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World Health Network
@thewhn.bsky.social
11K followers 3 following 850 posts
Bringing people, science, and compassion together to solve world problems and protect health. Let's #EndThisPandemic together.
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thewhn.bsky.social
WHN Kids’ Zone Magazine Issue 18 is out!

January 2026 focuses on new beginnings: how kids explore, learn, create, and care for one another in a COVID-conscious world. Inside you’ll find science, stories, games, wellbeing tools, and real work by kids themselves — all free, all community-made.
Kids’ Zone magazine cover with a dark blue sky, cartoon stars and swooshing comets, framed by a bright yellow border. Text on cover: Top left: “JANUARY 2026” • Top right: “ISSUE 18” “WORLD HEALTH NETWORK” Big title: “KIDS’ ZONE — COVID-CONSCIOUS MAGAZINE” Center headline in neon arcade style: “HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2026” Ribbon: “NEW BEGINNINGS EDITION” Feature blurbs (left column, angled): • “YOUR IDEAS — WHAT TO DO IN THE NEW YEAR” • “NEW BEGINNINGS IN NATURE” • “NEW COVID TECHNOLOGIES” • “COMBATING MISINFORMATION!” • “STORIES AND RECIPES” • “… AND MORE INSIDE!” Right column: “CHECK US OUT ONLINE AT: WHN.global/KidsZone” Badge/logo: “Kids’ Zone — World Health Network” with a small globe. Bottom: “EXPLORE | SHARE | CONNECT.”
January 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
Six years without getting sick isn’t a miracle. It’s what happens when airborne problems are met with airborne solutions.

Respirators work quietly, consistently, and without spectacle. For the people wearing them, and for those who can’t afford another infection.
A dark, grainy photo of a family wearing respirators indoors; large neon-yellow pull-quote overlays the scene. Text: “I haven’t been sick since 2018. No flu. No colds. No COVID. Six winters. Six holiday seasons.” Smaller body text below: “While respiratory viruses moved freely through public spaces, one family quietly opted out. Not by isolating, but by responding accordingly to how these viruses actually spread.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Black textured background with a large illustration of a cup-shaped N95 respirator at the bottom right; bright yellow quote headline at top. Text: “There’s a significant difference between a mask and a respirator. A surgical mask is fabric. An N95 filters the air you breathe.” Body text: “Public messaging blurred this distinction for years. The result was confusion, frustration, and the false belief that ‘masks don’t work.’ Respirators were designed for airborne hazards long before COVID existed. This is basic occupational health, repurposed for everyday life.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Close-up background of an N95 mask; bold neon-yellow pull-quote across the top. Text: “When I put on a mask, I’m not just protecting my family. I’m breaking transmission chains that could lead straight to someone whose body can’t survive another hit.” Body text: “For people living with Long COVID, there is no such thing as ‘just one more.’ Every infection carries a cost their bodies may not be able to pay. Masking in shared spaces is a refusal to accept preventable injury as the price of normal life. We already know how to reduce risk. The only question left is whether we’re willing to act like it.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
January 2, 2026 at 11:07 PM
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Today at 1:00 PM ET, the WHN New Year’s Eve gathering begins. Join us for science discussions, live Q&A, community conversation, and moments of connection as we close out the year together — intentionally and informed.

Register here:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 31, 2025 at 4:42 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
Tomorrow night!

We close the year together — with science, conversation, and connection — and step into 2026 grounded, informed, and supported by community.

Register for the WHN NYE Party:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 30, 2025 at 10:37 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
2 more days until the WHN NYE Party!

If you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve space rooted in science, care, and community — without pressure or pretense — we’d love to have you.

Register today:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 29, 2025 at 10:37 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
New York State is reporting the highest number of flu cases ever recorded in a single week.

Prevention and timely treatment remain important, and clear public health information helps people make informed decisions as the season continues. How we respond now will shape the weeks ahead.
Poster-style graphic over a winter city scene with snowy trees and cars in New York. Large red headline text reads: “As of late December, New York State has reported over 71,000 flu cases in one week — the highest weekly total since flu became reportable.” Smaller red paragraph below: “This flu season is no longer just severe, it’s historic. Flu activity typically peaks in January, which means the most intense period may still be ahead.” Small whn.global branding along the bottom. Black background with a close-up of a combo rapid test device (labels for Flu A, Flu B, and COVID) along the right edge. Large red headline: “Prevention, timely treatment, and clear public health information remain critical.” White body text: “Practical steps like vaccination, staying home when sick, washing hands regularly, avoiding close contact with illness, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and wearing a well-fitting N95 respirator in crowded settings can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses and shape the weeks ahead.” Small whn.global branding at the bottom.
December 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
3 more days until the WHN NYE Party! As the year winds down, we’ll take time to reflect on what we’ve learned, what we’ve built together, and how we continue advocating for better public health in the year ahead.

Sign up:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 28, 2025 at 7:58 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
This time next week, we’ll be welcoming new faces. 4 more days until the WHN NYE Party!

Whether you’ve been part of WHN for years or are just discovering the community, this New Year’s Eve gathering is for you.

Register now:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
Masks always have been, and are still worth wearing.

COVID is an airborne virus. It spreads through shared air — often from people who don’t yet feel sick or never develop symptoms at all. Masking works because it filters the air we breathe, reducing how much virus we inhale and exhale.
A person in a light-blue top adjusts a white respirator mask on their face. Large aqua headline text fills most of the frame. On-image text: “Masks always have been, and are still worth wearing. Know the facts about how it spreads, and how you can protect yourself and others.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” A black panel with aqua headline text above a black-and-white photo of a respirator hanging on a wall hook beside towels. On-image text: “Why should I mask? The virus in these aerosols is most concentrated in the air around the source, but they also float and spread like smoke and linger in indoor air for hours, especially in poorly ventilated spaces, even if the source has left the room. Social distancing helps, but when you’re indoors, or in outdoor crowds, ultimately everyone is breathing in some of each other’s air.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Aqua headline on a black background above a photo of a vaccine vial and syringe. On-image text: “Can’t I just vax and relax? Vaccination is one of the most important layers of protection, but vaccines alone are not protective enough. Their immunity wears off, and they may be less effective against the constantly mutating new variants. They importantly reduce, though do not eliminate, the chance of developing Long COVID.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Aqua headline and paragraph on a black background with a white respirator mask pictured below. On-image text: “Are some masks better than others? All masks are not created equal, but any mask is better than no mask. Two-way masking is the most effective – when everyone present is wearing well-fitted, high-filtering respirator-grade masks such as N95, KN95, KF94, FFP2 or elastomerics, and wearing them over the nose and mouth correctly and consistently, the chance of infection is nearly entirely eliminated.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 27, 2025 at 5:12 AM
thewhn.bsky.social
We’re getting close. 5 days until the WHN NYE Party!

Beyond science sessions, the night will include interactive elements — games, trivia, music, and creative moments — because joy and connection matter, too.

Save your seat:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
6 days until the WHN New Year’s Eve Party!

Content includes research discussion on COVID and airborne transmission, neuroscience updates with live Q&A, community conversation about what public health needs next, alongside dancing, fun and connection

Register here:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 25, 2025 at 9:59 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
The countdown continues, 8 days left!

Our New Year’s Eve gathering blends serious science with genuine community — research updates, open conversation, and moments of joy woven throughout the night.

Register now:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 23, 2025 at 10:53 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
Tell us about your COVID-conscious community.

What resources, businesses, groups, or individuals in your area make it easier to live your life while reducing the risk of COVID infection?
Outdoor street scene with three adults wearing respirators (N95-style) and winter clothes, standing at a table with open boxes. One person holds a cardboard sign that partly reads “FREE … STAY SAFE.” Large light-green headline text overlays the image. Full text on image: “Tell us about your COVID-conscious community. What COVID conscious resources, businesses, groups, etc. exist in your community that make it easier to live your life free from COVID infection?” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
The holidays are meant for connection, not illness.

COVID, flu, RSV & measles can spread easily during gatherings, often from people who don’t yet feel sick. COVID in particular remains airborne, persistent & capable of causing long-term health impacts — even after mild or asymptomatic infections.
Cozy living room with a lit Christmas tree in the background. A person wearing a medical mask lies under a patterned blanket on a couch, looking unwell. Large white headline text overlays the scene. Full text on image: “No one wants to be sick for the holidays.” “People may carry COVID, flu, RSV, or measles without knowing it — and pass it on before symptoms ever appear. This season is about kindness and generosity. That care should extend to protecting one another’s health.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Minimal dark background with serif white text. Full text on image: “The pandemic is not over.” “SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate, causing serious illness and death worldwide. COVID spreads through the air — exhaled by people who may feel completely fine. Virus particles can linger indoors long after someone leaves the room. And COVID is not ‘just a cold.’ Even mild or asymptomatic infections can lead to long-term, life-altering consequences. Long COVID remains a real and growing risk — especially with repeat infections.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Dark gradient background with large serif headline and bullet list. Full text on image: “There are simple, concrete ways to reduce harm. • Stay home if you’re sick, testing positive, or recently exposed • Prevent household spread • Get vaccinated to reduce severity — knowing it doesn’t fully prevent transmission Being considerate isn’t restrictive. It’s protective — and it allows more people to participate safely.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Dark background with large serif headline and bullet list. Full text on image: “Stopping transmission means acting on what we know. • Wear a well-fitted respirator (N95) • Be cautious during travel and crowded spaces • Improve ventilation and clean indoor air with HEPA filters • Test before and after gatherings • Meet outdoors or keep groups small • Agree on mitigation measures together A COVID-conscious holiday isn’t about fear. It’s about care and choosing to protect one another.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
9 days until we ring in the New Year, WHN-style!

This isn’t a typical New Year’s Eve event. Expect evidence-based discussion, live Q&A, community highlights, and space to connect with people who care deeply about public health.

Save your spot:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
In 10 days, we gather. On New Year’s Eve, the WHN community comes together for an evening of science, discussion, creativity, and connection.

Join researchers, clinicians, advocates, and community members as we close the year with intention — and look ahead together.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: WHN NYE 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
necsi-edu.zoom.us
December 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
This year’s WHN New Year’s Eve Party, taking place Wednesday, December 31, 2025, is not to be missed. This is WHN’s biggest celebration of the year—a chance to come together as a community to welcome the New Year with conversation, creativity, science, and fun.
Visual: Night sky filled with colorful fireworks (purple, gold, white). Center-right is a large purple rectangular badge with thick white lettering. Lower area has white script text over a dark, smoky background. Small “whn.global” logo appears in the bottom-right corner. On-image text: NYE WITH WHN Join us for science talks, public health Q&A, interactive games and much more! 12/31 @ 1 PM ET ON ZOOM whn.global
December 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
The holiday season can be joyful, but for many people living with Long COVID, it can also bring exhaustion, grief, and difficult adjustments. Limited energy can make familiar traditions feel out of reach, and missed moments can stir up sadness or anger about the life you had before illness.
Visual: A tired person in a knit sweater lies on a couch in a softly lit living room, wearing a respirator. A Christmas tree and wintery window sit in the background; a large pillow is in the foreground. On-image text: “The holidays can be exhausting instead of joyful for many.” “For many long-haulers, the season that’s supposed to be joyful comes with an impossible mix of expectations, exhaustion, and invisible illness.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Visual: Busy indoor shopping arcade with holiday décor and blurred shoppers; high arched glass ceiling. On-image text: “Shopping, decorating, gatherings… they all cost energy that long COVID patients don’t have to spare.” “Overdoing it can mean days or weeks of post-exertional crashes. It’s critical to be aware of your limited energy levels and pace yourself accordingly. This will increase the odds that you’ll be able to actually enjoy your holidays, free of PEM.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Visual: Living room with Christmas tree. A large inset infographic titled “The Spoon Theory” shows icons for daily activities (getting out of bed, bathing, eating, work/school, shopping, exercising, etc.). On-image text: “‘You don’t seem sick!’ and ‘You look fine to me!’ are all too common during family gatherings around the holidays.” “Healthy individuals often fail to understand that long COVID is an invisible illness. One way to help people understand Long COVID, and chronic fatigue in particular, is by using the spoon theory.” Left caption beside infographic: “If you only had 12 spoons per day, how would you use them?” Small text under infographic: “This ‘theory’ is actually a metaphor that describes what it’s like to experience limited energy levels due to chronic illnesses like long COVID.” Source link: “me-pedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Visual: Person sitting on a sofa by a bright window, using a laptop for a video call; warm, cozy home setting. On-image text: “Even if you spend the holidays physically alone, continue to seek human connection virtually, and reach out to friends and family for support.” “For many long-haulers, the holidays bring grief alongside celebration. Missing traditions hurts. and grieving the life you had before long COVID is natural. Grief and connection can coexist, and both deserve space this season.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 18, 2025 at 3:52 AM
thewhn.bsky.social
🎉 Join us for the WHN New Year’s Eve Party on Dec 31, 2025!

Science, conversation, music, games and community—all in one night. Featuring talks from Špela Šalamon, MD, PhD and Danielle Beckman, PhD, plus trivia, games and dancing.

More details soon, register here:
necsi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Promotional graphic with a night sky filled with colorful fireworks. Center-left is a large purple rectangular block with bold white stacked text: “NYE WITH WHN.” Below in elegant script: “Join us for science talks, public health Q&A, interactive games and much more!” A line at the bottom reads: “12/31 @ 1 PM ET ON ZOOM.” WHN’s logo “whn.global” appears in the lower-right corner.
December 18, 2025 at 3:37 AM
thewhn.bsky.social
Measles is spreading, and outbreaks like this are a reminder of how quickly preventable diseases can resurge when protections slip. Staying informed, protecting our communities, and taking outbreaks seriously matters.

#Measles #PublicHealth #InfectionPrevention #MeaslesOutbreak
Visual: Close-up, desaturated photo of a person’s back/shoulder with a blotchy rash. Large neon-yellow headline text over the image. On-image text: Measles is back. And it’s spreading in schools. Hundreds of people are currently under quarantine, and a large number of measles cases have already been linked to an ongoing outbreak in South Carolina this year. The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world. Visual: Tight, muted photo of rash-covered skin; lime-yellow headline and white body text overlaid. On-image text: A single exposure can shut down weeks of normal life. After known contact with measles, people may be required to stay home for 21 days to monitor for symptoms. Students who are not vaccinated and exposed are not permitted to attend school during that period. As a result, many schools are currently affected, with some reporting dozens of students quarantined at once. The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world. Visual: Gloved hand holding an MMR vaccine vial; teal-blue photo background with lime-yellow headline and white text. On-image text: Vaccination rates have fallen below the protection threshold. Public health officials say 95% vaccination coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks. South Carolina’s statewide rate has dropped to around 90%, with some affected schools reporting coverage in the low 80s. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. When immunity gaps appear, outbreaks don’t stay contained. This is what that gap looks like. The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.
December 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
COVID, flu, and RSV spread most easily this time of year, especially when we’re gathering indoors. Simple steps like improving indoor air quality, wearing a high-quality mask when needed, testing before gatherings, and staying home when sick can meaningfully reduce risk without taking away (...)
Visual: Nighttime holiday market scene with three people in winter hats and coats wearing respirators (N95-style). Top caption: whn.global/a-healthier-holiday-season-simple-ways-to-gather-safely/ Large heading: “The holidays don’t have to make us sick.” Body: Whether you’re gathering with family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors, you can take simple, effective steps to reduce the spread of airborne infections like COVID-19, flu, and RSV without sacrificing joy. Footer: The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world. Visual: Minimal black background with text only. Top caption: whn.global/a-healthier-holiday-season-simple-ways-to-gather-safely/ Large heading: “Small choices can make a real difference.” Body: Wearing a high-quality mask in crowded indoor spaces, staying home when you’re sick, and testing before gatherings all help protect the people around you—especially those at higher risk. Improving indoor air quality by opening windows, using HEPA filters, or upgrading HVAC filters quietly lowers risk in the background, making shared spaces safer for everyone. Footer: The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world. Visual: Minimal black background with text only. Top caption: whn.global/a-healthier-holiday-season-simple-ways-to-gather-safely/ Large heading: “No single action works on its own.” Body: But layering protections—clean air, masking when needed, testing, and staying home when sick—makes gatherings safer and more inclusive. Taking care of one another isn’t about giving up celebrations; it’s about making sure more people can enjoy them, both during the holidays and after. Footer: The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.
December 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
Fresh air is not a lifestyle preference or a comfort feature. It is one of the most effective public-health interventions we have. A century ago, this was already understood. Today, we continue to ignore it, even as COVID and Long COVID persist.

Read the full article: whn.global/fresh-air-sa...
Historic, grainy black-and-white photo of a 1918 field-hospital or ward with nurses; large tan headline over the image. URL along the top, WHN logo in the corner. Full text on image: “whn.global/fresh-air-saved-lives-in-1918-we-sealed-covid-in/ In 1918, doctors did something obvious. They opened the windows. It wasn’t complicated technology. It was air.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Black background with a vintage black-and-white photo of a sign that says to keep bedroom windows open; large tan headline and smaller white body text above the photo; WHN logo and URL on top. Full text on image: “whn.global/fresh-air-saved-lives-in-1918-we-sealed-covid-in/ In 1918, doctors didn’t have advanced medicine or modern technology. They had observation, urgency, and a willingness to do what worked. They noticed something simple: people got sicker faster indoors, and recovered better when they could breathe fresh, moving air. So they opened the windows.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Black background with a large black-and-white photo across the bottom of a person opening a wide home window; tan headline and white paragraph text above; WHN logo and URL at top. Full text on image: “whn.global/fresh-air-saved-lives-in-1918-we-sealed-covid-in/ By the time COVID arrived, this knowledge wasn’t lost, it was documented. We had decades of research explaining how respiratory viruses spread, and a full century of lessons from past pandemics. But instead of applying what we already knew, we sealed ourselves indoors and treated airflow as an afterthought.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Muted photo of a modern construction site/HVAC framing in the background; big tan quote headline with white body text; URL at top, WHN logo in corner. Full text on image: “whn.global/fresh-air-saved-lives-in-1918-we-sealed-covid-in/ ‘Modern construction creates perfect virus chambers.’ Modern buildings are designed to trap heat, reduce airflow, and recycle the same air over and over again. These choices weren’t made for health, they were made for efficiency. When a virus that spreads through the air arrived, it moved easily through the spaces we had created. Classrooms, care facilities, workplaces… all became high-risk by design.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
“I cannot afford to get sick.”

Doing a Tom Hanks is about planning. Identify high-risk moments. Reduce exposure. Protect the events you don’t want to miss.

Vaccinations work. Masks work. Preventing inhalation of viruses works.

Read the full guide → whn.global/doing-a-tom-...
“Do a Tom Hanks” opener Visual: Dark textured background. On the right, a man in a baseball cap, glasses, and a light jacket wears a mask. Large white headline on the left; smaller lime subhead below. Text on image: “Want to reduce your risk of getting another respiratory virus? Do a Tom Hanks. Here’s how.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Tom Hanks quotes Visual: Black textured background with lime text; a photo strip along the bottom shows Tom Hanks masked on a subway train. Text on image: “Tom Hanks explained his train travelling exploits in a mask as: ‘I am doing a play right now, so I cannot afford to get sick.’ ‘I have had COVID enough in my life; I don’t want to do that again.’ ‘I am wearing this for health reasons.’ Doing a Tom Hanks will reduce (but not eliminate) your risk. Here’s how to do it.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Plan, identify and know Visual: Black textured background with lime headline and white bullet points. Text on image: “Plan, identify and know Plan ahead. Identify events you cannot afford to miss, and minimize exposure for 3 weeks beforehand. Identify highest-risk situations: • Public transport (buses, trains, planes) • Hospitals and healthcare settings • Crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation • Restaurants and bars Identify highest-risk contacts: • People with respiratory symptoms • People recently exposed to illness • Children recently in school outbreaks Know community incidence — risk rises when cases are high.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Act Visual: Black textured background with lime “Act” header and white bullet list; lime closing lines and a URL. Text on image: “Act • Wear a well-fitting FFP2 or N95 on public transport and in healthcare settings • Carry a respirator in case conditions change unexpectedly • Delay visits with people who are sick or recently exposed • Outdoors: stand upwind and excuse yourself if someone is symptomatic • Choose outdoor options whenever possible • Indoors: ask about ventilation and wear a mask • At home: ventilate, use HEPA filtration, and avoid visits from sick or exposed guests • If someone in your household is ill: separate spaces, masks, ventilation, HEPA — Vaccinations work. Masks work. Preventing inhalation of viruses works. Read the full piece: whn.global/doing-a-tom-hanks/” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
thewhn.bsky.social
Federal guidance may shift, but the evidence remains strong: the hepatitis B vaccine is safe, long-studied, and protects infants from a virus that can cause lifelong illness and cancer.
Visual: Close-up photo of a blue-gloved hand holding a vial labeled “HBV (Hepatitis B Virus)” against a dark background; the bottom edge shows the syringe tip and glove. Text on image: Headline: “The hepatitis B vaccine is a vital, long-established protection against a virus that can cause lifelong liver disease and cancer.” Body: “Decades of scientific research show that giving the birth dose promptly and completing the full vaccine schedule provides strong, durable protection for infants. Given recent shifts in U.S. federal public-health recommendations, some families may feel uncertain about how best to protect their newborns.” Footer tagline: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Visual: Small vial labeled “Hepatitis B vaccine” (single-dose 0.5 ml) stands on a dark surface with a syringe lying in front; minimalist black background. Text on image: Body: “WHN encourages parents to look to the broader medical and pediatric community — including professional societies whose guidance is grounded in long-standing scientific evidence — for clear, trustworthy advice that prioritizes children’s health and safety.” Footer tagline: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.”
December 12, 2025 at 4:11 AM
thewhn.bsky.social
Long COVID in children is real, common, and still widely misunderstood. New pediatric studies show that kids and teens can experience lasting effects after infection, and reinfections significantly increase the risks.
Black-and-white street scene with several school-age children wearing masks; a girl in the center looks toward the camera. Large amber headline text overlays the scene. Full text: “Children can get Long COVID, and the risks are bigger than most people realize. For years, many parents, doctors, and policymakers were told that children are safe from COVID-19. Growing scientific evidence makes it clear that this notion is incorrect.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Top: “whn.global” and a page URL “whn.global/scientific/long-covid-in-children/”. Dark background with an image of a tired child lying on a couch, hand to forehead, partially visible at the bottom right; large amber headline at top. Full text: “What the science shows Long COVID is thoroughly documented in children. Studies show 10–15% of kids develop long-term symptoms after infection, and reinfections double the likelihood of Long COVID and related complications. Symptoms can affect brain function, sleep, autonomic regulation, respiratory health, the GI system, and include issues like fatigue, headaches, dizziness, chest pain, trouble concentrating, and new-onset diabetes. Imaging studies show measurable reductions in brain volume and disrupted connectivity in key regions — some changes persist over time.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Dark background with a photo of a child in a tan sweater sneezing into a tissue on the lower right; large amber headline. Full text: “Because no curative treatments exist, the best protection is reducing infections and reinfections. Layered precautions work: vaccination, high-quality respirators (N95/FFP2), ventilation + HEPA, remote-learning options, and avoiding pressure for kids to return to school while sick. Even if the percentage seems small, the scale of infections means the impact on children’s health, learning, and development could shape an entire generation. Protecting kids now is an investment in their long-term wellbeing.” Footer: “The World Health Network is a network devoted to global compassion—working together to inspire collective action through science for a safer, healthier world.” Top: “whn.global” and “whn.global/scientific/long-covid-in-children/”.
December 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM