Delthia Ricks
@dricks.bsky.social
Science writer, author, essayist & avid gardener.
The new guidelines also abandon advice on alcohol, which previously recommended ~2 drinks a day for men & 1 for women. Alcohol is linked to cancer. Now, guidelines advise consuming “less” alcohol but w/out specific limits. Says Mehmet Oz: “Alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together"
January 7, 2026 at 6:38 PM
The new guidelines also abandon advice on alcohol, which previously recommended ~2 drinks a day for men & 1 for women. Alcohol is linked to cancer. Now, guidelines advise consuming “less” alcohol but w/out specific limits. Says Mehmet Oz: “Alcohol is a social lubricant that brings people together"
The American Academy of Pediatrics & several other medical groups can move forward w/ a lawsuit challenging RFKjr's vaccine policies. A federal judge rejected arguments from Trump regime lawyers who say the medical organizations can't show the policies cause harm www.msn.com/en-us/health...
January 7, 2026 at 4:31 PM
The American Academy of Pediatrics & several other medical groups can move forward w/ a lawsuit challenging RFKjr's vaccine policies. A federal judge rejected arguments from Trump regime lawyers who say the medical organizations can't show the policies cause harm www.msn.com/en-us/health...
A rightwing cure-all: Doctors are concerned about an increasing use of ivermectin among certain people. The drug is a de-wormer for livestock but gained undue notoriety as a Covid treatment. In rightwing circles, its reputation is growing as a cure-all, even for cancer www.npr.org/2025/12/30/n...
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
A rightwing cure-all: Doctors are concerned about an increasing use of ivermectin among certain people. The drug is a de-wormer for livestock but gained undue notoriety as a Covid treatment. In rightwing circles, its reputation is growing as a cure-all, even for cancer www.npr.org/2025/12/30/n...
Happy 2026 Everyone!
January 1, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Happy 2026 Everyone!
A new flu variant is raising concerns about another bad influenza season. New York has already declared its worst flu season since 2004. The leading variant is H3N2 subclade K. H3N2 is a common strain, but subclade K is what’s new—and highly contagious www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/w...
December 29, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A new flu variant is raising concerns about another bad influenza season. New York has already declared its worst flu season since 2004. The leading variant is H3N2 subclade K. H3N2 is a common strain, but subclade K is what’s new—and highly contagious www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/w...
Trump says he has no plans to replace Obamacare, but that it would "repeal itself." This means that he has no healthcare plan outside of his effort to lower prescription drug costs w/ 9 pharmaceutical companies www.reuters.com/business/hea...
December 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Trump says he has no plans to replace Obamacare, but that it would "repeal itself." This means that he has no healthcare plan outside of his effort to lower prescription drug costs w/ 9 pharmaceutical companies www.reuters.com/business/hea...
American Academy of Pediatrics issued its policy on #Covid vaccination for kids & the recommendations, which are sensible & sane, are unlike Trump regime lunacy. AAP says babies&toddlers 6-23 months are at higher severe Covid risk so the vax is recommended www.clinicaladvisor.com/news/aap-upd...
December 18, 2025 at 2:07 AM
American Academy of Pediatrics issued its policy on #Covid vaccination for kids & the recommendations, which are sensible & sane, are unlike Trump regime lunacy. AAP says babies&toddlers 6-23 months are at higher severe Covid risk so the vax is recommended www.clinicaladvisor.com/news/aap-upd...
FDA intends to put its most serious warning on Covid vaccines. The agency's “black box” warning is the latest move by RFK & the Trump regime to undermine a vaccine that saved millions of lives. The plan shocked outside experts, who say there's no basis for the warning www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
December 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
FDA intends to put its most serious warning on Covid vaccines. The agency's “black box” warning is the latest move by RFK & the Trump regime to undermine a vaccine that saved millions of lives. The plan shocked outside experts, who say there's no basis for the warning www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
The multi-state infant botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula has reached 51 cases. The outbreak continues to quietly grow. Just a few weeks ago there were only 13 cases www.fda.gov/food/outbrea...
December 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The multi-state infant botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula has reached 51 cases. The outbreak continues to quietly grow. Just a few weeks ago there were only 13 cases www.fda.gov/food/outbrea...
A phase I vaccine trial is signaling potential promise that the vax can prevent triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive & devastating forms of the disease. If successful, it's possible the vaccine design can be applied to other types of cancer www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcover...
December 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
A phase I vaccine trial is signaling potential promise that the vax can prevent triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive & devastating forms of the disease. If successful, it's possible the vaccine design can be applied to other types of cancer www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcover...
Scientists have found a new human blood type. So far, only 3 people are known to have it. Blood type A(B) is caused by 4 gene mutations & was discovered when blood types of patients & donors were being studied in a Thai hospital www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
December 8, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Scientists have found a new human blood type. So far, only 3 people are known to have it. Blood type A(B) is caused by 4 gene mutations & was discovered when blood types of patients & donors were being studied in a Thai hospital www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Restriction enzymes are molecular scissors that cut the genetic code at specific points & that’s why they’re such important laboratory tools. They're derived from bacteria, which use these enzymes to destroy foreign DNA, mainly from phages. This is how restriction enzymes work👇
December 7, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Restriction enzymes are molecular scissors that cut the genetic code at specific points & that’s why they’re such important laboratory tools. They're derived from bacteria, which use these enzymes to destroy foreign DNA, mainly from phages. This is how restriction enzymes work👇
Twice the number of Americans say they're more likely to take the AMA's vaccine advice versus the CDC's, a new Annenberg survey found. For years, health advice from key associations agreed w/ CDC. Not now, and the public is aware of the CDC's slide www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/americans-mo...
December 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Twice the number of Americans say they're more likely to take the AMA's vaccine advice versus the CDC's, a new Annenberg survey found. For years, health advice from key associations agreed w/ CDC. Not now, and the public is aware of the CDC's slide www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/americans-mo...
New thrust of public health in the US: Measles and Weasels. (Cartoon from the New Yorker)
December 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
New thrust of public health in the US: Measles and Weasels. (Cartoon from the New Yorker)
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Whooping cough outbreaks are surging. They're fueled by waning immunity & falling vaccination rates. Whooping cough—pertussis—is surging in Texas, Florida, California, Oregon & other states. Delays in public health tracking & reporting to the public add to the problem www.cbsnews.com/news/whoopin...
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Whooping cough outbreaks are surging. They're fueled by waning immunity & falling vaccination rates. Whooping cough—pertussis—is surging in Texas, Florida, California, Oregon & other states. Delays in public health tracking & reporting to the public add to the problem www.cbsnews.com/news/whoopin...
23 infants in 13 states hospitalized in a growing botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart baby formula. Affected babies initially had poor feeding, loss of head control & difficulty swallowing but it can lead to breathing difficulty & respiratory arrest. Parents now suing www.usatoday.com/story/news/h...
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
23 infants in 13 states hospitalized in a growing botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart baby formula. Affected babies initially had poor feeding, loss of head control & difficulty swallowing but it can lead to breathing difficulty & respiratory arrest. Parents now suing www.usatoday.com/story/news/h...
#Birdflu: Washington state health officials have identified the nation's 1st human case of bird flu in 9 months, pending confirmatory testing. Patient is an older adult w/ underlying health conditions. Source of the potential infection is still under investigation apnews.com/article/bird...
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
#Birdflu: Washington state health officials have identified the nation's 1st human case of bird flu in 9 months, pending confirmatory testing. Patient is an older adult w/ underlying health conditions. Source of the potential infection is still under investigation apnews.com/article/bird...
Silent pandemic: The World health Organization's new tuberculosis report is out. TB is currently on the rise, both globally and in the US. Global case counts & deaths have increased www.who.int/publications...
November 13, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Silent pandemic: The World health Organization's new tuberculosis report is out. TB is currently on the rise, both globally and in the US. Global case counts & deaths have increased www.who.int/publications...
Biotech leaders, social media influencers & Trump regime officials including JD Vance & RFKjr are scheduled to speak at an all-day "Make America Healthy Again" summit that is CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA. Sounds fishy thehill.com/homenews/adm...
November 13, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Biotech leaders, social media influencers & Trump regime officials including JD Vance & RFKjr are scheduled to speak at an all-day "Make America Healthy Again" summit that is CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA. Sounds fishy thehill.com/homenews/adm...
Outbreak investigation of infant botulism: Now 15 babies have been hospitalized because of botulism after consuming ByHeart Whole Nutrition Formula. Botulism triggers severe illness in babies & can be deadly. It's caused by a toxin from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum www.fda.gov/food/outbrea...
November 11, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Outbreak investigation of infant botulism: Now 15 babies have been hospitalized because of botulism after consuming ByHeart Whole Nutrition Formula. Botulism triggers severe illness in babies & can be deadly. It's caused by a toxin from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum www.fda.gov/food/outbrea...
A common antibiotic may reduce schizophrenia risk, a new study has found. Patients in teen mental health programs treated w/ the antibiotic doxycycline were significantly less likely to go on to develop schizophrenia in adulthood, highlighting the possibility of repurposing doxy as a preventive👇
November 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A common antibiotic may reduce schizophrenia risk, a new study has found. Patients in teen mental health programs treated w/ the antibiotic doxycycline were significantly less likely to go on to develop schizophrenia in adulthood, highlighting the possibility of repurposing doxy as a preventive👇