U.S. Researcher Wins $1.9 Million USDA Grant to Develop Novel Bird Flu Vaccine
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has awarded a three-year, $1.9 million grant to a researcher at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the College of Veterinary Medicine to develop a novel vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (“bird flu”) and Newcastle disease—another fatal, viral […]
Nipah Virus Cases in Asia Increase Pressure to Develop a Vaccine
On Jan. 26, 2026, the government of India confirmed two cases of Nipah virus (NiV) infection in its state of West Bengal. Both cases involved health care workers in a hospital in the district of North 24 Parganas. One of the individuals died after being hospitalized on Jan. 28. Contact tracing linked a total of […]
United States Out of the World Health Organization
One of the first things President Trump did on the first day of his second term in office was sign an Executive Order giving notice that the United States would withdraw from membership in the World Health Organization (WHO). The move, which came just hours after his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, had been expected.1 […]
Polio Vaccine Questioned by Chair of CDC Advisory Committee
In a podcast interview released on Jan. 22, 2026, pediatric cardiologist Kirk Milhoan, MD, PhD questioned the need for the polio vaccine.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dr. Milhoan, who is chair of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), said: As you look at polio, […]
Questionable CDC Report Finding That COVID Shots Protect Children from Severe Illness
On Dec. 11, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that concluded that COVID-19 vaccinations are protecting healthy children from severe illness. The report, based on an analysis of the electronic records of 98,000 emergency room and urgent care by children […]
Louisiana Surgeon General Named to No. 2 Post at CDC
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) last week confirmed the appointment of Louisiana surgeon general Ralph Abraham, MD to be principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Abraham, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2021 representing Louisiana’s 5th congressional district, will […]