Caitlin Rivers
@cmyeaton.bsky.social
Infectious disease epidemiologist @JohnsHopkinsSPH. Associate professor. Author of CRISIS AVERTED (Viking). Outbreak newsletter at caitlinrivers.substack.com
Pinned
Caitlin Rivers
@cmyeaton.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Crisis Averted by Caitlin Rivers, PhD: 9780593490792 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Readers should come away from Crisis Averted with a better comprehension of what public health does and why it is such a crucial endeavor.” —The Washington Post "A master class in how...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
Welp, public health is back in the spotlight. My book CRISIS AVERTED explains why public health is the real "wellness" industry + a candid look at what we get wrong. WSJ called it a "successful attempt to reset our relationship with...public health." 🧪
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704843...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704843...
A bad flu season is on the table as a possibility. UK is reporting a new variant (subclade of H3N2), and multiple countries are reporting big seasons. I’m hoping U.S. data will be published tomorrow now that the shutdown is over. But in any case, our current activity is low right now.
November 13, 2025 at 5:20 PM
A bad flu season is on the table as a possibility. UK is reporting a new variant (subclade of H3N2), and multiple countries are reporting big seasons. I’m hoping U.S. data will be published tomorrow now that the shutdown is over. But in any case, our current activity is low right now.
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
Severe outbreaks in Australia and Japan, the latter of which has declared a flu epidemic, have experts concerned.
“It’s not a direct lesson for what we can expect, but it’s a clue,” @cmyeaton.bsky.social said. “And that does give me pause that maybe we’ll be in for something a little bit bigger.”
“It’s not a direct lesson for what we can expect, but it’s a clue,” @cmyeaton.bsky.social said. “And that does give me pause that maybe we’ll be in for something a little bit bigger.”
Pediatricians fill vaccine messaging void left by CDC amid bad flu season
Doctors step up after US health department suspended its flu vaccine campaign following Trump’s election
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Severe outbreaks in Australia and Japan, the latter of which has declared a flu epidemic, have experts concerned.
“It’s not a direct lesson for what we can expect, but it’s a clue,” @cmyeaton.bsky.social said. “And that does give me pause that maybe we’ll be in for something a little bit bigger.”
“It’s not a direct lesson for what we can expect, but it’s a clue,” @cmyeaton.bsky.social said. “And that does give me pause that maybe we’ll be in for something a little bit bigger.”
It's now November, and flu and RSV are beginning to stir, as they do. For the 5th week in a row, we went to all 50 state websites to take a look at what's going around. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/flu-and-rs...
Flu and RSV begin to stir
Week 5 of the disease surveillance data gap
caitlinrivers.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
It's now November, and flu and RSV are beginning to stir, as they do. For the 5th week in a row, we went to all 50 state websites to take a look at what's going around. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/flu-and-rs...
Crisis Averted is still on sale for $6 on kindle or $15 hardback. Shortlisted for a Phi Beta Kappa book award!
My book, Crisis Averted, is on sale at Amazon for $6. It’s filled with behind-the-scenes characters and suspenseful stories of how outbreaks get stopped. Although it was written before All This, it puts into context what’s at stake if we let public health dissolve. www.amazon.com/Crisis-Avert...
Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
Buy Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Crisis Averted is still on sale for $6 on kindle or $15 hardback. Shortlisted for a Phi Beta Kappa book award!
I had a great time reviewing @cohenjon.bsky.social 's fascinating new book, Planning Miracles. It's a good time to shine a light on why pandemic preparedness is in our own best interest. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
More than a miracle
Pandemic preparedness is as essential as ever, argues a journalist
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I had a great time reviewing @cohenjon.bsky.social 's fascinating new book, Planning Miracles. It's a good time to shine a light on why pandemic preparedness is in our own best interest. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Thrilled that my book, Crisis Averted, is shortlisted for a Phi Beta Kappa book award, in the category that “recognizes superior books by scientists written to illuminate aspects of science for a broad readership” 🥰 www.pbk.org/awards/booka...
2025 Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards Shortlist
The 2025 Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards Short List
www.pbk.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Thrilled that my book, Crisis Averted, is shortlisted for a Phi Beta Kappa book award, in the category that “recognizes superior books by scientists written to illuminate aspects of science for a broad readership” 🥰 www.pbk.org/awards/booka...
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
For the 4th week in a row, we went state-by-state to check on flu, Covid-19 and RSV. All quiet, for now. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
Outbreak Outlook: Week 4 of DIY Surveillance
Unusually quiet autumn for respiratory infections
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
For the 4th week in a row, we went state-by-state to check on flu, Covid-19 and RSV. All quiet, for now. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
For the 4th week in a row, we went state-by-state to check on flu, Covid-19 and RSV. All quiet, for now. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
Outbreak Outlook: Week 4 of DIY Surveillance
Unusually quiet autumn for respiratory infections
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
For the 4th week in a row, we went state-by-state to check on flu, Covid-19 and RSV. All quiet, for now. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
Starting my FOURTH tour of all 50 states + DC to collect data on Covid-19, flu and RSV activity. And no end to this shutdown in sight. Pretty tired of living in ‘interesting times’ tbh.
October 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Starting my FOURTH tour of all 50 states + DC to collect data on Covid-19, flu and RSV activity. And no end to this shutdown in sight. Pretty tired of living in ‘interesting times’ tbh.
Kindle version is still on sale!
My book, Crisis Averted, is on sale at Amazon for $6. It’s filled with behind-the-scenes characters and suspenseful stories of how outbreaks get stopped. Although it was written before All This, it puts into context what’s at stake if we let public health dissolve. www.amazon.com/Crisis-Avert...
Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
Buy Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Kindle version is still on sale!
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
Also the examples you gave of times we have cancelled public health programs only to need to rebuild them and how expensive it was to rebuild 😭😭😭
October 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Also the examples you gave of times we have cancelled public health programs only to need to rebuild them and how expensive it was to rebuild 😭😭😭
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
Helpful tips from @cmyeaton.bsky.social and @andrewpaviamd.bsky.social on how (and when) to get the latest flu and COVID vaccines 👇
Gift link:
wapo.st/4ndf3nK
Gift link:
wapo.st/4ndf3nK
These two vaccine experts say this is when you should get covid, flu shots
Flu season is here and a covid uptick is around the corner. Two infectious diseases experts offer their tips on how to plan for vaccination against those viruses.
wapo.st
October 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Helpful tips from @cmyeaton.bsky.social and @andrewpaviamd.bsky.social on how (and when) to get the latest flu and COVID vaccines 👇
Gift link:
wapo.st/4ndf3nK
Gift link:
wapo.st/4ndf3nK
My book, Crisis Averted, is on sale at Amazon for $6. It’s filled with behind-the-scenes characters and suspenseful stories of how outbreaks get stopped. Although it was written before All This, it puts into context what’s at stake if we let public health dissolve. www.amazon.com/Crisis-Avert...
Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
Buy Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
My book, Crisis Averted, is on sale at Amazon for $6. It’s filled with behind-the-scenes characters and suspenseful stories of how outbreaks get stopped. Although it was written before All This, it puts into context what’s at stake if we let public health dissolve. www.amazon.com/Crisis-Avert...
My book, Crisis Averted, is on sale at Amazon for $6. www.amazon.com/Crisis-Avert...
Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
Buy Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks: Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
My book, Crisis Averted, is on sale at Amazon for $6. www.amazon.com/Crisis-Avert...
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Instability and confusion’ as CDC slashes 1,300 jobs before reinstating half
Trump administration says 700 notices were sent in error, while top CDC officer says ‘they didn’t think through what they were doing’
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The entire HR department at the CDC is gone. Everyone at the IRB, which makes sure studies are conducted ethically and rigorously, and the ethics office, which oversee conflicts of interest for CDC leaders and advisory committee members, were also let go.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
For the 2nd week in a row, the federal shutdown has blocked disease surveillance reporting. So Team Force of Infection again visited all 50 state websites to track COVID, flu & RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
Outbreak Outlook: Week 2 of DIY Surveillance
State by state disease surveillance of COVID-19, influenza and RSV amid federal public health cuts
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
For the 2nd week in a row, the federal shutdown has blocked disease surveillance reporting. So Team Force of Infection again visited all 50 state websites to track COVID, flu & RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
I can't get over how the CDC layoffs are coming less than two months after the attempted mass shooting. The agency is being taken apart brick by brick. The public servants there do not deserve this.
October 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I can't get over how the CDC layoffs are coming less than two months after the attempted mass shooting. The agency is being taken apart brick by brick. The public servants there do not deserve this.
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
October 11, 2025 at 12:49 PM
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
FULL STORY HERE: Emails began flooding CDC inboxes late Friday night announcing dozens of layoffs. HR people brought back from furlough to oversee the RIFs. Disease detectives, entire Washington office, global health, injury prevention, MMWR staff among those hit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:49 AM
FULL STORY HERE: Emails began flooding CDC inboxes late Friday night announcing dozens of layoffs. HR people brought back from furlough to oversee the RIFs. Disease detectives, entire Washington office, global health, injury prevention, MMWR staff among those hit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
For the 2nd week in a row, the federal shutdown has blocked disease surveillance reporting. So Team Force of Infection again visited all 50 state websites to track COVID, flu & RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
Outbreak Outlook: Week 2 of DIY Surveillance
State by state disease surveillance of COVID-19, influenza and RSV amid federal public health cuts
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:17 PM
For the 2nd week in a row, the federal shutdown has blocked disease surveillance reporting. So Team Force of Infection again visited all 50 state websites to track COVID, flu & RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/outbreak-o...
Continuing my tour of states. This is an unpopular opinion, but PDF reports are my favorite. They are by far the fastest to review and analyze. Dashboard makers, chill with the dropdown menus.
Going state by state for the 2nd week in a row to check on COVID-19, influenza, and RSV trends bc the shutdown is interrupting public reporting.
Not done yet as most data doesn't come out until tomorrow, but already seeing small signs of increase in RSV among ages 0-4.
caitlinrivers.substack.com
Not done yet as most data doesn't come out until tomorrow, but already seeing small signs of increase in RSV among ages 0-4.
caitlinrivers.substack.com
Force of Infection | Caitlin Rivers | Substack
Weekly updates on what's going around. Tracking COVID-19, influenza, RSV, food recalls, and more. Helpful for anyone looking to stay well. Click to read Force of Infection, by Caitlin Rivers, a Substa...
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Continuing my tour of states. This is an unpopular opinion, but PDF reports are my favorite. They are by far the fastest to review and analyze. Dashboard makers, chill with the dropdown menus.
Going state by state for the 2nd week in a row to check on COVID-19, influenza, and RSV trends bc the shutdown is interrupting public reporting.
Not done yet as most data doesn't come out until tomorrow, but already seeing small signs of increase in RSV among ages 0-4.
caitlinrivers.substack.com
Not done yet as most data doesn't come out until tomorrow, but already seeing small signs of increase in RSV among ages 0-4.
caitlinrivers.substack.com
Force of Infection | Caitlin Rivers | Substack
Weekly updates on what's going around. Tracking COVID-19, influenza, RSV, food recalls, and more. Helpful for anyone looking to stay well. Click to read Force of Infection, by Caitlin Rivers, a Substa...
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Going state by state for the 2nd week in a row to check on COVID-19, influenza, and RSV trends bc the shutdown is interrupting public reporting.
Not done yet as most data doesn't come out until tomorrow, but already seeing small signs of increase in RSV among ages 0-4.
caitlinrivers.substack.com
Not done yet as most data doesn't come out until tomorrow, but already seeing small signs of increase in RSV among ages 0-4.
caitlinrivers.substack.com
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
I'm also very grateful to @cmyeaton.bsky.social, whose newsletter this past weekend offers an invaluable round-up of state-level infectious disease data updates: caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i... (3/3)
CDC data interrupted, so we went state by state
A look at Covid-19, flu and RSV trends in each state
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I'm also very grateful to @cmyeaton.bsky.social, whose newsletter this past weekend offers an invaluable round-up of state-level infectious disease data updates: caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i... (3/3)
Reposted by Caitlin Rivers
The government shutdown interrupted CDC's disease updates, so Team Force of Infection spent our Saturday going to the websites of all 50 health departments to check on Covid-19, flu and RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i...
CDC data interrupted, so we went state by state
A look at Covid-19, flu and RSV trends in each state
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The government shutdown interrupted CDC's disease updates, so Team Force of Infection spent our Saturday going to the websites of all 50 health departments to check on Covid-19, flu and RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i...
The government shutdown interrupted CDC's disease updates, so Team Force of Infection spent our Saturday going to the websites of all 50 health departments to check on Covid-19, flu and RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i...
CDC data interrupted, so we went state by state
A look at Covid-19, flu and RSV trends in each state
caitlinrivers.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The government shutdown interrupted CDC's disease updates, so Team Force of Infection spent our Saturday going to the websites of all 50 health departments to check on Covid-19, flu and RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i...