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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 22h

1/ Flu season is starting, which also means flu myths are back. Since I recently found myself having one of these conversations with someone in line at the grocery store, I thought it would be good to share. So, here are four of the most common flu vaccine myths you may hear this season...

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Long Covid is one of the more complex, misunderstood conditions to come out of the pandemic and there’s still a lot of confusion about it. What questions do you have that are still unanswered?

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

1/ We're currently in a Covid wave, and naturally, I'm seeing a lot of questions about when this wave will reach its peak. Now, I can't tell the future, but when we look at the data, in some areas it's actually already peaked. In other words, the answer depends a lot on where you live.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

1/ There's been a lot of talk about El Niño recently, specifically around California. The state may be heading into a much wetter, stormier winter, with consequences that extend beyond getting rained on. Here’s what El Niño could mean for Californians' health and how we can prepare. 🧵

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

1/ People are fed up with the U.S. healthcare system. Costs are high, people delay care because they can’t afford it, and clinicians are dealing with major administrative burdens. So as Medicare for All comes back into political conversations, what would it actually change if it were implemented?

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

1/ Having trouble finding your fall vaccines? You’re not imagining it. Flu, RSV, and Covid vaccines should be available this fall, but there are some unexpected snags in the system that may make them harder to find or access. Here's what's going on.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Hearing “Kids need to build immunity by getting sick,” as we enter respiratory season.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

How I feel when a leader defends the healthcare system but ignores sky-high medical costs and people having to drive 3 hours to reach the nearest hospital.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

1/ Schools are back, which means respiratory viruses are starting to pick up right on schedule. How do we track those numbers? One of the things we watch is influenza-like illness, or ILI. Each week, clinicians report how many patients they’re seeing with symptoms like fever, cough, and sore throat.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

1/ AI has gotten pretty, let's say, intense lately. Some researchers and tech leaders are saying there's over a 10% chance of AI causing catastrophic harm within the next year. I'm not sure if that's real warning or partly hype, but there’s a public health question in there that I want to talk about

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

1/ Pennsylvania has now reported a fourth measles-associated death in 2026. That’s the most measles deaths the U.S. has seen in a single year since 1992. The first two were infants, followed by a 40 year old woman, and now an 18 year old. The state has reported 693 confirmed cases so far this year.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

1/ Menopause is universal, yet misunderstood and stigmatized. For decades, women were told Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) was dangerous, full stop. But that's not the full picture. So let’s take a look at what the evidence actually shows and why the old warnings didn't tell the whole story.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

1/ Last week, someone messaged me asking about Covid protection for her immunocompromised dad. He had recently received a kidney transplant, and his doctors told him the vaccine likely wouldn’t provide much protection. But they still recommended it because, they said, it was his only option.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

1/ The summer Covid wave is continuing to rise.We started at such low levels of disease that even with a steep climb in numbers, we are still at relatively low levels compared to previous waves. The West and South states are leading the pack.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

1/ Fall 2026 vaccines for flu, RSV, and Covid-19 are here, and they remain available at no cost. Keeping track of them all isn’t easy, so I put together the what, who, and when for each, informed by the most up-to-date science and policy. Let's get into it 👇

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

1/ Last week, Pennsylvania announced two measles-associated deaths, the state’s first in 35 years. Details are still slowly being released, but Pennsylvania officials and the federal government have publicly disagreed over the cause of death. That dispute has now spilled onto the CDC’s website.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Happy last day of August, everyone! I have a quick question about the health impacts of this year's El Niño: Where are you living and what health-related questions do you have about El Niño? (For example, how is it affecting temperature? Will it impact flooding? What should I expect this winter?)

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Last year, I got a text from a friend in public health. They were checking into a hotel in West Texas to help contain a measles outbreak that would eventually grow to more than 900 known cases, likely a fraction of the true number. This once eliminated disease had already killed one child.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

1/ Covid is increasing in New York. Hospitalizations are increasing, but remain lower than this time last year. The Northeast also tends to lag behind other parts of the country during summer waves, so when we look at what’s happening in states like Texas, it’s a pretty good sign this wave will rise

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

1/ Foodborne illness is having a moment. It feels like every time I open my phone, there’s a new headline. And truthfully, increased rate of foodborne outbreaks is certainly not out of the realm of possibilities. So I looked at the numbers to determine if we're actually seeing more outbreaks.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Between the mRNA flu vaccine and last week's mRNA cancer treatment, we're seeing some incredible advancements in mRNA technology. But with advancements, there's always new questions, so I'm curious what questions you all have about mRNA vaccines?

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

2 more people have died of measles. A vaccine-preventable disease. A 19th-century disease that our country once eliminated. The kids are getting the brunt of it, and this is a tragic reminder that we are going in the wrong direction for health in this country.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

1/ “Rabbit fever” is suddenly all over New York news and social media. So, did we just have a tularemia outbreak? Not exactly. Here’s what’s actually going on, along with a few other New York public health updates.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

1/ The summer Covid wave is continuing to rise. Levels are still low nationally, but we’re now clearly at the beginning of the annual summer wave. Emergency department visits and wastewater levels are rising in every state, with the South and West leading the way.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

1/ By now, you’ve probably seen the headlines: FDA approved the first mRNA flu shot (called mFlusiva) for older adults. Many people are excited about it. (It’s great news!) Here’s the nuance to help you make an evidence-based decision this fall.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

1/ New York is investing $9 million to protect drinking water systems from cyberattacks. At first glance, it sounds like a tech story, but it’s actually a public health story. We're back with your New York public health update. Let's get into it. 🧵

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

1/ A lot is happening right now (as I'm sure your feed can attest to), and it can be hard to know what to focus on. So I've put together a few public health happenings that should be on your radar. First, the record-breaking Cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce is coming to an end.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

1/ Today, an executive order was signed aimed at childhood vaccines. There's no new scientific data for this policy, but there were a LOT of words and confusing rhetoric at the press conference. Here’s what today actually means for you and your family.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

We've seen an increase in conversations and questions about air quality monitoring recently. So we wanted to check in and see what information about (indoor or outdoor) air quality monitoring would be helpful to you?

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

1/ We're back with your weekly NY public health update. Covid is creeping back up in New York. Hospitalizations are rising from their summer lows, wastewater is increasing across several regions, and together those signals suggest community spread is growing again. 🧵

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

1/ The summer Covid wave is continuing to rise. We get this every year; the question is how high it will get, as the severity of each wave has declined over time. Infection levels still remain very low, but emergency visits, test positivity, and wastewater data are all moving upward.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

1/ It looks like one of the largest Cyclospora outbreaks in U.S. history is slowing. The U.S. has now reported over 17,000 cases. And we are largely flying blind, but one of the only data points— percentage of tests that are positive—is declining, which is a cautiously optimistic sign.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

1/ Over the weekend, RFK Jr. was interviewed on CNN, and as I'm sure many of you have seen, he made a number of inaccurate statements. The conversation covered Covid-19, RSV, measles, vaccines, and autism. Let's fact-check some of the biggest claims.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

1/ We're back with our New York public health update for the week. First up, Covid is starting to increase again in New York. Hospitalizations remain low, but wastewater, ER visits, and hospital admissions are all beginning to trend upward, suggesting a summer wave is underway.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

1/ There’s an interesting disconnect in how we judge health risks online. Peptides are a great example of this. Why are some people skeptical of vaccines, but very trusting of peptides that often have less human evidence? Let’s unpack what might be going on here.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

1/ We're back with another California public health update. This week, we're looking at how West Nile virus is accelerating, Covid-19's summer wave, and a dangerous heat that's headed our way this weekend. We're also checking in on Cyclospora, which is still sparing CA. Here's what you need to know👇

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

One day in 2020, I went to a coffee shop. I was so sick of working 100-hour weeks from home with a newborn that I loaded up the stroller, grabbed my laptop bag (the one with the big World Health Organization logo on it), and headed out. When I got there, I started typing a YLE post.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

1/ The U.S. has now reached 2,318 measles cases in 2026, setting a 35-year record. We still have five months left in the year. This is an incredibly strong signal that health in the U.S. is going backward, not forward.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

With all the wildfires recently, we've started to see loads of conversations about causes, prevention, long-term effects, etc. circling around. What have you heard about wildfires, online or from someone you know, that you weren't sure was true or that you'd like clarified? Let us know!

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

1/ Dr. Matt Willis here, back with another California health update! West Nile virus is showing early signs of a potentially serious season, Covid-19 is climbing again, along with a reminder that public health only works when communities trust the people delivering it. Let’s get into it 👇

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

1/ Right on cue, Covid-19 is starting to stir. Every summer, we see a bump in cases around mid-July, and this year appears to be following the same pattern. Levels of spread and infection are still very low, but they’re beginning to climb.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

1/ We need to talk about the Cyclospora outbreak in New York, because it's a bit different than most states. New York is not one of the states affected by the iceberg lettuce recall, and no NYC cases have been linked to the recalled lettuce. But NY does still have elevated Cyclospora activity.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

1/ The cyclosporiasis foodborne outbreak continues to grow, and there’s A LOT of conflicting information out there. So the YLE team compiled answers to some of the top questions we’re seeing to bring the nuance you may be looking for.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

1/ Over the weekend, the FDA announced that a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms tested positive for Cyclospora. Within 24 hours, the FDA backtracked, calling the result a false positive. Taylor Farms quickly deleted its own posts about its bagged lettuce and boasted the FDA had apologized to them.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

1/ What's been going on with seed oils? A few months ago, Steak ‘n Shake officially switched to using butter & beef tallow. They called the move: “RFK’ing the fries,” and many restaurants have followed. But does that really make us healthier? What does the science say? Let’s break it down. 🧵

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

1/ Explosive diarrhea cases from a microscopic parasite (cyclospora) are climbing fast. This is now the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history, passing 4,000 cases and still rising. For context: the U.S. normally sees about 3,000-4,000 cases in a WHOLE year.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

1/ Medicare just got access to reduced price GLP-1s. Although this is a great start for access, it still comes with some caveats. Which raises the same old question: why are drug prices so high, and can we actually fix it? I partnered with Dr. Aaron Kesselheim to get to the bottom of them 🧵

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

1/ Summer is here, and like many parents, I'm spending a lot of time making sure my kids wear sunscreen. But if you've been online lately, you've probably seen claims that mineral sunscreen is safer than chemical sunscreen. So I teamed up with @labmuffin.com to see what the evidence actually says.

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Hope you're enjoying the start of July! YLE is off for the week, but don't worry, we still have a few things planned for you! For now, hopefully these make you smile as you start the week. Love, The YLE Team 💖

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Your Local Epidemiologist @ylepidemiologist.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

1/ We're back with your public health update for New York. This week, as we're sure you're aware, there's a major heat wave, but there's also a statewide blood emergency. Here's what New Yorkers should know before the holiday weekend. 🧵

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