Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

Small correction - Stakeholders CAN listen on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

how they are responding to the suspected case of chikungunya in New York

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

🔒The remaining 4 informal meeting days will be open for Member States and experts only.

🚪Relevant stakeholders are not invited to listen.

➡️IGWG3 will take place from 3 to 7 November, resuming discussions and negotiations for PABS Annex.

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

They also discussed PABS Sequence Information and Databases, providing insights on

⚖️WHO principles for ethical human genomic data collection and sharing
💻WHO and other databases
🧩Interoperability
✏️Digital identifiers
🎟️Different data use cases and users

1 1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

The following session focused on PABS Materials and Laboratory Networks

🔬WHO explained their global and regional lab networks for range of pathogens

🌍Discussions covered national capacities, global & regional collaboration, & related WHO support.

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

The day began with a discussion on Public Health Events and Risk Assessment. WHO provided an excellent process overview of how its works with Member States to:
🔍Detect and verify public health events
💻Assess risk
🚨Alert other states and public
🚒Support response

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

The aim of the week is to build a common vision and knowledge of PABS elements by:
💡Linking Member States to relevant experts for questions
🗨️Exchanging views among Member States on PABS outline
🚦Testing different approaches
🪜Preparing for IGWG3

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 2d

📢Today, the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG2) for the #pandemictreaty kicked off a week of informal meetings in Geneva to develop a Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) Annex.

A brief recap of the day below!

🧵

2 1 5

Reposted by Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 4d

🚨US funding cuts to vaccine programmes have imperiled vaccine coverage around the world.

💉In our new Georgetown Center for Global Health Law and Policy Working Paper, we unpack these decisions/

🎱The US dropped the ball, leaving a mess for others to fix.

🧵

1 4 6

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 4d

By April 2025, data collected by WHO indicated that 80% of countries were already reporting disruptions to vaccine equity due to funding cuts.

The damage is done – and will be lasting.

🔗 You can read our full analysis here
repository.digital.georgetown.edu/handle/10822...

Global Health Equity Considerations of Political Decisions Trump, The US, and Immunization

repository.digital.georgetown.edu

2

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 4d

🚨US funding cuts to vaccine programmes have imperiled vaccine coverage around the world.

💉In our new Georgetown Center for Global Health Law and Policy Working Paper, we unpack these decisions/

🎱The US dropped the ball, leaving a mess for others to fix.

🧵

1 4 6

Reposted by Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 11d

🦟 We may have a case of Chikungunya in New York.
Story still unfolding.

Notably our US CDC is absent on this one. It is being handled by the State.

Chikungunya virus infection can cause an illness with fever and joint pain. It is carried by a type of mosquito not previously found in the US.

Mosquito-Borne Illness Rarely Seen in U.S. Is Suspected on Long Island

www.nytimes.com

2 1 4

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you, Kristof! Would add you as well to that list!

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks to Joe Goldstein for breaking this story. It (and Joe) are definitely worth following as if confirmed, the type of mosquitos that carry Chikungunya also carry other diseases as well not widely seen in the US.

Mosquito-Borne Illness Rarely Seen in U.S. Is Suspected on Long Island

www.nytimes.com

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 11d

Paracetamol or acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) are recommended for pain relief and reducing fever until dengue infections are ruled out, as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can increase the risk of bleeding.

Two preventive traveller's vaccines are available but not widely used.

1 1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 11d

🦟 We may have a case of Chikungunya in New York.
Story still unfolding.

Notably our US CDC is absent on this one. It is being handled by the State.

Chikungunya virus infection can cause an illness with fever and joint pain. It is carried by a type of mosquito not previously found in the US.

Mosquito-Borne Illness Rarely Seen in U.S. Is Suspected on Long Island

www.nytimes.com

2 1 4

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 13d

Civil society in the US is getting crushed.

Case in point below.

wtaf.

7

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 17d

America has a new Global Health Strategy that is anything but a Global Health Strategy.

Its main idea: America First.

Check out this report by @npr.org and my Substack on the same (which is considerably more scathing a review).

bit.ly/47PpZnv

3 5

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 18d

So much for good news. They reversed this decision yesterday. The Vaccines for Children program (Medicaid) will no longer cover the combined shot for children under 4.

This is a terrible and dangerous decision that will have a direct and negative impact on the health of our children.

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 20d

Breaking (good) news:

The US vaccine committee just voted that the combination Measles Mumps Rubella and Varicella vaccine will continue to be covered by the public VFC for those under 4 years of age.

1 4

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 19d

📜Before closing, the IGWG approved the meeting report and next steps.

There will be an informal meeting of States and Experts on 6-10 October. Stakeholder engagement TBD.

Actual negotiations will only begin later this year (IGWG3 on 3-7 November & IGWG4 on 1-5 December).

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 19d

🦠Notably, the IHR Amendment, as adopted by World Health Assembly in May 2024, entered into force today- a big step forward in global collaboration for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response

1 1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 19d

🕰️With no actual text shared, IGWG2 ended (2 hours later than planned) with WHO DG Dr. Tedros applauding progress and targeting completion in May 2026.

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 19d

⚖️Group for Equity called for balanced expert representation from developed & developing countries, public disclosure of declarations, and enhanced participation of relevant stakeholders.

🔍Many other delegations voiced equity, inclusivity and accountability as core priorities.

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 19d

🚪 The closed-door discussion this morning focused on scope, use of terms, and key issues to address The afternoon was dedicated to governance, complementarity, and consistency with other existing instruments including International Health Regulations (IHR)

1

Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD @nschwalbe.bsky.social · 19d

📢Today was the final day of the second Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG2) to develop a Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) Annex for the #pandemictreaty

Here is a quick wrap-up of the week and next steps.

🧵

2 3