This Week in Virology

The discussion tackles the rising autism rates among children, diving into vaccine myths and the influence of parental beliefs. It highlights the receptor binding challenges of a bovine H5N1 influenza virus and its implications. The conversation also covers advancements in dengue vaccine development, emphasizing antibody responses and the role of E-protein structure. Additionally, they explore the intersection of public health, misinformation, and the scientific integrity surrounding vaccine safety and efficacy.

Dr. Daniel Griffin, a physician and infectious diseases researcher, dives into critical updates on public health. He discusses alarming funding cuts to institutions like the NIH and CDC and their impact on disease prevention. The conversation highlights rising concerns regarding measles, deadly E. coli outbreaks, and the rising tides of long COVID. Dr. Griffin also provides insights on vaccination disparities and the importance of transparency in public health, making it a vital listen for anyone interested in infectious diseases.

Dive into the quirky world of vaccine misconceptions as hosts unpack RFK Jr.'s perplexing statements on single antigen vaccines. Discover the fascinating research around norovirus, including a promising oral vaccine and innovative monoclonal antibodies. The discussion also highlights the plight of honeybees and introduces the extraordinary Mason bees as a potential solution for crop pollination. Plus, enjoy lighthearted banter about roller coaster antics and the complexities of tackling vaccine hesitancy. Science has never been this entertaining!

In this discussion, Dr. Daniel Griffin, a physician and infectious disease researcher, highlights critical developments in public health. He expresses concerns about the resurgence of measles and pertussis, linking it to declining vaccination rates amid misinformation. Dr. Griffin also covers the implications of the herpes zoster vaccine on dementia risk and discusses the effects of long COVID—including brain volume impacts and treatment options. His insights underscore the importance of vaccinations and informed health choices.

The podcast covers the fascinating connections between vaccination and reduced dementia rates, highlighting a Welsh study on the Zostavax vaccine. It dives into the dynamics of 2009 H1N1 influenza in swine, exploring zoonotic implications and public health relevance. The discussion shifts to the impact of political decisions on vaccine mandates in education. A quirky segment reveals how roller coasters might help pass kidney stones, rounding out a mix of science, humor, and societal insights that engage listeners in current health issues.

Dr. Daniel Griffin, an expert in infectious diseases, joins to discuss the troubling resurgence of measles outbreaks and the critical role of vaccinations. He examines the implications of low vaccination rates and the societal need for transparent health communication. The conversation also covers urgent issues like high pathogenic influenza, the efficacy of Moderna's mRNA vaccine, and the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19 in children. Additionally, listeners receive insights on long COVID resources and support.

TWiV reviews liver damage caused by over use of vitamin A in Texas, vitamin A does not change clinical course of measles in high income country, NIH cuts COVID-19 research, US ends vaccine funds for poor countries, anti-vaxxer hired to study vaccines and autism, new DURC policy, Jamaican fruit bat competence for filoviruses, and human outbreaks of Oropouche virus reassortant in Brazil. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV ASV 2025 Vitamin A liver disease in Texas (NY Times) Vitamin A doesn’t help measles in high-income countries (Pediat Inf Dis) NIH cancels COVID grants (Science) US ends vaccine funds for poor countries (NY Times) Anti-vaxxer to study vaccines and autism (Sci Based Med) DURC rules revised (USG and NIH guidance) Filoviruses and Jamaican fruit bats (Nat Comm) Oropouche outbreaks in Brazil (Nat Med) Woolly mice (NPR) Letters read on TWiV 1205 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Math of March Madness Brackets Kathy – Wood frogsicles #1 and #2 Alan – Rare glimpse of baby polar bears emerging from dens Vincent – Hikaru Utada Would Rather Play CERN Than Coachella Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Dr. Daniel Griffin, an expert in infectious diseases, shares critical insights on the alarming measles resurgence in the U.S. He discusses the importance of vaccinations, especially the MMR vaccine, while debunking misconceptions about vitamin A treatment. The conversation also covers long COVID challenges, highlighting the role of wearable technology for tracking symptoms and the financial implications of treatments. Griffin stresses the urgency for continued support in long COVID research as governmental resources dwindle.

The hosts dive into why a public figure's idea to let H5N1 spread among birds is dangerous. They discuss an innovative combined mRNA vaccine for flu and COVID-19, exploring how past flu exposure affects long-term vaccine responses. Misconceptions about vaccines and the importance of immune memory take center stage, revealing how our first exposure shapes future defenses. The episode also humorously touches on cooking eggs and the influence of placebo effects in clinical trials.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello rue about the unknowns of Sudan disease and new cases of paralytic polio, discuss the growing measles outbreak, exposure of newborns to measles, the FACTS about vaccination, high pathogenic influenza in dairy cows and cats, RFK’s statement “just let the virus rip through the hens” before Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, where to find PEMGARDA, what happens when antiviral therapy is delayed, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, long COVID interventions and the relationship between EBV and long COVID. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode New cases of poliomyelitis  (GPEI) Polio in Africa (CIDRAP) Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (PROMED) ProMED Subscriptions (PROMED) Measles infected baby and exposes 12 (NY Post) Measles 159 in Texas…. (Texas Health and Human Services) 2025 Measles outbreak guidance (New Mexico Health) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Revising US MMR vaccine recommendations amid changing domestic risks (JAMA Network) Long-term dynamics of measles virus–specific neutralizing antibodies in children vaccinated before 12 months of age (CID) Newborns exposed to measles in Texas hospital (NBC News) Newborns exposed in West Texas measles outbreak (CIDRAP) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Increase in global and domestic measles cases and outbreaks: (CDC:) The impact of influenza A H5N1 virus infection in dairy cows (Nature: Research Gate) Payment of indemnity and compensation for highly pathogenic avian Influenza (Federal Register) FDA or USDA: Kennedy’s alarming prescription for bird flu on poultry farms(NY Times) Some of NYC’s 500K stray cats could be infected with bird flu(NY Post) Two NYC cats dead from avian flu, including 8-month-old kitten:(NY Post) H7N9 avian flu strikes Mississippi broiler farm(CIDRAP) Highly pathogenic avian influenza diagnosed in Mississippi poultry flock (Mississippi Board of Animal Health) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Weekly surveillance report: cliff notes (CDC FluView) The burden of all-cause mortality following influenza-associated hospitalizations (CID) FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA) FDA announces flu strain picks for next season(CIDRAP) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) Weekly US influenza surveillance report (CDC FluView) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) COVID-19 antiviral medication use among pregnant and recently pregnant US outpatients (CID) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Fusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) When your healthcare provider is infected/exposed with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID TGFβ links EBV to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children(Nature) Letters read on TWiV 1202 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.