Walking through Portglenone Forest, Northern Ireland. This was my late mother's favourite place in the whole world, and, until she had to enter residential nursing care, she never once missed seeing the bluebells here, when they bloomed at this time of year. Sacred to me now.

'One EU estimate suggests that long Covid may have cut labour supply in the bloc by up to 0.5 per cent in 2022, the equivalent of more than 1mn full-time workers'.

Always the financial press. Always.

ft.com/content/bb09a0…

No new H5N1 detections reported in herds since 3/25. I find this implausible, esp since the federal order requiring testing for interstate movement has been in effect a week. We urgently need data on how may animals are being tested by week and state, including negatives.

Parenting in a time of Covid and climate collapse

This thread is really worth reading, illustrating, sadly, the reality of re-infections, and also the pressing need for the widespread adoption of indoor clean air technology to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne pathogens. Get well soon, Laura!

A zoonotic virus reaching H2H transmission and meeting a immune-naive human population…no special reason I am thinking of this…

Scientists from CDC and the Texas health department report on the human case of #H5N1
#birdflu infection, which they suggest may be the first detected case of H5 that involved mammal to human infection. statnews.com/2024/05/03/bir…

My friend Morgan Stephens has recently released a collection of her poetry, and I've been very fortunate to read some of it. It really is exquisite and poignant, and emphasises the importance of art in our collective experience of the pandemic.

'Hospital leaders say the health system won’t be ready if the avian flu that’s infected American dairy cattle becomes widespread among humans.' politico.com/news/2024/05/0…

Way to go Hive Cancer Support

What super news 💥

Two points. First, it is highly likely that many farm workers have been infected with H5N1, and, second, that to grip this problem it is very important to have a deep understanding and respect for the communities in which it is occurring. Trust is the bedrock of public health.

The economic cost of #LongCovid covid is staggering!

In the US, #LongCovid could result in 1.5 billion work hours lost in 2024 – a potential cost of more than US$152.6 billion

A report by The Economist

impact.economist.com/perspectives/h…

It's not rocket science.

Mismatch bw population immunity and SARS2 evolution means more severe disease and #LongCovid likely.

Infection carries risk and leads to inconsistent immune responses.

The virus isn't slowing down. So, if you stop vaccines, you fall behind.

Simples.

The most pernicious piece of pseudoscience served up to the public in recent memory is that of 'immunity debt'. To be blunt: children keep getting pneumonia because they keep getting Covid-19.

smh.com.au/national/nsw/t…

This is exactly what I’d expect from high path avian influenza H5N1 in many mammals. It’s a deadly virus. Any attempts to minimize the threat of this virus are irresponsible.

This virus can change easily, can spread swiftly, and cause great harm. There has never been such…

This is a superb thread from a remarkable and very intelligent human being.

The way the mind will lean under stress is strongly influenced by training.

Absolutely fascinating thread.