Beth Marie Mole
@bethmariem.bsky.social
Senior Health Reporter at Ars Technica. PhD in microbiology. Microbes, infectious diseases, public health, questionable puns. (she/her)
[email protected] | bethmm_ars.02 (Signal)
[email protected] | bethmm_ars.02 (Signal)
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Huge respect to Georgia Fort for continuing to report what was happening and why it was unconstitutional while the Feds were literally at her door.
Minnesota based Independent Journalist GEORGIA FORT has been arrested for filming a protest of the church pastor that works as an ICE manager. SPREAD THE WORD! Georgia has been doing outstanding reporting from ground zero!
January 30, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Huge respect to Georgia Fort for continuing to report what was happening and why it was unconstitutional while the Feds were literally at her door.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Even though all evidence showed they were wrong, and they could not win the suits they filed, antivaxxers bullied the manufacturer of an effective vaccine for Lyme disease into withdrawing from the market just to avoid their bullying tactics. That was 24 yrs ago & we still don’t have a Lyme vaccine.
This is how anti-vax activism works.
To be clear, the fact that they need the US market is a problem. But the problem isn't vaccines, it's for-profit healthcare.
The tragic part is they'll likely make more money from all the people who catch infectious diseases that turn into chronic diseases.
To be clear, the fact that they need the US market is a problem. But the problem isn't vaccines, it's for-profit healthcare.
The tragic part is they'll likely make more money from all the people who catch infectious diseases that turn into chronic diseases.
January 27, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Even though all evidence showed they were wrong, and they could not win the suits they filed, antivaxxers bullied the manufacturer of an effective vaccine for Lyme disease into withdrawing from the market just to avoid their bullying tactics. That was 24 yrs ago & we still don’t have a Lyme vaccine.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
This may be the grossest #eye pic ever—but the cause is what’s truly horrifying ...
| #bacteria | #vision | #infection | #antibiotics | #Klebsiella | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
| #bacteria | #vision | #infection | #antibiotics | #Klebsiella | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
This may be the grossest eye pic ever—but the cause is what’s truly horrifying
Hypervirulent germ nearly destroys man, invading brain and blowing out an eye.
arstechnica.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM
This may be the grossest #eye pic ever—but the cause is what’s truly horrifying ...
| #bacteria | #vision | #infection | #antibiotics | #Klebsiella | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
| #bacteria | #vision | #infection | #antibiotics | #Klebsiella | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
South Carolina's measles outbreak jumps again with 124 new cases since Tuesday, bringing the outbreak total to 558.
531 people quarantined.
The outbreak began in Oct, but is wildly accelerating now. Since Jan 6, there have been 347 new cases (62% of total cases).
dph.sc.gov/news/friday-...
531 people quarantined.
The outbreak began in Oct, but is wildly accelerating now. Since Jan 6, there have been 347 new cases (62% of total cases).
dph.sc.gov/news/friday-...
FRIDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 124 New Measles Cases in Upstate, Bringing Outbreak total to 558, Additional School and Public Exposures | South Carolina Department of Public Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Jan. 16, 2026
dph.sc.gov
January 16, 2026 at 9:37 PM
South Carolina's measles outbreak jumps again with 124 new cases since Tuesday, bringing the outbreak total to 558.
531 people quarantined.
The outbreak began in Oct, but is wildly accelerating now. Since Jan 6, there have been 347 new cases (62% of total cases).
dph.sc.gov/news/friday-...
531 people quarantined.
The outbreak began in Oct, but is wildly accelerating now. Since Jan 6, there have been 347 new cases (62% of total cases).
dph.sc.gov/news/friday-...
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Oh God, this is good news. I had been trying to bring myself to blog about this trial, but every time I was too enraged to get something together.
This was a hideously stupid and unethical idea, and no one promoting it should have anything to do with medicine or public health.
This was a hideously stupid and unethical idea, and no one promoting it should have anything to do with medicine or public health.
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Oh God, this is good news. I had been trying to bring myself to blog about this trial, but every time I was too enraged to get something together.
This was a hideously stupid and unethical idea, and no one promoting it should have anything to do with medicine or public health.
This was a hideously stupid and unethical idea, and no one promoting it should have anything to do with medicine or public health.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:28 PM
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.‘s allies
"The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ally David Geier."
"The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ally David Geier."
FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.‘s allies
The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine ally David Geier.
arstechnica.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.‘s allies
"The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ally David Geier."
"The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ally David Geier."
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Children will die with RFK Jr.'s new vaccine recommendations. We're NOT doing the "experts disagree" game. The US vaccine schedule was painstakingly constructed through a deep & thorough process by experts with unquestionable expertise. This is policy by fiat. It is pre-meditated murder. 1/
January 5, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Children will die with RFK Jr.'s new vaccine recommendations. We're NOT doing the "experts disagree" game. The US vaccine schedule was painstakingly constructed through a deep & thorough process by experts with unquestionable expertise. This is policy by fiat. It is pre-meditated murder. 1/
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Healthy #welder nearly died of #anthrax ...
| #pneumonia | #infection | #Bacillus | #bacteria | #pathogen | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
| #pneumonia | #infection | #Bacillus | #bacteria | #pathogen | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
Healthy 18-year-old welder nearly died of anthrax—the 9th such puzzling case
Welder's Anthrax" was first coined in 2022, when seven cases had been identified.
arstechnica.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Healthy #welder nearly died of #anthrax ...
| #pneumonia | #infection | #Bacillus | #bacteria | #pathogen | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
| #pneumonia | #infection | #Bacillus | #bacteria | #pathogen | By @bethmariem.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Tobacco use is leading cause of preventable disease, disability, & death in USA.
Why did admin fire CDC's tobacco prevention & control experts? Illegal RIFs didn’t just eliminate jobs, they have silenced science. Critical data on tobacco use & its harms are NOT being published through MMWR.
1/2 🧵
Why did admin fire CDC's tobacco prevention & control experts? Illegal RIFs didn’t just eliminate jobs, they have silenced science. Critical data on tobacco use & its harms are NOT being published through MMWR.
1/2 🧵
January 2, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Tobacco use is leading cause of preventable disease, disability, & death in USA.
Why did admin fire CDC's tobacco prevention & control experts? Illegal RIFs didn’t just eliminate jobs, they have silenced science. Critical data on tobacco use & its harms are NOT being published through MMWR.
1/2 🧵
Why did admin fire CDC's tobacco prevention & control experts? Illegal RIFs didn’t just eliminate jobs, they have silenced science. Critical data on tobacco use & its harms are NOT being published through MMWR.
1/2 🧵
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
What does it mean when your doctors keep insisting you redo the cognitive exam
January 2, 2026 at 2:58 PM
What does it mean when your doctors keep insisting you redo the cognitive exam
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
They're lining up because the deals are weak...
"“When you saw the lack of impact to earnings of the initial companies’ deals, for most coming after, it’s a no-brainer,” said Chris Meekins, a managing director at Raymond James.
"“When you saw the lack of impact to earnings of the initial companies’ deals, for most coming after, it’s a no-brainer,” said Chris Meekins, a managing director at Raymond James.
When Trump declared he wanted drug companies to voluntarily cut their prices, few executives wanted to go first. Now, no one wants to be last — and risk the wrath of the president.
At least seven more drug-price deals coming at White House today.
At least seven more drug-price deals coming at White House today.
Drug companies line up to make deals with Trump after initial hesitation
More and more drug companies are making deals with the White House on drugs sold to the government and to Americans through a new website, TrumpRx.gov.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
They're lining up because the deals are weak...
"“When you saw the lack of impact to earnings of the initial companies’ deals, for most coming after, it’s a no-brainer,” said Chris Meekins, a managing director at Raymond James.
"“When you saw the lack of impact to earnings of the initial companies’ deals, for most coming after, it’s a no-brainer,” said Chris Meekins, a managing director at Raymond James.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
I was on an IRB at UW Madison for 6 years, and chair for 2. We would have run this proposal through a shredder, set fire to the detritus, mixed the ashes with concrete, and buried it in a salt mine. It's just outrageous.
December 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I was on an IRB at UW Madison for 6 years, and chair for 2. We would have run this proposal through a shredder, set fire to the detritus, mixed the ashes with concrete, and buried it in a salt mine. It's just outrageous.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
If you aren't able to watch this now, make sure to watch it when you can.
Thank you, @bethmariem.bsky.social & @arstechnica.com.
Thank you, @bethmariem.bsky.social & @arstechnica.com.
TODAY: Join us at 2 PM ET for our last #ArsLive of the year, where we'll chat with three former CDC officials about what they saw (and are seeing) at the agency under RFK Jr’s rule, and what it means for the country’s health: arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
December 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
If you aren't able to watch this now, make sure to watch it when you can.
Thank you, @bethmariem.bsky.social & @arstechnica.com.
Thank you, @bethmariem.bsky.social & @arstechnica.com.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be released from the disgrace of Temu ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
December 5, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be released from the disgrace of Temu ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
I made a commitment to watch and comment on these proceedings. Not sure I’ll do it again.
In summary, ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Every U.S. state needs to decouple their vaccine policy from ACIP.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Dr. Hoeg: I would pay to see the debate between Dr. Meissner and you. Note: She is an anti-vaccine activist, and she just showed it. Not a regulator. She does not have the qualifications, not the ability, and she is just biased.
December 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Dr. Hoeg: I would pay to see the debate between Dr. Meissner and you. Note: She is an anti-vaccine activist, and she just showed it. Not a regulator. She does not have the qualifications, not the ability, and she is just biased.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
lol the ACIP committee let Aaron Siri speak for some 90 minutes and cut off CDC experts and scientists off after two minutes (sometime yelling at them to shut them up). Incredible stuff.
The country's biggest anti-vaccine lawyer, the guy behind weakened school mandates in Mississippi and West Virginia, who pulls in millions a year harassing the CDC on behalf of Del Bigtree's anti-vaxx org is ... presenting at ACIP. This panel is anti-vaccine theater. It's a cruel joke.
December 5, 2025 at 6:41 PM
lol the ACIP committee let Aaron Siri speak for some 90 minutes and cut off CDC experts and scientists off after two minutes (sometime yelling at them to shut them up). Incredible stuff.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
Attorney Siri applauds his client RFK Jr.’s change to the CDC website which now claims that vaccines may cause autism.
He is showing his cards. IMO the change was made to make it easier to file lawsuits, and I suspect it was done in collusion with Siri.
He is showing his cards. IMO the change was made to make it easier to file lawsuits, and I suspect it was done in collusion with Siri.
December 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Attorney Siri applauds his client RFK Jr.’s change to the CDC website which now claims that vaccines may cause autism.
He is showing his cards. IMO the change was made to make it easier to file lawsuits, and I suspect it was done in collusion with Siri.
He is showing his cards. IMO the change was made to make it easier to file lawsuits, and I suspect it was done in collusion with Siri.
Reposted by Beth Marie Mole
