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Liz Szabo

@lizszabo.bsky.social
13K followers 3K following 7.7K posts

She/her. Award-winning health and science journalist. Investigative reporter at CIDRAP News. LizSzabo.30 on Signal. www.cidrap.umn.edu/all-news

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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 15h
Pennsylvania confirms more than 1,000 measles cases. Experts say the true size of the outbreak could be five times larger. www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/penn...
cidrap.umn.edu
Pennsylvania confirms more than 1,000 measles cases
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 18h
Look at those fever charts of, well, fever-causing childhood infections. Look at the preciptious drop in each one. I wonder what happened to make infections drop so suddenly?
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 19h
@cidrap.bsky.social: Public Health Alerts: E-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among youth, United States, 2025 www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-healt...
cidrap.umn.edu
Public Health Alerts: E-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among youth, United States, 2025
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 19h
Vaccines.gov is still down, in case you're wondering. And yes, flu season has started in the western part of the country.
vaccines.gov
Find pharmacies near you
Vaccines.gov helps you find nearby pharmacies in the United States.
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CIDRAP @cidrap.bsky.social · 21h
📢NEW: Wildlife Interface Newsletter Sign up for monthly updates on wildlife disease, zoonotic surveillance, One Health research, and public policy, keeping you informed on the intersection of animal, human, and environmental health. 🔔 Subscribe: bit.ly/4deXbqt
Graphic of a goose taking off into flight from a pond. Text on graphic reads, "Wildlife Interface Newsletter A curated monthly digest of the latest developments in wildlife disease CIDRAP news coverage, Latest research publications, Public policy developments, Keeping you informed on the intersection of animal, human, and environmental health. Monthly editions delivered   to your inbox."
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 21h
Evidence for a need for a hepatitis B vaccine birth-dose policy academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...
academic.oup.com
Effectiveness of timely hepatitis B birth dose vaccination to prevent mother-to-child transmission in Ethiopia
Timely hepatitis B birth dose vaccination was highly effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission in Ethiopia, providing important real-world evide
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 21h
A randomized controlled trial in Canada finds that, In preschoolers with high-morbidity, viral-induced asthma, vitamin D3 supplementation did not significantly reduce severe exacerbation or respiratory viral infection rates www.thelancet.com/journals/ecl...
thelancet.com
High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in the prevention of viral-induced asthma in high-morbidity preschoolers (DIVA): a randomised controlled trial in Canada
In preschoolers with high-morbidity, viral-induced asthma, vitamin D3 supplementation did not significantly reduce severe exacerbation or respiratory viral infection rates, compared to placebo. No saf...
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Bruce Mirken @brucemirken.mas.to.ap.brid.gy · 21h
⚠️"Efforts to limit the sale of unpasteurized milk products have been met with opposition from proponents of unpasteurized milk’s alleged health benefits. These purported benefits have no evidence base and do not outweigh the risks of unpasteurized milk consumption."
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STAT @statnews.com · 04/10/2026
NIH rolling out streamlined website to help public find information more easily. More than 700 separate websites will be folded into eight thematic hubs. www.statnews.com/2026/10/02/nih-lau…
statnews.com
NIH rolling out streamlined website to help public find information more easily
The redesign is intended to streamline what was a sprawling and fractured information ecosystem, requiring users to understand NIH's organizational structure
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STAT @statnews.com · 04/10/2026
Trump announces $90 payments for seniors’ Medicare premium costs ahead of midterm elections — via @apnews.com www.statnews.com/2026/10/04/t...
statnews.com
Trump announces $90 payments for seniors' Medicare premium costs ahead of midterm elections
President Trump is promising more payments to voters just ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections — this time for seniors' Medicare Part B premiums
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STAT @statnews.com · 22h
Hospital and pharmaceutical prices are smothering America’s businesses. Read the latest installment of 'Out of Pocket, Out of Reach': www.statnews.com/2026/10/05/hospita…
Stacked bar chart titled “Every part of health care is becoming more expensive,” showing average per-person health care spending increasing from $6,162 in 2021 to $8,460 in 2026. Spending is broken into hospital outpatient, physician care, prescription drugs, hospital inpatient, and other services, with each category increasing over the period.
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STAT @statnews.com · 21h
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel found a way to use light to turn neurons on and off with precision. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics. bit.ly/4i45KXH
statnews.com
2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded for brain research tool called optogenetics
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel are the joint recipients of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discoveries
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 21h
Government Accountability Office report last week reveals that, in fiscal years 2022 through 2025, federal agencies like HHS sold unneeded laboratory equipment, putting our country at a heightened national security and biosecurity risk energycommerce.house.gov/posts/watchd...
energycommerce.house.gov
Watchdog Report Requested by E&C Leaders Finds Disposal of High-Risk Laboratory Equipment by HHS, USDA, GSA Exposed U.S. to Severe Bioterrorism Threat
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing com...
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 21h
In an updated policy statement, the AAP emphasizes important risks associated with the consumption of raw dairy products and examines evidence on avian flu as a potential new source of infection [link] publications.aap.org/pediatrics/a...
publications.aap.org
Consumption of Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk and Milk Products by Pregnant People and Children: Policy Statement
Sales of unpasteurized (raw) milk and milk products remain legal in at least 27 US states. Unpasteurized milk and milk products from cows, goats, and sheep continue to be a source of infections attributable to several virulent pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella species, Brucella species, and Escherichia coli O157. These infections can occur in both healthy and immunocompromised individuals, including older adults, infants, young children, and pregnant people and their fetuses, potentially resulting in life-threatening illness and fetal miscarriage. Pasteurization of milk products greatly reduces risk of illness. Efforts to limit the sale of unpasteurized milk products have been met with opposition from proponents of unpasteurized milk’s alleged health benefits. These purported benefits have no evidence base and do not outweigh the risks of unpasteurized milk consumption. Substantial data suggest that pasteurized milk confers equivalent health benefits compared with unpasteurized milk, without the additional risk of infection. The purpose of this policy statement is to provide evidence for the risk of infection from unpasteurized milk consumption, along with the severe illness and infectious complications that occur, especially among pregnant people, infants, and children.
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 21h
Latine, Spanish-speaking patients missed pediatric appointments after immigration enforcement crackdown | EurekAlert! www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
eurekalert.org
Latine, Spanish-speaking patients missed pediatric appointments after immigration enforcement crackdown
Thousands of pediatric patients canceled or missed doctor appointments at a large pediatric referral center in the Midwest during a recent surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, a...
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Carolyn Copeland @carolyncopes.bsky.social · 21h
As a journalist, this is WILD to hear. If USA Today is going to let ALL reporters access interview recordings, reporters should disclose that to the source up front. This feels like an ethics violation and breaks a lot of trust.
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Breaking Mews/Ruff Translations @breakingmews.bsky.social · 21h
A Turkish cat making an Irish exit from a party. (From our Istanbul correspondent.)
Orange and white cat walks along a handrail in Istanbul.
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John Paczkowski @pczki.bsky.social · 21h
Personal news:
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 22h
Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA says apnews.com/article/lett...
apnews.com
Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA says
The Food and Drug Administration says it found the cyclospora parasite at a Mexican farm identified as the source of a massive lettuce-borne outbreak.
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Move over, dog people. 🐈 Hundreds turned out in D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood Saturday for the Petworth Pretty Kitties Cat Crawl, a walking tour where the neighborhood cats were the stars. www.facebook.com/share/r/19WE...
facebook.com
Facebook
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PEN America @penamerica.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
#BannedBooksWeek 2026 starts today! As part of the Banned Books Week Coalition, we invite readers, authors, educators, librarians, and everyone who opposes censorship to get involved, Learn more about how you can take action, plus details of all our events, at: pen.org/banned-books-week
Promotional poster for Banned Books Week 2026. It features a red banner with "Banned Books Week 2026" across the top. Below, there's text stating, "Find an event near you!" on a background of books. A map highlights various event locations including Brooklyn, NY; York County, PA; Washington, D.C.; Pasadena, CA; Santa Monica, CA; Knoxville, TN; Magnolia, TX; Gainesville, FL; Palm Beach, FL; and Coral Gables, FL with their respective dates in October. The bottom section encourages registration with a "Register Today!" button and the Pen America logo.Promotional poster for Banned Books Week 2026. The background features a row of partially visible banned book spines. The poster lists events taking place from October 3 to October 6, including family story hours with Dr. Allison Matulli in Gainesville, FL, and Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL; a film screening in Magnolia, TX; and a literary salon with Umar Khalid in Washington, D.C. Logos for PEN America and partner organizations are included at the bottom.Promotional poster for Banned Books Week 2026 with event details. Events include "Banned and Proud" on October 6 at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, "Defending the Freedom to Read" on October 7 at Santa Monica Public Library, "From Ally to Co-Conspirator" on October 7 via virtual session, and "Banned Books Week Panel" on October 8 at Brooklyn Public Library.Logos for PEN America and partner organizations are included at the bottom.Banned Books Week 2026 events flyer. The header features the text "Banned Books Week" over a background of books. Events include: "Building With the Bottom: A Symposium on Banned Books" on October 9 in Knoxville, TN; "Screening: Second Nature" followed by a Q&A with Elliot Page and others on October 10, virtual; and "Banned Books, Florida Stories" on October 10 in Palm Beach, FL. Logos PEN America and partner organizations appear at the bottom.
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American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Let books be. Today kicks off #BannedBooksWeek, an annual observation started more than 40 years ago in response to a sudden surge in attempts to censor or remove books in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Sound familiar? Find ways to get involved and spread the word: bit.ly/4yvixbB.
LET BOOKS BE. Various line drawings related to libraries and books, including a hand holding a sign made of an open book that reads "Freed for ALL to Read," a tote bag that reads "Totes Resist" carrying a book, a full book cart with the head and tale of a horse with text that reads "A Wild Ride," and a closeup of two feet standing on a stack of books that say "A Soap Box" on their spines. Text at bottom reads "Protect the freedom to read. Banned Books Week, October 4-10, 2026." American Library Association. ala.org/bbooks
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Unite Against Book Bans @uabookbans.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Banned Books Week starts today! This year’s theme is: #LetBooksBe What do you think books should be? Share your answer in the comments: ✨ Let Books Be Free 🎉 Let Books Be Fun 🌎 Let Books Be Diverse 💡 Let Books Be Thought-Provoking ❤️ Let Books Be Themselves
Drawn image of a woman reading, surrounded by books, birds, flowers, clouds, vines, stars. Text reades: Protect the Freedom to Read - Let Books Be - Banned Books Week, Oct. 4-10, 2026. American Library Association. ala.org/bbooks
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BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
An oversight. I should have tagged the health reporter who researched and wrote this piece for @cidrap.bsky.social . @lizszabo.bsky.social thank you for the opportunity to contribute.
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BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Measles outbreaks could leave thousands vulnerable to infectious diseases for years. Those who survive measles experience immune amnesia and an increased susceptibility to infections. I spoke to the reporter for this article as one of the many experts interviewed. www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/meas...
cidrap.umn.edu
Measles outbreaks could leave thousands vulnerable to infectious diseases for years
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
An Actionable Anti-bullying Guide for LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/
thetrevorproject.org
Blog - The Trevor Project
For Young LGBTQ+ Lives
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
As Prospects Dim, G.O.P. Pulls Money Out of North Carolina Senate Race www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/u...
nytimes.com
Republicans Pull Money From North Carolina Senate Race As Midterm Prospects Dim
As the Republicans try to hold their majority, the Senate Leadership Fund is diverting resources to Kansas, which has become a growing concern for the party.
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Matt Morhockey-Morbooks @drakesmitha12.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
This is why I'm furious at people who dismiss vaccination and the measles. It lingers. It makes it more difficult for a prolonged period. It puts kids at greater risk for life-changing conditions. Measles is bad. The aftermath...
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A 20-year-old Amish woman with leukemia got measles and died in Pa.’s largest outbreak in three decades www.inquirer.com/health/measl...
inquirer.com
A 20-year-old Amish woman with leukemia got measles and died in Pa.’s largest outbreak in three decades
After measles swept through her household, the young woman wanted to get vaccinated. Her doctor said she couldn't because she had leukemia and the treatments had weakened her immune system.
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Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
First Crystal got measles. Then she came down with shingles. Coincidence? No, actually. Measles causes some degree of “immune amnesia” in everyone who’s infected, even five years later. Studies show people have increased medical visits and antibiotic use for (non-measles) infections for years.
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
An investor lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group will move forward after a federal judge declined the company’s motion to dismiss allegations. www.statnews.com/2026/09/30/unitedh…
statnews.com
UnitedHealth investor lawsuit moves forward on allegations it 'manufactured earnings' to hide declining profits
An investor lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group will move forward after a federal judge declined the company’s motion to dismiss allegations.
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
In Washington, Eric Cantor will confront bipartisan backlash over rising health care costs. www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/eric-ca…
statnews.com
Can a top Republican from a bygone political era fix pharma’s woes in Washington?
In Washington, Eric Cantor will confront bipartisan backlash over rising health care costs.
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
A proposed redesign of the federal government’s annual health survey would result in significant undercounting of Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/cdc-hea…
statnews.com
As CDC redesigns annual health survey, it removes questions about disabilities
Proposed changes to the federal government’s health survey would undercount Americans with disabilities, advocates say.
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
The upcoming midterm elections are setting the stage for unusually significant changes to key Senate committees that play an important role in health care. www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/midterm…
statnews.com
Two key Senate health committees face major shake-ups
Senate committees that handle important health care matters are about to see major GOP turnover. Here's what that means.
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
Merck discontinued an important antibiotic from the U.S. market earlier this month, underscoring concerns about the commitment large pharmaceutical companies are willing to make to a field that is crucial to public health. bit.ly/3V8vCsJ
statnews.com
Merck discontinues a crucial antibiotic despite concerns over superbug resistance
Merck discontinued Recarbio, an important antibiotic in the U.S., despite concerns over resistance to superbugs.
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
The Trump administration published a final rule aimed at lowering Medicare prices for drugs administered in doctor offices. It applies to only four companies. www.statnews.com/2026/09/30/trump-f…
statnews.com
Trump's watered-down Medicare drug pricing rule saves 96% less than initial proposal
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration published a final rule aimed at lowering Medicare prices for drugs administered in doctor offices. It applies to
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STAT @statnews.com · 01/10/2026
"Highlighting a ton of open questions": Top journal's special issue on women's health examines the latest discoveries on chronic pain and menopause. www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/womens-…
statnews.com
Top journal's special issue on women's health casts spotlight on menopause and pain
"Highlighting a ton of open questions": Top journal's special issue on women's health examines the latest discoveries on chronic pain and menopause.
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STAT @statnews.com · 02/10/2026
A STAT analysis of NIH spending shows that in the 2026 fiscal year, the agency continued reducing grant awards involving health disparities, race, and ethnicity but made little progress toward other Trump administration priorities. bit.ly/3Vu0JPq
statnews.com
NIH awarded all its grant funding, but delayed and opaque decisions stymied researchers
The NIH continued reducing grants involving health disparities, race, and ethnicity but made little progress toward other administration priorities in the 2026 fiscal year.
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Jonathan Wosen @jonathanwosen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
What did NIH spend its budget on this fiscal year, and how has that changed due to Trump administration priorities? @aniloza.bsky.social, @jaspar.bsky.social, and I teamed up for @statnews.com to look at the agency's grants data. Here's what we learned 👇 www.statnews.com/2026/10/02/n...
statnews.com
NIH awarded all its grant funding, but delayed and opaque decisions stymied researchers
The NIH continued reducing grants involving health disparities, race, and ethnicity but made little progress toward other administration priorities in the 2026 fiscal year.
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STAT @statnews.com · 02/10/2026
Ahead of this year's Nobel Prize announcements, STAT chatted with Mary-Claire King, who discovered the BRCA cancer mutations and is frequently mentioned in prize predictions. www.statnews.com/2026/10/02/nobel-p…
statnews.com
What it’s like to wait for the call from the Nobel Prize committee
Ahead of this year's Nobel Prize announcements, STAT chatted with Mary-Claire King, who discovered the BRCA cancer mutations and is frequently mentioned in prize predictions.
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STAT @statnews.com · 02/10/2026
Access to addiction meds for young people has improved — but retention hasn’t. Research shows poor continuity of care for young people with opioid use disorder. www.statnews.com/2026/10/02/youth-o…
statnews.com
Access to addiction meds for young people has improved — but retention hasn’t
Only a small fraction of young people with opioid use disorder receive addiction medications, and few stay on them for long, a study finds.
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STAT @statnews.com · 02/10/2026
An Ebola treatment center was burned down as the death toll in Congo passes 4,000 — via @apnews.com www.statnews.com/2026/10/02/e...
statnews.com
An Ebola treatment center was burned down as the death toll in Congo passes 4,000
Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people, authorities said, as they struggle to contain what has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history.
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STAT @statnews.com · 02/10/2026
People who have a Medicare Advantage plan — and wind up needing care and prescriptions next year — are in for a rude awakening. www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/medicar…
statnews.com
Medicare Advantage plans shift more costs onto seniors in 2027
Premiums are stable, but Medicare Advantage plans are making big changes that could make care more expensive for patients.
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STAT @statnews.com · 03/10/2026
A STAT analysis of NIH spending shows that in the 2026 fiscal year, which ended Wednesday, the agency continued reducing grant awards involving health disparities, race, and ethnicity but made little progress toward other Trump administration priorities. bit.ly/3Vu0JPq
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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Catching measles does not make your immune system stronger… it does the exact opposite. It can wipe out your immunity (both natural and vaccine related) to all kinds of diseases. It’s a deadly and disabling disease that we know how to prevent. Get your vaccine. It saves lives.
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Melody Schreiber @melodyschreiber.com · 01/10/2026
This is exciting! I still mourn the death of the Washington Post magazine (so quick! so stupid!)
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Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“A bulletin to San Diego State students from the university on Wednesday said San Diego County Public Health Services had confirmed 14 cases and that the outbreak remained within a single athletic team… San Diego State is offering students a free MMR booster.” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
espn.com
San Diego State football team dealing with mumps outbreak
San Diego State's football team is dealing with a mumps outbreak as it prepares for Saturday's Pac-12 opener against Texas State.
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Rose Broderick @rosebroderick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The CDC wants to redesign its annual health survey. Their proposed changes would make people with intellectual and developmental disabilities "invisible." www.statnews.com/2026/10/01/c...
statnews.com
As CDC redesigns annual health survey, it removes questions about disabilities
Proposed changes to the federal government’s health survey would undercount Americans with disabilities, advocates say.
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Melody Schreiber @melodyschreiber.com · 02/10/2026
Move over, Wild to Mild, I've got a new flu shot campaign for you
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