BK. Titanji
@boghuma.bsky.social
Physician Scientist MDPhD
Infectious Diseases
Academic Medicine
Global Health
Science Communicator
Posts are my opinions, not my employer's and not medical advice
I bet on myself and double down
https://substack.com/@bktitanji
Infectious Diseases
Academic Medicine
Global Health
Science Communicator
Posts are my opinions, not my employer's and not medical advice
I bet on myself and double down
https://substack.com/@bktitanji
Pinned
BK. Titanji
@boghuma.bsky.social
· Feb 12
Here are 5 top things I'll be watching closely in global public health in 2025:
1. H5N1 outbreak trajectory
2. Impact of RFK Jr. on infectious dz control and vaccines in the US.
3. The mpox outbreak in Africa
4. Expanded access to Lenacapavir for HIV PrEP.
5. The US withdrawal from the WHO.
1. H5N1 outbreak trajectory
2. Impact of RFK Jr. on infectious dz control and vaccines in the US.
3. The mpox outbreak in Africa
4. Expanded access to Lenacapavir for HIV PrEP.
5. The US withdrawal from the WHO.
I think I shall just pin this post because ....👀
This remains one of the most disturbing stories of the year. A 1st trimester fetus incubated in a dead woman's body against the will of her family until a very early term birth when the corpse could no longer sustain life.
www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news...
www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news...
Baby boy born to brain-dead Georgia mother remains hospitalized nearly 6 months later, family says
Adriana Smith's pregnancy made national headlines when she was declared brain dead but placed on life support to let her fetus grow. Now her family is sharing an update on the condition of her infant ...
www.cbsnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This remains one of the most disturbing stories of the year. A 1st trimester fetus incubated in a dead woman's body against the will of her family until a very early term birth when the corpse could no longer sustain life.
www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news...
www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news...
Excellent reporting by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social . The vote was once again delayed...because there is no evidence to support that voting to eliminate the birth-dose of hepatitis B vaccine is right or in anyway justifiable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/h...
Vaccine Panel Again Postpones Vote on Hepatitis B Shot for Newborns
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Excellent reporting by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social . The vote was once again delayed...because there is no evidence to support that voting to eliminate the birth-dose of hepatitis B vaccine is right or in anyway justifiable.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/h...
A picture is worth a 1000 words. The birth dose of hepatitis B vaccines in the USA eliminated perinatally acquired hepatitis B infection from over 20,000 cases a year before the vaccine was introduced to <20 cases a year. The gaslighting by the current members ACIP is obscene, unethical and cruel.
December 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A picture is worth a 1000 words. The birth dose of hepatitis B vaccines in the USA eliminated perinatally acquired hepatitis B infection from over 20,000 cases a year before the vaccine was introduced to <20 cases a year. The gaslighting by the current members ACIP is obscene, unethical and cruel.
The ACIP meeting sounds like an anti-vaccine convention.
December 4, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The ACIP meeting sounds like an anti-vaccine convention.
Congratulations to the 272 physicians who matched into adult infectious diseases and the 44 who matched into pediatric infectious diseases this year. Over 50% of programs went unfilled, marking a very challenging match year for ID. The current hostile sentiment towards ID is not helping recruitment.
December 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Congratulations to the 272 physicians who matched into adult infectious diseases and the 44 who matched into pediatric infectious diseases this year. Over 50% of programs went unfilled, marking a very challenging match year for ID. The current hostile sentiment towards ID is not helping recruitment.
I really enjoyed reading this.
A fascinating new natural-experiment study in Cell adding to the evidence that shingles vaccination may have cognitive benefits beyond preventing zoster. i.e. may slow dementia progression.
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
A fascinating new natural-experiment study in Cell adding to the evidence that shingles vaccination may have cognitive benefits beyond preventing zoster. i.e. may slow dementia progression.
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
The effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course
A natural experiment found that herpes zoster vaccination reduced the occurrence of
mild cognitive impairment and deaths due to dementia, indicating that the vaccine
may slow the progression of dement...
www.cell.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
I really enjoyed reading this.
A fascinating new natural-experiment study in Cell adding to the evidence that shingles vaccination may have cognitive benefits beyond preventing zoster. i.e. may slow dementia progression.
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
A fascinating new natural-experiment study in Cell adding to the evidence that shingles vaccination may have cognitive benefits beyond preventing zoster. i.e. may slow dementia progression.
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
The #ACIP meets tomorrow to assault on vaccines that protect children. They will be debating the birth dose of the hep B vaccine. I wrote about this previously but we cannot say it enough stopping the birth dose is unethical given the many benefits.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
The Hepatitis B Vaccine: Why the Birth Dose Matters and Why We Must Defend It
Defending science, saving newborn lives, and keeping the world on track to end Hepatitis B
bktitanji.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The #ACIP meets tomorrow to assault on vaccines that protect children. They will be debating the birth dose of the hep B vaccine. I wrote about this previously but we cannot say it enough stopping the birth dose is unethical given the many benefits.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
GLP-1 agonists are great for obesity & other chronic health conditions e.g CVD but they do not seem to have any effect on the progression of Alzheimer's disease in humans despite promising observations in mouse studies. this is why clinical trials matter.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Liraglutide in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a phase 2b clinical trial - Nature Medicine
Results from the phase ELAD 2 trial reveal that liraglutide is safe and well tolerated in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease but does not significantly slow brain metabolism decline.
www.nature.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:33 PM
GLP-1 agonists are great for obesity & other chronic health conditions e.g CVD but they do not seem to have any effect on the progression of Alzheimer's disease in humans despite promising observations in mouse studies. this is why clinical trials matter.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The DRC has officially cleared the 42 day mark without new cases of Ebola in its latest outbreak which is now officially declared ended. Kudos to local authorities who made this possible and foreign partners and international organizations that supported the response.
africacdc.org/news-item/eb...
africacdc.org/news-item/eb...
Ebola Outbreak in the DRC Declared Over – Africa CDC
Kinshasa, 1 December 2025 – The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been declared over after 42 days without any new cases and following the recovery of the last confirmed pat...
africacdc.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The DRC has officially cleared the 42 day mark without new cases of Ebola in its latest outbreak which is now officially declared ended. Kudos to local authorities who made this possible and foreign partners and international organizations that supported the response.
africacdc.org/news-item/eb...
africacdc.org/news-item/eb...
In case you are wondering what being a federally funded researcher looks like these days: the shutdown required that NIH cancel over 370 peer review meetings, impacting the review of over 24,000 applications. As a result the percentage of applications discussed will be reduced from 50% to 30-35%.
December 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In case you are wondering what being a federally funded researcher looks like these days: the shutdown required that NIH cancel over 370 peer review meetings, impacting the review of over 24,000 applications. As a result the percentage of applications discussed will be reduced from 50% to 30-35%.
Today December 1st is #WorldAIDSDay.
I remember the millions who have died.
I celebrate the transformative progress that has been made.
I resolve as an HIV researcher and advocate to keep up the fight to end the HIV epidemic.
Do you know you status?
Get tested. Get treated. Get on PrEP.
I remember the millions who have died.
I celebrate the transformative progress that has been made.
I resolve as an HIV researcher and advocate to keep up the fight to end the HIV epidemic.
Do you know you status?
Get tested. Get treated. Get on PrEP.
December 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Today December 1st is #WorldAIDSDay.
I remember the millions who have died.
I celebrate the transformative progress that has been made.
I resolve as an HIV researcher and advocate to keep up the fight to end the HIV epidemic.
Do you know you status?
Get tested. Get treated. Get on PrEP.
I remember the millions who have died.
I celebrate the transformative progress that has been made.
I resolve as an HIV researcher and advocate to keep up the fight to end the HIV epidemic.
Do you know you status?
Get tested. Get treated. Get on PrEP.
6 years today the first COVID case was identified in a man in Wuhan marking the beginning of a global pandemic that changed the world. We are way less prepared today to face another pandemic than we were back then. This fact makes me sad.
November 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
6 years today the first COVID case was identified in a man in Wuhan marking the beginning of a global pandemic that changed the world. We are way less prepared today to face another pandemic than we were back then. This fact makes me sad.
A worthy read!
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
The U.S. government’s failure to acknowledge World AIDS Day takes us back to a troubling time
Perhaps AIDS activists’ famous slogan, “Silence = Death,” needs an update for this troubling moment.
www.linkedin.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A worthy read!
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
Giving mendacious and cruel people free reign on healthcare and vaccine regulations will leave a lasting negative legacy on the health of the nation. Historians will write about this. Many will die as a result of the irresponsible actions of a misguided few.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
FDA claims Covid shots killed 10 children and vows new vaccine rules
Vaccine experts said the memo was irresponsible and omits key details about how officials arrived at the conclusion.
www.nbcnews.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Giving mendacious and cruel people free reign on healthcare and vaccine regulations will leave a lasting negative legacy on the health of the nation. Historians will write about this. Many will die as a result of the irresponsible actions of a misguided few.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Today I and everyday I am:
Grateful for Vaccines
Grateful for Science
Grateful for Public Health Workers
Grateful for Doctors
Grateful for Nurses
Grateful for Scientists
Grateful for everyone whose job has been a little harder to do especially this year, yet who keep showing up.
#Thanksgiving
Grateful for Vaccines
Grateful for Science
Grateful for Public Health Workers
Grateful for Doctors
Grateful for Nurses
Grateful for Scientists
Grateful for everyone whose job has been a little harder to do especially this year, yet who keep showing up.
#Thanksgiving
November 28, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Today I and everyday I am:
Grateful for Vaccines
Grateful for Science
Grateful for Public Health Workers
Grateful for Doctors
Grateful for Nurses
Grateful for Scientists
Grateful for everyone whose job has been a little harder to do especially this year, yet who keep showing up.
#Thanksgiving
Grateful for Vaccines
Grateful for Science
Grateful for Public Health Workers
Grateful for Doctors
Grateful for Nurses
Grateful for Scientists
Grateful for everyone whose job has been a little harder to do especially this year, yet who keep showing up.
#Thanksgiving
The 2025 UNAIDS report is out and it is a stark reminder that the HIV epidemic is not over. After a decade of progress, the global HIV response was shaken this year by abrupt, deep cuts in international funding. Clinics closed. Community programmes collapsed.
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
November 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
The 2025 UNAIDS report is out and it is a stark reminder that the HIV epidemic is not over. After a decade of progress, the global HIV response was shaken this year by abrupt, deep cuts in international funding. Clinics closed. Community programmes collapsed.
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
www.unaids.org/en/resources...
"The US government will not be commemorating World AIDS day this year".
Silence = Death
There are 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States, 40 million globally
Silence = Death
There are 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States, 40 million globally
November 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"The US government will not be commemorating World AIDS day this year".
Silence = Death
There are 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States, 40 million globally
Silence = Death
There are 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States, 40 million globally
- He stopped the policy of encouraging flu immunization in Louisiana
- Delayed reporting on a pertussis outbreak that killed two children in Louisiana.
-Promoted false information on covid vaccine harms.
He is now number 2 at CDC.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
- Delayed reporting on a pertussis outbreak that killed two children in Louisiana.
-Promoted false information on covid vaccine harms.
He is now number 2 at CDC.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Controversial Louisiana surgeon general tapped for CDC leadership role
Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham has spoken against Covid shots and ended mass vaccination campaigns. Now he's in a position to make national health decisions.
www.nbcnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
- He stopped the policy of encouraging flu immunization in Louisiana
- Delayed reporting on a pertussis outbreak that killed two children in Louisiana.
-Promoted false information on covid vaccine harms.
He is now number 2 at CDC.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
- Delayed reporting on a pertussis outbreak that killed two children in Louisiana.
-Promoted false information on covid vaccine harms.
He is now number 2 at CDC.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
At the peak of the outbreak Sierra Leone was seeing 600 cases of mpox weekly. Over the last 8 months 200,000 vaccine doses have been delivered prioritizing the most at risk groups. Currently cases are down to 30 a week.
Public health works to end epidemics.
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Public health works to end epidemics.
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Sierra Leone’s mpox case-count is plummeting. Can the country get to zero new infections?
Ten months into a national public health emergency, and nearly six months into a vaccination campaign, Sierra Leone appears to be winning its fight against mpox.
www.gavi.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
At the peak of the outbreak Sierra Leone was seeing 600 cases of mpox weekly. Over the last 8 months 200,000 vaccine doses have been delivered prioritizing the most at risk groups. Currently cases are down to 30 a week.
Public health works to end epidemics.
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Public health works to end epidemics.
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork...
Overall flu circulation is still low in the US but is steadily rising. Was on inpatient ID consult service last week.
Anecdotally I saw more COVID positives than flu positives. Lots of rhinovirus & parainflueza. Interestingly no rsv.
Get vaccinated now is the time.
www.nbcnews.com/health/cold-...
Anecdotally I saw more COVID positives than flu positives. Lots of rhinovirus & parainflueza. Interestingly no rsv.
Get vaccinated now is the time.
www.nbcnews.com/health/cold-...
Flu season is just beginning, but doctors are already on high alert
While flu levels are still low, a strain that has wreaked havoc in the U.K. and Canada is behind most cases so far in the U.S., mostly affecting kids.
www.nbcnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Overall flu circulation is still low in the US but is steadily rising. Was on inpatient ID consult service last week.
Anecdotally I saw more COVID positives than flu positives. Lots of rhinovirus & parainflueza. Interestingly no rsv.
Get vaccinated now is the time.
www.nbcnews.com/health/cold-...
Anecdotally I saw more COVID positives than flu positives. Lots of rhinovirus & parainflueza. Interestingly no rsv.
Get vaccinated now is the time.
www.nbcnews.com/health/cold-...
Nursing is a professional degree. The end.
November 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Nursing is a professional degree. The end.
Very sad. Apparently the patient was someone with comorbidities that placed them at higher risk of a bad outcome. At a time when the threat of new pandemic is higher that ever we need our public health and surveillance systems strengthened not dismantled.
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
1st human known to be infected with H5N5 strain of bird flu dies, Washington state officials say
The first human to have ever been infected with H5N5 strain of bird flu has died, Washington state health officials confirmed late Friday.
www.linkedin.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Very sad. Apparently the patient was someone with comorbidities that placed them at higher risk of a bad outcome. At a time when the threat of new pandemic is higher that ever we need our public health and surveillance systems strengthened not dismantled.
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
The CDC dismantling continues at pace. 😢
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
Exclusive: CDC to end all monkey research
Studies related to HIV and other infectious diseases will be phased out, sources say; fate of the agency's animals remains unclear
www.linkedin.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The CDC dismantling continues at pace. 😢
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
www.linkedin.com/redir/redire...
This quiz is surprisingly accurate 😂. A fun one for ID professionals to take .
November 21, 2025 at 1:38 AM
This quiz is surprisingly accurate 😂. A fun one for ID professionals to take .
A new NEJM paper just dropped evaluating a quadrivalent modified mRNA (modRNA) influenza vaccine in a phase 3 trial. This is the largest test yet of whether the mRNA platform that transformed COVID-19 vaccination can improve our fight against flu.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Efficacy, Immunogenicity, and Safety of Modified mRNA Influenza Vaccine | NEJM
Influenza remains a major health burden despite the use of licensed vaccines. Nucleoside-modified
messenger RNA (modRNA) influenza vaccines have shown promising immunogenicity against
influenza and...
www.nejm.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A new NEJM paper just dropped evaluating a quadrivalent modified mRNA (modRNA) influenza vaccine in a phase 3 trial. This is the largest test yet of whether the mRNA platform that transformed COVID-19 vaccination can improve our fight against flu.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....