Liz Zuccala
@drzucc.bsky.social
Deputy Editor at @mja.com.au. Posting on #PublicHealth, #SciCom, #GenderEquity, #IDsky. On Wurundjeri land.
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
1. #CDC posted new #flu data today. A 🧵
Another pediatric death was reported in the 2024-25 flu season, making it the deadliest flu season for kids since CDC started collecting this data point 20 years ago. 2024-25 has surpassed the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
9 kids have died from flu so far this year.
Another pediatric death was reported in the 2024-25 flu season, making it the deadliest flu season for kids since CDC started collecting this data point 20 years ago. 2024-25 has surpassed the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
9 kids have died from flu so far this year.
January 6, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
“This is a seismic, long-awaited correction of the scientific record,” said Dr. Philip J. Landrigan… “It pulls the veil off decades of industry efforts to create a false narrative that glyphosate is safe…People have developed cancers, and people have died because of this scientific fraud.”
A Study Is Retracted, Renewing Concerns About the Weedkiller Roundup
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:11 AM
“This is a seismic, long-awaited correction of the scientific record,” said Dr. Philip J. Landrigan… “It pulls the veil off decades of industry efforts to create a false narrative that glyphosate is safe…People have developed cancers, and people have died because of this scientific fraud.”
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
More on the continuing purges at #NIH. Now 13 out of 27 institute directors have been gotten rid of. This is not normal. @jonathanwosen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/12/27/n...
Director of NIH neurological disorders institute is ousted, adding to leadership churn
Walter Koroshetz, director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will soon be leaving his role, STAT has learned. His departure
www.statnews.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
More on the continuing purges at #NIH. Now 13 out of 27 institute directors have been gotten rid of. This is not normal. @jonathanwosen.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/12/27/n...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
This is the best piece I’ve read so far on why the Guinea-Bissau RCT, in which a proven life-saving vaccine will be deliberately WITHHELD, is unethical
“When benefit is established, withholding an intervention is no longer neutral experimentation it becomes premeditated harm”
“When benefit is established, withholding an intervention is no longer neutral experimentation it becomes premeditated harm”
The planned hepatitis B birth-dose trial in Guinea-Bissau raises serious ethical concerns. Withholding a proven, life-saving vaccine from newborns to answer speculative questions is an absence of equipoise with real downstream harms for trust in vaccines.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-unethi...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-unethi...
How Unethical Research Seeds Medical Mistrust
The absence of equipoise can turn research into harm
bktitanji.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:06 PM
This is the best piece I’ve read so far on why the Guinea-Bissau RCT, in which a proven life-saving vaccine will be deliberately WITHHELD, is unethical
“When benefit is established, withholding an intervention is no longer neutral experimentation it becomes premeditated harm”
“When benefit is established, withholding an intervention is no longer neutral experimentation it becomes premeditated harm”
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
Victorian Government faces massive fight over VicHealth bombshell www.croakey.org/victorian-go... #publichealth
Victorian Government faces massive fight over VicHealth bombshell
www.croakey.org
December 5, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Victorian Government faces massive fight over VicHealth bombshell www.croakey.org/victorian-go... #publichealth
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
12 former commissioners of the FDA came together to write a Perspectives piece for the New England Journal of Medicine; raising our concerns about recent changes to vaccine approval policy at the FDA and its implications for patients and public health.
December 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
12 former commissioners of the FDA came together to write a Perspectives piece for the New England Journal of Medicine; raising our concerns about recent changes to vaccine approval policy at the FDA and its implications for patients and public health.
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
Australia is on track to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035.
Zero (0) cervical cancer cases were diagnosed in Australian women under 25 in 2021 - the first time since records began.
Put simply, Vaccines Work.
Zero (0) cervical cancer cases were diagnosed in Australian women under 25 in 2021 - the first time since records began.
Put simply, Vaccines Work.
November 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Australia is on track to become the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035.
Zero (0) cervical cancer cases were diagnosed in Australian women under 25 in 2021 - the first time since records began.
Put simply, Vaccines Work.
Zero (0) cervical cancer cases were diagnosed in Australian women under 25 in 2021 - the first time since records began.
Put simply, Vaccines Work.
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
We’re watching a shift where AI simulates the cohesion and reinforcement that used to require an entire online community. A single person can now build a complete parallel reality with nothing more than a prompt window. Which seems bad.
November 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
We’re watching a shift where AI simulates the cohesion and reinforcement that used to require an entire online community. A single person can now build a complete parallel reality with nothing more than a prompt window. Which seems bad.
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Why next year's flu shot might not be as good as it should be
America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.
www.npr.org
November 8, 2025 at 4:03 AM
America's withdrawal from the World Health Organization is affecting the ability of U.S. scientists to track flu and other pathogens. That could be a blow to the development of the 2025 flu vaccine.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
Will anyone be held accountable for this??
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Will anyone be held accountable for this??
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
“Some former employees speak of the company like refugees of a once-great city, grief-stricken and a little bewildered by how it all came undone. They point to moments — a clinical trial result, an election outcome, the selection of a presidential Cabinet member — that could have changed everything”
How Moderna, the company that helped save the world, unraveled
Exclusive: The inside story of why Moderna now faces a crisis unlike any in its 15-year-history.
www.statnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:10 PM
“Some former employees speak of the company like refugees of a once-great city, grief-stricken and a little bewildered by how it all came undone. They point to moments — a clinical trial result, an election outcome, the selection of a presidential Cabinet member — that could have changed everything”
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
How attacking healthcare has become a strategy of war
“I have not seen anything like the almost daily attacks on hospitals, the relentlessness of the repeated attacks, the indifference to the consequences of the attacks for patients and staff” - Len Rubenstein
www.bmj.com/content/391/... @bmj.com
“I have not seen anything like the almost daily attacks on hospitals, the relentlessness of the repeated attacks, the indifference to the consequences of the attacks for patients and staff” - Len Rubenstein
www.bmj.com/content/391/... @bmj.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
How attacking healthcare has become a strategy of war
“I have not seen anything like the almost daily attacks on hospitals, the relentlessness of the repeated attacks, the indifference to the consequences of the attacks for patients and staff” - Len Rubenstein
www.bmj.com/content/391/... @bmj.com
“I have not seen anything like the almost daily attacks on hospitals, the relentlessness of the repeated attacks, the indifference to the consequences of the attacks for patients and staff” - Len Rubenstein
www.bmj.com/content/391/... @bmj.com
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
This is madness - how can they justify yearly flu vaccination for all staff (and seriously encourage staff to have it with various deals) but then ignore the other infection that is hitting staff on regular basis?
I hoped this madness would change with new government - sadly it has not.
I hoped this madness would change with new government - sadly it has not.
Covid-19: Excluding doctors from vaccination programme puts patients at risk, clinicians warn
Doctors have warned that the government’s decision to exclude health and social care workers from its covid vaccination programme is putting patients at risk and will have a major impact on an overstr...
www.bmj.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:48 AM
This is madness - how can they justify yearly flu vaccination for all staff (and seriously encourage staff to have it with various deals) but then ignore the other infection that is hitting staff on regular basis?
I hoped this madness would change with new government - sadly it has not.
I hoped this madness would change with new government - sadly it has not.
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will begin publishing public health alerts in the coming month.
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication
Two institutions are coming together to create an alternative to the CDC’s vaunted Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
www.statnews.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will begin publishing public health alerts in the coming month.
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
October 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
The gaze reversed: global health through local eyes
@thirushanaidu.bsky.social reviews @seyeabimbola.bsky.social’s book in @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
@thirushanaidu.bsky.social reviews @seyeabimbola.bsky.social’s book in @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
The gaze reversed: global health through local eyes
Seye Abimbola's The Foreign Gaze: Essays on Global Health takes a kaleidoscopic view
of the effects of outsider visions and imaginaries on the recipients, contexts, and
places that hold attention in g...
www.thelancet.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:14 AM
The gaze reversed: global health through local eyes
@thirushanaidu.bsky.social reviews @seyeabimbola.bsky.social’s book in @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
@thirushanaidu.bsky.social reviews @seyeabimbola.bsky.social’s book in @thelancet.com
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
NEW in InSight+
University of Technology Sydney plans to cut public health at the worst possible time, writes Associate Professor Daniel Demant
Read more: buff.ly/iNituWK
University of Technology Sydney plans to cut public health at the worst possible time, writes Associate Professor Daniel Demant
Read more: buff.ly/iNituWK
October 5, 2025 at 2:00 AM
NEW in InSight+
University of Technology Sydney plans to cut public health at the worst possible time, writes Associate Professor Daniel Demant
Read more: buff.ly/iNituWK
University of Technology Sydney plans to cut public health at the worst possible time, writes Associate Professor Daniel Demant
Read more: buff.ly/iNituWK
Australian women having a heart attack are less likely to be promptly diagnosed and treated compared to men, although the gender gap in cardiac care is (slowly) narrowing:
www.abc.net.au/news/health/...
Original research article via @mja.com.au: www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
#genderequity
www.abc.net.au/news/health/...
Original research article via @mja.com.au: www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
#genderequity
Heart attack signs look different in women. It affects the care they receive
Australian women having a heart attack are less likely to be promptly diagnosed and treated compared to men, although the gender gap in cardiac care is narrowing.
www.abc.net.au
October 6, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Australian women having a heart attack are less likely to be promptly diagnosed and treated compared to men, although the gender gap in cardiac care is (slowly) narrowing:
www.abc.net.au/news/health/...
Original research article via @mja.com.au: www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
#genderequity
www.abc.net.au/news/health/...
Original research article via @mja.com.au: www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
#genderequity
Very proud to have curated this Special Issue in the @mja.com.au on #gender & health.
Amid growing backlash against #genderequity & diversity, we sought to elevate work informed by evidence & respect for the rights, dignity and perspectives of affected populations.
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Amid growing backlash against #genderequity & diversity, we sought to elevate work informed by evidence & respect for the rights, dignity and perspectives of affected populations.
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Special issue on gender and health: listening to the voices of patients
Special issue on gender and health: listening to the voices of patients
www.mja.com.au
October 6, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Very proud to have curated this Special Issue in the @mja.com.au on #gender & health.
Amid growing backlash against #genderequity & diversity, we sought to elevate work informed by evidence & respect for the rights, dignity and perspectives of affected populations.
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Amid growing backlash against #genderequity & diversity, we sought to elevate work informed by evidence & respect for the rights, dignity and perspectives of affected populations.
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
📢 New publication alert!
This came out last week while I was off in conference land. “Systemic challenges for meaningful partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research grant applications: a critical reflection”, published in MJA www.mja.com.au/doi/10.5694/...
This came out last week while I was off in conference land. “Systemic challenges for meaningful partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research grant applications: a critical reflection”, published in MJA www.mja.com.au/doi/10.5694/...
Systemic challenges for meaningful partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research grant applications: a critical reflection
Examination of an Australian government scheme to fund health and medical research targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
www.mja.com.au
September 25, 2025 at 1:27 AM
📢 New publication alert!
This came out last week while I was off in conference land. “Systemic challenges for meaningful partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research grant applications: a critical reflection”, published in MJA www.mja.com.au/doi/10.5694/...
This came out last week while I was off in conference land. “Systemic challenges for meaningful partnerships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research grant applications: a critical reflection”, published in MJA www.mja.com.au/doi/10.5694/...
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
Honoured to be named on this paper just published in MJA, brilliantly led by Dr Kade Booth at UON. We articulate the urgent need to address inequity in cervical cancer prevention for trans Australians 🌈🎓
Advancing equity: the urgent need to include trans and gender diverse people in cervical cancer prevention in Australia
Click on the article title to read more.
doi.org
August 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Honoured to be named on this paper just published in MJA, brilliantly led by Dr Kade Booth at UON. We articulate the urgent need to address inequity in cervical cancer prevention for trans Australians 🌈🎓
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
Cells swapping their #mitochondria - this sounded like science fiction 🧪 when the first studies started coming out!
But now this has been observed in #cancer, #yeast, #molluscs, and under normal physiology - as a way to regulate energy demands, metabolism, cell fate & much more - true #powerhouses!
But now this has been observed in #cancer, #yeast, #molluscs, and under normal physiology - as a way to regulate energy demands, metabolism, cell fate & much more - true #powerhouses!
Cells are swapping their mitochondria. What does this mean for our health?
Researchers are studying why the energy factories are moving between cells and whether the process can be harnessed to treat cancer and other diseases.
www.nature.com
September 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Cells swapping their #mitochondria - this sounded like science fiction 🧪 when the first studies started coming out!
But now this has been observed in #cancer, #yeast, #molluscs, and under normal physiology - as a way to regulate energy demands, metabolism, cell fate & much more - true #powerhouses!
But now this has been observed in #cancer, #yeast, #molluscs, and under normal physiology - as a way to regulate energy demands, metabolism, cell fate & much more - true #powerhouses!
Reposted by Liz Zuccala
However bad you think things are at the CDC they are worse.
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Inside the CDC director's ouster: Kennedy demanded acceptance of new vaccine policies; Susan Monarez refused
Susan Monarez’s resistance to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s moves to assert control over vaccine guidance is at the center of her dismissal as CDC director
www.statnews.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
However bad you think things are at the CDC they are worse.
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
That's the takeaway from this well-reported story from Daniel Payne w/back-up from an all-star STAT team.
Must-read.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...