Alison Young
@alisonannyoung.bsky.social
Senior National Reporter Healthbeat.org + investigative reporter + author of Pandora’s Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk. [email protected] Signal: alisonyoungreports.48
Pinned
Some personal news: I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined @healthbeat.org as a senior national reporter covering #PublicHealth issues + the CDC. Reach out with tips at [email protected] or Signal: alisonyoungreports.48 #EpiSky #MedSky #IDSky
Top official at Association of Food and Drug Officials described what he says was FDA’s delayed, limited and disjointed sharing of critical information needed by state food safety officials about what stores received infant formula linked to botulism outbreak. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b...
FDA delays left recalled baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert says
The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of ...
www.healthbeat.org
November 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Top official at Association of Food and Drug Officials described what he says was FDA’s delayed, limited and disjointed sharing of critical information needed by state food safety officials about what stores received infant formula linked to botulism outbreak. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b...
This from FDA commissioner in wake of our @healthbeat.org report describing delays in FDA sharing with state officials details of where recalled by ByHeart formula was sold. 👇 www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b.... #MedSky #IDsky #publichealth
November 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
This from FDA commissioner in wake of our @healthbeat.org report describing delays in FDA sharing with state officials details of where recalled by ByHeart formula was sold. 👇 www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b.... #MedSky #IDsky #publichealth
Reposted by Alison Young
California public health officials confirmed late Friday that six babies in that state who consumed ByHeart formula were treated for botulism between November 2024 and June 2025, up to nine months before the outbreak that has sickened at least 31 babies in 15 states.
apnews.com/article/byhe...
apnews.com/article/byhe...
Babies who drank ByHeart formula got sick months before botulism outbreak, parents say
At least five families say their babies were treated for infant botulism after consuming ByHeart formula months before a current outbreak was detected.
apnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:15 PM
California public health officials confirmed late Friday that six babies in that state who consumed ByHeart formula were treated for botulism between November 2024 and June 2025, up to nine months before the outbreak that has sickened at least 31 babies in 15 states.
apnews.com/article/byhe...
apnews.com/article/byhe...
Reposted by Alison Young
The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of urgency,” he said.
FDA delays left recalled baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert says
The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of urgency,” he said.
bit.ly
November 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of urgency,” he said.
FDA delays left recalled ByHeart baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert tells Healthbeat. Nearly a week was lost clearing bureaucratic hurdles before all state and local food safety officials were told where formula was being sold. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b... #IDsky #Medsky
FDA delays left recalled baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert says
The leader of the Association of Food and Drug Officials told Healthbeat that the FDA has been slow to share distribution lists for recalled ByHeart formula. “I’m not sure they recognize the sense of ...
www.healthbeat.org
November 22, 2025 at 1:12 AM
FDA delays left recalled ByHeart baby formula on store shelves, food safety expert tells Healthbeat. Nearly a week was lost clearing bureaucratic hurdles before all state and local food safety officials were told where formula was being sold. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/22/b... #IDsky #Medsky
How did ByHeart baby formula become contaminated with botulism bacteria? “It’s very important to find out where the spores are coming from, because it’s difficult to eliminate them, to kill them, to prevent them from germinating into active bacteria” www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/20/b... #Medsky #IDsky
New tests find botulism bacteria in ByHeart formula as more babies are hospitalized
The FDA warns that recalled ByHeart baby formula is still on store shelves in multiple states. At least 31 infants in 15 states have been hospitalized in the outbreak.
www.healthbeat.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
How did ByHeart baby formula become contaminated with botulism bacteria? “It’s very important to find out where the spores are coming from, because it’s difficult to eliminate them, to kill them, to prevent them from germinating into active bacteria” www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/20/b... #Medsky #IDsky
The latest on the growing infant botulism outbreak and baby formula recall: “It’s very important to find out where the spores are coming from, because it’s difficult to eliminate them, to kill them, to prevent them from germinating into active bacteria.” 👇#publichealth #IDsky #MedSky #motherhood
New tests find botulism bacteria in ByHeart infant formula as more babies are hospitalized. Meanwhile major retailers are still selling the recalled products. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/20/b...
November 20, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The latest on the growing infant botulism outbreak and baby formula recall: “It’s very important to find out where the spores are coming from, because it’s difficult to eliminate them, to kill them, to prevent them from germinating into active bacteria.” 👇#publichealth #IDsky #MedSky #motherhood
New tests find botulism bacteria in ByHeart infant formula as more babies are hospitalized. Meanwhile major retailers are still selling the recalled products. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/20/b...
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM
New tests find botulism bacteria in ByHeart infant formula as more babies are hospitalized. Meanwhile major retailers are still selling the recalled products. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/20/b...
Outreach needed to ensure families who got donated formula linked to botulism outbreak are aware of danger, said Donald Whitehead of @nationalhomeless.bsky.social “Until you just alerted me, I did not know this issue existed…I personally will reach out to the CDC.”
ByHeart, the baby formula maker at center of a botulism outbreak investgiation, donated products to homeless, at-risk families. It's unclear what's being done to alert them.
Recalled baby formula linked to botulism outbreak was donated to struggling families
ByHeart, the baby formula maker at center of a botulism outbreak investgiation, donated products to homeless, at-risk families. It's unclear what's being done to alert them.
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Outreach needed to ensure families who got donated formula linked to botulism outbreak are aware of danger, said Donald Whitehead of @nationalhomeless.bsky.social “Until you just alerted me, I did not know this issue existed…I personally will reach out to the CDC.”
Reposted by Alison Young
ByHeart, the baby formula maker at center of a botulism outbreak investgiation, donated products to homeless, at-risk families. It's unclear what's being done to alert them.
Recalled baby formula linked to botulism outbreak was donated to struggling families
ByHeart, the baby formula maker at center of a botulism outbreak investgiation, donated products to homeless, at-risk families. It's unclear what's being done to alert them.
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 12:00 AM
ByHeart, the baby formula maker at center of a botulism outbreak investgiation, donated products to homeless, at-risk families. It's unclear what's being done to alert them.
Baby formula linked to an outbreak of infant botulism was distributed to programs serving homeless mothers and other struggling families in multiple states, but it’s unclear what actions are being taken to alert those families to the recall. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/13/b... #medsky #publichealth
November 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Baby formula linked to an outbreak of infant botulism was distributed to programs serving homeless mothers and other struggling families in multiple states, but it’s unclear what actions are being taken to alert those families to the recall. www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/13/b... #medsky #publichealth
Reposted by Alison Young
NACCHO CEO Lori Freeman talks to Healthbeat about CDC disruptions, funding cuts, and what city and county officials can learn from red state colleagues.
5 From the Field: Q&A with NACCHO CEO Lori Freeman
NACCHO CEO Lori Freeman talks to Healthbeat about CDC disruptions, funding cuts, and what city and county officials can learn from red state colleagues.
bit.ly
November 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
NACCHO CEO Lori Freeman talks to Healthbeat about CDC disruptions, funding cuts, and what city and county officials can learn from red state colleagues.
The baby formula company linked to a growing infant botulism outbreak that has hospitalized children across the US, was previously cited by federal regulators for contamination issues involving a different type of dangerous bacteria www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/11/b... #publichealth #IDsky #medsky
What to know about baby formula maker's safety record amid recall
ByHeart Inc., which on Tuesday morning expanded its infant formula recall to all batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack, amid the botulism outbreak, was involved in a...
www.healthbeat.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The baby formula company linked to a growing infant botulism outbreak that has hospitalized children across the US, was previously cited by federal regulators for contamination issues involving a different type of dangerous bacteria www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/11/b... #publichealth #IDsky #medsky
5 From the Field: Our Q&A with @nacchoalerts.bsky.social CEO Lori Freeman on how local health departments are dealing with CDC chaos + how #publichealth moves forward #episky #IDSky www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/11/n...
November 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
5 From the Field: Our Q&A with @nacchoalerts.bsky.social CEO Lori Freeman on how local health departments are dealing with CDC chaos + how #publichealth moves forward #episky #IDSky www.healthbeat.org/2025/11/11/n...
“We may be the only specialty that continues to do major abdominal surgery without a shred of evidence of benefit,” said Dr. Steven L. Clark, an obstetrician at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas who has extensively studied electronic monitoring. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h...
The ‘Worst Test in Medicine’ is Driving America’s High C-Section Rate
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:39 PM
“We may be the only specialty that continues to do major abdominal surgery without a shred of evidence of benefit,” said Dr. Steven L. Clark, an obstetrician at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas who has extensively studied electronic monitoring. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/h...
Reposted by Alison Young
Thank you to everyone who attended Healthbeat's event in Atlanta about 'Aha' moments in public health! And thank you to those who shared their stories!
Be on the lookout for videos from the event and more stories on healthbeat.org.
Be on the lookout for videos from the event and more stories on healthbeat.org.
November 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Thank you to everyone who attended Healthbeat's event in Atlanta about 'Aha' moments in public health! And thank you to those who shared their stories!
Be on the lookout for videos from the event and more stories on healthbeat.org.
Be on the lookout for videos from the event and more stories on healthbeat.org.
Investigators previously cited monkey research facility for lax treatment of wastewater from labs experimenting with anthrax and other deadly bacteria. (4 things to know in my Healthbeat article 👇)
November 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Investigators previously cited monkey research facility for lax treatment of wastewater from labs experimenting with anthrax and other deadly bacteria. (4 things to know in my Healthbeat article 👇)
New details on the history of biosafety lapses at the Tulane monkey research facility involved in this week’s truck crash + monkey escape. My latest article for Healthbeat: www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/31/m... #publichealth #IDsky
October 31, 2025 at 6:04 PM
New details on the history of biosafety lapses at the Tulane monkey research facility involved in this week’s truck crash + monkey escape. My latest article for Healthbeat: www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/31/m... #publichealth #IDsky
For those following the Tulane research monkey escape: There is an entire chapter in my book about biosafety breaches in Tulane’s monkey research. Page 160 is only part of what I uncovered in my deep FOIA work for Pandora’s Gamble…
October 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
For those following the Tulane research monkey escape: There is an entire chapter in my book about biosafety breaches in Tulane’s monkey research. Page 160 is only part of what I uncovered in my deep FOIA work for Pandora’s Gamble…
“The critical violation occurred in November 2014, when three macaques had to be euthanized following a ‘biosecurity breach.’
…when ‘one or more staff members had failed to adhere to established biosafety and infection control procedures.” www.wlbt.com/2025/10/29/u...
…when ‘one or more staff members had failed to adhere to established biosafety and infection control procedures.” www.wlbt.com/2025/10/29/u...
USDA records show just one critical violation at Tulane research lab since 2014
Several monkeys were put down after escaping a truck transporting them from the Tulane facility on Tuesday.
www.wlbt.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:33 PM
“The critical violation occurred in November 2014, when three macaques had to be euthanized following a ‘biosecurity breach.’
…when ‘one or more staff members had failed to adhere to established biosafety and infection control procedures.” www.wlbt.com/2025/10/29/u...
…when ‘one or more staff members had failed to adhere to established biosafety and infection control procedures.” www.wlbt.com/2025/10/29/u...
Four things to know about new mpox alert in Europe + cases spreading in California
www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/28/m...
www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/28/m...
Four things to know about new mpox warning in Europe
Warning by European health agency about mpox strain notes locally spread cases in Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, and California.
www.healthbeat.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Four things to know about new mpox alert in Europe + cases spreading in California
www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/28/m...
www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/28/m...
A malaria mystery in Washington state - and how disease sleuths solved it. www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/27/w... #publichealth #IDsky #episky
How disease sleuths solved a malaria mystery in Washington state
Behind the scenes of how health investigators came to suspect a local mosquito caused a recent malaria case in the Tacoma, Washington, area.
www.healthbeat.org
October 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A malaria mystery in Washington state - and how disease sleuths solved it. www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/27/w... #publichealth #IDsky #episky
Reposted by Alison Young
“None of the three Southern California residents hospitalized in the new outbreak were vaccinated against mpox” www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/22/m...
Will new type of mpox virus spread beyond California? Many at-risk people aren’t vaccinated.
New mpox cases in California are the first reported clade I infections in the United States that don’t involve international travel, the California Department of Public Health said. Here's what to kno...
www.healthbeat.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
“None of the three Southern California residents hospitalized in the new outbreak were vaccinated against mpox” www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/22/m...
As California health officials investigate an outbreak of a more severe type of mpox virus, federal data indicate that low vaccination rates across the country. In dozens of states, >half of at-risk people remained unvaccinated in wake of 2022-2023 mpox outbreak. www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/22/m...
Will new type of mpox virus spread beyond California? Many at-risk people aren’t vaccinated.
New mpox cases in California are the first reported clade I infections in the United States that don’t involve international travel, the California Department of Public Health said. Here's what to kno...
www.healthbeat.org
October 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
As California health officials investigate an outbreak of a more severe type of mpox virus, federal data indicate that low vaccination rates across the country. In dozens of states, >half of at-risk people remained unvaccinated in wake of 2022-2023 mpox outbreak. www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/22/m...
An unusual series of US malaria outbreaks in 2023 – and now local mosquitoes are suspected of causing malaria infections in two states this summer. What you need to know from @healthbeat.org www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/17/u...
October 17, 2025 at 6:47 PM
An unusual series of US malaria outbreaks in 2023 – and now local mosquitoes are suspected of causing malaria infections in two states this summer. What you need to know from @healthbeat.org www.healthbeat.org/2025/10/17/u...