The hottest Epidemiology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Checking in on the summer covid season

Force of Infection • 104 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Influenza-like illnesses are currently very low across the country, with almost no hospitalizations. This means fewer people are visiting doctors for flu symptoms right now.
  2. COVID-19 activity is also low, but some states are seeing slight increases in cases and hospitalizations. Hawaii and Florida are the areas to watch as their numbers have been rising.
  3. Norovirus has been active this year, with a new strain causing concern. It's important to stay informed about food recalls and safety alerts, especially regarding unpasteurized milk products.

State of Affairs: March 12

Your Local Epidemiologist • 768 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Epidemiology
  1. Measles cases are increasing, with outbreaks across various regions, underscoring the importance of vaccination and public health measures.
  2. Norovirus is surging in the Northern Hemisphere, causing stomach cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea, emphasizing the need for preventive measures like handwashing and surface cleaning.
  3. The flu season, particularly driven by flu strain B, has been moderate this year, highlighting the potential impact of political influences on vaccine uptake and the importance of public health efforts.

ACIP Cliff Notes: Feb 29 (RSV)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 783 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Epidemiology
  1. Real-world data showed a true safety signal for the RSV older adult vaccine, particularly after the Pfizer vaccine.
  2. The benefits of the RSV vaccine still outweigh the risks for older adults, preventing significant illness and hospitalizations.
  3. Moderna is introducing an RSV vaccine using mRNA, offering a different platform with potential advantages for safety.

My email asking Mark Del Monte, CEO of AAP, for a credible scientific study justifying the CDC childhood vaccine schedule

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. No peer-reviewed study has been identified that evaluates the full childhood vaccine schedule with individual-level data and shows a statistically significant net benefit for overall health or all-cause mortality.
  2. Requests for such evidence from major pediatric organizations and advisory committees may go unanswered, and there is skepticism they could produce a study meeting the stated criteria.
  3. Some non-vaccinating practices report lower rates of chronic childhood conditions, and there are claims that researchers who study vaccinated versus unvaccinated groups have been blocked from publishing, raising concerns about suppression of relevant research.

Everything You Need to Know About H5N1 Bird Flu

OK Doomer • 245 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. H5N1 bird flu is becoming a serious threat and might be spreading through the air from bird droppings, which could put people at risk even in parks.
  2. The current government's lack of transparency and support for tracking outbreaks is concerning, especially as hospitals face rising flu cases.
  3. Historical pandemics show that initial mildness can lead to deadly mutations, and without proper public health measures, we may be repeating past mistakes.
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It's Already Worse Than We Thought

OK Doomer • 250 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. The CDC recently shared worrying info about bird flu that was quickly retracted. This shows how serious the situation is around certain viruses.
  2. Viruses can mutate to become more dangerous over time, not just milder. Sometimes they start off seeming harmless, then turn deadly.
  3. Recent events are confirming fears that many have been labeled as 'doom and gloom' for mentioning. This serves as a reminder to take these warnings seriously.

Pathogenic Priming and Influenza Vaccination

Who is Robert Malone • 13 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. The immune system’s first flu exposure creates a lasting memory that biases future responses, so it often reactivates old antibodies instead of making new ones against changed strains.
  2. That imprinting can help protect against related viruses but also locks in an “epitope hierarchy” where memory B cells outcompete naïve cells, reducing adaptability and sometimes lowering vaccine effectiveness or increasing illness with drifted strains.
  3. Relying on yearly strain-specific shots can reinforce this bias, so vaccine strategies that target conserved viral parts, use alternative prime‑boost approaches or adjuvants, or reduce frequent boosting are needed to restore broader, more flexible immunity.

Stanford led study: at least 20,000 global deaths from COVID jabs

Who is Robert Malone • 16 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. COVID-19 vaccination likely prevented many deaths worldwide (central estimate ~2.5 million), but that figure is model-based and very sensitive to key assumptions.
  2. Estimates put vaccine-associated deaths on the order of tens of thousands globally (roughly ~20,000; range ~16,000–48,000), so harms are probably much smaller than benefits overall but remain highly uncertain.
  3. The mortality benefit was overwhelmingly concentrated in people aged 60 and older, with children and young adults receiving minimal benefit, suggesting vaccination strategies should account for age-specific risks and benefits.

The Evolutionary Scales of Life

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 15 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🔬 Science Epidemiology
  1. Ecological patterns depend on the spatial, temporal, and evolutionary scale you examine; changing the scale can reveal or hide important patterns.
  2. Phylofactorization is an algorithm that finds edges or clades in a phylogenetic tree that best explain differences in traits or ecological patterns, letting you partition life at the scales that matter for a given question.
  3. There is no single correct species or taxonomic scale; instead choose or infer the lineage-level scales that match your question, and tree-based partitioning can also reveal relevant scales in non-biological hierarchical systems.

On the Origins of Multiple Sclerosis

Eat Shit and Prosper • 479 implied HN points • 04 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Taking antibiotics might increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies from Denmark show that anyone who gets a prescription for antibiotics has a higher chance of being diagnosed with MS later.
  2. There is a potential connection between certain bacteria in our gut and MS. One particular bacteria, _Clostridium perfringens_, may produce a toxin that damages the cells responsible for protecting nerves in the brain.
  3. Understanding MS as a complex interaction between bacteria, antibiotics, and the immune system can lead to new treatments. There are even hopes for using therapies like fecal transplants or targeted therapies to help those suffering from MS.

Does shutting down dark web markets kill people?

Aliveness Studies • 6 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Nationally, shutting down major darknet markets in mid‑2017 did not cause a spike in fentanyl deaths; instead the growth rate of synthetic opioid deaths slowed afterward, though it’s unclear if the shutdowns caused that change.
  2. The impact varied a lot by state: most states showed deceleration but several showed acceleration, and a few states (notably Ohio) drove much of the national pattern, suggesting local factors matter more than a single national event.
  3. Darknet market transactions plunged right after the shutdowns but recovered within about six months as users moved to other markets, so the disruption was short‑lived and shutdowns look like a temporary whack‑a‑mole fix.

Visualizer: Obesity by Country

Experimental Fat Loss • 84 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Epidemiology
  1. Vietnam's obesity rate has significant increased over the last 30 years, jumping from below 0.2% in 1990 to over 2% in 2022. This shows how rapidly obesity can grow even in countries that were once very lean.
  2. Some countries have seen drastic increases, like Afghanistan, which went from less than 2% to nearly 18%. This highlights that obesity is a growing global concern.
  3. Using a visual tool to compare obesity rates can reveal surprising trends, such as Japan's obesity rate being 10 times higher than Vietnam's in 1990, even though both countries are still considered lean compared to others.

BRB

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1068 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Epidemiology
  1. Katelyn Jetelina is taking a two-week break to recharge before the busy respiratory season.
  2. During her break, she plans to enjoy puzzles, books, crosswords, and time in national parks with her toddlers.
  3. She is looking for nonfiction book recommendations that are not related to public health for her downtime.

Eight questions "Professor Dave" can't answer

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. The debate became personal and some questions were deleted, raising concerns that ad hominem attacks and comment removal undermined open scientific discussion.
  2. There is a demand for clear, record-level evidence and transparent data (including autopsy results) to show whether COVID vaccines saved lives or caused harm, and a new analysis is claimed to show increased deaths after boosters.
  3. The speaker challenges the opponent's credibility and asks for credentials plus explanations for puzzling findings like odd protective effects in one study, sudden autism cases after vaccination, and unusual cancer trends.

AlterAI exposes the corruption at the CDC

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. An audit alleges widespread corruption at the CDC, claiming data suppression, hidden industry ties, altered analyses, misuse of surveillance systems, and internal censorship to protect the agency’s image rather than public health.
  2. The audit particularly targets autism surveillance from 2000–2015, reporting missing datasets, reclassification of cases, and emails suggesting orders to destroy contradictory draft data, and it notes reports that the CDC said studies have not ruled out a vaccine link.
  3. Reported consequences include criminal referrals to the Department of Justice and a planned public release of roughly 10 terabytes of raw CDC epidemiological data so independent researchers can reanalyze the records and push for accountability.

KCOR results on the Japan record level data shows the same harm pattern as the Czech data

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. KCOR analysis of Japan and Czech record-level data shows a consistent pattern where recently vaccinated cohorts have higher all-cause mortality than unvaccinated cohorts.
  2. The pattern appears dose-dependent, with second doses linked to higher mortality than first, and KCOR claims to avoid healthy‑vaccinee bias by using fixed enrollment cohorts and adjusting in mortality space rather than 1:1 matching.
  3. The stated conclusion is that COVID vaccines increased the net risk of death, mainstream proponents are described as unwilling to engage with the data, and an open public debate is demanded to resolve the disagreement.

Flu activity increases again

Force of Infection • 183 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Epidemiology
  1. Flu activity is on the rise, hitting its highest level since 2002. This means more people are going to the doctor with flu-like symptoms.
  2. Younger children are getting hit hardest, with nearly 17% showing flu symptoms. Older adults are at greater risk for serious illness, even though their overall illness rates are lower.
  3. To prevent the flu, it's important to wear masks in crowded places, ventilate indoor areas, and get vaccinated. If you do get sick, antiviral medications can help you recover faster.

Do masks work?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1068 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Epidemiology
  1. The science around masks is complex, with considerations like the type of mask, disease, social context, and transmission period.
  2. Research shows masks can be effective in reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at both an individual and population level.
  3. The effectiveness of masks is influenced by factors like compliance, type of mask, and social setting, requiring a nuanced approach to policies and recommendations.

Imported Doubt: How RFK Jr. Spearheaded a Disinformation Campaign that Left Samoa's Children Exposed (Pt. 1)

Off-Topic • 209 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. In 2019, Samoa experienced serious measles outbreaks, affecting many kids and even leading to deaths. This situation showed how important vaccines are for preventing disease.
  2. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has played a big role in spreading misinformation about vaccines. His actions contributed to fears that led to lower vaccination rates in places like Samoa.
  3. The disinformation campaign not only put lives at risk but also highlighted the influence of individuals spreading doubt about vaccines, showing how public health can be harmed by such claims.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Aug 4

Force of Infection • 59 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. COVID-19 cases are increasing as we approach the school season, with more people testing positive and higher wastewater levels showing the virus's presence.
  2. For respiratory illnesses like flu, we're seeing very low activity levels across all age groups, which is encouraging for now.
  3. While COVID-19 hospitalizations are still low, emergency department visits are slightly rising, so it's important to stay alert.

Jay Bhattacharya is a superb pick for NIH director

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 209 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Jay Bhattacharya wants to study the effects of lockdowns and other COVID-19 measures. He believes this research will help prevent similar harsh actions in the future.
  2. He plans to improve how scientific research is done, focusing on making findings repeatable and clear. This could really help how science is understood and applied.
  3. Jay aims to change leadership rules at NIH and make grant processes better through trials. He believes changes in these areas could lead to more effective research.

Yes, Wipe Down Surfaces. No, Don't Hoard Cleaning Products. Try HOCl.

OK Doomer • 141 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. It's important to wipe down surfaces to prevent the spread of germs, especially when illnesses like the flu are on the rise.
  2. Instead of hoarding cleaning products, try using hypochlorous acid (HOCl) as a simpler and effective germ killer.
  3. The flu season is currently very severe, even worse than COVID-19 in some cases, so taking precautions is essential for safety.

(Temple Prokarya) 1. A brief manifesto: I think this is important

Microanimism • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🔬 Science Epidemiology
  1. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses do not have a desire to make us sick, they simply exist and propagate efficiently.
  2. Exploring the morality of survival in the face of life-threatening diseases can lead to deeper philosophical discussions about microbial behavior.
  3. Human activities like deforestation and increased contact with wild animals are linked to the emergence of new infectious diseases, highlighting the impact of our actions on public health.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Feb 24

Force of Infection • 136 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Influenza cases have dropped recently, giving some relief, although numbers are still higher than usual. Improvements were seen across all age groups.
  2. COVID-19 activity varies by state, with some places seeing high case numbers while others have less. Overall hospitalizations are low now compared to past months.
  3. Norovirus remains very high across the country, and it's expected to stay elevated for a while. This season's peak may last longer than usual.

Modesty is a Risk Factor for HIV.

Eat Shit and Prosper • 199 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. HIV made the jump to humans multiple times, mainly through eating infected primates. Understanding this helps us see how complex diseases spread.
  2. Certain natural substances, like a sugar-binding protein in bananas, might help reduce HIV's infectivity. It shows how nature can provide unexpected solutions.
  3. Being overly cautious or clean can backfire when it comes to health. Embracing natural behaviors might actually be better for preventing diseases like HIV.

Francis Collins retires from the NIH

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 128 implied HN points • 03 Mar 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Francis Collins helped find the cystic fibrosis gene, which saved many lives. However, his support for gain of function research and certain policies during the pandemic raised concerns.
  2. Many believe that the impact of Collins' leadership during the pandemic was negative, leading to loss of trust in science and vaccination. His actions may have contributed to millions of deaths and economic losses.
  3. Collins did not explore if the way the NIH gives out grant money was effective. Despite advancements in genetics, many common health issues remain largely unresolved.

What's Going on with Bird Flu This Winter?

OK Doomer • 17 implied HN points • 10 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Bird flu, especially the H5N1 strain, has been spreading and mutating for about four years, causing concern among experts.
  2. New studies show that bird flu can spread among farmworkers and may even be present in the air, which is a shift from earlier beliefs that it wasn’t airborne.
  3. There are reports of misinformation and pressure in the farming industry about the virus, with more mainstream media acknowledging the seriousness of the situation as we approach a risky respiratory season.

Is it time for BEIR VIII?

Gordian Knot News • 153 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🔬 Science Epidemiology
  1. The BEIR committee, which studies the health risks of radiation, hasn't updated their findings in nearly 20 years. There are new studies and data that could change our understanding of these risks.
  2. Omitting data from certain populations, like radium dial painters, can lead to misleading conclusions about radiation exposure and cancer risk. It's important to consider all relevant groups when assessing risks.
  3. A new BEIR report should include a balanced committee and a clear model for understanding radiation's effects. This would help improve how we manage and regulate nuclear power.

UK government still ‘withholding data that may link Covid jab to excess deaths’

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. The UK health agency is refusing to publish detailed, record-level COVID vaccination and death data and has only released aggregated monthly death counts, claiming release could cause distress or privacy breaches.
  2. The Czech Republic publicly released anonymized, linked individual-level data (vaccination dates, death dates, age, sex, region) with standard disclosure controls and allowed independent analysis with no known re-identification harms.
  3. Withholding granular data undermines scientific scrutiny and public trust, and the UK could safely release similarly anonymized data with safeguards and explanatory commentary to improve accountability.

Milei vs. A School Board Epidemiologist

Variations on a Theme • 79 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Epidemiology
  1. Javier Milei, a Libertarian, faced challenges in pushing for government limitations and administrative state cuts after being elected President of Argentina.
  2. The story highlights how bureaucrats often resist change, prioritize personal status, and maintain power against external pressure, even to the detriment of societal outcomes.
  3. The narrative underscores the importance of scrutinizing reformers and holding them accountable, as outsider status doesn't always guarantee sustainable reforms in complex systems.

Outbreak Outlook - National - July 21

Force of Infection • 47 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. COVID-19 cases are rising in some southern and western states like Texas, California, and Florida, despite being low in many areas. It's important to stay alert to the changes in these regions.
  2. Influenza-like illnesses have very low outpatient visits right now, which is typical for summer. Most states are seeing minimal activity for these illnesses.
  3. The summer COVID-19 wave is starting later this year, possibly due to a lighter winter season. It may peak later than usual, so keep an eye on the trends.
  4. ] }

Tribute to Carter's public health work

Force of Infection • 121 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. President Jimmy Carter was very active in global health efforts, especially through The Carter Center, aiming to eliminate diseases like Guinea worm and malaria.
  2. His work led to a huge drop in Guinea worm cases from 3.5 million to just 7, showing the real impact of his dedication.
  3. Carter even negotiated a ceasefire in Sudan to help health workers reach people in need, emphasizing how much he cared about public health.

It's peak flu season

Force of Infection • 119 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. It's peak flu season, and there's been a significant rise in flu cases lately. Young children are getting hit the hardest with more doctor visits due to influenza-like illness.
  2. Covid-19 cases are also increasing after a slow start, with many locations showing high virus levels. It's important to stay updated on trends as they can change rapidly.
  3. RSV activity is up, but this year seems to be less severe than usual. Overall, it's crucial to take precautions like masking, as multiple respiratory illnesses are spreading.

Outbreak Outlook - National - July 9

Force of Infection • 44 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Measles cases are breaking records this year, with many months still remaining. This highlights the ongoing concerns about vaccine coverage and public health.
  2. Influenza-like illnesses are low right now, showing it’s off-season for flu. The situation could change as we move further into the year.
  3. COVID-19 cases are slowly rising, especially in southern states like Florida and Texas, but there isn't a big surge happening yet.

It's time to pay attention to Bulgarian death rates. Yes, I'm serious.

Unreported Truths • 62 implied HN points • 15 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Bulgaria has seen a drop in death rates since Covid ended, which is surprising given its low vaccination rate. This suggests that high vaccination levels may not always lead to lower long-term death rates.
  2. Many countries still face unexpectedly high death rates post-Covid, even though the pandemic has been declared over. This indicates that there are other factors at play affecting mortality rates.
  3. The experiences of Bulgaria and heavily vaccinated nations highlight the complexity of public health outcomes after a pandemic, including the need to examine why some countries are seeing rising deaths while others are not.

If you are affiliated with any academic institution worldwide, I'll pay you to help redpill the world by surfacing aggregated mortality rate data from public health registries

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. The project seeks academic-affiliated researchers to access national public health registries and publicly share weekly cohort mortality rates.
  2. They offer payment and argue the exported data will be aggregated, non-identifying, legally shareable, and useful for evaluating vaccine safety.
  3. Work is expected to be done on secure research platforms using Python (pandas, SQL) by materializing denormalized cohorts, computing weekly hazards/KCOR, and following export constraints like no external pip installs or APIs.

Paul Offit responds to multiple challenges by deferring to the peer-reviewed literature

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Peer review and major journals can act as gatekeepers tied to institutional and industry interests, so relying only on traditional publication as proof can suppress dissenting evidence and block open scientific debate.
  2. A new, simple analysis method applied to comprehensive national registry data is claimed to reveal net harms in some groups, and critics are challenged to either point to a better method or directly engage with those data and code.
  3. Restoring trustworthy science requires concrete reforms — open raw data, transparent and accountable peer review, independent funding for journals, cryptographic records of submissions, and stronger support for replication and independent researchers.

Professor Robert Scragg tries to show the COVID vaccines are perfectly safe in order to help put Barry Young in jail

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Scragg didn't provide evidence showing vaccines improve mortality rates. There was no clear proof that vaccinated people lived longer compared to unvaccinated in matched studies.
  2. He failed to analyze important data that could help prove vaccine safety. The data was available but he chose not to use it, which is confusing since it's crucial for understanding the truth.
  3. Health New Zealand hasn't analyzed their own data on vaccine safety, which raises questions about their reliability. They should openly share this information to help everyone understand the real impacts of the vaccines.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Jan 20

Force of Infection • 105 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Epidemiology
  1. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are improving, but norovirus has become more prevalent this season. It's important to stay cautious during flu season, as the numbers can change quickly.
  2. While COVID-19 levels are still somewhat high, there's a small hope that the situation is getting better, with fewer hospitalizations reported recently.
  3. Norovirus is on the rise this winter, likely due to a new strain. It's crucial to maintain good hygiene practices, like washing hands, to prevent infection.