Alex T
dralext.bsky.social
Alex T
@dralext.bsky.social
Infectious diseases physician with secret passion for all things public health | Gippslander | Loving the chaos that fatherhood brings #IDsky #Medsky #AMS #publichealth
Reposted by Alex T
CHAI offers a clear—and sobering—look at what’s next for HIV globally. Disruptions across meds, diagnostics, and funding threaten progress. Stockouts, service gaps, and preventable deaths - unless urgent action is taken
March 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Reposted by Alex T
In dairy cattle, H5N1 virus can be transmitted from the mammary tissue to the milk, so how can milk be kept safe?

Dr. Jennifer Shuford discusses this in the latest NEJM Outbreaks Update. Full episode: nej.md/3XwnzEa

#MedSky #IDSky
March 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
And here we are in fortress Australia , the last continent without naturally circulating H5N1, cursing migratory birds who don’t respect border security
We are entering a dangerous phase of the H5N1 outbreak.

With spring migration underway, the virus will spread faster, threatening wildlife, livestock, and humans.

Migratory birds will carry the D1.1 (D701N) variant worldwide, raising the risk of mammal outbreaks.
March 24, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Especially relevant reminder to us in Australia , given the recent ‘mystery cases’ of measles, ie new cases that have not travelled overseas, and have no known links to recent cases of measles. We need to not let up with our local vaccination efforts
Most measles cases are in the unvaccinated, but full vaccination is ~97% effective—not 100%. The more exposure, the higher the risk.

In Ontario, almost all with measles are unvaccinated (pink), but some aged 20-39 had 2+ doses (dark blue).

Immunity is a team effort.
March 9, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Alex T
The clinical picture caused by Fasciola gigantica: Analysis of 3,250 patients along the 1995-2019 countrywide spread in Vietnam

✅ Just Accepted
#IDSky
The clinical picture caused by Fasciola gigantica: Analysis of 3,250 patients along the 1995-2019 countrywide spread in Vietnam
Fasciola gigantica is the causal agent where human fascioliasis is emerging in southern Asia and case reports are increasing in Africa.
buff.ly
March 8, 2025 at 10:11 PM
What the heck is ‘civilisational suicidal empathy’ . Empathy is always about the individual in front of us. When that is not practiced, it might potentially make for a more ‘efficient’ system, but by failing to hold spade for individuals that make up the system, it makes for a very unkind world .
March 8, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Claiming to have empathy at a population level for the better good of society but discounting the trauma and suffering of people at an individual level is not empathy at all. It’s actually gas lighting and a move towards authoritarianism
Musk states "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy". Charles Darwin, who actually researched this stuff, showed it was empathy, specifically, that enabled humanity to flourish.
Government AI, defending DOGE and more: Takeaways from Elon Musk’s three-hour interview with Joe Rogan
The wide-ranging interview between the two prominent Trump supporters comes as Musk remakes the federal government.
www.politico.com
March 8, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Reposted by Alex T
New in the March 6, 2025, issue of NEJM:

Male-Partner Treatment and Bacterial Vaginosis (StepUp trial) nej.md/3QJIVKn

Tirzepatide for Obesity Treatment and Diabetes Prevention (SURMOUNT-1 trial) nej.md/48VdDZp

AAV9.LAMP2B Gene Therapy in Danon Disease (phase 1 study) nej.md/40IBJVh

#MedSky
March 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Alex T
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
March 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Here we go again - part of me is getting 2019 vibes from the last major New York outbreak . Hopefully this doesn’t go further
March 5, 2025 at 9:44 AM
My communicable diseases control sentiments for 2025 , especially point number 5
Here are 5 top things I'll be watching closely in global public health in 2025:

1. H5N1 outbreak trajectory
2. Impact of RFK Jr. on infectious dz control and vaccines in the US.
3. The mpox outbreak in Africa
4. Expanded access to Lenacapavir for HIV PrEP.
5. The US withdrawal from the WHO.
March 5, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Reposted by Alex T
In February, officials in the Democratic Rep. of the Congo reported a cluster of unexplained deaths in a single village.

WHO teams, working alongside DRC health authorities, have ruled out Ebola & Marburg, shifting the focus to other possible causes.

🧵 Here is what is known so far:
bit.ly/4bptpwQ
March 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Alex T
IDSA and HIVMA are deeply concerned by the abrupt cancellation of 92% of USAID foreign assistance awards and the impact the action will have on many. Our statement: buff.ly/b2czy4r
March 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
‘Pharmaceutical interventions’ actually only make up a small percentage of population health determinants, with the largest chunk going to social / societal characteristics / ecology .
bmj.com The BMJ @bmj.com · Mar 4
It’s time to move away from talking about “non-pharmaceutical interventions”.

Medical journals should use the term “public health and social measures” instead, write @azeem-majeed.bsky.social and @kamranabbasi.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
March 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
A timely reminder that the same thing could very easily happen in Australia . Sobering lessons for many of us in the public health space
March 4, 2025 at 11:20 AM