Michael Cappello
@cappmic.bsky.social
Professor and Chair, Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases Dept, Yale School of Public Health
Reposted by Michael Cappello
It was a landmark discovery, but Dr. Dowdle recalled the effort in a 2024 interview with his signature understatement: “All in a day’s work.”
This is what public leadership looked like.
What a gorgeous obituary of a humble, brilliant, and principled man.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/u... 🛟🧪🩺
What a gorgeous obituary of a humble, brilliant, and principled man.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/u... 🛟🧪🩺
Walter Dowdle, Public Health Leader in Times of Crises, Dies at 94
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:18 AM
It was a landmark discovery, but Dr. Dowdle recalled the effort in a 2024 interview with his signature understatement: “All in a day’s work.”
“If you get the right ones in the right order”
As Stoppard wrote, and as I contemplate often: “I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little or make a poem which children will speak for you when you're dead.”
November 30, 2025 at 2:56 AM
“If you get the right ones in the right order”
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Thankful for my colleagues Dan Jernigan and @drdemetre.bsky.social; for the media and partners who continue to sound the alarm about public health; and most of all to those on the frontlines every day at CDC and in health departments. Our Lancet commentary re CDC: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
US CDC: a public health agency in critical condition
For almost 80 years, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been
the nation's immune system, detecting threats early, coordinating rapid responses,
and safeguarding population hea...
www.thelancet.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Thankful for my colleagues Dan Jernigan and @drdemetre.bsky.social; for the media and partners who continue to sound the alarm about public health; and most of all to those on the frontlines every day at CDC and in health departments. Our Lancet commentary re CDC: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Among the things I am thankful for is the courage and patriotism of all the federal workers who blew the whistle on agency policies that harm Americans, and those who support us. #CourageIsContagious Art by @drrabbithole.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Among the things I am thankful for is the courage and patriotism of all the federal workers who blew the whistle on agency policies that harm Americans, and those who support us. #CourageIsContagious Art by @drrabbithole.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Cappello
And that especially includes getting vaccinated during the pregnancy.
Among the scariest moments of my intern year of residency, infants with pertussis was definitely near the top. The best defense for kids under two months old is to prevent exposure by making sure everyone in the family is up to date on TDaP.
Third unvaccinated Kentucky baby dies of whooping cough • Kentucky Lantern
A third unvaccinated infant in Kentucky has died of pertussis as public health officials urge Kentuckians to get vaccinated against the disease.
kentuckylantern.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
And that especially includes getting vaccinated during the pregnancy.
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Pope Leo, the first U.S. leader of the Catholic Church, suggested that Americans should focus on gratitude as they sit around the dining table at the Thanksgiving holiday this year.
November 26, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Pope Leo, the first U.S. leader of the Catholic Church, suggested that Americans should focus on gratitude as they sit around the dining table at the Thanksgiving holiday this year.
Reposted by Michael Cappello
"𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 8 𝙞𝙣 10 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙜-𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖, 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩-𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨, 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝, 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮"
Why India is living a drug-resistant bacterial infection nightmare - The Times of India
Health News: With eight in ten patients entering a hospital carrying drug-resistant bacteria, India now sits at the centre of a silent global crisis, forcing docto
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
"𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 8 𝙞𝙣 10 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙜-𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖, 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩-𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨, 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝, 𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮"
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Pope given copy of US Senate bill on Minnesota shooting by co-sponsor Klobuchar reut.rs/4oVbX9D
Pope given copy of US Senate bill on Minnesota shooting by co-sponsor Klobuchar
Pope Leo was presented on Friday with a copy of a U.S. Senate resolution commemorating the victims of a shooting in August at a Minnesota Catholic Church and school, given to him by Senator Amy Klobuchar, one of the bill's co-sponsors.
reut.rs
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Pope given copy of US Senate bill on Minnesota shooting by co-sponsor Klobuchar reut.rs/4oVbX9D
Reposted by Michael Cappello
US and European aid cuts could result in 22.6 million deaths worldwide, study finds reut.rs/4oJp7Gm
US and European aid cuts could result in 22.6 million deaths worldwide, study finds
Abrupt cuts to development aid by major donor countries could cause up to 22.6 million additional deaths in developing countries by 2030, including 5.4 million children under five, according to a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and other organizations.
reut.rs
November 17, 2025 at 10:50 PM
US and European aid cuts could result in 22.6 million deaths worldwide, study finds reut.rs/4oJp7Gm
Not a surprise.
A new study found the Trump administration’s cuts to NIH grants disrupted more than 380 clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 participants.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
The cuts disproportionately impacted trials on infectious diseases and minority communities.
Federal cuts upended clinical trials. A new study reveals the toll.
Grants for 383 clinical trials were terminated and the funding disruptions affected more than 74,000 trial participants, according to new research.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Not a surprise.
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
Reposted by Michael Cappello
In his new book, 'Fair Doses,' epidemiologist Seth Berkley discusses what went right -- and wrong -- with COVID vaccine distribution and whether the world is ready if a new pandemic were to strike. n.pr/3JDxFQ1
COVID vaccine rollout and pandemic preparedness assessed in new book, 'Fair Doses'
In his new book, 'Fair Doses,' epidemiologist Seth Berkley discusses what went right -- and wrong -- with COVID vaccine distribution and whether the world is ready if a new pandemic were to strike.
n.pr
November 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
In his new book, 'Fair Doses,' epidemiologist Seth Berkley discusses what went right -- and wrong -- with COVID vaccine distribution and whether the world is ready if a new pandemic were to strike. n.pr/3JDxFQ1
Reposted by Michael Cappello
UK cuts contribution to Aids, tuberculosis and malaria fund by £150m
UK cuts contribution to Aids, tuberculosis and malaria fund by £150m
Campaigners say 15% cut, which is smaller than had been feared, is serious setback in efforts to combat the diseases
*
UK politics live – latest updates
The UK has cut by 15% its contribution to a leading aid fund combating preventable diseases, a decision that charities have said could lead to hundreds of thousands more otherwise preventable deaths.
The UK will commit £850m to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria over 2027-29, against the £1bn pledged by the Conservative government for the last funding round. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
UK cuts contribution to Aids, tuberculosis and malaria fund by £150m
Reposted by Michael Cappello
A treasure trove of rare and historic American music—including songs by Memphis Minnie, the Carter Family, Blind Willie Johnson, and more—is now freely available to the public thanks to a new collaboration between the UC Santa Barbara Library and Dust-to-Digital Foundation https://ow.ly/J8Bg50Xpuf2
Vast collection of historic American music released via UCSB Library partnership with Dust-to-Digital Foundation
Thousands of rare and uniquely American songs from the Jazz Age and the Great Depression are available for free listening thanks to a partnership between UCSB and the Dust-to-Digital Foundation.
ow.ly
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
A treasure trove of rare and historic American music—including songs by Memphis Minnie, the Carter Family, Blind Willie Johnson, and more—is now freely available to the public thanks to a new collaboration between the UC Santa Barbara Library and Dust-to-Digital Foundation https://ow.ly/J8Bg50Xpuf2
Reposted by Michael Cappello
ALERT: Baby Formula
13 cases of infant botulism reported from Aug through Nov 2025 coming in 10 states thus far. Please see web content for specifics on lot numbers and more.
Special shoutout to our friends and colleagues at CDC and FDA who got this out quickly all while not being paid.
13 cases of infant botulism reported from Aug through Nov 2025 coming in 10 states thus far. Please see web content for specifics on lot numbers and more.
Special shoutout to our friends and colleagues at CDC and FDA who got this out quickly all while not being paid.
Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Infant Formula, November 2025
Details on an outbreak of infant botulism linked to infant formula, November 2025.
www.cdc.gov
November 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
ALERT: Baby Formula
13 cases of infant botulism reported from Aug through Nov 2025 coming in 10 states thus far. Please see web content for specifics on lot numbers and more.
Special shoutout to our friends and colleagues at CDC and FDA who got this out quickly all while not being paid.
13 cases of infant botulism reported from Aug through Nov 2025 coming in 10 states thus far. Please see web content for specifics on lot numbers and more.
Special shoutout to our friends and colleagues at CDC and FDA who got this out quickly all while not being paid.
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Maine described its HIV outbreak as a significant health concern, but the government shutdown has kept a CDC team from coming to the state's aid.
Maine sought federal help amid its largest HIV outbreak in state history. It’s still waiting. - The Boston Globe
Maine described its HIV outbreak as a significant health concern, but the shutdown has kept a CDC team from coming to the state's aid.
trib.al
November 7, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Maine described its HIV outbreak as a significant health concern, but the government shutdown has kept a CDC team from coming to the state's aid.
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Reposted by Michael Cappello
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Michael Cappello
A new NEJM study reports results from a phase 1 trial of a Lassa virus vaccine, a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector engineered to express the Lassa glycoprotein (the same platform as the approved Ebola vaccine, ERVEBO). It was safe and immunogenic.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Safety and Immunogenicity of an rVSV Lassa Fever Vaccine Candidate | NEJM
No vaccine is currently available for Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease that
is estimated to cause thousands of deaths each year in western Africa. A replication-competent
recombinant vesicu...
www.nejm.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A new NEJM study reports results from a phase 1 trial of a Lassa virus vaccine, a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector engineered to express the Lassa glycoprotein (the same platform as the approved Ebola vaccine, ERVEBO). It was safe and immunogenic.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Michael Cappello
By this time next week, the estimated deaths due to the illegal destruction of USAID and the shuttering of its aid efforts will breach 400,000.
More than 260,000 will be children.
Source: www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
More than 260,000 will be children.
Source: www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
Tracking Anticipated Deaths from USAID Funding Cuts
Brooke Nichols has launched online tracking tools that capture estimated increases in mortality and disease spread for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases as a result of the near-total...
www.bu.edu
November 5, 2025 at 10:28 PM
By this time next week, the estimated deaths due to the illegal destruction of USAID and the shuttering of its aid efforts will breach 400,000.
More than 260,000 will be children.
Source: www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
More than 260,000 will be children.
Source: www.bu.edu/sph/news/art...
Reposted by Michael Cappello
CDC Figures It Easier To Start Tracking People Without Measles
CDC Figures It Easier To Start Tracking People Without Measles
ATLANTA—As the agency struggles to manage a measles caseload that has erupted to its largest size in decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated Monday that at this point, it would ...
theonion.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
CDC Figures It Easier To Start Tracking People Without Measles
Reposted by Michael Cappello
We have progressed from data collection to data analysis.
November 1, 2025 at 12:31 AM
We have progressed from data collection to data analysis.
Reposted by Michael Cappello
Come join us in Knoxville!
The Dept. of Microbiology 🧫🦠 at the University of Tennessee is hiring 2 Assistant Professors (tenure track, 9-month appt.).
Microbial Drivers of Chronic Disease: apply.interfolio.com/173153Quantitative Microbe-Plant-Environment Interactions: apply.interfolio.com/173345
The Dept. of Microbiology 🧫🦠 at the University of Tennessee is hiring 2 Assistant Professors (tenure track, 9-month appt.).
Microbial Drivers of Chronic Disease: apply.interfolio.com/173153Quantitative Microbe-Plant-Environment Interactions: apply.interfolio.com/173345
October 24, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Come join us in Knoxville!
The Dept. of Microbiology 🧫🦠 at the University of Tennessee is hiring 2 Assistant Professors (tenure track, 9-month appt.).
Microbial Drivers of Chronic Disease: apply.interfolio.com/173153Quantitative Microbe-Plant-Environment Interactions: apply.interfolio.com/173345
The Dept. of Microbiology 🧫🦠 at the University of Tennessee is hiring 2 Assistant Professors (tenure track, 9-month appt.).
Microbial Drivers of Chronic Disease: apply.interfolio.com/173153Quantitative Microbe-Plant-Environment Interactions: apply.interfolio.com/173345
Reposted by Michael Cappello
First West Nile virus death confirmed in L.A. County, as studies show that drought conditions may increase risk
First West Nile virus death confirmed in L.A. County, as studies show that drought conditions may increase risk
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported the first death from West Nile virus in 2025, in a patient from the San Fernando Valley.
www.latimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
First West Nile virus death confirmed in L.A. County, as studies show that drought conditions may increase risk