@drsscons.bsky.social
infectious disease epidemiology | tropical medicine (PhD) | reproductive justice | anti- capitalism | decolonization
📍 RVA
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
📍 RVA
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Reposted
When we say people will die, this is what we’re talking about. We aren’t being dramatic, public health is one of the biggest returns on investment in terms of health. And it’s been flat funded for 10 years, and now cut by 25%…
www.amfar.org/news/cuts-to...
www.amfar.org/news/cuts-to...
Cuts to the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention Will Lead to Dramatic Rise in Infections, Deaths, and Costs
Without funding, there will be a loss of momentum in reducing HIV cases, and the nation's epidemic will worsen significantly.
www.amfar.org
March 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
When we say people will die, this is what we’re talking about. We aren’t being dramatic, public health is one of the biggest returns on investment in terms of health. And it’s been flat funded for 10 years, and now cut by 25%…
www.amfar.org/news/cuts-to...
www.amfar.org/news/cuts-to...
Reposted
They are just disappearing people off the street. Having a hard time thinking about literally anything else.
Not sure if this has been shared here yet, but this is video of Rumeysa Ozturk's arrest posted by WCVB. It's terrifying.
March 27, 2025 at 5:15 AM
They are just disappearing people off the street. Having a hard time thinking about literally anything else.
Reposted
Urgent: Illegal Activity Underway
Many undocumented immigrants file tax returns with the IRS, providing details about their residences, families, employers, and earnings. The IRS has historically encouraged tax compliance by issuing ITINs to those without Social Security numbers.
Many undocumented immigrants file tax returns with the IRS, providing details about their residences, families, employers, and earnings. The IRS has historically encouraged tax compliance by issuing ITINs to those without Social Security numbers.
March 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Urgent: Illegal Activity Underway
Many undocumented immigrants file tax returns with the IRS, providing details about their residences, families, employers, and earnings. The IRS has historically encouraged tax compliance by issuing ITINs to those without Social Security numbers.
Many undocumented immigrants file tax returns with the IRS, providing details about their residences, families, employers, and earnings. The IRS has historically encouraged tax compliance by issuing ITINs to those without Social Security numbers.
Reposted
It is a sad day for the legal industry. Paul Weiss, didn't just bend a knee, it set a new standard for shameful capitulation. This is a stain on the firm, every one of its partners, and the entire legal profession.
March 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM
It is a sad day for the legal industry. Paul Weiss, didn't just bend a knee, it set a new standard for shameful capitulation. This is a stain on the firm, every one of its partners, and the entire legal profession.
Reposted
Reminder: If you’re sharing information, protect yourself. Documents and communications often contain hidden watermarks, intentional typos, odd punctuation, inconsistent spacing, or stylized phrasing—all designed to uniquely identify the source.
March 21, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reminder: If you’re sharing information, protect yourself. Documents and communications often contain hidden watermarks, intentional typos, odd punctuation, inconsistent spacing, or stylized phrasing—all designed to uniquely identify the source.
Reposted
@schumer.senate.gov If he's congratulating you, you're doing it wrong.
March 14, 2025 at 3:15 PM
@schumer.senate.gov If he's congratulating you, you're doing it wrong.
Reposted
Anyone telling you to keep calm and carry on in U.S. academic research is gaslighting you.
Have a plan, infact have multiple plans for survival.
Have a plan, infact have multiple plans for survival.
March 13, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Anyone telling you to keep calm and carry on in U.S. academic research is gaslighting you.
Have a plan, infact have multiple plans for survival.
Have a plan, infact have multiple plans for survival.
Reposted
An influential program that gave detailed public health information to about half of the world’s nations has folded as a result of the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/h...
Trump Administration Ends Global Health Research Program (Gift Article)
The Demographic and Health Surveys were the only sources of reliable information in many countries on metrics such as mortality, nutrition and education.
www.nytimes.com
February 26, 2025 at 11:29 PM
An influential program that gave detailed public health information to about half of the world’s nations has folded as a result of the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/h...
A powerful and heartfelt summary of everything I’ve been feeling the past few weeks. This captures the essence and significance of the work we do at the DHS program. This loss is immense and heartbreaking, but this reminds me of the impact we’ve made and the importance of carrying that forward.
I’ve struggled to find the right words following Musk/Trump’s decision to end the Demographic and Health Surveys Program (the OG DHS). While nothing is inevitable, there is no denying this is a huge blow personally, professionally and for the world.
/1
dhsprogram.com
/1
dhsprogram.com
The DHS Program - Quality information to plan, monitor and improve population, health, and nutrition programs
dhsprogram.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A powerful and heartfelt summary of everything I’ve been feeling the past few weeks. This captures the essence and significance of the work we do at the DHS program. This loss is immense and heartbreaking, but this reminds me of the impact we’ve made and the importance of carrying that forward.
Reposted
1/ Being an infectious disease expert in the U.S. today feels like standing in the eye of a storm. Science should be our shield, but instead, we’re under attack, our expertise disregarded, our funding slashed, and public health increasingly politicized. 🧵
February 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
1/ Being an infectious disease expert in the U.S. today feels like standing in the eye of a storm. Science should be our shield, but instead, we’re under attack, our expertise disregarded, our funding slashed, and public health increasingly politicized. 🧵
Completely reckless.
It is really short-sighted and stupid to be gutting public health and outbreak surveillance capacity right now:
- H5N1 nationwide - uncontrolled
- TB in Kansas - largest U.S outbreak
- Measles in Texas - Expanding
- Seasonal flu - Worst in 15 years
- Pertussis - outbreaks in multiple states.
- H5N1 nationwide - uncontrolled
- TB in Kansas - largest U.S outbreak
- Measles in Texas - Expanding
- Seasonal flu - Worst in 15 years
- Pertussis - outbreaks in multiple states.
February 14, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Completely reckless.
Reposted
Every single attorney who advocates for the defiance of court orders should be DISBARRED. Immediately.
Every. Single. One.
Every. Single. One.
February 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Every single attorney who advocates for the defiance of court orders should be DISBARRED. Immediately.
Every. Single. One.
Every. Single. One.
We're not just losing our jobs— our entire field has been systematically dismantled overnight. For many of us this means starting over + abandoning careers we've dedicated years to building.
February 14, 2025 at 1:35 AM
We're not just losing our jobs— our entire field has been systematically dismantled overnight. For many of us this means starting over + abandoning careers we've dedicated years to building.
This isn't about efficiency or improving foreign aid— they're just private equity-ing it (yes, i made that up) and turning a system designed to save lives into a vehicle for Wall Street profits.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump Advisers Look to Shift US Foreign Aid to Wall Street Ally
President Donald Trump’s advisers have discussed shifting billions in funding from USAID to a government-run agency due to be headed up by the dealmaker son of Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon...
www.bloomberg.com
February 13, 2025 at 11:19 PM
This isn't about efficiency or improving foreign aid— they're just private equity-ing it (yes, i made that up) and turning a system designed to save lives into a vehicle for Wall Street profits.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted
When health data go dark, we create dangerous blind spots. The USAID funding freeze has halted DHS Program work in many LMICs. Read our call to restore data access & continue DHS activities: shorturl.at/8U1LN @itmantwerp.bsky.social @srhgroup-itm.bsky.social @lenkabenova.bsky.social
When health data go dark
A call to restore DHS Program funding
www.itg.be
February 13, 2025 at 11:56 AM
When health data go dark, we create dangerous blind spots. The USAID funding freeze has halted DHS Program work in many LMICs. Read our call to restore data access & continue DHS activities: shorturl.at/8U1LN @itmantwerp.bsky.social @srhgroup-itm.bsky.social @lenkabenova.bsky.social
Reposted
To the best of our knowledge, CDC's current communication restrictions are:
-Domestic communication for routine occurrences and outbreaks
-Global communication with directly funded partners only
-No communication with WHO or PAHO unless exempted for outbreaks
-No communication with South Africa
-Domestic communication for routine occurrences and outbreaks
-Global communication with directly funded partners only
-No communication with WHO or PAHO unless exempted for outbreaks
-No communication with South Africa
February 12, 2025 at 12:01 AM
To the best of our knowledge, CDC's current communication restrictions are:
-Domestic communication for routine occurrences and outbreaks
-Global communication with directly funded partners only
-No communication with WHO or PAHO unless exempted for outbreaks
-No communication with South Africa
-Domestic communication for routine occurrences and outbreaks
-Global communication with directly funded partners only
-No communication with WHO or PAHO unless exempted for outbreaks
-No communication with South Africa
Reposted
Reposted
The NIH announced it will slash billions of dollars of support to universities and research centers.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
February 8, 2025 at 3:02 AM
The NIH announced it will slash billions of dollars of support to universities and research centers.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.
Are any other global health professionals also feeling gross about the continued emphasis by media + politicians on USAID’s role in maintaining soft power abroad? I understand why some feel this is the most effective way to gain bipartisan support but I really hate that it’s become a central focus.
February 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Are any other global health professionals also feeling gross about the continued emphasis by media + politicians on USAID’s role in maintaining soft power abroad? I understand why some feel this is the most effective way to gain bipartisan support but I really hate that it’s become a central focus.
The DHS program provides critical, high-quality data used to inform life-saving policies and programs globally. Without it, governments and organizations would be left without the evidence needed to combat child mortality, infectious diseases, and other emerging health threats.
If it's true that future collection of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data "will cease," this would be a staggering loss to the global community. 1/6
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
February 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The DHS program provides critical, high-quality data used to inform life-saving policies and programs globally. Without it, governments and organizations would be left without the evidence needed to combat child mortality, infectious diseases, and other emerging health threats.
Reposted
The U.S. Labor Department has been temporarily blocked by court order from sharing data with Elon Musk and his staffers. 🥄
February 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The U.S. Labor Department has been temporarily blocked by court order from sharing data with Elon Musk and his staffers. 🥄
Reposted
Farmers slammed. “American farms… supply about about 41 percent of the food aid that the agency sends around the world.” And “hundreds of tons of American-grown wheat stranded in Houston alone.”
wapo.st/3WSo7nI
wapo.st/3WSo7nI
Gutting USAID threatens billions of dollars for U.S. farms, businesses
U.S. businesses that sold goods and services to USAID are in limbo, including American farms dealing in rice, wheat and soybeans.
wapo.st
February 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Farmers slammed. “American farms… supply about about 41 percent of the food aid that the agency sends around the world.” And “hundreds of tons of American-grown wheat stranded in Houston alone.”
wapo.st/3WSo7nI
wapo.st/3WSo7nI
Reposted
The strain of bird flu is distinct from what has previously been found in dairy cattle. The finding means the virus has again spilled over from birds to cows, and it raises some worrying questions.
A new type of bird flu has been found in dairy cows in Nevada
The strain of bird flu is distinct from what has previously been found in dairy cattle. The finding means the virus has again spilled over from birds to cows, and it raises some worrying questions.
www.npr.org
February 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The strain of bird flu is distinct from what has previously been found in dairy cattle. The finding means the virus has again spilled over from birds to cows, and it raises some worrying questions.
Reposted
Malaria will resurge
The President’s Malaria Initiative—suspended by Trump—is the #1 funder of malaria control
Our study of 75 malaria resurgence events found that almost all were due to the control program being weakened—usually from funding cuts
malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
The President’s Malaria Initiative—suspended by Trump—is the #1 funder of malaria control
Our study of 75 malaria resurgence events found that almost all were due to the control program being weakened—usually from funding cuts
malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Malaria resurgence: a systematic review and assessment of its causes - Malaria Journal
Background Considerable declines in malaria have accompanied increased funding for control since the year 2000, but historical failures to maintain gains against the disease underscore the fragility o...
malariajournal.biomedcentral.com
February 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Malaria will resurge
The President’s Malaria Initiative—suspended by Trump—is the #1 funder of malaria control
Our study of 75 malaria resurgence events found that almost all were due to the control program being weakened—usually from funding cuts
malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
The President’s Malaria Initiative—suspended by Trump—is the #1 funder of malaria control
Our study of 75 malaria resurgence events found that almost all were due to the control program being weakened—usually from funding cuts
malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
This is deliberate. They are accelerating the dismantling of USAID because reps are finally mounting pressure. By recalling all staff and shutting down missions, they’re making it exponentially harder to undo this mess if our reps are able to stop it from unfolding.
www.cbsnews.com/news/usaid-m...
www.cbsnews.com/news/usaid-m...
USAID missions overseas ordered to shut down by Friday
About two-thirds of USAID employees serve overseas, and sources say the Trump administration is ordering all staff recalled.
www.cbsnews.com
February 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
This is deliberate. They are accelerating the dismantling of USAID because reps are finally mounting pressure. By recalling all staff and shutting down missions, they’re making it exponentially harder to undo this mess if our reps are able to stop it from unfolding.
www.cbsnews.com/news/usaid-m...
www.cbsnews.com/news/usaid-m...