"The practice, in which users inject the blood of already intoxicated individuals, has fueled one of the fastest-growing H.I.V. epidemics in the Pacific and grown widespread in South Africa."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/w...

How 'bluetoothing' fuelled HIV outbreak — and caught Fiji unprepared: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-14/hiv-fiji-pacific-drug-use-addiction-bluetoothing/105043402

Fiji's #HIV cases surge due to bluetoothing, #chemsex and needle-sharing

Over the past 5 years #Fiji has become the locus of one of the world's fastest growing HIV #epidemics

In 2014 with fewer than 500 people with HIV, by 2024 that number was 5,900
share.google/2gPEckigdM3K...

Important news from WHO! The 1st #lenacapvirs for #PrEP have been prequalified in just 36 days through a new abridged prequalification pathway, which is the 1st time this procedure has been used!

extranet.who.int/prequal/news...

An important step, but more to do: www.prepwatch.org/tracking-len...

"Usutu, which mainly infects birds, was first detected in London blackbirds in 2020 and has been found in birds or mosquitoes every year since, making it now endemic to the UK … Usutu often establishes first, with West Nile following as temperatures rise."

theconversation.com/first-eviden...

A bold doctor sent her kids away & helped beat one of the world's deadliest viruses

I am in awe of Dr. Firew’s intelligence & bravery.

The number of deaths caused by antimicrobial resistance is predicted to rise from 1 millio to 2 million death per year by 2050. Reasons:
- Too few new drugs
- Excessive use of antibiotics in agriculture
- Antibiotics overuse in medical practice
- Lack of awareness
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

The Department of Agriculture expects the recall to grow.

"The administration wants to be able to do ‘ideological purity’ testing before helping after [a natural disaster, such as] a tsunami"

Given this is how Trump sees internal disaster relief, it's no surprise that this attitude would be turned outward.

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

"H5N1 virus can remain infectious for extended periods in raw-milk cheeses under specific conditions, underscoring the potential public health risks associated with consuming unpasteurized milk products "
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

"there is no question that GBS is a leading cause of disease and death in infants up to 3 months old. Worldwide, it sickens about 400,000 babies a year and kills at least 91,000"

A deep dive into group B strep vaccines - #MedSky + #ReproSky + #IDSky.

www.science.org/content/arti...

1/ A deadly #Listeria outbreak has been linked to precooked pasta, and four people have already died. 20 others became severely ill, with all but one landing in the hospital.

Katelyn here, Your Local Epidemiologist, and here’s what you need to know about this and other public health news this week👇

🤰Pregnant women have been left out of #malaria trials—until now.

#Mali has just enrolled the 1st patient. A step forward in ensuring safe and effective treatments for women during their most vulnerable months.

📖➡️ healthpolicy-watch.news/mali-enrols-...

✍️ @kerrycullinan.bsky.social
@mmv.org

CDC has finally adopted the recommendations its vaccine panel made Sept. 19. This should increase access to Covid vaccines somewhat — CVS and Walgreens had said once the recs were official, they'd offer the shots w/o Rx nationwide, and Vaccines for Children program also needed the official approval

Yes. Even though there is no orthodox prohibition to vaccination and rabbis are encouraging it, there is a cultural opposition in Haredi communities (77% vaccination rate) and also more crowded living conditions. bit.ly/3VVXv4e

It is way, way better to get vaccinated for chickenpox than to get sick with it

Tapping the sign

The annual incidence of Hep B in dialysis unit staff used to be about 2.6% in the 1970s journals.lww.com/asaiojournal...

See paper published earlier this year by @dmdorogov.bsky.social for more background: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #HIV

“In 2021, Russia accounted for 3·9% of new HIV infections worldwide—the highest share in the European region and the 5th-highest globally..51 984 new HIV diagnoses were registered in 2024” www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

New measles outbreak in South Carolina. Total now topping 1500 in the US. 🧪
www.huffpost.com/entry/south-...

Researchers have developed a new vaccine to prevent a deadly virus that affects young elephants.

It targets elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), which is currently a leading cause of death in young Asian elephants.

🧪💉🐘
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Suspected case of bird flu identified near Omagh in Co Tyrone

Six young children died, one facing amputation of limbs, all unvaccinated, all from measles.

Protect your children.
belaaz.com/news/11-mont...