Alexandra Phelan
@alexandraphelan.bsky.social
Global Health Lawyer. Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security working on emerging and reemerging infectious disease outbreaks, their Planetary Health drivers, and international law in pandemic preparedness, equity & justice.
Arrived in Geneva for the third round of IGWG negotiations for the WHO #PandemicAgreement Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) Annex.
The recently released draft text confirms several areas of potential emerging consensus but also reveals significant work ahead.
The recently released draft text confirms several areas of potential emerging consensus but also reveals significant work ahead.
November 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Arrived in Geneva for the third round of IGWG negotiations for the WHO #PandemicAgreement Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) Annex.
The recently released draft text confirms several areas of potential emerging consensus but also reveals significant work ahead.
The recently released draft text confirms several areas of potential emerging consensus but also reveals significant work ahead.
The President of the International Court of Justice Yuji Iwasawa is presenting the ICJ's annual report to the UN General Assembly, including briefing on the recent Advisory Opinion on legal obligations in respect of climate change.
October 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The President of the International Court of Justice Yuji Iwasawa is presenting the ICJ's annual report to the UN General Assembly, including briefing on the recent Advisory Opinion on legal obligations in respect of climate change.
A fairly unfiltered statement from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat on the attempts by the tobacco industry to influence the Conference of Parties
Very Merchants of Doubt.
Very Merchants of Doubt.
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A fairly unfiltered statement from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat on the attempts by the tobacco industry to influence the Conference of Parties
Very Merchants of Doubt.
Very Merchants of Doubt.
the mimalist logo trend has hit the ouroboros
October 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
the mimalist logo trend has hit the ouroboros
Tomorrow! Friday, 11:00-12:30 CET at the Planetary Health Annual Meeting #PHAM
An unparalleled stellar panel of Planetary Health Law, Governance & Policy experts!
Our discussion will explore how law is empowering Planetary Health, from national litigation to reshaping global governance.
An unparalleled stellar panel of Planetary Health Law, Governance & Policy experts!
Our discussion will explore how law is empowering Planetary Health, from national litigation to reshaping global governance.
October 9, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Tomorrow! Friday, 11:00-12:30 CET at the Planetary Health Annual Meeting #PHAM
An unparalleled stellar panel of Planetary Health Law, Governance & Policy experts!
Our discussion will explore how law is empowering Planetary Health, from national litigation to reshaping global governance.
An unparalleled stellar panel of Planetary Health Law, Governance & Policy experts!
Our discussion will explore how law is empowering Planetary Health, from national litigation to reshaping global governance.
This week in The Hague, I was delighted to participate in @undp.org's consultation on the 2026 Human Development Report, exploring the potential of international law, global governance & Planetary Health.
With thanks to UNDP, Georgetown's Earth Commons & Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.
With thanks to UNDP, Georgetown's Earth Commons & Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.
October 8, 2025 at 7:45 AM
This week in The Hague, I was delighted to participate in @undp.org's consultation on the 2026 Human Development Report, exploring the potential of international law, global governance & Planetary Health.
With thanks to UNDP, Georgetown's Earth Commons & Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.
With thanks to UNDP, Georgetown's Earth Commons & Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.
What are you doing @broadinstitute.org & @statnews.com?
This demonstrates a glaring lack of insight and self-awareness at best, and completely undermines the purported goal of the event, Women's Health.
This demonstrates a glaring lack of insight and self-awareness at best, and completely undermines the purported goal of the event, Women's Health.
July 23, 2025 at 7:27 PM
What are you doing @broadinstitute.org & @statnews.com?
This demonstrates a glaring lack of insight and self-awareness at best, and completely undermines the purported goal of the event, Women's Health.
This demonstrates a glaring lack of insight and self-awareness at best, and completely undermines the purported goal of the event, Women's Health.
July 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Tomorrow (Tue 1 July) I’ll be speaking @psioxford.bsky.social #PandemicSciences25 Conference on the Global Governance of Pandemics and Incorporating Science into Law, focusing on our work on the #PandemicAgreement
It’s wonderful to see how much enthusiasm there is for the new treaty.
It’s wonderful to see how much enthusiasm there is for the new treaty.
June 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Tomorrow (Tue 1 July) I’ll be speaking @psioxford.bsky.social #PandemicSciences25 Conference on the Global Governance of Pandemics and Incorporating Science into Law, focusing on our work on the #PandemicAgreement
It’s wonderful to see how much enthusiasm there is for the new treaty.
It’s wonderful to see how much enthusiasm there is for the new treaty.
June 30, 2025 at 8:15 AM
I'm delighted to share our new law review article on the recent amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) with Lawrence Gostin @oneillinstitute.bsky.social @georgetownlaw.bsky.social in the Georgetown Journal of International Law.
Full text: www.law.georgetown.edu/internationa...
Full text: www.law.georgetown.edu/internationa...
May 23, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I'm delighted to share our new law review article on the recent amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) with Lawrence Gostin @oneillinstitute.bsky.social @georgetownlaw.bsky.social in the Georgetown Journal of International Law.
Full text: www.law.georgetown.edu/internationa...
Full text: www.law.georgetown.edu/internationa...
With the brilliant @syramadad.bsky.social we discuss why the draft Pandemic Agreement is a leap forward for global health equity and security.
WHO Member States should adopt the text at May's World Health Assembly.
With thanks to @belfercenter.bsky.social
www.belfercenter.org/research-ana...
WHO Member States should adopt the text at May's World Health Assembly.
With thanks to @belfercenter.bsky.social
www.belfercenter.org/research-ana...
April 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
With the brilliant @syramadad.bsky.social we discuss why the draft Pandemic Agreement is a leap forward for global health equity and security.
WHO Member States should adopt the text at May's World Health Assembly.
With thanks to @belfercenter.bsky.social
www.belfercenter.org/research-ana...
WHO Member States should adopt the text at May's World Health Assembly.
With thanks to @belfercenter.bsky.social
www.belfercenter.org/research-ana...
Today @asilorg.bsky.social at 2pm, I’m delighted to join @roojinhabibi.org Ben Grazda & Katiniss Xuejiao Li to discuss current multilateral treaty making.
In completely choreographed timing, I’ll be discussing the Pandemic Agreement negotiation process and consensus text reached just last night.
In completely choreographed timing, I’ll be discussing the Pandemic Agreement negotiation process and consensus text reached just last night.
April 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today @asilorg.bsky.social at 2pm, I’m delighted to join @roojinhabibi.org Ben Grazda & Katiniss Xuejiao Li to discuss current multilateral treaty making.
In completely choreographed timing, I’ll be discussing the Pandemic Agreement negotiation process and consensus text reached just last night.
In completely choreographed timing, I’ll be discussing the Pandemic Agreement negotiation process and consensus text reached just last night.
❇️ So much green ❇️
This week saw huge progress towards a consensus draft Pandemic Agreement. WHO, Member States, and several Relevant Stakeholders worked through the night.
Talks will reconvene Tuesday following consultation with capitals and hopefully then onwards to adoption at WHA.
This week saw huge progress towards a consensus draft Pandemic Agreement. WHO, Member States, and several Relevant Stakeholders worked through the night.
Talks will reconvene Tuesday following consultation with capitals and hopefully then onwards to adoption at WHA.
April 12, 2025 at 1:56 PM
❇️ So much green ❇️
This week saw huge progress towards a consensus draft Pandemic Agreement. WHO, Member States, and several Relevant Stakeholders worked through the night.
Talks will reconvene Tuesday following consultation with capitals and hopefully then onwards to adoption at WHA.
This week saw huge progress towards a consensus draft Pandemic Agreement. WHO, Member States, and several Relevant Stakeholders worked through the night.
Talks will reconvene Tuesday following consultation with capitals and hopefully then onwards to adoption at WHA.
The last day of negotiations for the Pandemic Agreement has arrived.
WHO Member States have made great progress this week and the mood is cautiously optimistic for reaching a consensus text.
WHO Member States have made great progress this week and the mood is cautiously optimistic for reaching a consensus text.
April 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The last day of negotiations for the Pandemic Agreement has arrived.
WHO Member States have made great progress this week and the mood is cautiously optimistic for reaching a consensus text.
WHO Member States have made great progress this week and the mood is cautiously optimistic for reaching a consensus text.
self-aggrandizement of jurisdiction is the new epistemic trespass
March 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
self-aggrandizement of jurisdiction is the new epistemic trespass
The WHO DON also clarifies that this cluster is in one village in the Basankusu health zone (Figure).
Prior reports tied this cluster with one in the Bolomba Health Zone (8 deaths, 12 cases) but they are quite geographically distinct & no epi links found. That cluster likely severe malaria.
2/5
Prior reports tied this cluster with one in the Bolomba Health Zone (8 deaths, 12 cases) but they are quite geographically distinct & no epi links found. That cluster likely severe malaria.
2/5
March 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
The WHO DON also clarifies that this cluster is in one village in the Basankusu health zone (Figure).
Prior reports tied this cluster with one in the Bolomba Health Zone (8 deaths, 12 cases) but they are quite geographically distinct & no epi links found. That cluster likely severe malaria.
2/5
Prior reports tied this cluster with one in the Bolomba Health Zone (8 deaths, 12 cases) but they are quite geographically distinct & no epi links found. That cluster likely severe malaria.
2/5
WHO has an update (via DON) on the cluster of deaths in #DRC. Summary:
53 deaths, 1198 cases*
Lead hypotheses:
🟢 chemical poisoning (accidental or deliberate)
🟢 bacterial meningitis (deadly, rapid onset)
compounded by other infectious diseases, inc. endemic malaria (*broad case definition)
1/5
53 deaths, 1198 cases*
Lead hypotheses:
🟢 chemical poisoning (accidental or deliberate)
🟢 bacterial meningitis (deadly, rapid onset)
compounded by other infectious diseases, inc. endemic malaria (*broad case definition)
1/5
March 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
WHO has an update (via DON) on the cluster of deaths in #DRC. Summary:
53 deaths, 1198 cases*
Lead hypotheses:
🟢 chemical poisoning (accidental or deliberate)
🟢 bacterial meningitis (deadly, rapid onset)
compounded by other infectious diseases, inc. endemic malaria (*broad case definition)
1/5
53 deaths, 1198 cases*
Lead hypotheses:
🟢 chemical poisoning (accidental or deliberate)
🟢 bacterial meningitis (deadly, rapid onset)
compounded by other infectious diseases, inc. endemic malaria (*broad case definition)
1/5
Here are the extracted sections of WHO Africa’s report on the unknown illness in DRC.
The full report can be found here: iris.who.int/bitstream/ha...
The full report can be found here: iris.who.int/bitstream/ha...
February 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Here are the extracted sections of WHO Africa’s report on the unknown illness in DRC.
The full report can be found here: iris.who.int/bitstream/ha...
The full report can be found here: iris.who.int/bitstream/ha...
Concerningly, nearly half of all deaths occurred within 48hours of symptom onset.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, cough and abdominal cramps.
Other viral hemorrhagic fevers, malaria, food and water poisoning are being investigated as cause.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, cough and abdominal cramps.
Other viral hemorrhagic fevers, malaria, food and water poisoning are being investigated as cause.
February 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Concerningly, nearly half of all deaths occurred within 48hours of symptom onset.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, cough and abdominal cramps.
Other viral hemorrhagic fevers, malaria, food and water poisoning are being investigated as cause.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, cough and abdominal cramps.
Other viral hemorrhagic fevers, malaria, food and water poisoning are being investigated as cause.
WHO Africa has shared info on the unidentified illness in DRC in its weekly bulletin.
It highlights the “significant public health threat” and “urgent action needed”.
As of 15 Feb, 419 cases and 45 deaths (CFR 10.7%) identified.
Ebola and Marburg have been ruled out.
It highlights the “significant public health threat” and “urgent action needed”.
As of 15 Feb, 419 cases and 45 deaths (CFR 10.7%) identified.
Ebola and Marburg have been ruled out.
February 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
WHO Africa has shared info on the unidentified illness in DRC in its weekly bulletin.
It highlights the “significant public health threat” and “urgent action needed”.
As of 15 Feb, 419 cases and 45 deaths (CFR 10.7%) identified.
Ebola and Marburg have been ruled out.
It highlights the “significant public health threat” and “urgent action needed”.
As of 15 Feb, 419 cases and 45 deaths (CFR 10.7%) identified.
Ebola and Marburg have been ruled out.
Thank-you! I really appreciate it.
My guess is a) it’s being prepared or b) there’s insufficient info to meet potential PHEIC criteria threshold at this time (as it has been reported publicly, satisfying the 2nd step for DONs). This may rapidly change as further information is obtained or verified.
My guess is a) it’s being prepared or b) there’s insufficient info to meet potential PHEIC criteria threshold at this time (as it has been reported publicly, satisfying the 2nd step for DONs). This may rapidly change as further information is obtained or verified.
February 25, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Thank-you! I really appreciate it.
My guess is a) it’s being prepared or b) there’s insufficient info to meet potential PHEIC criteria threshold at this time (as it has been reported publicly, satisfying the 2nd step for DONs). This may rapidly change as further information is obtained or verified.
My guess is a) it’s being prepared or b) there’s insufficient info to meet potential PHEIC criteria threshold at this time (as it has been reported publicly, satisfying the 2nd step for DONs). This may rapidly change as further information is obtained or verified.
The original source of the outbreak report appears to be a press release issued by Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu on Feb 12.
This was shared by L'interviewer.cd, with no additional information or reporting. lintervieweur.cd/2025/02/12/e...
2/9
This was shared by L'interviewer.cd, with no additional information or reporting. lintervieweur.cd/2025/02/12/e...
2/9
February 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
The original source of the outbreak report appears to be a press release issued by Senator Jean-Paul Boketsu on Feb 12.
This was shared by L'interviewer.cd, with no additional information or reporting. lintervieweur.cd/2025/02/12/e...
2/9
This was shared by L'interviewer.cd, with no additional information or reporting. lintervieweur.cd/2025/02/12/e...
2/9
"If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me"
– Hagan Scotten, Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of New York.
– Hagan Scotten, Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of New York.
February 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, enough of a coward, to file your motion. But it was never going to be me"
– Hagan Scotten, Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of New York.
– Hagan Scotten, Assistant US Attorney, Southern District of New York.
Tanzania has reported to WHO an outbreak of #Marburg Virus Disease.
9 cases (inc 8 deaths)
(expected to increase as cases are detected in the coming days)
Marburg is a severe & often fatal infectious disease.
A vaccine candidate is in development & was used last year in Rwanda.
From @who.int:
9 cases (inc 8 deaths)
(expected to increase as cases are detected in the coming days)
Marburg is a severe & often fatal infectious disease.
A vaccine candidate is in development & was used last year in Rwanda.
From @who.int:
January 14, 2025 at 10:23 PM