Devon Donovan
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devondonovan.bsky.social
Devon Donovan
@devondonovan.bsky.social
97 followers 770 following 23 posts
Regional Epidemiologist in MA. Passionate about modernizing public health. Board game geek & movie pass holder. #episky
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devondonovan.bsky.social
Massachusetts DPH press release regarding suspect avian flu (HPAI/H5N1) outbreak in wild birds 📣

www.mass.gov/news/state-o...

Key takeways:
➡️ Report sick or dead wild or domestic birds (waterfowl = highest risk for flu)
➡️ Do not touch sick or dead animals
➡️ Keep pets away from wildlife (1/6)
www.mass.gov
January 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Devon Donovan
bachynski.bsky.social
Preventing public health agencies from communicating with the public will not make America healthy again. This will leave us in the dark in the middle of respiratory season, with serious ongoing concerns about everything from bird flu to cases of whooping cough.
ddiamond.bsky.social Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · Jan 22
New: Trump officials have paused all external communications at health agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH.

No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts.

And no indication how long the pause will last.

With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
Trump officials pause health agencies’ communications, citing review
The agencies are charged with making decisions that touch the lives of every American and are the source of crucial information to health-care providers.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by Devon Donovan
who.int
WHO comments on United States announcement of intent to withdraw bit.ly/4hrbeJ7
WHO comments on United States announcement of intent to withdraw The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization. WHO plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go. The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other Member States, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board. For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership in WHO. With the participation of the United States and other Member States, WHO has over the past 7 years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, to transform our accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries. This work continues. We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.
January 21, 2025 at 10:38 AM
devondonovan.bsky.social
This might be a call into the void, buuut...

A few other local MA epis & I are working on establishing protocol for local data sharing & suppression - specifically for small numbers.

If you are a local or regional epi (anywhere in the US) please reach out! We need your insight 🙏

#episky (1/3)
January 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Devon Donovan
aphl.org
We asked a group of food safety lab professionals for the most common #foodsafety myths that they hear and this is what they said. How many of these myths have you heard? Anything new to you on this list? www.aphlblog.org/just-in-time... #episky #publichealth
Just in Time for the Holidays: 10 Food Safety Myths—Busted - APHL Blog
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Should you wash that turkey before you roast it? Put the pumpkin pie on the counter until dessert time? Let the kids lick the cookie batter spoon? ...
www.aphlblog.org
December 17, 2024 at 2:12 PM
devondonovan.bsky.social
Something that I really struggle with as a local level epidemiologist: academic journal access.

I definitely took library access for granted as a student.

Now, I scour the web for the loose breadcrumbs of free articles 🍞 🦆
December 11, 2024 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Devon Donovan
boghuma.bsky.social
When you tell me you drink raw milk here is a non exhaustive list of things you may be exposed to:
Listeria
Brucella
Bovine TB
Campylobacter
Shigella
E coli
And now H5N1
All can cause nasty infections. Now imagine exposing a child or yourself knowingly to these.
Why?!!!
www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/h...
California investigating possible case of bird flu in child who drank raw milk | CNN
California health officials are investigating a possible case of bird flu in a child who became ill after drinking raw milk, Marin County Public Health said on Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
December 11, 2024 at 4:44 PM
devondonovan.bsky.social
Week 47 Pertussis cases from CDC Wonder:

US residents, excluding US territories:
➡️ YTD 2024: 26,989
➡️ YTD 2023: 5,593

Massachusetts:
➡️ YTD 2024: 715 (‼️)
➡️ YTD 2023: 11

How are other local epis engaging with their communities and local providers regarding this surge?

#episky
December 4, 2024 at 6:27 PM
devondonovan.bsky.social
Every year, 1 in 6 people in the US get sick from a foodborne illness.

But did you know the USDA sends ✨️ free ✨️ digital food thermometers to US households upon request?

🧵 Here's how you do it:

.
.
#episky #lifehack #publichealth
November 21, 2024 at 9:06 PM
devondonovan.bsky.social
🔥 Hot Topics in MA Public Health = ticks, ticks, and more ticks!

Can't forget mosquitos, of course.

Any other states thinking about Alpha-gal syndrome? How do you conduct surveillance on a condition that is consistently inconsistent? 🤔

#episky #idsky #lonestarticks
Presenter Dr. Catherine Brown, MA state epidemiologist, presenting to a conference room. There is a screen with a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Tickborne diseases in Massachusetts"
November 14, 2024 at 7:52 PM
devondonovan.bsky.social
Checking in from the 2024 Massachusetts Health Officers Association conference! #MHOA2024

Lots of interesting topics on the docket, including AI in Public Health, Advancing Health Equity, Hot Topics in Public Health, and more!

#episky #idsky #localpublichealth
Photo of a conference center room full of people. Two screens show pictures of text that say "2024 MHOA annual conference"
November 13, 2024 at 6:26 PM
devondonovan.bsky.social
Hello #Episky! Long time fan, first time poster. 👩‍💻 Anyone else representing #localpublichealth?

Currently working on local infectious disease & prevention in the South Shore area of MA.

Also passionate about addressing health disinformation & digital public health initiatives!
November 13, 2024 at 4:59 PM