Caitlin Rivers

We're only about four months into 2025, so it's a long way off before we're in that kind of scenario. But certainly the longer the virus circulates, the more chance that we'll run up against that outcome.

We're only about four months into 2025, so it's a long way off before we're in that kind of scenario. But certainly the longer the virus circulates, the more chance that we'll run up against that outcome.

We're only about four months into 2025, so it's a long way off before we're in that kind of scenario. But certainly the longer the virus circulates, the more chance that we'll run up against that outcome.

There are two things we need to see in order to get this crisis under control. One is clear and frequent communication. I think we could be doing better on that front. State and local communities are doing what they can to communicate, but I don't think that the messaging coming out of the federal government has been as clear as it needs to be about the importance of vaccination.

There are two things we need to see in order to get this crisis under control. One is clear and frequent communication. I think we could be doing better on that front. State and local communities are doing what they can to communicate, but I don't think that the messaging coming out of the federal government has been as clear as it needs to be about the importance of vaccination.

There are two things we need to see in order to get this crisis under control. One is clear and frequent communication. I think we could be doing better on that front. State and local communities are doing what they can to communicate, but I don't think that the messaging coming out of the federal government has been as clear as it needs to be about the importance of vaccination.

The other thing that concerns me is funding and support for our public health infrastructure. The majority of Americans live in counties that spend less than $150 per year per person on public health. A single outbreak can really blow that budget for the year. And so if we are asking states and locals to take on more responsibility for outbreak control, we need to resource them to do that.

The other thing that concerns me is funding and support for our public health infrastructure. The majority of Americans live in counties that spend less than $150 per year per person on public health. A single outbreak can really blow that budget for the year. And so if we are asking states and locals to take on more responsibility for outbreak control, we need to resource them to do that.

The other thing that concerns me is funding and support for our public health infrastructure. The majority of Americans live in counties that spend less than $150 per year per person on public health. A single outbreak can really blow that budget for the year. And so if we are asking states and locals to take on more responsibility for outbreak control, we need to resource them to do that.

My favorite is the example of the eradication of smallpox. which I think is one of history's and humanity's greatest achievements. Smallpox was an absolute horror. It killed up to a third of people it infected. Survivors were left often with lifelong disabilities.

My favorite is the example of the eradication of smallpox. which I think is one of history's and humanity's greatest achievements. Smallpox was an absolute horror. It killed up to a third of people it infected. Survivors were left often with lifelong disabilities.

My favorite is the example of the eradication of smallpox. which I think is one of history's and humanity's greatest achievements. Smallpox was an absolute horror. It killed up to a third of people it infected. Survivors were left often with lifelong disabilities.

And through years of dedicated boots on the ground, community by community efforts to vaccinate, we drove that virus, the smallpox virus, off the face of the earth. And it has not circulated for 50 years.

And through years of dedicated boots on the ground, community by community efforts to vaccinate, we drove that virus, the smallpox virus, off the face of the earth. And it has not circulated for 50 years.

And through years of dedicated boots on the ground, community by community efforts to vaccinate, we drove that virus, the smallpox virus, off the face of the earth. And it has not circulated for 50 years.

And what I love about that story is it really shows what we as a global community, as a public health community can accomplish when we set our mind to these big goals and have the funding and the political support to go after them. And, you know, measles too, we successfully eliminated it. And I would hate to see that take a step backward.

And what I love about that story is it really shows what we as a global community, as a public health community can accomplish when we set our mind to these big goals and have the funding and the political support to go after them. And, you know, measles too, we successfully eliminated it. And I would hate to see that take a step backward.

And what I love about that story is it really shows what we as a global community, as a public health community can accomplish when we set our mind to these big goals and have the funding and the political support to go after them. And, you know, measles too, we successfully eliminated it. And I would hate to see that take a step backward.

I think we need to keep it coming. The information landscape is very fractured. People get their news from all sorts of places. They tune in, they tune out. And so reaching people is really about communicating frequently and clearly. And so I'm really heartened to hear that message from Secretary Kennedy. But I do think it needs to become a pattern or a cadence of that kind of messaging.

I think we need to keep it coming. The information landscape is very fractured. People get their news from all sorts of places. They tune in, they tune out. And so reaching people is really about communicating frequently and clearly. And so I'm really heartened to hear that message from Secretary Kennedy. But I do think it needs to become a pattern or a cadence of that kind of messaging.

I think we need to keep it coming. The information landscape is very fractured. People get their news from all sorts of places. They tune in, they tune out. And so reaching people is really about communicating frequently and clearly. And so I'm really heartened to hear that message from Secretary Kennedy. But I do think it needs to become a pattern or a cadence of that kind of messaging.

Absolutely. And I wouldn't be surprised if it already has. There were cuts to public health programs that directly affected states and local public health governments. They have had to lay off personnel as a direct result of those cuts. And I think we'll continue to see more. And I think as funding declines, we'll see more and more of these preventable outbreaks resurging.

Absolutely. And I wouldn't be surprised if it already has. There were cuts to public health programs that directly affected states and local public health governments. They have had to lay off personnel as a direct result of those cuts. And I think we'll continue to see more. And I think as funding declines, we'll see more and more of these preventable outbreaks resurging.

Absolutely. And I wouldn't be surprised if it already has. There were cuts to public health programs that directly affected states and local public health governments. They have had to lay off personnel as a direct result of those cuts. And I think we'll continue to see more. And I think as funding declines, we'll see more and more of these preventable outbreaks resurging.

Well, we care most about what's happening on the ground. So as you know, the fact that there are children who are dying of this preventable infection, and there are dozens of people who have been hospitalized, that's really the thing that matters. But elimination status is a reflection or a testament to our ability to control these preventable viruses.

Well, we care most about what's happening on the ground. So as you know, the fact that there are children who are dying of this preventable infection, and there are dozens of people who have been hospitalized, that's really the thing that matters. But elimination status is a reflection or a testament to our ability to control these preventable viruses.

Well, we care most about what's happening on the ground. So as you know, the fact that there are children who are dying of this preventable infection, and there are dozens of people who have been hospitalized, that's really the thing that matters. But elimination status is a reflection or a testament to our ability to control these preventable viruses.

And so losing elimination status would be a blow because it signals that something's gone wrong with our public health system.

And so losing elimination status would be a blow because it signals that something's gone wrong with our public health system.

And so losing elimination status would be a blow because it signals that something's gone wrong with our public health system.

The winter respiratory virus season often peaks in December or January, but it lingers through the spring months. And so I do think we have several more weeks, if not months, left of this sixth season.

The winter respiratory virus season often peaks in December or January, but it lingers through the spring months. And so I do think we have several more weeks, if not months, left of this sixth season.

The winter respiratory virus season often peaks in December or January, but it lingers through the spring months. And so I do think we have several more weeks, if not months, left of this sixth season.

This is the smallest winter wave we've had since the pandemic began.

This is the smallest winter wave we've had since the pandemic began.

This is the smallest winter wave we've had since the pandemic began.

This year's winter wave is low compared to previous winters. This is the smallest winter wave we've had since the pandemic began.

This year's winter wave is low compared to previous winters. This is the smallest winter wave we've had since the pandemic began.

This year's winter wave is low compared to previous winters. This is the smallest winter wave we've had since the pandemic began.

Influenza activity first peaked around the turn of the new year late December early January. Activity then declined for several weeks in a row which is usually a sign that the season is on its way out but then it really took an unusual turn and started to rise again so activity is now at a second peak just as high as it was around the turn of the new year.

Influenza activity first peaked around the turn of the new year late December early January. Activity then declined for several weeks in a row which is usually a sign that the season is on its way out but then it really took an unusual turn and started to rise again so activity is now at a second peak just as high as it was around the turn of the new year.

Influenza activity first peaked around the turn of the new year late December early January. Activity then declined for several weeks in a row which is usually a sign that the season is on its way out but then it really took an unusual turn and started to rise again so activity is now at a second peak just as high as it was around the turn of the new year.