Meera Chand
@meerac.bsky.social
Infectious diseases, microbiology, virology, public health and particularly emerging infections & genomics @UKHSA
Reposted by Meera Chand
Got a number in mind?
A new pre-print by @lshtm.bsky.social colleagues surveyed 13,000 participants, and found it's about 9 per day in the current era.
It also looks at how social mixing varies with age, ethnicity and social economic status. Link to paper:
A new pre-print by @lshtm.bsky.social colleagues surveyed 13,000 participants, and found it's about 9 per day in the current era.
It also looks at how social mixing varies with age, ethnicity and social economic status. Link to paper:
Post-pandemic social contact patterns in the United Kingdom: the Connect survey
Close-contact and respiratory infectious diseases are spread through social interactions, which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and wider demographic and cultural changes. To estimate post-pand...
www.medrxiv.org
August 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Got a number in mind?
A new pre-print by @lshtm.bsky.social colleagues surveyed 13,000 participants, and found it's about 9 per day in the current era.
It also looks at how social mixing varies with age, ethnicity and social economic status. Link to paper:
A new pre-print by @lshtm.bsky.social colleagues surveyed 13,000 participants, and found it's about 9 per day in the current era.
It also looks at how social mixing varies with age, ethnicity and social economic status. Link to paper:
Reposted by Meera Chand
Data on treatments for bubonic plague are limited. In this open-label, randomized, controlled trial in Madagascar, ciprofloxacin monotherapy was noninferior to a standard aminoglycoside–ciprofloxacin regimen. Full IMASOY trial results: nej.md/3Ugs0kx
#MedSky #IDSky
#MedSky #IDSky
August 6, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Data on treatments for bubonic plague are limited. In this open-label, randomized, controlled trial in Madagascar, ciprofloxacin monotherapy was noninferior to a standard aminoglycoside–ciprofloxacin regimen. Full IMASOY trial results: nej.md/3Ugs0kx
#MedSky #IDSky
#MedSky #IDSky
Reposted by Meera Chand
Early notice of NEW Wellcome Conference -
AIR 2026: Genomic and Systems Approaches to Respiratory Infection, Microbiomes and Immunity 11th-13th February, sign up below for notifications
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/our-events/c...
It's immunulogy AND it's microbiology 🫁
AIR 2026: Genomic and Systems Approaches to Respiratory Infection, Microbiomes and Immunity 11th-13th February, sign up below for notifications
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/our-events/c...
It's immunulogy AND it's microbiology 🫁
Conferences
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org
July 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Early notice of NEW Wellcome Conference -
AIR 2026: Genomic and Systems Approaches to Respiratory Infection, Microbiomes and Immunity 11th-13th February, sign up below for notifications
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/our-events/c...
It's immunulogy AND it's microbiology 🫁
AIR 2026: Genomic and Systems Approaches to Respiratory Infection, Microbiomes and Immunity 11th-13th February, sign up below for notifications
coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/our-events/c...
It's immunulogy AND it's microbiology 🫁
Reposted by Meera Chand
Some great new features and updates from the awesome Pathoplexus project. This is a new open pathogen genome database that can provide access to your sequences under a use-restricted license but also feed directly in to INSDC (EBI, Genbank etc) when you are ready. pathoplexus.org/news/2025-07...
Pathoplexus | Pathoplexus July Update
Pathoplexus is a new, open-source database dedicated to the efficient sharing of human viral pathogen genomic data, fostering global collaboration and public health response.
pathoplexus.org
July 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Some great new features and updates from the awesome Pathoplexus project. This is a new open pathogen genome database that can provide access to your sequences under a use-restricted license but also feed directly in to INSDC (EBI, Genbank etc) when you are ready. pathoplexus.org/news/2025-07...
Reposted by Meera Chand
🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4esZ0zr
▶️ Watch the explainer animation: youtu.be/DDNTOB8EsF8
#ECDC #GlobalHealth #HealthSecurity #Epidemiology #IDsky #EpiSky #Dengue #Chikungunya #Zika
▶️ Watch the explainer animation: youtu.be/DDNTOB8EsF8
#ECDC #GlobalHealth #HealthSecurity #Epidemiology #IDsky #EpiSky #Dengue #Chikungunya #Zika
New ECDC weekly reports and guidance to tackle mosquito-borne diseases across Europe
As Europe enters this year’s mosquito season, ECDC has launched a new series of weekly surveillance updates to help public health authorities monitor mosquito-borne diseases in a timely way, covering ...
bit.ly
July 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
🔗 Read more: bit.ly/4esZ0zr
▶️ Watch the explainer animation: youtu.be/DDNTOB8EsF8
#ECDC #GlobalHealth #HealthSecurity #Epidemiology #IDsky #EpiSky #Dengue #Chikungunya #Zika
▶️ Watch the explainer animation: youtu.be/DDNTOB8EsF8
#ECDC #GlobalHealth #HealthSecurity #Epidemiology #IDsky #EpiSky #Dengue #Chikungunya #Zika
Reposted by Meera Chand
Reposted by Meera Chand
A new report describes the genetic epidemiology and antimicrobial-resistance patterns of a surge of cases of 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘦 infection that was identified in migrant populations in Europe. Read the full report: nej.md/3HEF3ZS
#MedSky #IDSky
#MedSky #IDSky
Corynebacterium diphtheriae Outbreak in Migrant Populations in Europe | NEJM
A surge of cases of Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection was observed in reception
centers for migrants in Europe beginning in the summer of 2022. Most of the cases
were cutaneous, although some r...
nej.md
June 4, 2025 at 9:09 PM
A new report describes the genetic epidemiology and antimicrobial-resistance patterns of a surge of cases of 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘦 infection that was identified in migrant populations in Europe. Read the full report: nej.md/3HEF3ZS
#MedSky #IDSky
#MedSky #IDSky
Reposted by Meera Chand
Rolling clinical and epi updates for #mpox data from #SierraLeone. Watch for updated versions as additional data becomes available. Heartfelt thanks to our local colleagues in-country led by Dr. Jia Kangbai
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.30.25328691v1
t.co
June 2, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Rolling clinical and epi updates for #mpox data from #SierraLeone. Watch for updated versions as additional data becomes available. Heartfelt thanks to our local colleagues in-country led by Dr. Jia Kangbai
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
Reposted by Meera Chand
Interested in pneumococci, genomics and metagenomics? Come and do a PhD with me, @alanmcn1.bsky.social and @meerac.bsky.social @ukhsa.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Leveraging genomics for improved metagenomic surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Leveraging genomics for improved metagenomic surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae at University of Birmingham, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Interested in pneumococci, genomics and metagenomics? Come and do a PhD with me, @alanmcn1.bsky.social and @meerac.bsky.social @ukhsa.bsky.social www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Meera Chand
Amazing work from our colleagues in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and elsewhere, making the first sequences available from the ongoing Mpox epidemic in Sierra Leone.
More to come - for now, head over to @pathoplexus.org:
pathoplexus.org/seqsets/PP_S...
More to come - for now, head over to @pathoplexus.org:
pathoplexus.org/seqsets/PP_S...
Pathoplexus | SeqSets
Pathoplexus is a new, open-source database dedicated to the efficient sharing of human viral pathogen genomic data, fostering global collaboration and public health response.
pathoplexus.org
May 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Amazing work from our colleagues in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and elsewhere, making the first sequences available from the ongoing Mpox epidemic in Sierra Leone.
More to come - for now, head over to @pathoplexus.org:
pathoplexus.org/seqsets/PP_S...
More to come - for now, head over to @pathoplexus.org:
pathoplexus.org/seqsets/PP_S...
Reposted by Meera Chand
A long thread about mpox and the context specific nature of outbreaks prompted by the large outbreak of MPXV Clade IIb happening at the moment in Sierra Leone:
May 25, 2025 at 11:29 AM
A long thread about mpox and the context specific nature of outbreaks prompted by the large outbreak of MPXV Clade IIb happening at the moment in Sierra Leone:
Reposted by Meera Chand
Super exciting that we're now up to eight viruses supported on Pathoplexus - with lots of other exciting features in the pipeline too!
📢Today Pathoplexus announces the inclusion of 2 new viral pathogens: RSV (A & B) and HMPV.
These respiratory viruses cause a serious health burden, particularly in infants & the vulnerable, & Pathoplexus aims to support sequence sharing to improve understanding & response.
1/4
These respiratory viruses cause a serious health burden, particularly in infants & the vulnerable, & Pathoplexus aims to support sequence sharing to improve understanding & response.
1/4
May 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Super exciting that we're now up to eight viruses supported on Pathoplexus - with lots of other exciting features in the pipeline too!
Reposted by Meera Chand
Absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of ARTIC2 - a £5.5M 5 year project funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social to build on the ARTIC approach of low-cost, globally accessible genome sequencing for surveillance of outbreaks, epidemics and endemic diseases: www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/am...
Ambitious project to develop low-cost genome sequencing for pathogens known and unknown - University of Birmingham
Project will build on research that helped diagnostic labs to adopt sequencing capacity for COVID-19 and permit characterisation of future infectious threats
www.birmingham.ac.uk
May 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Absolutely thrilled to announce the launch of ARTIC2 - a £5.5M 5 year project funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social to build on the ARTIC approach of low-cost, globally accessible genome sequencing for surveillance of outbreaks, epidemics and endemic diseases: www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/am...
Reposted by Meera Chand
Check out our new issue with a study describing and comparing 🦟 Aedes-borne disease (#dengue #chikungunya and #Zika) incidence from 2017-2023, and the surveillance systems and response measures operating in France, Italy and Portugal in 2023
🗞️ bit.ly/EUS3015
#IDSky #EpiSky #MedSky #PublicHealth 🦠
🗞️ bit.ly/EUS3015
#IDSky #EpiSky #MedSky #PublicHealth 🦠
April 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Check out our new issue with a study describing and comparing 🦟 Aedes-borne disease (#dengue #chikungunya and #Zika) incidence from 2017-2023, and the surveillance systems and response measures operating in France, Italy and Portugal in 2023
🗞️ bit.ly/EUS3015
#IDSky #EpiSky #MedSky #PublicHealth 🦠
🗞️ bit.ly/EUS3015
#IDSky #EpiSky #MedSky #PublicHealth 🦠
Reposted by Meera Chand
Mpox Clade I emerged in 2023 in South Kivu and since has spread sustained through direct human to human contact. Controlling this outbreak has turned out to be a major challenge. Through embedded outbreak research coupled with a local capacity building program, we first....
April 4, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Mpox Clade I emerged in 2023 in South Kivu and since has spread sustained through direct human to human contact. Controlling this outbreak has turned out to be a major challenge. Through embedded outbreak research coupled with a local capacity building program, we first....
Reposted by Meera Chand
We need the help of academics, health & policy professionals, and people with lived experience of tuberculosis (TB) to shape our next TB Action Plan. Together we can improve how we prevent, detect, and control TB. 🛡️
🗓️ Deadline: 2 May
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...
🗓️ Deadline: 2 May
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...
April 2, 2025 at 1:05 PM
We need the help of academics, health & policy professionals, and people with lived experience of tuberculosis (TB) to shape our next TB Action Plan. Together we can improve how we prevent, detect, and control TB. 🛡️
🗓️ Deadline: 2 May
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...
🗓️ Deadline: 2 May
🔗 www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Meera Chand
Another arbovirus popping up in our enhanced surveillance pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40133068/ Not too surprising but a first for our country. No human disease noted, but first indication that we may need to start considering it. First step is to understand if this is a one off finding or not
Local Circulation of Sindbis Virus in Wild Birds and Horses, the Netherlands, 2021-2022 - PubMed
We report Sindbis virus circulation in the Netherlands based on serologic evidence found in 6 resident wild birds and 3 horses (2021-2022). Tested mosquitoes were molecularly negative, and humans were...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
March 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Another arbovirus popping up in our enhanced surveillance pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40133068/ Not too surprising but a first for our country. No human disease noted, but first indication that we may need to start considering it. First step is to understand if this is a one off finding or not
Reposted by Meera Chand
Today we have published our first annual report on infectious disease trends. 📊
The report brings together all the key data from 2023 to early 2025 and outlines the steps our organisation is taking to tackle these threats.
Read the full report 🔗🔽
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The report brings together all the key data from 2023 to early 2025 and outlines the steps our organisation is taking to tackle these threats.
Read the full report 🔗🔽
www.gov.uk/government/p...
March 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Today we have published our first annual report on infectious disease trends. 📊
The report brings together all the key data from 2023 to early 2025 and outlines the steps our organisation is taking to tackle these threats.
Read the full report 🔗🔽
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The report brings together all the key data from 2023 to early 2025 and outlines the steps our organisation is taking to tackle these threats.
Read the full report 🔗🔽
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Meera Chand
In study led by @csimonich.bsky.social & Teagan McMahon, we quantify antigenic evolution of RSV F
Important because:
1️⃣ RSV top cause of infant hospitalization in USA
2️⃣ New antibodies & vax can prevent hospitalizations
3️⃣ Will virus evolution erode their efficacy?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Important because:
1️⃣ RSV top cause of infant hospitalization in USA
2️⃣ New antibodies & vax can prevent hospitalizations
3️⃣ Will virus evolution erode their efficacy?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
RSV F evolution escapes some monoclonal antibodies but does not strongly erode neutralization by human polyclonal sera
Vaccines and monoclonal antibodies targeting the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein (F) have recently begun to be widely used to protect infants and high-risk adults. Some other viral pr...
www.biorxiv.org
March 12, 2025 at 10:31 PM
In study led by @csimonich.bsky.social & Teagan McMahon, we quantify antigenic evolution of RSV F
Important because:
1️⃣ RSV top cause of infant hospitalization in USA
2️⃣ New antibodies & vax can prevent hospitalizations
3️⃣ Will virus evolution erode their efficacy?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Important because:
1️⃣ RSV top cause of infant hospitalization in USA
2️⃣ New antibodies & vax can prevent hospitalizations
3️⃣ Will virus evolution erode their efficacy?
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Meera Chand
Our analysis of the second incursion of H5N1 viruses (genotype D1.1) into dairy cattle in the US is now posted to virological virological.org/t/timing-and...
Timing and molecular characterisation of the transmission to cattle of H5N1 influenza A virus genotype D1.1, clade 2.3.4.4b
Jonathan E. Pekar, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Thomas P. Peacock, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, UK, GU24 0NF; Department of Infectious Disease, Imper...
virological.org
February 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Our analysis of the second incursion of H5N1 viruses (genotype D1.1) into dairy cattle in the US is now posted to virological virological.org/t/timing-and...
Reposted by Meera Chand
Neuraminidase reassortment and oseltamivir resistance in clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses circulating among Canadian poultry, 2024
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Neuraminidase reassortment and oseltamivir resistance in clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses circulating among Canadian poultry, 2024
We report the detection of a clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) reassortant virus with a neuraminidase surface protein derived from a North American lineage low-pathogenic avian influenza virus. This virus cau...
www.tandfonline.com
February 21, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Neuraminidase reassortment and oseltamivir resistance in clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses circulating among Canadian poultry, 2024
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Meera Chand
Core-funded postdoc position at The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK (just outside London), in the group of Professor Ian Brown.
Working on H5N1 avian influenza virus evolution and development of cross-reactive vaccines.
www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Working on H5N1 avian influenza virus evolution and development of cross-reactive vaccines.
www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Postdoctoral Scientist
The Pirbright Institute delivers world-leading research to understand, predict, detect, and respond to viral disease outbreaks. We study viruses of livestock that are endemic and exotic to the UK, inc...
www.pirbright.ac.uk
February 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Core-funded postdoc position at The Pirbright Institute, Surrey, UK (just outside London), in the group of Professor Ian Brown.
Working on H5N1 avian influenza virus evolution and development of cross-reactive vaccines.
www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Working on H5N1 avian influenza virus evolution and development of cross-reactive vaccines.
www.pirbright.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Reposted by Meera Chand
Reposted by Meera Chand
First genome sequence from the Ugandan Ebolavirus outbreak with analysis: virological.org/t/990 and first filovirus genome submitted to Pathoplexus database: pathoplexus.org/seq/PP_0011C.... Great (and rapid) work from the National Health Laboratory, UVRI and partners.
Near Real-Time Genomic Characterization of the 2025 Sudan Ebolavirus Outbreak in Uganda’s Index Case: Insights into Evolutionary Origins
Introduction Case History: On January 30, 2025, the Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus (SUDV) Disease in Kampala, Uganda, following the death of a healthcare worker at Mula...
virological.org
February 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
First genome sequence from the Ugandan Ebolavirus outbreak with analysis: virological.org/t/990 and first filovirus genome submitted to Pathoplexus database: pathoplexus.org/seq/PP_0011C.... Great (and rapid) work from the National Health Laboratory, UVRI and partners.
Great to be able to share this today - looking forward to working with partners all over the country for the next phase
Our mSCAPE project has been formally announced to the world by @smhopkins.bsky.social at #FOG2025 today: www.gov.uk/government/n... - a really exciting academic-public health collaboration to build a surveillance platform leveraging NHS metagenomic diagnostic data. @meerac.bsky.social
UKHSA launches new metagenomic surveillance for health security
The UK launches mSCAPE, a world-first metagenomics initiative by UKHSA to enhance health security through rapid pathogen detection and surveillance.
www.gov.uk
January 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Great to be able to share this today - looking forward to working with partners all over the country for the next phase