T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
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kutneil.bsky.social
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
@kutneil.bsky.social
2.4K followers 1.5K following 410 posts
Healthcare epidemiologist in Montana. Advocate in antibiotic stewardship and health equity. Promoting diagnostic stewardship in #IDSky, #AMSSky, and #IPSky. Southerner at heart. Cat and corgi dad. Fly angler. Love snarky comments.
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kutneil.bsky.social
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · Jul 8
Measles information for Montana residents and healthcare professionals.
#measles #publichealth #vaccination
www.umt.edu/mt-public-he...
Measles Information and Resources 2025
www.umt.edu
kutneil.bsky.social
This is just another cut among a thousand cuts that will lead to the demise of CDC.

www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Louisiana's top health official, a critic of the COVID vaccine, will be CDC deputy
Louisiana's surgeon general Dr. Ralph Abraham, who has praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s tenure as health secretary and called COVID vaccines "dangerous," will become the second-highest ranking official...
www.npr.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
When I see headlines about infants and children dying from vaccine-preventable infections, I can't help but think about the comments RFK Jr made about kids with autism can't have normal lives after alleging that vaccines cause autism.
#vaccination #pertussis
www.cidrap.umn.edu/pertussis/th...
Third infant in Kentucky dies of whooping cough as national cases stay high for second year in a row
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Although I'm not surprised that there is a huge disparity in the knowledge that antibiotics don't work against viruses globally, what is disappointing to see is there are still so many Americans who believe they do.
#IDSky #AMSSky
www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S119...
Global and regional knowledge of antibiotic use and resistance among the general public: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Antibiotic resistance threatens effective infection treatment and medical procedures. Global initiatives, such as World AMR Awareness Week, aim to improve public understanding and promote rational ant...
www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
sheaepi.bsky.social
U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week is ending, but the fight against #AntimicrobialResistance continues. Contact Congress today and advocate for CDC funding to protect patients and save lives.

Sign our letter to Congress: bit.ly/3Xe9FpW

#USAAW25 #SHEAadvocacy
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Coming from someone who is neither a doctor nor a scientist/researcher, the recent update in the CDC's language on vaccines and autism is wrong and an insult to the hard work of many researchers, including those who still work at CDC.
#vaccination #publichealth
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Kennedy Says He Told C.D.C. to Change Website’s Language on Autism and Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
sheaepi.bsky.social
We need to quickly return to medical information and recommendations being based on sound science, not unverified opinions.

Read our full joint statement: bit.ly/47S6LNE
November 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Montana now has reported at least 324 cases this year, 4 times as many cases as in 2024.
#pertussis #publichealth #vaccination #PedSky #IDSky
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Waning Immunity and Falling Vaccination Rates Fuel Pertussis Outbreaks - KFF Health News
New details from health officials suggest the whooping-cough surge may be part of a national pattern driven by slipping vaccine coverage and waning immunity, with infants bearing the brunt of the cons...
kffhealthnews.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Every physician I know disagrees with this statement.
#publichealth #vaccination #vaccines
www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safe...
November 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
The US spends more than any other country on the same level of healthcare coverage. So, how will redirecting the ACA subsidies back to Americans and having them negotiate individually with health insurers make healthcare more affordable?
#healthequity #mtpol
ourworldindata.org/grapher/haq-...
Healthcare coverage by level of healthcare spending
Universal healthcare coverage (UHC) service coverage is measured on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) based on the average coverage of essential healthcare services.
ourworldindata.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
This year's flu vaccines will still provide some protection against severe illness. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to reduce the risk of getting really sick from the flu.
#publichealth #vaccination #influenza
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Warnings rise for U.S. as severe flu strain causes outbreaks in Canada, U.K.
A flu strain that emerged over the summer is causing "unprecedented" outbreaks in Japan, as well as in Canada and the U.K. The CDC hasn't provided insights on flu in the U.S. in nearly two months.
www.nbcnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:26 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
For those who want to know the "why" Medicaid/Medicare funding and ACA subsidies are so important...here it is.

If we want our nation to be prosperous, we need to ensure that everyone is healthy.
#healthequity
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Is health insurance a matter of life and death? Scientists may have an answer.
The surprisingly tricky question stumped researchers for decades. But they think they finally have an answer.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Ivermectin works great for certain worms and parasites but not so great on viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emergin...
Ivermectin found to be safe, effective in small children with scabies
Trial investigators say the results could expand the scale and impact of mass drug administration campaigns against neglected tropical diseases.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
sheaepi.bsky.social
SHEA membership renewals for 2026 are now open!

Renew today to keep your access to education, networking, and advocacy benefits — and avoid a lapse in membership. All memberships expire Dec. 31, 2025.
November 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Most Americans still believe their food supply is safe despite our elected officials' support for cutting public health funding to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse."
#publichealth #foodborneillness

www.propublica.org/article/fore...
Foreign Food Safety Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Cuts
The dramatic shift in oversight comes at a time when the U.S. has never been more reliant on foreign food, which accounts for the vast majority of the nation’s seafood and more than half its fresh fru...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
sundermannaj.bsky.social
Aerosolizing pathogens from sink drains? New study shows it can happen & possibly cause transmission

Drain biofilm bacteria found in droplets and aerosols ▶️ spread into room

Possible sources of HAIs #IDSky

📄: www.ajicjournal.org/article/S019...
November 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Food security is an important factor in health equity. Most people focus on insuring there's a roof over their head and food on the table than having health insurance. Consider supporting your local food bank as people will need them more than ever.
#healthequity
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
The Nation’s Largest Food Aid Program Is About To See Cuts. Here’s What You Should Know. - KFF Health News
The federal government is making sweeping changes to SNAP, the program that helped feed about 42 million people in the U.S. last year. Here’s a breakdown of the changes to come and potential impacts.
kffhealthnews.org
November 1, 2025 at 2:06 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Is this what medical freedom looks like?
#vaccination #publichealth #measles

www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/public-not-h...
Public Not Highly Knowledgeable About Safety of MMR Vaccine or Risks of Getting Measles | The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Public support of the MMR vaccine has declined eight percentage points since November of last year, according to a new APPC survey.
www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Although this article didn't cite the reason for this patient's refusal to be tested, this highlights my concern that people with measles may decide not to get tested (or be seen by a physician).
#measles #publichealth
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/susp...
Suspected measles case-patient refuses testing in Salt Lake County
Prior to this year, there had only been 1 confirmed measles case in Utah since 2020.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
October 31, 2025 at 1:02 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
Immunizations against Covid-19, RSV, and influenza have shown consistent effectiveness and safety and are associated with a substantially reduced risk of hospitalization and severe disease across populations.

This is gold standard science.

#vaccination #publichealth

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Updated Evidence for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Vaccines for 2025–2026 | NEJM
Changes in the vaccine advisory process in the United States have disrupted immunization guidance, which reinforces the need for independent evidence review to inform decisions regarding immunizati...
www.nejm.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Shaming (and the fear of it) was often used by medical educators as an educational tool when I went through my medical training.

www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...
These doctors want to break the cycle of shame and blame in medicine
Shaming is common in medical school and unfortunately, sometimes in the doctor's office. Some doctors are trying to teach medical students awareness of the problem so they don't perpetuate the cycle.
www.npr.org
October 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Notifying the public about outbreaks is one of the reasons public health exists. MT is also experiencing an outbreak of whooping cough, I hope DPHHS doesn't follow this example.
#publichealth #vaccination #pertussis
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
www.npr.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Meanwhile, school-age measles cases in South Carolina continue to grow...

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/meas...
October 28, 2025 at 9:17 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
A commentary from former ACIP panelists regarding the recent ACIP recommendations.

If the experts don't trust those ACIP recommendations, it would likely be difficult for the public to trust them as well.
#vaccination #publichealth

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Science for vaccine policy: Independent review of the September 2025 ACIP processes, deliberations and votes
Since 1964, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has shaped US vaccine policy but recently underwent significant structural and pro…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
I guess it's a good thing most people don't follow the US dietary guidelines. And, I guess vegetarians and vegans are out of luck...

thehill.com/policy/healt...
RFK Jr. to unveil new guidance encouraging more saturated fats
Foods like butter, cheese and red meat could be reemphasized in new dietary guidelines.
thehill.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:05 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
www.idsociety.org/practice-gui...
Vaccines for Seasonal Respiratory Viruses in the Immunocompromised
www.idsociety.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM