This Week in Virology TWiV 1278: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
Dec 13, 2025
Dr. Daniel Griffin, a physician and infectious disease expert, shares critical insights on recent health developments. He discusses the alarming rise in norovirus infections and the infant botulism outbreak linked to contaminated formula. The controversy surrounding the CDC's recommendation on hepatitis B birth doses is examined, alongside the implications of rising measles cases and responses from various states. Additionally, Griffin highlights the significance of RSV and COVID vaccines, along with alarming statistics on pediatric flu deaths, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance in public health.
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Handwashing For Norovirus Prevention
- Wash hands with soap and water to prevent norovirus spread because alcohol sanitizers are ineffective against its stable capsid.
- Scrub thoroughly, including under nails, to physically remove virus particles from hands.
Risks Of Delaying Hepatitis B Birth Dose
- Dropping universal hepatitis B birth-dose increases infant vulnerability because U.S. prenatal screening and follow-up are imperfect.
- Universal birth dosing since 1991 has reduced pediatric infections >95% and prevents missed maternal or postnatal exposures.
Massive Benefits Of Routine Childhood Vaccines
- Routine childhood vaccines produced huge public-health and economic gains, preventing millions of illnesses and saving trillions.
- Hepatitis B vaccination alone prevented >6 million infections and ~90,000 deaths among cohorts studied.
