Stephanie Nolen
@stephanienolen.bsky.social
Global health reporter, The New York Times. Former correspondent in South Asia, Africa, Latin America and the MidEast. Author, 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa; Promised the Moon. Baker. Canoe tripper. Disease nerd. Lover of a fat novel and Earl Grey tea.
Every wonder what happened to the leggings or candle or lemon squeezer you returned to Amazon or wherever? (You probably didn't wonder, actually). The good folks at Wirecutter did the deep dive on finding out www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...
We Bought a 450-Pound Mystery Pallet Packed With Returned Goods From Amazon and Beyond. Here’s What We Found Inside.
Pallets of overstock, returned, and undelivered-mail packages are an indicator of just how much stuff there is in the retail ecosystem.
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Every wonder what happened to the leggings or candle or lemon squeezer you returned to Amazon or wherever? (You probably didn't wonder, actually). The good folks at Wirecutter did the deep dive on finding out www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
The suspected outbreak of a hemorrhagic vial illness in Ethiopia has now been confirmed to Marburg Virus Disease. So far 9 cases have been identified in a part of the country that shares a border with Sudan.
apnews.com/article/ethi...
apnews.com/article/ethi...
Ethiopia confirms first Marburg outbreak as WHO lauds country's fast action
Ethiopia has confirmed its first Marburg outbreak after nine cases were identified in the southern region of the country that borders South Sudan.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The suspected outbreak of a hemorrhagic vial illness in Ethiopia has now been confirmed to Marburg Virus Disease. So far 9 cases have been identified in a part of the country that shares a border with Sudan.
apnews.com/article/ethi...
apnews.com/article/ethi...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
"Ethiopia reports suspected viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak"
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Ethiopia reports suspected viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak
Health authorities in Ethiopia are carrying out further investigations and ramping up response after suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever were reported in the country’s South Ethiopia Region.
www.afro.who.int
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"Ethiopia reports suspected viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak"
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopi...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
A small study helps explain why some people taking Wegovy and similar weight-loss drugs cut back on alcohol, offering insight into potential new addiction therapies
Why Drugs Like Ozempic Can Make People Drink Less Alcohol
A small study helps explain why some people taking Wegovy and similar weight-loss drugs cut back on alcohol, offering insight into potential new addiction therapies
www.scientificamerican.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A small study helps explain why some people taking Wegovy and similar weight-loss drugs cut back on alcohol, offering insight into potential new addiction therapies
This is both discouraging, and also should be a warning of how easily infectious disease can come roaring back – Canada has far less vax skepticism than its southern neighbour ... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Canada Is About to Lose Its Status as Having Eliminated Measles
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This is both discouraging, and also should be a warning of how easily infectious disease can come roaring back – Canada has far less vax skepticism than its southern neighbour ... www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
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 Stephanie Nolen
Interesting piece: "Beware the financialization of the global health industry - Complex banking instruments designed to generate money can’t make up for global health shortfalls"
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
Beware the financialization of the global health industry
Beware of financialization when it is code for “money making money on health,” S.L. Erikson warns.
www.statnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Interesting piece: "Beware the financialization of the global health industry - Complex banking instruments designed to generate money can’t make up for global health shortfalls"
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/f...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
They’re invading journals “like Omicron,” Dr. Chaccour said...
If you work with or rely on academic journals - don't miss this strange, funny, horrifying story about what happened when @carloschaccour.bsky.social published a paper on a malaria breakthrough in a prestigious journal – and AI came for the letters page. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/s...
The Editor Got a Letter From ‘Dr. B.S.’ So Did a Lot of Other Editors.
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
They’re invading journals “like Omicron,” Dr. Chaccour said...
If you work with or rely on academic journals - don't miss this strange, funny, horrifying story about what happened when @carloschaccour.bsky.social published a paper on a malaria breakthrough in a prestigious journal – and AI came for the letters page. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/s...
The Editor Got a Letter From ‘Dr. B.S.’ So Did a Lot of Other Editors.
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
If you work with or rely on academic journals - don't miss this strange, funny, horrifying story about what happened when @carloschaccour.bsky.social published a paper on a malaria breakthrough in a prestigious journal – and AI came for the letters page. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/s...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
A Somali Hospital Closed After U.S. Aid Cuts.
“After the Trump administration stopped funding a medical center for women and children, a determined group of health care workers refused to let it shutter.” @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
“After the Trump administration stopped funding a medical center for women and children, a determined group of health care workers refused to let it shutter.” @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
A Somali Hospital Closed After U.S. Aid Cuts. Fired Employees Reopened It Without Pay.
www.nytimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A Somali Hospital Closed After U.S. Aid Cuts.
“After the Trump administration stopped funding a medical center for women and children, a determined group of health care workers refused to let it shutter.” @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
“After the Trump administration stopped funding a medical center for women and children, a determined group of health care workers refused to let it shutter.” @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
Going to re-up this on the off chance that anyone besides me could use a tiny fragment of good news today. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
In Fight Against Malaria, an Unexpected — and Snuggly — Shield
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Going to re-up this on the off chance that anyone besides me could use a tiny fragment of good news today. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
"There are large diphtheria outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad — countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low, surveillance is weak and frail health systems leave children undiagnosed or treated too late."
In Somalia a few weeks ago, I found myself in a hospital ward packed with children (and some adults) gasping for breath, infected with diphtheria. It was like time travel to the Victorian era.
But diphtheria is no longer a relic of your granny's stories – it's back.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
But diphtheria is no longer a relic of your granny's stories – it's back.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:33 AM
"There are large diphtheria outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad — countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low, surveillance is weak and frail health systems leave children undiagnosed or treated too late."
In Somalia a few weeks ago, I found myself in a hospital ward packed with children (and some adults) gasping for breath, infected with diphtheria. It was like time travel to the Victorian era.
But diphtheria is no longer a relic of your granny's stories – it's back.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
But diphtheria is no longer a relic of your granny's stories – it's back.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent
www.nytimes.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
In Somalia a few weeks ago, I found myself in a hospital ward packed with children (and some adults) gasping for breath, infected with diphtheria. It was like time travel to the Victorian era.
But diphtheria is no longer a relic of your granny's stories – it's back.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
But diphtheria is no longer a relic of your granny's stories – it's back.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Appreciated this ray of sunshine in these dark days.
And now for something totally unexpected: some good news!
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
In Fight Against Malaria, an Unexpected — and Snuggly — Shield
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Appreciated this ray of sunshine in these dark days.
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Excellent reporting by @stephanienolen.bsky.social on the resurgence of #Diphteria in displaced populations, with a focus on #Somalia. The resurgence of this infectious disease is happening globally due to declining vaccination rates.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Excellent reporting by @stephanienolen.bsky.social on the resurgence of #Diphteria in displaced populations, with a focus on #Somalia. The resurgence of this infectious disease is happening globally due to declining vaccination rates.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
"Treating baby wraps with a mosquito repellent shows promising protection against a top killer of children."
And now for something totally unexpected: some good news!
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
In Fight Against Malaria, an Unexpected — and Snuggly — Shield
www.nytimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:12 PM
"Treating baby wraps with a mosquito repellent shows promising protection against a top killer of children."
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent.
A Somali hospital ward packed with gasping children shows how war, climate and mistrust of vaccines is fueling the disease’s return, by @stephanienolen.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... via @nytimes.com #GlobalHealth
A Somali hospital ward packed with gasping children shows how war, climate and mistrust of vaccines is fueling the disease’s return, by @stephanienolen.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... via @nytimes.com #GlobalHealth
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent.
A Somali hospital ward packed with gasping children shows how war, climate and mistrust of vaccines is fueling the disease’s return, by @stephanienolen.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... via @nytimes.com #GlobalHealth
A Somali hospital ward packed with gasping children shows how war, climate and mistrust of vaccines is fueling the disease’s return, by @stephanienolen.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... via @nytimes.com #GlobalHealth
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Measles is back
Whooping cough is back
Now, diphtheria is staging a return with large outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad — countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... @stephanienolen.bsky.social
Whooping cough is back
Now, diphtheria is staging a return with large outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad — countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... @stephanienolen.bsky.social
Diphtheria, a Once Vanquished Killer of Children, Is Resurgent
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Measles is back
Whooping cough is back
Now, diphtheria is staging a return with large outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad — countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... @stephanienolen.bsky.social
Whooping cough is back
Now, diphtheria is staging a return with large outbreaks now in Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Chad — countries with civil wars or large populations of refugees where vaccination coverage is low...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/h... @stephanienolen.bsky.social
And now for something totally unexpected: some good news!
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
In Fight Against Malaria, an Unexpected — and Snuggly — Shield
www.nytimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
And now for something totally unexpected: some good news!
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
Turns out you can make big, big strides in protecting kids from malaria using the lowest possible, cuddliest piece of technology. (open link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/h...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
Yet another starting example highlighting that countries and communities continue to suffer as foreign aid depletes, first with US cuts and then by other developed countries. Thanks for your relentless reporting on this topic @stephanienolen.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
A Somali Hospital Closed After U.S. Aid Cuts. Fired Employees Reopened It Without Pay.
www.nytimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Yet another starting example highlighting that countries and communities continue to suffer as foreign aid depletes, first with US cuts and then by other developed countries. Thanks for your relentless reporting on this topic @stephanienolen.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
When US aid ended earlier this year, a Somali maternity hospital had to fire staff + close. But not everyone got the news. When one woman arrived in late stage labor + gave birth outside the locked gate, the staff came back to work. They're still working for free. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
A Somali Hospital Closed After U.S. Aid Cuts. Fired Employees Reopened It Without Pay.
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
When US aid ended earlier this year, a Somali maternity hospital had to fire staff + close. But not everyone got the news. When one woman arrived in late stage labor + gave birth outside the locked gate, the staff came back to work. They're still working for free. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
“The World Food Programme said that starting next month, it would be forced to reduce the number of people who receive emergency food assistance in Somalia to just 350,000, down from 1.1 million in August — fewer than one in every 10 people who are in need of food aid for survival.”
I reported recently from Somalia, as part of our ongoing effort to document the effect of the major cuts to U.S. foreign assistance.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
‘You Could Treat a Child for a Few Dollars.’ Now Those Clinics Are Gone.
www.nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:42 AM
“The World Food Programme said that starting next month, it would be forced to reduce the number of people who receive emergency food assistance in Somalia to just 350,000, down from 1.1 million in August — fewer than one in every 10 people who are in need of food aid for survival.”
Reposted by Stephanie Nolen
America’s Retreat From Aid Is Devastating Somalia’s Health System
Hunger and the diseases that stalk small children have surged in Somalia after the U.S. slashed its aid to the country. @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
Hunger and the diseases that stalk small children have surged in Somalia after the U.S. slashed its aid to the country. @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
America’s Retreat From Aid Is Devastating Somalia’s Health System
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
America’s Retreat From Aid Is Devastating Somalia’s Health System
Hunger and the diseases that stalk small children have surged in Somalia after the U.S. slashed its aid to the country. @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...
Hunger and the diseases that stalk small children have surged in Somalia after the U.S. slashed its aid to the country. @stephanienolen.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/h...