Helen Branswell
Senior writer, infectious diseases & global health, @statnews. I block rude. #flu #Ebola, #polio, #AMR. Neiman '11. 🇨🇦 No tagging, please.
Last synced from Twitter 19m ago
Inside the Radicalization-Engine of AutismOne, the Largest Anti-Vaccine Conference in America
It seemed virtually inevitable that I would be thrown out of AutismOne, a yearly conference that has been accused of being a hive of anti-vaccine sentiments, bad science, scaremongering and worthless products. The conference has, after all, ejected...
Killer virus destroyed by UK lab
Scientists destroy final UK laboratory samples of rinderpest, the disease that wiped out most of the cattle in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Helen Branswell
Interesting disease eradication news: UK institute that had the world's biggest repository of rinderpest — an eradicated animal disease — has destroyed its samples. Labs with #polio containing specimens are supposed to be doing the same. Are they? 🤔
29h
‘They’re all fighting him’: Trump aides spar with health secretary
With health care poised to play a crucial role in the 2020 election, infighting within the Trump administration threatens to derail some of the president’s most prominent pledges to voters. <br />
Eager to Limit Exemptions to Vaccination, States Face Staunch Resistance
Legislators trying to curb the numbers of unvaccinated children have been met with vigorous opposition from upset parents.
An introduction to CBD — and what Washington might do about it
Most CBD products are actually illegal under current law — at least until FDA writes some new rules of the road for the supplements.
Helen Branswell
Wondering what the heck's with CBD gummies at your corner store? @nicholasflorko & @hoganalex have answers. statnews.com/2019/06/18/int… via @statnews
57h
We Must Prepare for the Next Pandemic
We’ll have to battle both the disease and the fake news.
Helen Branswell
Interesting take on the impact internet-spread disinformation could have in a major disease event. It’s been hampering the response to DRC’s #Ebola outbreak.
59h
Ugandan medics now tackling Ebola say they lack supplies
BWERA, Uganda (AP) — The isolation ward for Ebola patients is a tent erected in the garden of the local hospital. Gloves are given out sparingly to health workers. And when the second person in...
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Helen Branswell
Yes, Uganda established an #Ebola treatment center at Bwera, near the CRC border. (Kudos for this.) But staff there say they don't have many supplies on hand, @AssociatedPress reports.
3d
As Congress scrutinizes monkey research, scientists defend its value
Scientists are relying on monkey research more than ever before. Congress wants the NIH and FDA to explain why that research is so important.
Helen Branswell
Congress ramps up oversight over the use of non-human primates in federally funded research. @ruth_hailu_ explores the issue.
3d
Statement on the meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee for Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 June 2019
The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee has made a statement for Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Committee decided that the Ebola outbreak in DRC does not constitute a Public Health Emergency...
After Ebola spills into Uganda, WHO decides it's not an emergency
Though cases were detected in Uganda this week, they were spotted and isolated quickly and as yet, there is no evidence of transmission in a second country.
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Helen Branswell
The #Ebola outbreak in North Kivu is an emergency for DRC & the region but not yet the world, @WHO Emergency Committee concludes for the 3rd time.
6d
List of Members of, and Advisers to the Meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee for Ebola Viral Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 14 June 2019
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Helen Branswell
Wondering who is on the #Ebola emergency committee meeting today to decide whether to recommend @WHO declare DRC's outbreak a public health emergency of international concern? Here's a who's who.
6d
Study points to enteroviruses as possible cause of paralysis in kids
The researchers hope their work will lead to a test for the condition, called acute flaccid myelitis, which has been diagnosed in more than 500 kids.
FDA warns of one patient death from a fecal transplant
At least one person has died after a fecal microbiome transplant transmitted drug-resistant bacteria, the FDA said Thursday.
Ebola vaccine for pregnant women: one step closer but more to go
The Ebola vaccine should be offered to pregnant women regardless of trimester to protect women and their fetuses from severe illness and death.
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Helen Branswell
Regardless of trimester, pregnant women, as well as those lactating, should be offered the experimental #Ebola vaccine if they've been exposed to the virus — whether they are contacts or contacts of contacts, 2 experts argue in a commentary on @statnews.
7d
Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Uganda Situation Reports
On 11th June 2019, the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Jane Aceng, made an official statement of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Kasese District, South West Uganda.
These are the situation reports on the response in Uganda.Â
Thread by @HelenBranswell: "5 more members of the family that was traveling from DRC to Uganda have tested positive for , @MinSanteRDC reports. These 5 remained i […]" #Ebola
Thread by @HelenBranswell: "5 more members of the family that was traveling from DRC to Uganda have tested positive for , @MinSanteRDC report in DRC; they did not cross the border. That makes 8 so far out of a group of 14. There were 7 childre […]"...
Want to check for retractions in your personal library — and get alerts — for free? Now you can
We’re thrilled to announce a collaboration with Zotero,  the free and open-source research platform, that will allow its users to be alerted to retractions of any papers in their personal libr…
Helen Branswell
Very cool announcement from @RetractionWatch. Want to make sure you aren't citing retracted studies? They've got you covered. Kudos, @ivanoransky!
8d
Boy who crossed into Uganda with Ebola has died
These are the first confirmed cases of Ebola that Uganda has reported in this outbreak, which has been raging for more than 10 months in northeastern DRC.
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Helen Branswell
The @WHO Emergency Committee will meet Friday to study whether the North Kivu #Ebola outbreak should now be declared a global health emergency. My story with various developments; it will likely be updated as the day goes on.
8d
Helen Branswell
6. Last thing: @CDCgov has activated its emergency operations center to help it coordinate its response to the outbreak. Does not signify the risk is higher in the US; it isn't. But it does reflect a more complicated situation in East Africa.
8d
Massive mobilisation urgently needed to curb fast-spreading measles outbreak | DRC | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International
The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently tackling a measles outbreak which is likely to be the country's deadliest since 2012. MSF teams are responding, but more resources are urgently needed from national and international partners to curb the...