📣 Attention Brown Community 📣

Join us for a lunch and pandemic workshop tomorrow afternoon focusing on designing the response for the first 60 days of a pandemic.

Register now ⤵️
events.brown.edu/event/329875...

Virtual event flyer with green background for the 'Pandemics and Society Webinar Series.' Includes images of four panelists and a moderator with names and titles. Event details: Friday, April 24th, 12:00 PM ET, virtual. Brown Pandemic Center logo shown.

Join us Friday at NOON ET for a discusion on Wastewater Surveillance. This conversation focuses on past use cases, utility & the current state of the field.

Moderated by @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social w/ Nicole Fehrenbach, Jean Richards, & Abigail Paulos.

Registration ⤵️
brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Vaccine Skepticism Has Risen in the U.S.—And in Many Other Countries | Council on Foreign Relations Four charts illustrate the global decline in public trust in vaccines and the threat it poses to decades of progress in immunization coverage.

From @cfr.org: Vaccine skepticism is rising globally, fueled by fragmented media.

“When you have political leaders… saying things that are clearly not true and not based on data, [misinformation] spreads at the speed of light” —@drsethberkley.bsky.social

Read more ⤵️

Wastewater Surveillance Works YouTube video by The Pandemic Center

In our animated short we highlight the potential of #wastewater surveillance as an early warning system for infectious disease transmission.

This short explains why wastewater monitoring matters, how it works, & what we stand to lose if funding’s eliminated.

📺 ⤵️
youtu.be/gwmCvjTtX04

Bar chart showing weekly U.S. measles cases from Dec 2025 to Apr 2026. Peaks in Jan and Feb with over 260 cases, declining by Apr.

🇨🇳 2 new human cases of #AvianFlu in China
🇺🇸 AZ reports 1st case of human #plague since 2015
📉 #Measles have declined the last 2 weeks; SC nears the end of its outbreak

Stay updated on ongoing outbreaks, subscribe to our weekly Tracking Report: mailchi.mp/brown/tracki...

Virtual Seminar: Building Next-Gen Biosecurity Leadership YouTube video by Brown University School of Public Health

ICYMI: Our recent seminar delved into the future of global health leadership.

Thanks to our panel, Thokozani Liwewe, Zibusiso Masuku, Sandra Matinyi, & @bethcameron-dc.bsky.social for sharing their expertise on pandemic preparedness and policy.

Watch Now ⤵️

Virtual event flyer with green background for the 'Pandemics and Society Webinar Series.' Includes images of four panelists and a moderator with names and titles. Event details: Friday, April 24th, 12:00 PM ET, virtual. Brown Pandemic Center logo shown.

Join us next Friday at 12PM ET for a discusion on Wastewater Surveillance as an early warning system for everything from flu to future pandemics.

Moderated by
@jennifernuzzo.bsky.social w/ Nicole Fehrenbach, Jean Richards, and Abigail Paulos.

Registration is open ⤵️
brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Trump nominates Erica Schwartz as new CDC director President Donald Trump announced new leadership at the Centers for ​Disease Control and Prevention, saying that he was nominating former Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz.

From @usatoday.com: Trump nominates former Deputy SG Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC. Experts praise the pick but wonder if she’ll have the autonomy to lead.

"This seems like a dream pick. The bigger question is whether she'll be allowed to do the job." — @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social

From pandemics to misinformation: rethinking security today Podcast Episode · Trending Globally: Politics and Policy · April 16 · 40m

Today’s threats are fast-moving & interconnected. 🌐

New #TrendingGlobally from @watsonschoolbrown.bsky.social & the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Experts Rose McDermott (@brown.edu) & @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social rethink what "security" means in 2026.

Listen ⤵️

Measuring capacities to advance global health security and bioeconomic development on the African continent This descriptive analysis aims to examine the current state of health security on the African continent to understand areas where improvements have be…

New in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases analyzes health security across 54 African countries. Led by our PhD student Margaret Dunne & 31 co-authors across Africa, including, Science for Africa Foundation, & @nti.org .

The study identifies how health capacity fuels the bioeconomy.

Are vaccines overrated?

At WePlanet, we believe in science and human ingenuity to liberate nature and elevate humanity.

This week, @marklynas.bsky.social speaks with Dr Seth Berkley about why vaccines remain one of humanity’s greatest public health tools.

🎙️ Listen below.

Vaccine hesitancy rises in Mass. despite stable immunization rates - The Boston Globe Seven out of 14 counties no longer meet the threshold for herd immunity against measles.

“In spite of the rhetoric we’ve heard over the past few years that the antivax community is taking over,” Professor @craigspencer.bsky.social told @bostonglobe.com, “the overwhelming majority of parents are still vaccinating their kids.”

Research ‘Breaks Out’: Operation Outbreak Simulation Opens New Paths for Georgetown Students - Biomedical Graduate Education Students and faculty from across Georgetown University faced down a virtual epidemic, heard from biosecurity experts, and presented their own research during the student-led Operation Outbreak event. ...

Our Senior Advisor, @bethcameron-dc.bsky.social, recently joined Georgetown School of Medicine as a keynote speaker for Operation Outbreak!

This immersive simulation allowed students to manage a fictional epidemic through multi-sectoral coordination and crisis response.

Virtual event flyer with green background for the 'Pandemics and Society Webinar Series.' Includes images of four panelists and a moderator with names and titles. Event details: Friday, April 24th, 12:00 PM ET, virtual. Brown Pandemic Center logo shown.

Join us April 24, 12PM ET to discuss Wastewater Surveillance as an early warning system for everything from flu to future pandemics.

Moderated by @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social w/ Nicole Fehrenbach, Jean Richards, and Abigail Paulos.

Registration is open
events.brown.edu/public-healt...

BBC Radio 4 - The Life Scientific Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work.

I will be featured on The Life Scientific with Jim Al-Khalil @BBCRadio 4 tomorrow, Apr 14 at 9am GMT, with a repeat on Apr 15 at 9pm GMT.
It will also be available from the time of first broadcast via BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
@BBCRadio4, @jimalkhalili #TheLifeScientific

Professor details history of public health at Brown Professor of Epidemiology William Goedel discussed the evolution of public health since the University’s founding at a Monday talk.

Our affiliate Dr. William Goedel explores Brown’s public health journey starting in 1800s. While @brownpublichealth.bsky.social is a little over 10 years old, it’s an evolving legacy through powerful partnerships to meet the health challenges of today.

www.browndailyherald.com/article/2026...

Grt 2B back in Vancouver at #TED to meet up with old friends & make new ones. Fascinating discussions during breaks in addition to great main stage TED talks. As this is my dear friend Chris Anderson’s last TED as curator after an incredibly successful 25 year run it is particularly bittersweet.

What's going on with measles? (Part 2) YouTube video by Those Nerdy Girls

With measles cases now in 30 states (as of April 2026), many of our readers have questions about what they can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Nerdy Girl @cindyleifer.bsky.social is here to answer them.
@pandemiccenter.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/shorts/RDvtj...

The US won the fight against #measles in 2000, but that could be undone soon as the US sees rapid increases in cases.

“The consequence of other countries losing their elimination status means the world is less prepared for serious disease threats”— @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social

We’re excited to share that our director @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social will be moderating a panel on Global Cooperation & Vaccine Equity at the Johns Hopkins #ScienceDiplomacySummit

You can join the conversation on April 13 in Washington, D.C. or on livestream:
web.cvent.com/event/969846...

Two professionals walk down a hospital corridor. A chaplain in a purple suit and a doctor in a white coat share a discussion, conveying teamwork. Text promotes "The Chaplain & The Doctor" screening event.

The Chaplain & The Doctor comes to Providence on Sunday, May 3! Explore how compassion and collaboration transform serious illness care.

CE credits available for credits for physicians, nurses, PAs, & social workers for select screenings.

Tickets:
events.humanitix.com/providence?c...

Stacked bar chart showing weekly Mpox cases in Africa from March 2025 to March 2026. Peaks around July 2025. Countries are color-coded.

#Mpox cases on the African continent have been declining, the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo declared the end of the outbreak in the country after a 90% drop in cases.

Stay updated on news like this with our weekly #TrackingReport:
mailchi.mp/messages/pan...

"The 100 Days Mission reflects our shared commitment to deliver faster, safer and more effective preparedness and response for all countries."

A powerful message of support for CEPI 3.0 and the 100 Days Mission from Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Sadikin ⬇️

Join us today at 11AM ET for a discussion on building the next generation of biosecurity leadership.

Thokozani Liwewe will lead as moderator in conversation w/ Zibusiso Masuku, Sandra Matinyi, and @bethcameron-dc.bsky.social.

Registration is still open:
brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Virtual seminar titled 'Building Next-Gen Biosecurity Leadership' Features photos of moderator and panelists.

Please join us this week for a discussion on building the next generation of biosecurity leadership.

Thokozani Liwewe will lead as moderator in conversation w/ Zibusiso Masuku, Sandra Matinyi, @bethcameron-dc.bsky.social & @wilmotjames.bsky.social.

Register now:
brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Wastewater Surveillance Works: A new Pandemic Center report illustrates the uses, methods, and challenges

From poliovirus to measles, wastewater is our best early-warning system for disease. 🧪

Our new report, Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Diseases, explores how to scale this critical tool globally.

Health officials sound alarm as U.S measles cases rise A sharp rise in U.S. measles cases is linked to falling MMR vaccination rates and growing immunity gaps

The rise in US #measles cases is linked to falling vaccination rates & immunity gaps. As @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social puts it, we’re in a "stunning, staggering situation" and there's no good reason for it.

🎧 Listen to the Science Quickly podcast to hear how communities are responding:

Virtual seminar titled 'Building Next-Gen Biosecurity Leadership' Features photos of moderator and panelists.

Please join us this week for a discussion on building the next generation of biosecurity leadership.

Thokozani Liwewe will lead as moderator in conversation w/ Zibusiso Masuku, Sandra Matinyi, @bethcameron-dc.bsky.social & @wilmotjames.bsky.social.

Register now:
brown.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

RSV is still spreading, prompting states to extend the immunization period | CNN Respiratory syncytial virus is continuing to spread later into the spring than usual, driving most states to extend the window for RSV immunizations for eligible infants and toddlers.

States are extending the window for infant immunizations as #RSV continues to spread later into the spring.

Experts like @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social emphasize reacting to real-time disease data rather than just the calendar.

CDC pauses lab testing for dozens of diseases The CDC has paused diagnostic testing for more than two dozen infectious diseases —including rabies and pox viruses — according to the agency’s website.HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon told Healio that the pause is temporary while the CDC “evaluates these assays as part of our routine review to uphold our commitment to high-quality laboratory testing.”

🧫The #CDC has paused lab testing for dozens of diseases, including #rabies and #mpox. An #HHS official says the pause is temporary. Read here ⬇️

vist.ly/4x8aa