Nsikan Akpan
@monscience.bsky.social
Highly melanated | YNWA | Health & Science Editor | PhD pathobiologist
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
Highly pathogenic H5N5 avian flu has mostly been detected in wild birds and transmitted from Europe to N. America by pelagic seabirds. Mammals (seals, walrus, cats) have been infected, but this is the 1st documented human case. Some have a PB2-E627K mutation known to facilitate mammalian adaptation.
A case in WA of H5N5 (not H5N1), a strain of avian influenza not seen in humans before:
“This is a severely ill patient,” hospitalized w/ high fever, confusion & respiratory distress, said the state epidemiologist.
They have a mixed backyard flock...
1/2
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
“This is a severely ill patient,” hospitalized w/ high fever, confusion & respiratory distress, said the state epidemiologist.
They have a mixed backyard flock...
1/2
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
First U.S. case of human bird flu in 9 months confirmed in Washington state
The U.S. has reported its first human case of bird flu since February, with a confirmed infection in Washington state
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Highly pathogenic H5N5 avian flu has mostly been detected in wild birds and transmitted from Europe to N. America by pelagic seabirds. Mammals (seals, walrus, cats) have been infected, but this is the 1st documented human case. Some have a PB2-E627K mutation known to facilitate mammalian adaptation.
Bird flu case in Washington state resident - Elise Takahama / Seattle Times www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
WA confirms first bird flu case in a resident this year
A Grays Harbor County resident has tested preliminarily positive for bird flu in the first human case recorded in WA this year.
www.seattletimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Bird flu case in Washington state resident - Elise Takahama / Seattle Times www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
After eating burger, New Jersey man becomes first known death from meat allergy triggered by tick bites -- Brenda Goodman / CNN www.cnn.com/2025/11/13/h...
New Jersey man is first known death from meat allergy triggered by tick bites | CNN
In the summer of 2024, a previously healthy 47-year-old father collapsed and died in the bathroom of his New Jersey home. An autopsy provided no answers. Everything looked normal, and his death was ru...
www.cnn.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
After eating burger, New Jersey man becomes first known death from meat allergy triggered by tick bites -- Brenda Goodman / CNN www.cnn.com/2025/11/13/h...
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break 👀 - Natasha Bertrand
www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
www.cnn.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break 👀 - Natasha Bertrand
www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada about Canada losing its measles elimination status
www.canada.ca/en/public-he...
www.canada.ca/en/public-he...
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada about Canada losing its measles elimination status
www.canada.ca/en/public-he...
www.canada.ca/en/public-he...
Breaking: Canada has lost its measles elimination status - CTV
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
Canada has lost its measles elimination status, says Ottawa
Canada has lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades, the country’s public health agency said in a statement on Monday.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Breaking: Canada has lost its measles elimination status - CTV
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
My successful public service loan forgiveness earlier this year feels more and more like it was the last helicopter out of Saigon.
BFD: The U.S. Ed Department is seeking to block public service loan forgiveness for people in cities/counties that resist the administration's immigration actions or its anti-DEI policies.
✍️: Cory Turner / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/11/03/n...
✍️: Cory Turner / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/11/03/n...
Public workers could be denied loan forgiveness if cities defy Trump, lawsuit alleges
A new lawsuit argues the latest changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness could exclude public servants whose organizations have resisted President Trump's policies.
www.npr.org
November 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
My successful public service loan forgiveness earlier this year feels more and more like it was the last helicopter out of Saigon.
BFD: The U.S. Ed Department is seeking to block public service loan forgiveness for people in cities/counties that resist the administration's immigration actions or its anti-DEI policies.
✍️: Cory Turner / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/11/03/n...
✍️: Cory Turner / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/11/03/n...
Public workers could be denied loan forgiveness if cities defy Trump, lawsuit alleges
A new lawsuit argues the latest changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness could exclude public servants whose organizations have resisted President Trump's policies.
www.npr.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
BFD: The U.S. Ed Department is seeking to block public service loan forgiveness for people in cities/counties that resist the administration's immigration actions or its anti-DEI policies.
✍️: Cory Turner / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/11/03/n...
✍️: Cory Turner / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
A scoop that I’m not happy to report:
CBS News has gutted its climate change reporting team, one of the best in the business, and one of the only ones on cable news that consistently called out fossil fuels as the main source of climate pollution.
heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...
CBS News has gutted its climate change reporting team, one of the best in the business, and one of the only ones on cable news that consistently called out fossil fuels as the main source of climate pollution.
heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...
CBS News kills its climate unit
David Ellison, the new pro-Trump chief executive of Paramount Skydance, has dismantled the best climate change reporting team in cable news.
heated.world
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A scoop that I’m not happy to report:
CBS News has gutted its climate change reporting team, one of the best in the business, and one of the only ones on cable news that consistently called out fossil fuels as the main source of climate pollution.
heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...
CBS News has gutted its climate change reporting team, one of the best in the business, and one of the only ones on cable news that consistently called out fossil fuels as the main source of climate pollution.
heated.world/p/cbs-news-k...
I’d like to meet the parents who’d agree to, “Ok, my kid can blame me if they develop cervical cancer.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
October 30, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I’d like to meet the parents who’d agree to, “Ok, my kid can blame me if they develop cervical cancer.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
To Brendan Ruberry and @maxtani.bsky.social:
No notes, standing ovation
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
No notes, standing ovation
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
Exclusive: British newspaper spoke to the wrong de Blasio, not an ‘imposter’
How a Long Island vintner, with the help of ChatGPT, prompted a transatlantic journalistic debacle.
www.semafor.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:53 AM
To Brendan Ruberry and @maxtani.bsky.social:
No notes, standing ovation
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
No notes, standing ovation
www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
Photos: Hurricane Melissa blasts through Jamaica
-- Maansi Srivastava / NPR
www.npr.org/sections/the...
-- Maansi Srivastava / NPR
www.npr.org/sections/the...
Photos: Hurricane Melissa blasts through Jamaica
The Category 5 hurricane tore a path of destruction across the island, causing major flooding and power cuts. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a "disaster area."
www.npr.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Photos: Hurricane Melissa blasts through Jamaica
-- Maansi Srivastava / NPR
www.npr.org/sections/the...
-- Maansi Srivastava / NPR
www.npr.org/sections/the...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
Watch #Melissa meander on a path right through arguably the hottest (deep) waters on the planet, powering one of the strongest hurricanes ever, then leave a cool wake behind as it turns hot water into power to charge its rain and wind... 1/
October 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Watch #Melissa meander on a path right through arguably the hottest (deep) waters on the planet, powering one of the strongest hurricanes ever, then leave a cool wake behind as it turns hot water into power to charge its rain and wind... 1/
I know it's a different database, but I can't help but question why I signed up for TSA pre-check
“pure dystopian creep.” www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
ICE and CBP Agents Are Scanning Peoples’ Faces on the Street To Verify Citizenship
Videos on social media show officers from ICE and CBP using facial recognition technology on people in the field. One expert described the practice as “pure dystopian creep.”
www.404media.co
October 29, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I know it's a different database, but I can't help but question why I signed up for TSA pre-check
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
I'd love to say lots of nice things about this invaluable preventable disease tracker from @monscience.bsky.social and team at Think Global Health. It's an incredible resource.
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
Vaccine-Preventable Disease: A Global Tracker | Think Global Health
This map is updated weekly and visualizes outbreaks of nine childhood diseases in collaboration with the International Society for Infectious Diseases
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
I'd love to say lots of nice things about this invaluable preventable disease tracker from @monscience.bsky.social and team at Think Global Health. It's an incredible resource.
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
But I can't get over my anger & sadness that this resource is even needed.
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/vacc...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
I've had to update the plot of the strongest tropical cyclones by ocean basin all too often in recent years, since climate change increases the number of high-end storms. Melissa has joined the club, tied with Dorian (2019) as strongest Atlantic hurricane recorded outside the Gulf of Mexico.
October 28, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I've had to update the plot of the strongest tropical cyclones by ocean basin all too often in recent years, since climate change increases the number of high-end storms. Melissa has joined the club, tied with Dorian (2019) as strongest Atlantic hurricane recorded outside the Gulf of Mexico.
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
Howard County has lost 544 residents to COVID-19. A new memorial honors them.
Howard County unveils COVID-19 pandemic memorial
After losing 544 residents to COVID-19, Howard County on Monday unveiled a memorial to the victims of the pandemic in Meadowbrook Park.
buff.ly
October 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Howard County has lost 544 residents to COVID-19. A new memorial honors them.
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
NEW: The entire staff supporting ACIP was laid off, and most working groups haven't met in months.
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Threat to US vaccines as CDC staff supporting key advisory panel laid off
Critics say scientists ‘held hostage’ by RFK Jr as changes mean vaccine development and guidance in peril
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
NEW: The entire staff supporting ACIP was laid off, and most working groups haven't met in months.
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Since Sept. 1, bird flu outbreaks have wiped out 1.2 million turkeys from farms supplying meat for dinner tables—or 20 times more than at the start of last year's flu season. Egg-laying hens face a similar uptick.
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
Bird Flu Roars Back: What It Means for Thanksgiving | Think Global Health
Since September, turkey and egg farms have lost millions of birds, renewing pressure on food prices and biosecurity
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
October 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Since Sept. 1, bird flu outbreaks have wiped out 1.2 million turkeys from farms supplying meat for dinner tables—or 20 times more than at the start of last year's flu season. Egg-laying hens face a similar uptick.
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
SNAP benefits to halt in some states amid government shutdown -- Jay O'Brien / ABC News abcnews.go.com/Politics/sta...
SNAP benefits to halt in some states amid government shutdown
SNAP serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans.
abcnews.go.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
SNAP benefits to halt in some states amid government shutdown -- Jay O'Brien / ABC News abcnews.go.com/Politics/sta...
Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say - Bill Chappell / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say
A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result.
www.npr.org
October 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say - Bill Chappell / NPR
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/21/n...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
AWS is down, post hog
October 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
AWS is down, post hog
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
“On Tuesday, the state health authorities confirmed what the woman had known…She had chikungunya &appeared to have caught it on Long Island, the first such case of local transmission ever recorded in New York. That meant that the virus was circulating in mosquitoes, or at least one mosquito locally”
Fever, Joint Pain, Aching Toes. A Mystery Ailment, a Stunning Diagnosis.
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“On Tuesday, the state health authorities confirmed what the woman had known…She had chikungunya &appeared to have caught it on Long Island, the first such case of local transmission ever recorded in New York. That meant that the virus was circulating in mosquitoes, or at least one mosquito locally”
Re the CDC firings: Folks should update their reporting.
HHS officials said in a Tuesday court filing that they sent reduction in force notices to approximately 1,760 department employees, nearly 780 of which were sent erroneously.
- Sean Michael / Gov Exec www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
HHS officials said in a Tuesday court filing that they sent reduction in force notices to approximately 1,760 department employees, nearly 780 of which were sent erroneously.
- Sean Michael / Gov Exec www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
CDC employees sort through chaotic ‘outbreak of firings’ followed by some reversals
The Trump administration laid off more than 1,000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees ostensibly due to the government shutdown, but officials have rescinded more than half of the red...
www.govexec.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Re the CDC firings: Folks should update their reporting.
HHS officials said in a Tuesday court filing that they sent reduction in force notices to approximately 1,760 department employees, nearly 780 of which were sent erroneously.
- Sean Michael / Gov Exec www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
HHS officials said in a Tuesday court filing that they sent reduction in force notices to approximately 1,760 department employees, nearly 780 of which were sent erroneously.
- Sean Michael / Gov Exec www.govexec.com/workforce/20...
::hands out soup and hugs all around::
Apparently Bluesky is seeing an influx of new users. Welcome!
If you're interested in science, journalism, and/or science writing, here are a bunch of folks worth following.
go.bsky.app/7Z8u31b
If you're interested in science, journalism, and/or science writing, here are a bunch of folks worth following.
go.bsky.app/7Z8u31b
October 16, 2025 at 1:42 PM
::hands out soup and hugs all around::