Ranu Dhillon
@ranudhillon.bsky.social
Global health physician at Harvard working on epidemics & primary health systems
Led nat'l & local programs in 10+ countries including India, Nigeria & Rwanda
Fmr Special Advisor to President of Guinea on Ebola '14-16 & helped lead its national response
Led nat'l & local programs in 10+ countries including India, Nigeria & Rwanda
Fmr Special Advisor to President of Guinea on Ebola '14-16 & helped lead its national response
In work led by Ben Pinksy, Grant Higerd-Rusli, Matthew Hernandez & @abraarkaran.bsky.social, in @thelancet.bsky.social, we describe the importance of testing a broader range of people for #H5N1 bird flu in order to check for potentially hidden spread & new routes of transmission
t.co/yZeHRcUV65
t.co/yZeHRcUV65
March 21, 2025 at 12:10 AM
In work led by Ben Pinksy, Grant Higerd-Rusli, Matthew Hernandez & @abraarkaran.bsky.social, in @thelancet.bsky.social, we describe the importance of testing a broader range of people for #H5N1 bird flu in order to check for potentially hidden spread & new routes of transmission
t.co/yZeHRcUV65
t.co/yZeHRcUV65
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
After 5 years, 150k papers and 17 million genomes, here's what we learned about SARS-CoV-2 and viruses in general.
It holds lessons for future pandemics - only if we listen. "We’re in a worse place in terms of pandemic prevention" @eddieholmes.bsky.social told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It holds lessons for future pandemics - only if we listen. "We’re in a worse place in terms of pandemic prevention" @eddieholmes.bsky.social told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Four ways COVID changed virology: lessons from the most sequenced virus of all time
After 150,000 articles and 17 million genome sequences, what has science taught us about SARS-CoV-2?
www.nature.com
March 13, 2025 at 10:24 AM
After 5 years, 150k papers and 17 million genomes, here's what we learned about SARS-CoV-2 and viruses in general.
It holds lessons for future pandemics - only if we listen. "We’re in a worse place in terms of pandemic prevention" @eddieholmes.bsky.social told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
It holds lessons for future pandemics - only if we listen. "We’re in a worse place in terms of pandemic prevention" @eddieholmes.bsky.social told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
"I know how lethal Donald Trump’s assault on America’s outbreak preparedness could be. We are sure to regret it," warns @craigspencer.bsky.social @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Diseases Are Coming
Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn government tear will have lasting effects on global health.
www.theatlantic.com
March 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
"I know how lethal Donald Trump’s assault on America’s outbreak preparedness could be. We are sure to regret it," warns @craigspencer.bsky.social @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
NEW: As measles cases rise in Texas, pharmacies in some cities are running out of MMR vaccines. The surge in demand comes even as RFK Jr. and the CDC frame vaccination as a "personal" choice — my latest: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Texas cities run short of MMR vaccine as measles outbreak drives demand
Pharmacies are struggling with supplies as fatal outbreak expands and health secretary sows disinformation
www.theguardian.com
March 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
NEW: As measles cases rise in Texas, pharmacies in some cities are running out of MMR vaccines. The surge in demand comes even as RFK Jr. and the CDC frame vaccination as a "personal" choice — my latest: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
These unanticipated, abrupt & cruel funding cuts will cost lives
Ebola outbreaks demand diligent & meticulous tracking of transmission chains
Even small lapses can allow spread to escalate dramatically & become hidden in ways that can take months to regain a grip on
Ebola outbreaks demand diligent & meticulous tracking of transmission chains
Even small lapses can allow spread to escalate dramatically & become hidden in ways that can take months to regain a grip on
A leaked recording shows that American officials fear the spread of Ebola in Uganda and beyond, because of the Trump cuts in foreign aid
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...
As Ebola Spreads in Uganda, Trump Aid Freeze Hinders Effort to Contain It, U.S. Officials Fear (Gift Article)
Two more people are reported dead from the disease, and dozens are in isolation, as the outbreak grows.
www.nytimes.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
These unanticipated, abrupt & cruel funding cuts will cost lives
Ebola outbreaks demand diligent & meticulous tracking of transmission chains
Even small lapses can allow spread to escalate dramatically & become hidden in ways that can take months to regain a grip on
Ebola outbreaks demand diligent & meticulous tracking of transmission chains
Even small lapses can allow spread to escalate dramatically & become hidden in ways that can take months to regain a grip on
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
A leaked recording shows that American officials fear the spread of Ebola in Uganda and beyond, because of the Trump cuts in foreign aid
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...
As Ebola Spreads in Uganda, Trump Aid Freeze Hinders Effort to Contain It, U.S. Officials Fear (Gift Article)
Two more people are reported dead from the disease, and dozens are in isolation, as the outbreak grows.
www.nytimes.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
A leaked recording shows that American officials fear the spread of Ebola in Uganda and beyond, because of the Trump cuts in foreign aid
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/h...
Exactly - this study would be needless, wasteful & ridiculous, but, even more so, treacherous
Given how this admin operates, there is a real risk it will pressure, doctor or falsify results to imply risks & links that are not real & then use that to undermine safe & proven vaccines
Given how this admin operates, there is a real risk it will pressure, doctor or falsify results to imply risks & links that are not real & then use that to undermine safe & proven vaccines
And what would the control be, kids unethically denied vaccinations? What a joke. An autism link has been conclusively disproven. Raising doubts is anti science and deliberately harmful to public health
Exclusive: U.S. CDC plans study into vaccines and autism, sources say
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning a large study into potential connections between vaccines and autism, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, despite extensive scientific research that has disproven or failed to find evidence of such links.
www.reuters.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Exactly - this study would be needless, wasteful & ridiculous, but, even more so, treacherous
Given how this admin operates, there is a real risk it will pressure, doctor or falsify results to imply risks & links that are not real & then use that to undermine safe & proven vaccines
Given how this admin operates, there is a real risk it will pressure, doctor or falsify results to imply risks & links that are not real & then use that to undermine safe & proven vaccines
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
I only listed a few studies that include 100s of 1000s of children in my story. Here are more from the Autism Science Foundation:
autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-and-v...
autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-and-v...
Autism and Vaccines: Read the Science - Autism Science Foundation
Literature Reviews: Autism and Vaccines Safety of vaccines used for routine immunization in the United States: An updated systematic review and meta-analysishttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34049735Jun...
autismsciencefoundation.org
March 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I only listed a few studies that include 100s of 1000s of children in my story. Here are more from the Autism Science Foundation:
autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-and-v...
autismsciencefoundation.org/autism-and-v...
I recently read accounts of the plague & it was jarring just how much it shaped & redefined social order/life in that era
Covid had a fraction of that impact but it’s fallout still fuels much of what happens now
A more severe pandemic is something we need to be doing more to prevent
Covid had a fraction of that impact but it’s fallout still fuels much of what happens now
A more severe pandemic is something we need to be doing more to prevent
When we didn't have science, infectious diseases could be really, really bad
Bring the wrong, new pathogen and a big population together, bad
14th century: Bubonic plague (Black Death) killed > 1 in 3 in Europe, maybe even 1 in 2, total of 75M - 200M in Europe
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Bring the wrong, new pathogen and a big population together, bad
14th century: Bubonic plague (Black Death) killed > 1 in 3 in Europe, maybe even 1 in 2, total of 75M - 200M in Europe
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
March 7, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I recently read accounts of the plague & it was jarring just how much it shaped & redefined social order/life in that era
Covid had a fraction of that impact but it’s fallout still fuels much of what happens now
A more severe pandemic is something we need to be doing more to prevent
Covid had a fraction of that impact but it’s fallout still fuels much of what happens now
A more severe pandemic is something we need to be doing more to prevent
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
In a measles outbreak, children as young as 6 months can be vaccinated early and then vaccinated again per the regular schedule. This is an extra vaccine and does not count towards the two they should have.
publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-to...
publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-to...
What to Know About Measles and Vaccines | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Experts worry that misinformation and falling vaccination rates could cause measles outbreaks to become more common in the U.S.
publichealth.jhu.edu
March 6, 2025 at 12:07 PM
In a measles outbreak, children as young as 6 months can be vaccinated early and then vaccinated again per the regular schedule. This is an extra vaccine and does not count towards the two they should have.
publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-to...
publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-to...
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
Dr. @gavinyamey.bsky.social & I highlight the serious risks of the U.S. withdrawing from the WHO,both for American & global health security. When the WHO is supported, the world benefits. In the face of rising infectious & chronic disease threats, we need solidarity, not isolation.
#GlobalSolidarity
#GlobalSolidarity
March 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Dr. @gavinyamey.bsky.social & I highlight the serious risks of the U.S. withdrawing from the WHO,both for American & global health security. When the WHO is supported, the world benefits. In the face of rising infectious & chronic disease threats, we need solidarity, not isolation.
#GlobalSolidarity
#GlobalSolidarity
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
In Nature Medicine, we highlight 8 steps to prevent H5N1 🦅 🐄 🐓 (bird flu) from becoming a pandemic.
Free access at rdcu.be/ea153
w/ @ranudhillon.bsky.social @abraarkaran.bsky.social Robert Garry
Free access at rdcu.be/ea153
w/ @ranudhillon.bsky.social @abraarkaran.bsky.social Robert Garry
Steps to prevent and respond to an H5N1 epidemic in the USA
Nature Medicine - Steps should be taken now to prevent an epidemic of H5N1 in humans and prepare for an outbreak should it occur.
rdcu.be
March 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
In Nature Medicine, we highlight 8 steps to prevent H5N1 🦅 🐄 🐓 (bird flu) from becoming a pandemic.
Free access at rdcu.be/ea153
w/ @ranudhillon.bsky.social @abraarkaran.bsky.social Robert Garry
Free access at rdcu.be/ea153
w/ @ranudhillon.bsky.social @abraarkaran.bsky.social Robert Garry
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
Cool paper from Florian Kramer & colleagues about a novel feature of circulating H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4. These viruses have a longer stalk in their neuraminidase (NA) enzyme, a key viral protein. This was not seen in past H5N1 strains (2002-2019)
Why does it matter?🧪
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Why does it matter?🧪
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 neuraminidase has a long stalk, which is in contrast to most highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses circulating between 2002 and 2020 | mBio
While the truncated version of the N1 neuraminidase stalk domain may be associated
with increased virulence in poultry, the long version of the stalk domain has been
associated with increased transmis...
journals.asm.org
March 1, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Cool paper from Florian Kramer & colleagues about a novel feature of circulating H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4. These viruses have a longer stalk in their neuraminidase (NA) enzyme, a key viral protein. This was not seen in past H5N1 strains (2002-2019)
Why does it matter?🧪
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Why does it matter?🧪
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
Measles in US in 2025
164 cases
Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, Texas
Most children, some too young to be vaccinated
82% under age 20
Vaccination Status
Unvaccinated or Unknown: 95%
1 MMR: 3%
2 MMR: 2%
www.cdc.gov/measles/data...
🧵
164 cases
Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, Texas
Most children, some too young to be vaccinated
82% under age 20
Vaccination Status
Unvaccinated or Unknown: 95%
1 MMR: 3%
2 MMR: 2%
www.cdc.gov/measles/data...
🧵
March 1, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Measles in US in 2025
164 cases
Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, Texas
Most children, some too young to be vaccinated
82% under age 20
Vaccination Status
Unvaccinated or Unknown: 95%
1 MMR: 3%
2 MMR: 2%
www.cdc.gov/measles/data...
🧵
164 cases
Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, Texas
Most children, some too young to be vaccinated
82% under age 20
Vaccination Status
Unvaccinated or Unknown: 95%
1 MMR: 3%
2 MMR: 2%
www.cdc.gov/measles/data...
🧵
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
In case you missed it, from Dr Mike Ryan at today's WHO press conference on those unexplained deaths in DRC
"very limited in geography"
"strong level of suspicion of a poisoning event related to the poisoning of a water source"
tinalexander.github.io/notes/2025/0...
"very limited in geography"
"strong level of suspicion of a poisoning event related to the poisoning of a water source"
tinalexander.github.io/notes/2025/0...
March 1, 2025 at 12:59 AM
In case you missed it, from Dr Mike Ryan at today's WHO press conference on those unexplained deaths in DRC
"very limited in geography"
"strong level of suspicion of a poisoning event related to the poisoning of a water source"
tinalexander.github.io/notes/2025/0...
"very limited in geography"
"strong level of suspicion of a poisoning event related to the poisoning of a water source"
tinalexander.github.io/notes/2025/0...
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
Half of Covid-19 patients emitted infectious virus in respiratory particles smaller than 5 microns (>30 min to settle out). Culturability of aerosols was associated with lower neutralizing antibody titers, so immune response matters for transmission potential.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Frequency, kinetics and determinants of viable SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols from ambulatory COVID-19 patients infected with the Beta, Delta or Omicron variants - Nature Communications
SARS-CoV-2 can be spread by aerosols. Here the authors show that between 50-60% of ambulatory COVID-19 patients exhale culturable virus and that this is associated with lower neutralizing antibody tit...
www.nature.com
February 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Half of Covid-19 patients emitted infectious virus in respiratory particles smaller than 5 microns (>30 min to settle out). Culturability of aerosols was associated with lower neutralizing antibody titers, so immune response matters for transmission potential.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Measles is an outlier in terms of contagiousness & markedly more contagious than even the most contagious Covid variant
Some affected areas seem to have pockets with markedly low vax rates
It will be difficult to prevent onward spread in these areas without mass catch-up vaccination
Some affected areas seem to have pockets with markedly low vax rates
It will be difficult to prevent onward spread in these areas without mass catch-up vaccination
The clear response *should* be to urgently engage communities on the need & safety of vaccination
Measles is super contagious - the avg infectious person infects ~12-18 people
For the most contagious Covid variant, it was ~9-12
Other measures likely won't be enough to stop this outbreak
(1/3)
Measles is super contagious - the avg infectious person infects ~12-18 people
For the most contagious Covid variant, it was ~9-12
Other measures likely won't be enough to stop this outbreak
(1/3)
The U.S. has officially recorded its first measles death since 2015. Texas health officials have confirmed that an unvaccinated child has passed away from measles amid a massive outbreak that has impacted nine counties in West Texas.
👉 meidasnews.com/news/the-uni...
👉 meidasnews.com/news/the-uni...
February 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Measles is an outlier in terms of contagiousness & markedly more contagious than even the most contagious Covid variant
Some affected areas seem to have pockets with markedly low vax rates
It will be difficult to prevent onward spread in these areas without mass catch-up vaccination
Some affected areas seem to have pockets with markedly low vax rates
It will be difficult to prevent onward spread in these areas without mass catch-up vaccination
The clear response *should* be to urgently engage communities on the need & safety of vaccination
Measles is super contagious - the avg infectious person infects ~12-18 people
For the most contagious Covid variant, it was ~9-12
Other measures likely won't be enough to stop this outbreak
(1/3)
Measles is super contagious - the avg infectious person infects ~12-18 people
For the most contagious Covid variant, it was ~9-12
Other measures likely won't be enough to stop this outbreak
(1/3)
The U.S. has officially recorded its first measles death since 2015. Texas health officials have confirmed that an unvaccinated child has passed away from measles amid a massive outbreak that has impacted nine counties in West Texas.
👉 meidasnews.com/news/the-uni...
👉 meidasnews.com/news/the-uni...
February 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
The clear response *should* be to urgently engage communities on the need & safety of vaccination
Measles is super contagious - the avg infectious person infects ~12-18 people
For the most contagious Covid variant, it was ~9-12
Other measures likely won't be enough to stop this outbreak
(1/3)
Measles is super contagious - the avg infectious person infects ~12-18 people
For the most contagious Covid variant, it was ~9-12
Other measures likely won't be enough to stop this outbreak
(1/3)
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
I commend every parent who is choosing to do the right thing by vaccinating their child as the measles outbreak spreads. There's no shame in changing your mind on a stance you were wrong about. Especially when it concerns protecting children from disease.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
As Texas measles outbreak grows, parents are choosing to vaccinate kids
At least 124 people, mostly babies, children and teens, have been infected. Eighteen people have been hospitalized.
www.nbcnews.com
February 26, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I commend every parent who is choosing to do the right thing by vaccinating their child as the measles outbreak spreads. There's no shame in changing your mind on a stance you were wrong about. Especially when it concerns protecting children from disease.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
Samples have been sent further afield for testing.
For now WHO only reports "Metagenomic sequencing and additional investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of
illness and deaths in the two health zones".
For now WHO only reports "Metagenomic sequencing and additional investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of
illness and deaths in the two health zones".
February 26, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Samples have been sent further afield for testing.
For now WHO only reports "Metagenomic sequencing and additional investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of
illness and deaths in the two health zones".
For now WHO only reports "Metagenomic sequencing and additional investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of
illness and deaths in the two health zones".
It seems like metagenomic next-gen sequencing akin to what Charles Chiu @ucsfhealth.bsky.social does could help pinpoint the culprit pathogen
Has this been tried? If not, an issue of sample preservation & transport? Limits of detection with certain sample types?
In 2025, this is a solvable problem
Has this been tried? If not, an issue of sample preservation & transport? Limits of detection with certain sample types?
In 2025, this is a solvable problem
2 clusters of deaths from unknown cause(s) in Équateur, DRC:
- Bolomba Health Zone: 12 cases, 8 deaths (CFR 66.7%)
- Basankusu Health Zone: 419 cases, 45 deaths (CFR 10.7%)
- no epi links between clusters
- ~ half of deaths occur in first 48 hours complicating evaluation
- Ebola, Marburg ruled out
- Bolomba Health Zone: 12 cases, 8 deaths (CFR 66.7%)
- Basankusu Health Zone: 419 cases, 45 deaths (CFR 10.7%)
- no epi links between clusters
- ~ half of deaths occur in first 48 hours complicating evaluation
- Ebola, Marburg ruled out
February 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It seems like metagenomic next-gen sequencing akin to what Charles Chiu @ucsfhealth.bsky.social does could help pinpoint the culprit pathogen
Has this been tried? If not, an issue of sample preservation & transport? Limits of detection with certain sample types?
In 2025, this is a solvable problem
Has this been tried? If not, an issue of sample preservation & transport? Limits of detection with certain sample types?
In 2025, this is a solvable problem
Reposted by Ranu Dhillon
Our commentary in Nature on immediate steps to combat the #H5N1 bird flu outbreak. @ranudhillon.bsky.social @sri-srikrishna.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Our commentary in Nature on immediate steps to combat the #H5N1 bird flu outbreak. @ranudhillon.bsky.social @sri-srikrishna.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
If H5N1 evolves to spread between people, it could spur a pandemic
In @naturemedicine.bsky.social, @sri-srikrishna.bsky.social Robert Garry @abraarkaran.bsky.social & I discuss the mutations it may take for this to happen & what we could do now to stop it & be prepared in case it does
rdcu.be/ea153
In @naturemedicine.bsky.social, @sri-srikrishna.bsky.social Robert Garry @abraarkaran.bsky.social & I discuss the mutations it may take for this to happen & what we could do now to stop it & be prepared in case it does
rdcu.be/ea153
Steps to prevent and respond to an H5N1 epidemic in the USA
Nature Medicine - Steps should be taken now to prevent an epidemic of H5N1 in humans and prepare for an outbreak should it occur.
rdcu.be
February 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
If H5N1 evolves to spread between people, it could spur a pandemic
In @naturemedicine.bsky.social, @sri-srikrishna.bsky.social Robert Garry @abraarkaran.bsky.social & I discuss the mutations it may take for this to happen & what we could do now to stop it & be prepared in case it does
rdcu.be/ea153
In @naturemedicine.bsky.social, @sri-srikrishna.bsky.social Robert Garry @abraarkaran.bsky.social & I discuss the mutations it may take for this to happen & what we could do now to stop it & be prepared in case it does
rdcu.be/ea153