Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

@bethlinas.bsky.social

2.7K followers 1.3K following 1.2K posts

PhD/MHS Epidemiology: Infectious Diseases, Digital Health, Substance Use, Science Communication|Thoughts are my own| #Episky #IDsky www.bethlinas.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 28d

My most recent op Ed! When thinking about #COVID vaccines we MUST discuss long COVID and until now this conversation has been lacking!

Without Vaccines, Long COVID Will Be Our Next Public Health Crisis | Defend Public Health

Defend Public Health member Dr. Beth Linas shares an often overlooked aspect of reducing access to COVID19 vaccines: the specter of more and more cases of Long COVID.

www.defendpublichealth.org

1 5 15

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 3h

It is very sad it’s so quiet. It just makes me question whether I should share things like this as a Jew in the US.

1 1

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 7h

I can’t stop and won’t stop watching families reunite with their hostage loved ones. If there was ever a moment to say the Shehecheyanu, it’s now.

1 2

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 8h

Finally exhaling knowing all living hostages are home. BH

1 6

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Dr. Jonathan N. Stea @jonathanstea.bsky.social · 1d

75 1.2K 3.5K

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 2d

“The administration did not like that CDC data did not support their narrative, so they got rid of them. They didn’t like that CDC policy groups would not rubber stamp their unscientific ideas, so they got rid of them”.

The damage to the CDC is “beyond repair”.

‘The damage is beyond repair’: The CDC faces another round of deep staff cuts | CNN

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suffered another round of deep staff cuts late Friday, with disease detectives, outbreak forecasters, policy and data offices among those impacted, ac...

edition.cnn.com

23 320 710

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 1d

Education Department wipes out special ed office in shutdown layoffs, union says

The agency cut nearly everyone who works to administer federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, one staffer said.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/e...

Education Department wipes out special ed office in shutdown layoffs, union says

The Education Department laid off nearly everyone at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

www.usatoday.com

4 33 34

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 1d

“The Death of Public Health”

Jonas Salk saved millions with a polio vaccine. He gave it away to help humanity. Today, venal and yes, evil billionaires—Koch to Musk to Peter Thiel—are fully behind destroying American society for profit. They want you poor, sick, and desperate. We must stop them.

The Death of Public Health

Another Friday night massacre, but this time it's not just an essential federal public health agency that will die

rasmussenretorts.substack.com

7 52 190

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 2d

C.D.C. Layoffs Included 2 Top Measles Experts Amid Rising Cases www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

C.D.C. Layoffs Included 2 Top Measles Experts Amid Rising Cases

www.nytimes.com

2 5

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 2d

BE THERE!

March for Health and Science

911hs.org

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 2d

The decimation of the CDC should not and cannot be partisan. This agency protects everyone and is the authority on public health across much of the world. We are ALL a bit less safe now.

1 6

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 2d

This week: RFKjr told us circumcision causes autism (it most certainly does not) and the CDC gets decimated. I’m not so sure how much worse it can get but I know it will. Say a prayer for public health (oh and I’m still jobless with hopes of getting a job dwindling)

1 4

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Janice @bebelestrangern.bsky.social · 3d

We will see an increase in cervical cancer with decreased number of HPV vaccines and circumcisions. Is this RFK Jr's intent? My opinion is- this administration is trying to kill us.

32 80 340

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 2d

RIFed: NCIPC: National Center for Injury Prevention & Control - comms & policy
(Not clear on what else @NCIPC was RIFed - much was already RIFed earlier)

All that important violence prevention stuff?
Suicide. Drowning. Youth Violence. Concussions in sports. Community violence.

NCIPC’s focus 👆

7 71 200

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 2d

RIFed:

LLS - Laboratory Leadership Service

Y’know, another crucial hands-on and practical training program where fellows hone their laboratory expertise and skills.

Yet another blow for when the next novel disease outbreak comes…..

So fucking short sighted.

About The Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS)

LLS is a laboratory fellowship for health professionals to gain laboratory expertise and skills.

www.cdc.gov

9 65 170

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

thetranscendedman @atranscendedman.bsky.social · 3d

Yale researchers analyzed data from 158 million US workers and found that even after the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to raise work absences by 13% and labor force exits by 13%.

The virus has created a new year-round baseline similar to flu season.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Enduring Outcomes of COVID-19 Work Absences on the US Labor Market

This cohort study examines the extent to which COVID-19 continues to generate work absences and decrease labor force participation beyond the pandemic period in the US.

jamanetwork.com

5 29 68

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 2d

RIFed: National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Office of Director

OD sets tone for the rest of the center, determine priorities, review high profile science, etc

NCIRD focuses: Flu. Whooping cough. Polio. Covid. Meningitis.

Yeah, you want this center to fully function 🤯

www.cdc.gov

8 130 310

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Andrea Love, PhD | Biomedical Scientist @drandrealove.bsky.social · 3d

RFK Jr. is HARKing in human form.

“hypothesizing after results are known,” is a tactic to “fit” a narrative to data.

It’s how he’s going to “make proof” for false health claims.

RFK Jr isn’t a scientist. He doesn’t know how to do science. He HAS profited off health disinformation for decades.

13 110 450

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 2d

Good lord. The MMWR is a hallmark of public health practice. Firing its editors will impact you and how your local health department functions.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

4 30 44

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 3d

Meditation, peddling dubious health advice and selling supplements. I have never bought into the hype of Jay Shetty and have tried unsuccessfully to finish an episode of his podcast and could not ignore the BS.
Fascinating profile of him in @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/10/10/j...

Jay Shetty and his health advice are everywhere. It's by design

The wellness influencer and former monk Jay Shetty knows how to get attention and prop up his own interests.

www.statnews.com

3 5 11

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 3d

Unknown layoffs are happening at HHS. Unknown in terms of who and which agencies.

www.statnews.com/2025/10/10/h...

1/2

HHS employees to be fired as White House enacts mass terminations it blames on shutdown

Federal health employees are being fired as the White House makes good on a promise to terminate federal employees en masse because of the shutdown.

www.statnews.com

10 110 220

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Josh Barocas, MD ⭕️ @jabarocas.bsky.social · 3d

RIFs of federal employees is not leadership.
Storming US cities with masked henchmen is not leadership.
Indicting people for political reasons is not leadership.
Criminalizing poverty is not leadership.
These demonstrate lack of leadership skills. These are actions of ppl without actual plans.

2 3 13

Reposted by Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS

Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 3d

She left the medical mainstream and rose to be RFK Jr.’s surgeon general pick: Means has a history of saying things not backed by science, and no real scientific credentials. wapo.st/46LWoKQ

She left the medical mainstream and rose to be RFK Jr.’s surgeon general pick

Casey Means, the surgeon general nominee, has criticized the medical establishment. She could be put in position to change it.

wapo.st

6 19 63

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 3d

The spokesperson for the WH

1 1

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 3d

Tell me you’re an authoritarian without telling me: “He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will”

🤬🤮

Trump's quest for the Nobel Peace Prize falls short again despite high-profile nominations

The White House is responding bitterly to President Donald Trump being passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize despite efforts from Republicans and world leaders.

apnews.com

1 1

Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 3d

Ohioans - check this out!

Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 5d

Sharing again for Ohio folks as we will be printing these Husted "thank you" cards early next week for Columbus delivery. I know many folks here have thoughts about his votes re PH & healthcare. Please take 60 seconds to write so we can share them with his staffers, and please share w/ Ohio friends!

Elizabeth Lanphier @ethicselizabeth.bsky.social · 8d

Tell Jon Husted what you think about his track record on health and healthcare in #Ohio. Letters will be printed on note cards and hand delivered to his office on October 15th.

1 1 2