CORRECTION: California confirms 3 #birdflu infected dairy herds, news pushed out late Friday going into a long weekend. The release doesn't say #H5N1; it says high path bird flu. There are only 2 HP bird flus, H5 & H7. Either would be big news but it's H5.

“It seemed like it might be only a matter of time,” before #H5N1 #birdflu found its way into the herds of the country's largest dairy state, California, a bovine disease specialist told Megan Molteni this week. Seems it has. statnews.com/2024/08/29/cal…

About 2/3 of the dairy herds in Colorado that were quarantined for #H5N1 #birdflu infection have been released from quarantine. Of the 64 herds, 22 remain in quarantine; most of those tested positive from mid-July on. ag.colorado.gov/animal-health/…

Looks like Dept. of Agriculture is getting ready to announce the 3 #H5N1 #birdflu infected dairy herds in California. Its website says there've been 197 herds in 14 states since the start of the outbreak, but its line list has 194 herds in 13 states. Odd glitch. aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poul…

.Dept. of Agriculture confirms 3 dairy herds in California have tested positive for #H5N1 #birdflu. Interesting to see them push this out on a holiday. aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poul…

With the addition of California, 14 states have reported #H5N1 #birdflu in dairy cows since the outbreak was first confirmed in late March. Cumulative national total = 197 herds. CA is the nation's largest dairy producing state & home to lots of raw milk drinkers, apparently.

It's always a challenge to figure out how to time when to get your #Covid & #flu (& #RSV, if you qualify) shots. But this year is particularly challenging, with the large late summer Covid surge. Some experts talked me through their thinking. statnews.com/2024/09/04/cov…

The spread of #mpox has highlighted the need for more poxvirus vaccine production. A new study on a primate challenge using an mRNA vaccine being developed by Moderna offers some promising results. A Phase 1/2 human trial is already underway. statnews.com/2024/09/04/mod…

I made a error in this story today. (It's been fixed.) I thought ACIP/CDC had already cleared people 65 and older to get 2 Covid shots in the coming season. They have not; at least not yet. Profound apologies for the mistake.

Excellent news that #mpox vaccines have been delivered to #DRC. 👇🏼

In an opinion piece for STAT, nearly every living former CDC director argues that to limit CDC's mandate to infectious diseases — as some GOP Congressfolk espouse — would endanger the health of Americans. statnews.com/2024/09/05/cdc…

Personal news: I'm joining the policy team as STAT's FDA reporter. I'll still cover the regulation of medical devices, but will also be focused on the agency as a whole. Excited to meet more folks in the space! Send tips to [email protected] statnews.com/2024-stat-inte…

It's tremendous that World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF & partners have managed against the odds to launch an effort to vaccinate children in #Gaza against #polio. They should add #measles vaccine in the 2nd vaccination round. statnews.com/2024/09/06/gaz…

.CDC was notified of another 2 pediatric #flu deaths in the 2023-24 season; they occurred in mid-Feb & mid-March. A total of 197 child deaths were attributed to flu in this soon-to-end season. That's a lot. Kids can & should be vaxed against flu. cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Most of the Colorado dairy herds that were quarantined because of #H5N1 #birdflu infections have been cleared. Amazing to see. Only 12 of the 64 herds remain in quarantine. ag.colorado.gov/animal-health/…

Three states have reported travel-related #Oropouche cases in 2024: Florida (30), Kentucky (1) & NY (1). So far none of the cases have involved neuroinvasive disease, per CDC. cdc.gov/oropouche/data…

#Rabies is a terrible disease. It's virtually always fatal. If you've had an exposure that may have put you at risk, seek help.

BREAKING: #H5 bird flu detected in Missouri individual with no reported contact with animals. It's not yet clear if this the same version of the virus that has been circulating in dairy cows. More questions than answers at this point. statnews.com/2024/09/06/mis…