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Lesley Hawes MPH PhD

@lesleyhawes4.bsky.social
852 followers 536 following 70 posts

Public health, Microbiology, Epidemiology COVID-19, Antimicrobial Resistance & Stewardship in General Practice Wurundjeri land, Melbourne, Australia

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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
articleweblog.bsky.social @articleweblog.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Melbourne and Victoria rocked overnight by state’s biggest earthquake in three years More than 17,000 Australians were shaken from their sleep by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake, the biggest to hit the state in years. Source link
articlweblog.com
Melbourne and Victoria rocked overnight by state’s biggest earthquake in three years
More than 17,000 Australians were shaken from their sleep by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake, the biggest to hit the state in years. Source link
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Michelle Wille @duckswabber.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Air sampling around poultry farms carried out during Spain outbreaks in 2025. Detection of HPAI aerosols up to 150m from barns - more evidence for airbourne transport of virus between farms. 👉 open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/6-315
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Good review on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) today @jama.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
South Australia has recorded 7 new suspected cases of H5N1 bird flu. 🔹Southend (not far from Beachport): 5 cases 🔹Port MacDonnell: 1 case 🔹Cape Jaffa: 1 case Australia has recorded 20 confirmed cases of the strain so far. #BirdFluAustralia
abc.net.au
Seven new suspected H5 bird flu cases detected in SA
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says urgent testing is being conducted by the CSIRO.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
AUSTRALIA Weekly COVID Update: 24 July 2026 🔹ACT: ⬆️(+34.4%) 🔹QLD: ⬆️(+16.0%) 19 in hospital 🔹WA: ⬆️(+8.6%) 26 per day in hospital 🔹VIC: ⬆️(+6.0%) 🔸TAS: ⬇️(-36.5%) 🔸SA: ⬇️(-17.4%) 4 deaths reported 🔸NSW: ⬇️(-9.9%) 🔹Aged Care: The government ended weekly reporting
An image of an "AUSTRALIAN Weekly COVID Update — 24 July 2026" dashboard tracking viral trends across states and territories.
The main table lists data across four columns: States & Territories, Trend, % Change, and Reporting Notes:
•	ACT: Up trend (+34.4%), marked weekly update.
•	QLD: Up trend (+16.0%), noted 19 in hospital.
•	WA: Up trend (+8.6%), noted 26 per day in hospital, 3.9% positivity.
•	VIC: Up trend (+6.0%), noted 1.9% positivity.
•	TAS: Down trend (-36.5%), noted 3.3% positivity.
•	SA: Down trend (-17.4%), noted 4 reported deaths.
•	NSW: Down trend (-9.9%), noted 3.0% positivity.
•	NT: Dash indicators, text states data is no longer published on NT Health's website.
•	Aged care: Dash indicators, text states the Australian Government no longer publishes weekly residential aged care case data.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I still can’t get over LAB LEAK (COVID dot gov). That was when I knew this was no longer a debate but an edict
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
New development: this is the first detection of genotype D1.1 H5N1 virus in cattle. All cattle sequences to date were genotype B3.13 & were all descended from a single spillover. New genotype means new introduction to cows from birds. www.statnews.com/2025/02/05/u...
statnews.com
USDA milk testing shows different strain of H5N1 bird flu in Nevada dairy herds
The USDA said four Nevada dairy herds were infected with an H5N1 bird flu strain that has circulated in wild birds, making prospects for containment in cows appear dim.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS @euanritchie.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
How might H5N1 (bird flu)—now in at least two Australian states—affect native wildlife and ecosystems, and compound Australia's extinction crisis? Some thoughts from me 👉 theconversation.com/bird-flu-has...
theconversation.com
Bird flu has spread to two Australian states. Here’s how it could accelerate our extinction crisis
The arrival of the H5N1 strain may threaten our most vulnerable species.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 06/07/2026
Causes of death: this tool lets you explore what people die from in different countries around the world, both over time and broken down by age and sex. → ourworldindata.org/what-do-peop...
Screenshot of our causes of death tool
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 06/07/2026
🔧📊 We recently built four interactive tools that give you new ways to explore our rich datasets — check them out! 🧵 Population projections: lets you test how changes in fertility rates, life expectancy, and migration rates will change future populations. → ourworldindata.org/population-s...
Screenshot of our population projections tool
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Alexander Dudley @alexanderdudley.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
If you can't bring yourself to contain your cat because of risk from being hit by cars, attacked by dogs, collecting parasites or pathogens like H5N1, here's another reason. www.sciencenews.org/article/dead...
sciencenews.org
A deadly fungus that can infect cats and people is spreading
It’s just a matter of time before Sporothrix brasiliensis reaches the U.S. a CDC expert says.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Severe COVID-19 is associated with an increased short- and long-term risk of tuberculosis, which was substantially greater among unvaccinated individuals www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
National COVID-19 Risk Table (U.S.) dated Jun 29, 2026 Chances Anyone is Infectious: 🔸1 in 264 people infectious (0.4%) 🔹1 person: 0.4% 🔹10 people: 3.7% 🔹20 people: 7.3% 🔹50 people: 17.3% 🔹100 people: 31.6% 🔹300 people: 68.0%
An infographic titled "National COVID-19 Risk Table (U.S.)" from pmc19.com, dated June 29, 2026. The table correlates the number of people in a group with the mathematical chances that at least one person is actively infectious.
The data includes:
•	Small groups: 1 person (0.4%), 2 people (0.8%), 3 people (1.1%), 4 people (1.5%), 5 people (1.9%).
•	Medium groups: 10 people (3.7%), 15 people (5.5%), 20 people (7.3%), 25 people (9.1%), 30 people (10.8%).
•	Large groups: 50 people (17.3%), 75 people (24.8%), 100 people (31.6%), 200 people (53.2%), 300 people (68.0%).
The background alternates between white and light blue rows for readability.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Thailand: COVID-19 cases have been rising for 8 consecutive weeks—jumping 950% since early May. Reported weekly cases: 🔸 Week 19: 226 🔸 Week 20: 284 🔸 Week 21: 370 🔸 Week 22: 610 🔸 Week 23: 929 🔸 Week 24: 1,231 🔸 Week 25: 1,720 🔸 Week 26: 2,373 dvis3.ddc.moph.go.th/t/DDC_CENTER...
An official COVID-19 situation infographic from the Thailand Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, detailing statistics for June 28, 2026. The poster features a dark purple background with bright yellow and white text elements.
•	New Cases: A large section displays "+113 Cases," broken down into 102 outside cases and 11 inside cases. Below this, the cumulative cases since January 1, 2026, stand at 11,165.
•	New Deaths: Shows "+0 Cases," with a cumulative total of 1 death since January 1, 2026.
•	Top 5 Provinces: A horizontal bar chart shows the highest case counts: Phuket (17), Bangkok (15), Ratchaburi (12), Chonburi (10), and Krabi (9).
•	Age Groups: A horizontal bar chart breaks down cases by age brackets, showing the highest concentration in ages 20–29 (21 cases) and 30–39 (20 cases).
•	Weekly Cases: A line graph at the bottom tracks case counts over a 27-week period, showing a sharp upward spike in recent weeks.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Australia: NSW Health warns winter "influenza and RSV cases have risen concerningly". Dr. Kerry Chant stated: "In terms of influenza, we are starting to see an increase" and "it looks like we might see a peak in early August". Meanwhile, she confirmed COVID case activity remains "low" and "stable".
An image from news.com.au titled "'It’s not too late': Top doctor warns virus peak yet to come" by Josephine Quattrocchi, published June 30, 2026. The article notes that two infectious winter viruses have not yet peaked and a leading official urges people to get vaccinated.
Below the headline is a large, close-up photograph of Dr. Kerry Chant, the Chief Health Officer of New South Wales. She is pictured from the chest up, looking upward and to the left. She has greyish-blonde hair tucked behind her ear and is wearing a textured pink jacket or top. The caption below her photo reads: "Dr Kerry Chant has urged NSW residents to get vaccinated ahead of the peak infectious period. Picture: Thomas Lisson".
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Ursula Hofer @hoferu.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Bravo, stewardship in communities. Often ignored as it's difficult to tackle and research inevitably ends up somewhat messy. Nice podcast to go with the paper 👇
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Aaron Collins @masknerd.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
[1/3] As promised, the results from the long-duration testing of a MPR 2800 filter taped to a Taotronics AP-003. 1.5 years later and we see drop of *~70%* in performance in the 0.3-0.5 um size range from the test when new!!! (Same testing setup but at different times so apx ±10% error)
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · 19/06/2026
Too many Australians affected by cancer are being financially ruined or receiving sub-optimal (or no) care, due to cost or distance – and it’s everyone’s problem.
theconversation.com
Friday essay: I had to crowdfund my cancer treatment in Australia’s ‘universal’ health-care system
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Robyn Schofield @robynschofield3.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Excited this paper led by @camzachreson.bsky.social is out now! Room-return ventilation and N95 respirator policies for reducing airborne pathogen exposure on hospital wards www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Room-return ventilation and N95 respirator policies for reducing airborne pathogen exposure on hospital wards
Understanding interactions between the components of bundled mitigation measures can aid the prospective evaluation of hospital infection control prog…
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Dr David Joffe MB BS(Hons), PhD, FRACP @davidjoffe64.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Prospective associations of long COVID with sleep health nearly 3 years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a statewide representative cohort study academic.oup.com/sleep/articl...
academic.oup.com
Prospective associations of long COVID with sleep health nearly 3 years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a statewide representative cohort study
Statement of Significance Growing evidence suggests that individuals with long COVID report sleep disorders and insomnia; however, the literature is limite
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Science X / Phys.org @sciencex.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Just 10 H5N1 viral particles introduced into a cow teat were enough to cause infection. Even at that low dose, milk carried high viral concentrations, while the route between cows remains uncertain. doi.org/hb7r6q
phys.org
Only 10 viral particles cause H5N1 avian flu infection in cows
Just 10 viral particles of the H5N1 bird flu that caused hundreds of influenza outbreaks in U.S. dairy cattle can cause infection in cows, a new study shows.
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Solid Evidence @solidevidence.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Cryptic update. 2 this week. Little Rock cryptic back for a second week. I think its a BA.2 derivative (4 years ago). It was pretty much the only virus in the sample, but low coverage. RBD is about the same as last week. 1/
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Solid Evidence @solidevidence.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I’m so excited. Our secret (not so secret) observational experiment is about to begin. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for wastewater surveillance. FIFA World cup. 1/ @securebio.org www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
scientificamerican.com
The World Cup could be a petri dish for disease. Wastewater could sound the alarm
As millions of soccer fans pack FIFA World Cup venues, public health scientists created a wastewater monitoring network to forecast potential disease threats—from measles to Ebola
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Lesley Hawes MPH PhD @lesleyhawes4.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
If you lost smell and taste post COVID - do you cry when chopping onions? I saw someone crying while chopping onions and realised that I haven't cried over an onion for 2 years post Covid. #LongCovid #taste #smell #onion
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Onisillos @onisillos.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
"The prospect of not being able to come home for safe and effective care may create disincentives for people to disclose having been exposed, which could drive cases underground, and cause the virus to spread even more." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
US building Ebola quarantine center in Kenya for Americans amid outbreak
Some experts criticize White House approach and say not allowing Americans to return to US hurts treatment efforts
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Melissa Sweet @melissasweetdr.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Diphtheria outbreak underscores need for better investment in community-controlled health & #SDOH www.croakey.org/diphtheria-o... (published 22 May)
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
OUR NEW BMJ editorial: Andes virus should reset WHO’s default approach to airborne risk. 🧵 1/ For severe pathogens with person-to-person transmission, the starting point should be precautionary airborne protections — not waiting for definitive proof after spread occurs. www.bmj.com/content/393/...
bmj.com
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Dennis Ren MD @dennisrenmd.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
@kmpanthagani.bsky.social nice write up! #MedSky
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JN117 @jn117.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
When it comes to vaccines, the words "safe", "immunity" and "prevent" have caused incredible confusion and sparked endless debates. @kmpanthagani.bsky.social 's recent article does a great job explaining how misunderstandings arise. Recommended! www.youcanknowthings.com/when-work-do...
youcanknowthings.com
When “work” doesn’t work
I recently gave a talk on vaccine communication, and the most common feedback I got was appreciation for the section on words that confuse people. I’ve written before how a lot of “misinformation” ca...
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Healthcare-Global @healthcare-global.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
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Melissa Sweet @melissasweetdr.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
This fuel crisis could last for a while. It’s time for a new approach to fuel use – end it – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/time-for-a-n...
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SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) @covid19disease.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/...
wwwnc.cdc.gov
Tropism and Replication Competence of Cattle Influenza A(H5N1) Genotype B3.13 Virus in Human Bronchus and Lung Tissue
Influenza A(H5N1) B3.13 in Human Tissue
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Ilkka Rauvola @jukka235.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Mortality of 10-14 year olds in Sweden. 1/x
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Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Short thread on our new paper. We use face mask efficacy research as a “stress test” for systematic review methods. We analysed 66 systematic reviews of face mask efficacy; they reached widely different conclusions (~half said they work, half said that evidence of efficacy was lacking). 1/
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Ryan Hisner @ryanhisner.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
So it's clear that BA.3.2 preferentially infects children, something we have never seen before in a SARS-CoV-2 variant. Why? The question's baffled me, but after a suggestion from @darrenmartin.bsky.social, I think I have an explanation that makes sense. 1/16
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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 31/03/2026
Every war, trade war and pandemic makes the case for renewables stronger. 👉 Read the full story: tcnv.link/G8qR6ph
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Dr Fabrício Campos @camposvet.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Post 91 — H5N1: transboundary connections and invisible routes of dissemination Three recent studies show that H5N1 expansion depends on both large ecological networks and discrete, epidemiologically relevant pathways linking ecology, mobility, and infrastructure. 1/13
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Norma @looftsabine.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
"Short animation developed through the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy to increase awareness and encourage early detection and reporting of the disease. It that explains Bird flu ( #H5N1 ) and what to do if you encounter a sick bird." youtu.be/vL499o8PB8A?...
youtu.be
Avian Influenza - Keep a Top Watch!
YouTube video by NRM Regions Australia
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Jozef Imrich @jozefimrich.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Trump COVID probably killed 150,000 more people in its first two years than official U.S. tolls show Scientific American www.scientificamerican.com/article/covi...
scientificamerican.com
COVID probably killed 150,000 more people in its first two years than official U.S. tolls show
We have severely undercounted the number of COVID deaths, scientists say
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Thelonevirologist @thelonevirologist.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Effectiveness, Comparative Effectiveness, and Harms of COVID-19 Vaccines in Adults Who Are Not Pregnant or Immunocompromised: A Rapid Review for the American College of Physicians www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
acpjournals.org
Effectiveness, Comparative Effectiveness, and Harms of COVID-19 Vaccines in Adults Who Are Not Pregnant or Immunocompromised: A Rapid Review for the American College of Physicians | Annals of Internal...
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant continues to pose a global health burden. Purpose: To assess the effectiveness, comparative effectiveness, and harms of COVID-19 vaccines in nonpregnant, non...
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
HAKAN YILMAZKUDAY @yilmazkuday.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
"Fighting Against COVID-19 Requires Wearing a Face Mask by Not Some but All" is available at the Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2024...
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Reposted by Lesley Hawes MPH PhD
Putrino Lab @putrinolab.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Crucial paper published Friday that deserves much more attention in the #LongCOVID world: www.nature.com/articles/s41... TLDR: 13/15 immunocompromised patients who had chronic COVID infections (>200 days) cleared the virus in under 2 weeks when given combo antivirals/monoclonals 1/
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Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Such treachery. Doesn’t our govt understand pandemic threats? Our vulnerability to zoonotic flu, next SARS-3 coronavirus; arboviruses and tick borne illness from climate change here on the Gulf Coast; bioweapons from our enemies: Russia, DPRK, Iran, what’s going on? www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation
Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.
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Edward Nirenberg @enirenberg.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
In case anyone is wondering about that Noah Wyle clip from Jimmy Kimmel's show—sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia is the fancy medical term for brain freeze/ice cream headache.
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Eric Feigl-Ding @drericding.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
📺 OMG—who made this?! Noah Wyle has a message for all you—vaccine skeptics… Share with a friend who needs to hear it.
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valebodi.bsky.social @valebodi.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Persistent neurological disease after COVID-19 is a major problem, yet the underlying mechanism is unclear. Using mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2, we show that infection confined to the respiratory tract triggers long-lasting loss of dopaminergic neurons in the olfactory bulb and substantia nigra,
pnas.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Erik Karlsson @eakarlsson.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
The takeaway: H5 #avianflu isn’t slowing down. It’s accelerating. And each new clade is a reminder that surveillance, sequencing, and real cross-sector coordination aren’t optional, they’re the only way to keep up. 🦠🥼😷🔬🐓🧪 #H5N1 #influenza #avianinfluenza #birdflu
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Erik Karlsson @eakarlsson.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
In our recent @nature.com Communications study, we compared traditional #poultry swabs with environmental #metagenomics, sampling #air, cage surfaces, carcass wash water, and drinking water in two Cambodian live bird markets. 🦠😷🔬🧪🐓🥼 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Client Challenge
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Ryan Hisner @ryanhisner.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
BA.3.2 emerged in Nov 2024 after ~3 years of intrahost evolution with >50 new spike AA muts, but since then, it's changed very little. Could the mutagenic drug molnupiravir (MOV) galvanize BA.3.2 into pursuing new evolutionary paths? A new 89-mut BA.3.2 sequence hints that it could. 1/11
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The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 24/12/2025
No complicated formulas are needed to solve these puzzles – just your imagination and a bit of patience.
tcnv.link
The magic of maths: festive puzzles to give your brain – and imagination – a workout
No complicated formulas are needed to solve these puzzles – just your imagination and a bit of patience.
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