This Week in Virology

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.

Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious diseases physician and author of 'Booster Shots', shares insights on measles vaccination and the challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy. He reflects on the 2018-2019 measles outbreak in NYC and its connection to anti-vaccine sentiments and public health. Ratner emphasizes the importance of community outreach and storytelling to combat misinformation. He also discusses the critical role of the MMR vaccine in preventing disease, while navigating the complexities of vaccine exemptions and maintaining public trust in health communications.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello bemoan the continued outbreak of Sudan virus and growing number of paralytic polio cases before discussing growing measles outbreak in the US and Europe, the vaccine, an interview with a parent whose child died of measles infection, adverse effects of vaccination and how parents do not think they have accurate information about “bird flu” 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 benefits of antiviral therapies on post acute SARS-Cov-2 infection sequelae. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Sudan virus disease(WHO) New cases of poliomyelitis  (GPEI) Measles 159 in Texas…. (Texas Health and Human Services) 2025 Measles outbreak guidance (New Mexico Health) First cases of measles in Oklahoma (Oklahoma) Measles case on Long Island (CBS News) Public health confirms measles case in Los Angeles County (County of Los Angeles Public Health) Measles exposure (Department of public health: City of Philadelphia) Where US measles outbreaks are spreading (New York Times) Statement from the chief public health officer of Canada on the increase in measles cases and the risk to people in Canada(Health Canada) Measles and rubella monthly report (ecdc) Measles on the rise again in Europe (EurekAlert) Measles: symptoms, spread & SSPE | Doctors Talk | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (YouTube) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM: NCBI) Measles vaccination: know the facts? (Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: What does the evidence show? (Vaccine) Facts and myths about measles (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) His daughter was America’s first measles death in a decade (The Atlantic) Less than half of parents think they have accurate information about bird flu (EurekAlert) Many US parents feeluninformed about avian flu risks (CIDRAP) Trends in respiratory pathogen testing at us children’s hospital(JAMA Network) Changes in respiratory viral testing before and after the covid-19 pandemic(JAMA Network) Free COVID-19 test program stops taking orders (Health day) Human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza a(h5n1) — California, September–December 2024 (CDC MMWR) Letters read on TWiV 1198 37:56 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.

TWiV covers a second death over 150 cases of measles in Texas, utter failure of removal of type 2 poliovirus from OPV, more OPV doses administered in Gaza, second Ebola outbreak in Sudan, vaccine being tested, Trump administration cancels $400 million in grants to Columbia University, bat-infecting merbecovirus that binds human ACE2 and infects human cells, and innate immune sensing of rotavirus by intestinal epithelial cells leads to diarrhea. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV ASV 2025 Second child dies of measles (NY Times) Over 150 measles cases in Texas (Texas DSHS) Utter failure of removal of OPV2 from OPV (Science) Over 600,000 doses of OPV administered in Gaza (polioeradication) Second outbreak of Sudan Ebola in Uganda (IAVI) Columbia grants canceled by administration (NBC News) Bat merbecovirus also infects human cells via Ace2 (Cell) Recent virus research, was proper containment used? (NY Times) Innate immune sensing of rotatvirus leads to diarrhea (Cell Host Microbe) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Kathy – Mice cry out when they urinate, and give mouth to mouth resuscitation Rich – Firefly Aerospace Alan – Strong Museum of Play Vincent – How a PhD student’s lab size affects their chance of future academic success Listener Picks Larry – James Harrison’s rare blood protected many infants 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.