptomatic. The cat was very sick. Don't feed your pets raw food products. #birdflu #influenza #episky www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
cdc.gov
Serologic Evidence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ...
This report describes 139 human exposures to cats infected with A(H5N1) in Los Angeles, California.
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Antigenic Drifting @antigenic-drift.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Why, exactly, is Science Direct asking for access to other devices on my local network?
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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
“Viruses and bacteria that were under control are being set free on our most vulnerable…It won’t work and can’t end well”. Way to go @jimalwine.bsky.social, representing @defendpublichealth.bsky.social.
latimes.com
Trump administration slashes number of diseases U.S. children will be regularly vaccinated against
Insurance companies will still be required to fully cover all childhood vaccines on the CDC schedule, including those now designated as optional.
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Jason Rasgon @vectorgen.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
A probability matrix is not conscious. For fucks sake.
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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
SARS-CoV-2 is not “airborne HIV” and I will not permit this narrative on my feed. It’s an irresponsible and harmful claim made by people who understand nothing about viruses.
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Brian Wasik @brianrwasik.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
<you, smart> the virus must be perfectly adapted to cause a pandemic <evolution, dumb> eh, good enough
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Kevin Ault @kevinault.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
"While the CDC website lists 12 active workgroups ...an HHS spokesperson did not directly answer questions from MedPage Today about whether those workgroups remain active or have meetings scheduled." More about ACIP here #MedSky via @medpagetoday.com. www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdi...
medpagetoday.com
CDC Vaccine Panel Workgroups Question Their Fate
Many expert panels shaping vaccine policy haven't met in months, leaving members in the dark
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 07/11/2025
"Viruses don’t take vacations. The longest government shutdown ever puts everyone’s health at greater risk because the data and reports that are essential for monitoring the spread of diseases haven’t been updated for weeks." — me in @huffpost.com
huffpost.com
Experts Warn The Government Shutdown Is Affecting You In A Major, Unexpected Way
This lapse is leaving doctors and the public dangerously in the dark.
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Edward Nirenberg @enirenberg.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
I am so tired of hearing the opinions on the origins of COVID-19 from people who have literally no germane expertise to opine on it. The authors claim not to have a strong opinion. Fine, but it’s clear that they favor lab leak over spillover and their focus on lab leakers as the real victims…
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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
The real generational divide is people who refuse to watch a video if it could be an article versus people who refuse to read an article if it could be a video
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Jeremy Faust, MD @jeremyfaust.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
EXCLUSIVE: A summary of possible CDC funding based on the President’s Budget, the House markup, and the Senate markup. Red: programs Trump wants entirely slashed. Yellow: programs Trump requested substantial cuts. Blue: flat or increased funding. What does all this mean? 🧵
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
#BREAKING: Judge Breyer has held that the Trump admin. *violated* the Posse Comitatus Act in its military deployments in and around Los Angeles, and has enjoined further use of those troops for law enforcement tasks. The order is stayed through 12 PDT on 9/12: georgetown.app.box.com/file/1973361...
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 28/08/2025
When a top CDC scientist resigns citing eugenicist rhetoric from federal health agencies, everyone should absolutely be paying attention.
Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun. The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions' words over decades
created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues
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Joseph Rezek @rezekjoe.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
There are no shortcuts in this life. Destroy all the robots. Now we have a name for an increasingly common phenomenon for people who rely on AI: “deskilling”
Screenshot of NYT article “A study published in the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that after just three months of using an A.I. tool designed to help spot precancerous growths during colonoscopies, doctors were significantly worse at finding the growths on their own.
This is the first evidence that relying on
A.I. tools might erode a doctor's ability to perform fundamental skills without the technology, a phenomenon known as
"deskilling."”
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Jeremy Faust, MD @jeremyfaust.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Massive walkout underway at CDC. RFK jr. must resign so that we can be safe.
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BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
There is a massive walk out at the CDC by staff unfolding right now. It is NECESSARY. I stand in solidarity with my CDC colleagues. standing up for science and public health. It is a moral imperative.
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IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
IDSA calls on insurers to cover COVID vaccines consistent with medical recommendations and evidence, and urges Congress to conduct strong oversight of the Administration’s decision restricting Americans’ freedom to choose vaccination. Our statement: bit.ly/3JBFPb6
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Memento (spooky) Morty 🌙 @mementomorty.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
No, you're not ineligible for the vaccine. Let me introduce you to the concept of lying.
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Ed @notdred.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
That COVID spike relative to other countries is especially insane. We produced the most effective vaccines in massive numbers and then let ourselves get into a ridiculous fight about whether to use them
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Jenn Dowd @drjenndowd.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
After hearing stories of breast cancer surviviors panicked by recent headlines, I decided to revisit my take on the recent “COVID rekindling dormant cancer” paper. After reflection, I was too generous in calling the human results even “suggestive.” jenndowd.substack.com/p/covid-and-...
jenndowd.substack.com
COVID and cancer "reawakening" redux
Don't panic...it really was just IN MICE
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Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
The administration is taking money from research and public health that protects Americans, and instead is spending it on using the military to enact violence against Americans and suppress our Constitutional rights. If the former doesn’t bother you, the latter sure as hell should.
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Data Report @datareport.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Commentary: Study finds removing school mask mandates contributed to 22,000 U.S. COVID deaths in a year www.latimes.com/business/sto...
latimes.com
Commentary: Study finds removing school mask mandates contributed to 22,000 U.S. COVID deaths in a year
Critics of anti-pandemic measures prompted schools to end mask mandates, but doing so exposed millions to COVID infection, contributing to nearly 22,000 deaths.
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Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
As another professor of Holocaust and genocide studies, Raz Segal, put it: “Can I name someone whose work I respect who doesn’t think it’s genocide? No.
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | A genocide is happening in Gaza. We should say so.
We can no longer hide the uncomfortable truths of Israel’s destruction of Gaza.
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