Matt Watson
@bioandbaseball.bsky.social
#Biosecurity, #Biodefense, #Biotech, Pandemic Preparedness
Pinned
Matt Watson
@bioandbaseball.bsky.social
· Dec 16
Toward a safer and more secure US bioeconomy
Nature Biotechnology - To enhance the safety and security of the US bioeconomy, a new public–private partnership should be established to facilitate information sharing and threat analysis...
rdcu.be
I’m pleased to share our latest commentary - Toward a safer and more secure US #bioeconomy - now out in @naturebiotech.bsky.social.
rdcu.be/d3IxR
rdcu.be/d3IxR
Reposted by Matt Watson
I have posted about this before, but...
Researchers at Pitt School of Public Health (with NIH funding) developed Project Tycho where they digitized reportable disease data from across the country going back to ~1900.
graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
1/6
Researchers at Pitt School of Public Health (with NIH funding) developed Project Tycho where they digitized reportable disease data from across the country going back to ~1900.
graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
1/6
Battling Infectious Diseases in the 20th Century: The Impact of Vaccines
The number of infected people, measured over 70-some years and across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, generally declined after vaccines were introduced.
graphics.wsj.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I have posted about this before, but...
Researchers at Pitt School of Public Health (with NIH funding) developed Project Tycho where they digitized reportable disease data from across the country going back to ~1900.
graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
1/6
Researchers at Pitt School of Public Health (with NIH funding) developed Project Tycho where they digitized reportable disease data from across the country going back to ~1900.
graphics.wsj.com/infectious-d...
1/6
This is true both in this context, and beyond. Inherent safety may appear to be a predictable outcome of a complex system, but it isn’t. It’s the product of deliberate engineering.
Aviation is inherently dangerous: a million pounds of metal and fuel magically flying at 500mph. The engineering and systems we have developed are just amazing and have given everyone the idea that it’s all cheap and safe. It ain’t. It’s expensive and it requires constant vigilance and organization.
'That just gave me chills': CNN anchor spooked by Kentucky governor's report on UPS crash
November 5, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This is true both in this context, and beyond. Inherent safety may appear to be a predictable outcome of a complex system, but it isn’t. It’s the product of deliberate engineering.
Reposted by Matt Watson
"...the only long-term solution is for governments to invest in safe drinking water and sanitation."
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Cholera is spreading fast, yet it can be stopped. Why haven’t we consigned it to history? | Hakainde Hichilema and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Vaccine production must be expanded to combat this ancient disease, especially in Africa, but a lack of political will is holding us back
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
"...the only long-term solution is for governments to invest in safe drinking water and sanitation."
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Sopranos creator David Chase to write HBO limited series on CIA drug program.
apple.news/AkpUSN4twTKe...
apple.news/AkpUSN4twTKe...
Sopranos creator David Chase to write HBO limited series on CIA drug program — Guardian US
Return marks his first TV series since groundbreaking mob drama, and will examine covert mind-control program
apple.news
October 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Sopranos creator David Chase to write HBO limited series on CIA drug program.
apple.news/AkpUSN4twTKe...
apple.news/AkpUSN4twTKe...
Reposted by Matt Watson
Wow. NHANES js incredibly for population health surveillance, and is nationally representative as well. What a loss.
Ugh... This study has existed for decades, providing valuable health data for all sorts of topics and publications. This is just more awful news. 🛟😷 Sociology medsky
CDC team running top survey on health and nutrition is laid off
NHANES has collected data on eating patterns, diabetes, and other common diseases for decades. The CDC team that runs it has been fired.
www.statnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Wow. NHANES js incredibly for population health surveillance, and is nationally representative as well. What a loss.
Reposted by Matt Watson
“While the administration has since rescinded more than half of the approximately 1,300 termination notices it sent, the upheaval from the layoffs that are still taking effect could undermine efforts to protect public health.” www.axios.com/2025/10/13/t...
CDC purge hits 600 workers in key offices despite reversals
The casualties include employees working on health statistics, injury and violence prevention, congressional outreach and human resources.
www.axios.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
“While the administration has since rescinded more than half of the approximately 1,300 termination notices it sent, the upheaval from the layoffs that are still taking effect could undermine efforts to protect public health.” www.axios.com/2025/10/13/t...
Reposted by Matt Watson
Inside Medicine: Breaking News: RIFs in reverse. Some CDC workers have been brought back, in latest whiplash
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
bit.ly/3W4AHzk
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
bit.ly/3W4AHzk
Breaking News: RIFs in reverse. Some CDC workers have been brought back, in latest whiplash.
This is breaking news.
bit.ly
October 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Inside Medicine: Breaking News: RIFs in reverse. Some CDC workers have been brought back, in latest whiplash
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
bit.ly/3W4AHzk
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
bit.ly/3W4AHzk
Reposted by Matt Watson
Lots of Epidemic Intelligence Service officers ("disease detectives") gone.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
October 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Lots of Epidemic Intelligence Service officers ("disease detectives") gone.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
CDC employees terminated in apparent Friday night massacre. open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
BREAKING NEWS: CDC employees terminated in apparent Friday night massacre.
The Trump administration is using the shutdown to further weaken the our national public health infrastructure.
open.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
CDC employees terminated in apparent Friday night massacre. open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
Reposted by Matt Watson
Predictability of infectious disease outbreak severity: Chikungunya as a case study www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Predictability of infectious disease outbreak severity: Chikungunya as a case study
Predicting outbreak severity may require looking beyond R0 , especially for mosquito-borne pathogens like chikungunya virus.
www.science.org
October 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Predictability of infectious disease outbreak severity: Chikungunya as a case study www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Matt Watson
The reason for military rules of engagement and adhering to laws of armed combat is not “political correctness,” it’s better strategy, serves long-term national interest, and is a way to make an awful part of the human experience a little less awful, based on lessons learned from centuries of blood.
September 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The reason for military rules of engagement and adhering to laws of armed combat is not “political correctness,” it’s better strategy, serves long-term national interest, and is a way to make an awful part of the human experience a little less awful, based on lessons learned from centuries of blood.
Nemesys Insights, in partnership with Frontier Design Group , is currently conducting an online Red Teaming exercise to reduce the dangers posed by cutting-edge AI applications.
See the flyer for more information and scan the QR code to register!
See the flyer for more information and scan the QR code to register!
September 27, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Nemesys Insights, in partnership with Frontier Design Group , is currently conducting an online Red Teaming exercise to reduce the dangers posed by cutting-edge AI applications.
See the flyer for more information and scan the QR code to register!
See the flyer for more information and scan the QR code to register!
Reposted by Matt Watson
#OTD in 1918, the Indianapolis News reported an outbreak of influenza at Fort Harrison. By October 2, the epidemic had spread into the community and the "Indianapolis Board of Health essentially shut down all public gatherings in the city."
indyencyclopedia.org/1918-spanish...
indyencyclopedia.org/1918-spanish...
1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic - Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
From September 1918 to the late spring of 1919, Indianapolis suffered from a viral influenza pandemic that killed nearly 1,000… Read More »1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic
indyencyclopedia.org
September 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
#OTD in 1918, the Indianapolis News reported an outbreak of influenza at Fort Harrison. By October 2, the epidemic had spread into the community and the "Indianapolis Board of Health essentially shut down all public gatherings in the city."
indyencyclopedia.org/1918-spanish...
indyencyclopedia.org/1918-spanish...
Reposted by Matt Watson
“For now, the new Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre..is set to produce Covid and RSV vaccines..In the case of a future health emergency, the site is meant to be able to produce 100 million vaccine doses within six months.” www.statnews.com/2025/09/25/m...
As the U.S. dials back mRNA research, the U.K. tries to seize an opportunity
As the U.S. dials back mRNA research, the U.K. is trying to seize an opportunity.
www.statnews.com
September 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
“For now, the new Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre..is set to produce Covid and RSV vaccines..In the case of a future health emergency, the site is meant to be able to produce 100 million vaccine doses within six months.” www.statnews.com/2025/09/25/m...
RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
The Department of Defense is continuing to bankroll projects to develop vaccines against deadly pathogens.
www.nature.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:45 PM
RFK Jr cancelled mRNA research — but the US military is still funding it
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Matt Watson
Reposted by Matt Watson
Reposted by Matt Watson
After months of aid cuts, the State Department has released a 35-page document detailing how it plans to roll out global health assistance. Here's what it says — and what the reaction is.
What's in -- and what's missing -- in the new U.S. strategy for global health
After months of aid cuts, the State Department has released a 35-page document detailing how it plans to roll out global health assistance. Here's what it says — and what the reaction is.
n.pr
September 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM
After months of aid cuts, the State Department has released a 35-page document detailing how it plans to roll out global health assistance. Here's what it says — and what the reaction is.
Reposted by Matt Watson
Sen. Tim Kaine: "Brian Kilmeade 10 days ago suggested that homeless, mentally ill people should be lethally injected. He apologized...He didn't get pulled off the air."
September 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Sen. Tim Kaine: "Brian Kilmeade 10 days ago suggested that homeless, mentally ill people should be lethally injected. He apologized...He didn't get pulled off the air."
Reposted by Matt Watson
This is a perfect description.
In a chaotic meeting, ACIP voted not to recommend a prescription requirement for Covid-19 vaccines. Some panelists seemed unaware of the point of the meeting, while others went on strange tangents. 🫠
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Votes Down Its Own Proposal to Require Prescriptions for Covid-19 Shots
In a chaotic meeting, ACIP voted not to recommend a prescription requirement for Covid-19 vaccines. Some panelists seemed unaware of the point of the meeting, while others went on strange tangents.
www.wired.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:45 PM
This is a perfect description.
Reposted by Matt Watson
A lack of faith in the soundness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new direction has led states to explore enacting their own vaccine policies. A patchwork of divergent recommendations and requirements could result.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Kennedy’s Take on Vaccine Science Fractures Cohesive National Public Health Strategies - KFF Health News
A lack of faith in the soundness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new direction has led states to explore enacting their own vaccine policies. A patchwork of divergent recommendatio...
kffhealthnews.org
September 19, 2025 at 1:07 PM
A lack of faith in the soundness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new direction has led states to explore enacting their own vaccine policies. A patchwork of divergent recommendations and requirements could result.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Matt Watson
Making recommendations about vaccines isn't easy. It takes leadership & expertise from multiple sectors. Medicine, manufacturing, supply chain, policy, financing, public health.
It takes real experts willing to tackle hard problems.
The composition of ACIP in the US does not meet this need.
It takes real experts willing to tackle hard problems.
The composition of ACIP in the US does not meet this need.
September 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Making recommendations about vaccines isn't easy. It takes leadership & expertise from multiple sectors. Medicine, manufacturing, supply chain, policy, financing, public health.
It takes real experts willing to tackle hard problems.
The composition of ACIP in the US does not meet this need.
It takes real experts willing to tackle hard problems.
The composition of ACIP in the US does not meet this need.
Reposted by Matt Watson
IT'S OFFICIAL: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York City have formed the Northeast Public Health Collaborative.
The collaborative will issue their own vaccine recommendations and coordinate public health efforts.
The collaborative will issue their own vaccine recommendations and coordinate public health efforts.
September 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
IT'S OFFICIAL: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and New York City have formed the Northeast Public Health Collaborative.
The collaborative will issue their own vaccine recommendations and coordinate public health efforts.
The collaborative will issue their own vaccine recommendations and coordinate public health efforts.
Reposted by Matt Watson
Susan Monarez, the CDC director for 29 days, said RFK Jr. Kennedy told her “the childhood vaccine schedule would be changing starting in September, and I needed to be on board with it”.
My story, with updates to come as this Senate hearing continues:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
My story, with updates to come as this Senate hearing continues:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
RFK Jr’s actions have greatly diminished US ability to respond to outbreaks, ousted CDC officials say
Former officials testify before US Senate, saying the CDC under Kennedy is ‘supporting policies not based in science’
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Susan Monarez, the CDC director for 29 days, said RFK Jr. Kennedy told her “the childhood vaccine schedule would be changing starting in September, and I needed to be on board with it”.
My story, with updates to come as this Senate hearing continues:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
My story, with updates to come as this Senate hearing continues:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Matt Watson
Monarez: "Kennedy demanded 2 things of me that were were inconsistent w/ my oath of office. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause"
September 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Monarez: "Kennedy demanded 2 things of me that were were inconsistent w/ my oath of office. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause"