Prof. Michael Fuhrer
@michaelsfuhrer.bsky.social
Epidemic epistemic trespassing. Knows a lot about graphene.
Monash Uni. Directed fleet.org.au. Fellow @scienceacademy.bsky.social.
Plays bass for www.instagram.com/push_the_trigger
Bird photos at www.flickr.com/photos/off-world
Monash Uni. Directed fleet.org.au. Fellow @scienceacademy.bsky.social.
Plays bass for www.instagram.com/push_the_trigger
Bird photos at www.flickr.com/photos/off-world
Green Catbird.
I watched this bird for about half an hour before he got comfortable enough to come this close to me.
Seen in Springbrook National Park, Queensland 🪶
I watched this bird for about half an hour before he got comfortable enough to come this close to me.
Seen in Springbrook National Park, Queensland 🪶
November 25, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Green Catbird.
I watched this bird for about half an hour before he got comfortable enough to come this close to me.
Seen in Springbrook National Park, Queensland 🪶
I watched this bird for about half an hour before he got comfortable enough to come this close to me.
Seen in Springbrook National Park, Queensland 🪶
A beautiful dragonfly I saw up here on the Gold Coast. I believe it is a "yellow-striped flutterer" (Rhyothemis phyllis). The body has a copper sheen and it shows wonderful shiny copper reflections in flight!
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
A beautiful dragonfly I saw up here on the Gold Coast. I believe it is a "yellow-striped flutterer" (Rhyothemis phyllis). The body has a copper sheen and it shows wonderful shiny copper reflections in flight!
A handsome Double-barred Finch
seen at The Spit, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 🪶
seen at The Spit, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 🪶
November 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM
A handsome Double-barred Finch
seen at The Spit, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 🪶
seen at The Spit, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 🪶
Spangled Drongo
Seen in Springbrook, Queensland, Australia 🪶
Seen in Springbrook, Queensland, Australia 🪶
November 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Spangled Drongo
Seen in Springbrook, Queensland, Australia 🪶
Seen in Springbrook, Queensland, Australia 🪶
Australian Logrunner, one of the few birds where the female (seen here) is more colourful than the male - she has the orange throat. 🪶
Springbrook, Queensland, Australia
Springbrook, Queensland, Australia
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Australian Logrunner, one of the few birds where the female (seen here) is more colourful than the male - she has the orange throat. 🪶
Springbrook, Queensland, Australia
Springbrook, Queensland, Australia
On the Gold Coast of Queensland this week. A chance to catch up with some birds I don't see as often.
Here's a Rainbow Bee-eater seen yesterday at The Spit (beach just north of Surfer's Paradise)
Here's a Rainbow Bee-eater seen yesterday at The Spit (beach just north of Surfer's Paradise)
November 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
On the Gold Coast of Queensland this week. A chance to catch up with some birds I don't see as often.
Here's a Rainbow Bee-eater seen yesterday at The Spit (beach just north of Surfer's Paradise)
Here's a Rainbow Bee-eater seen yesterday at The Spit (beach just north of Surfer's Paradise)
Quiz time!
This is one of the more amazing pandemic-effect graphs I've seen.
A group of diagnostic codes saw a *doubling* of incidence of emergency department visits in Q2 2020, but has since. returned to pre-pandemic levels.
QUIZ: What is that group of diagnostic codes?
This is one of the more amazing pandemic-effect graphs I've seen.
A group of diagnostic codes saw a *doubling* of incidence of emergency department visits in Q2 2020, but has since. returned to pre-pandemic levels.
QUIZ: What is that group of diagnostic codes?
November 15, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Quiz time!
This is one of the more amazing pandemic-effect graphs I've seen.
A group of diagnostic codes saw a *doubling* of incidence of emergency department visits in Q2 2020, but has since. returned to pre-pandemic levels.
QUIZ: What is that group of diagnostic codes?
This is one of the more amazing pandemic-effect graphs I've seen.
A group of diagnostic codes saw a *doubling* of incidence of emergency department visits in Q2 2020, but has since. returned to pre-pandemic levels.
QUIZ: What is that group of diagnostic codes?
Influenza A also hanging on in Victoria, Australia, with a slight upward trend in cases even into November (late spring!)
Appears to be driven by the new subclade K of A/H3N2. (Can anyone confirm with sequencing data?)
www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...
Appears to be driven by the new subclade K of A/H3N2. (Can anyone confirm with sequencing data?)
www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...
November 15, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Influenza A also hanging on in Victoria, Australia, with a slight upward trend in cases even into November (late spring!)
Appears to be driven by the new subclade K of A/H3N2. (Can anyone confirm with sequencing data?)
www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...
Appears to be driven by the new subclade K of A/H3N2. (Can anyone confirm with sequencing data?)
www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...
No new A/H5N1 bird flu cases on the dashboard since the shutdown.
(Note, a case in WA state was recently reported in the media: www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...)
3/3
(Note, a case in WA state was recently reported in the media: www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...)
3/3
November 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM
No new A/H5N1 bird flu cases on the dashboard since the shutdown.
(Note, a case in WA state was recently reported in the media: www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...)
3/3
(Note, a case in WA state was recently reported in the media: www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...)
3/3
A/H3N2 is leading the charge this year (red). The new subclade-K strain of A/H3N2 has caused a long and late flu season in Australia and an early flu season in UK.
Some concern that it appeared too late for the N. Hemisphere vaccine update. (Get vaxed anyway!)
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...
2/
Some concern that it appeared too late for the N. Hemisphere vaccine update. (Get vaxed anyway!)
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...
2/
November 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM
A/H3N2 is leading the charge this year (red). The new subclade-K strain of A/H3N2 has caused a long and late flu season in Australia and an early flu season in UK.
Some concern that it appeared too late for the N. Hemisphere vaccine update. (Get vaxed anyway!)
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...
2/
Some concern that it appeared too late for the N. Hemisphere vaccine update. (Get vaxed anyway!)
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-va...
2/
The US CDC's Flu View is back on-line and the 8 Nov flu report is available.
Influenza is just starting to tick up in the US (red line with circle points at left is current season).
www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...
1/
Influenza is just starting to tick up in the US (red line with circle points at left is current season).
www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...
1/
November 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The US CDC's Flu View is back on-line and the 8 Nov flu report is available.
Influenza is just starting to tick up in the US (red line with circle points at left is current season).
www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...
1/
Influenza is just starting to tick up in the US (red line with circle points at left is current season).
www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...
1/
The US is currently at historic lows for Covid-19 emergency department visits and test positivity, but has probably hit bottom and I'd expect rising levels through the end of the year.
(data source in quoted thread)
(data source in quoted thread)
November 14, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The US is currently at historic lows for Covid-19 emergency department visits and test positivity, but has probably hit bottom and I'd expect rising levels through the end of the year.
(data source in quoted thread)
(data source in quoted thread)
Emergency department visits are an early indicator of respiratory virus activity and severity.
You can view percentage of ED visits positive for flu, RSV, and Covid-19 further down the page. The drop-down menu allows you to view by state.
3/3
You can view percentage of ED visits positive for flu, RSV, and Covid-19 further down the page. The drop-down menu allows you to view by state.
3/3
November 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Emergency department visits are an early indicator of respiratory virus activity and severity.
You can view percentage of ED visits positive for flu, RSV, and Covid-19 further down the page. The drop-down menu allows you to view by state.
3/3
You can view percentage of ED visits positive for flu, RSV, and Covid-19 further down the page. The drop-down menu allows you to view by state.
3/3
This map is easy to understand and gives an overview of respiratory virus activity by state.
2/
2/
November 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
This map is easy to understand and gives an overview of respiratory virus activity by state.
2/
2/
The annual ABS Causes of Death report is out today.
Life in Australia in 2024 was less deadly than pre-pandemic. The airborne-AIDS and turbo-cancer apocalypses have failed to materialize.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
Life in Australia in 2024 was less deadly than pre-pandemic. The airborne-AIDS and turbo-cancer apocalypses have failed to materialize.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
November 14, 2025 at 1:20 AM
The annual ABS Causes of Death report is out today.
Life in Australia in 2024 was less deadly than pre-pandemic. The airborne-AIDS and turbo-cancer apocalypses have failed to materialize.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
Life in Australia in 2024 was less deadly than pre-pandemic. The airborne-AIDS and turbo-cancer apocalypses have failed to materialize.
www.abs.gov.au/statistics/h...
This paper indicates that J.2.4.x A/H3N2 was rising steeply in Australia through August.
utppublishing.com/doi/pdf/10.3...
utppublishing.com/doi/pdf/10.3...
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This paper indicates that J.2.4.x A/H3N2 was rising steeply in Australia through August.
utppublishing.com/doi/pdf/10.3...
utppublishing.com/doi/pdf/10.3...
Influenza continuing to cause problems in NSW well into November.
This appears to be due to the novel Subclade K of A/H3N2 (or its J.2.4 progenitor). Can anyone confirm/point to recent sequencing data?
www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/c...
This appears to be due to the novel Subclade K of A/H3N2 (or its J.2.4 progenitor). Can anyone confirm/point to recent sequencing data?
www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/c...
November 13, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Influenza continuing to cause problems in NSW well into November.
This appears to be due to the novel Subclade K of A/H3N2 (or its J.2.4 progenitor). Can anyone confirm/point to recent sequencing data?
www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/c...
This appears to be due to the novel Subclade K of A/H3N2 (or its J.2.4 progenitor). Can anyone confirm/point to recent sequencing data?
www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/c...
Last note:
It's still a surprisingly high amount of covid!
"Flu" is three co-circulating strains, and covid was detected more than any individual flu strain. It's quite possible it was the most detected individual virus. (RSV is two strains, RV is many...)
6/
It's still a surprisingly high amount of covid!
"Flu" is three co-circulating strains, and covid was detected more than any individual flu strain. It's quite possible it was the most detected individual virus. (RSV is two strains, RV is many...)
6/
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Last note:
It's still a surprisingly high amount of covid!
"Flu" is three co-circulating strains, and covid was detected more than any individual flu strain. It's quite possible it was the most detected individual virus. (RSV is two strains, RV is many...)
6/
It's still a surprisingly high amount of covid!
"Flu" is three co-circulating strains, and covid was detected more than any individual flu strain. It's quite possible it was the most detected individual virus. (RSV is two strains, RV is many...)
6/
A few caveats to interpreting those numbers.
(1) These are symptomatic infections, so some infections will be missed. Case definition is below. This won't capture a mild bout of sniffles. On the other hand, rhinoviruses were detected 6 times as often as covid, so it does include some "colds"!
2/
(1) These are symptomatic infections, so some infections will be missed. Case definition is below. This won't capture a mild bout of sniffles. On the other hand, rhinoviruses were detected 6 times as often as covid, so it does include some "colds"!
2/
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
A few caveats to interpreting those numbers.
(1) These are symptomatic infections, so some infections will be missed. Case definition is below. This won't capture a mild bout of sniffles. On the other hand, rhinoviruses were detected 6 times as often as covid, so it does include some "colds"!
2/
(1) These are symptomatic infections, so some infections will be missed. Case definition is below. This won't capture a mild bout of sniffles. On the other hand, rhinoviruses were detected 6 times as often as covid, so it does include some "colds"!
2/
WellKiwis has wrapped up their respiratory virus surveillance this year in Wellington, NZ.
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
WellKiwis has wrapped up their respiratory virus surveillance this year in Wellington, NZ.
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
During 31 Mar - 19 Oct 2025, they detected:
2,328 identified single viruses (some samples had >1)
of which:
191 (8.2%) were SARS-CoV-2
382 (16.4%) were influenza
➡️Twice as many flu as covid detections!
1/
There are some interesting bits of information in here.
Clearly the numbers reflect both incidence and severity.
In ages 5-9, flu detections outnumber covid by a factor of 12 (😮)
In ages 70+, they are approximately equal.
Clearly the numbers reflect both incidence and severity.
In ages 5-9, flu detections outnumber covid by a factor of 12 (😮)
In ages 70+, they are approximately equal.
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 AM
There are some interesting bits of information in here.
Clearly the numbers reflect both incidence and severity.
In ages 5-9, flu detections outnumber covid by a factor of 12 (😮)
In ages 70+, they are approximately equal.
Clearly the numbers reflect both incidence and severity.
In ages 5-9, flu detections outnumber covid by a factor of 12 (😮)
In ages 70+, they are approximately equal.
BTW here are the numbers for all Australia for the year to date, broken out by state and age group.
www.health.gov.au/sites/defaul...
www.health.gov.au/sites/defaul...
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 AM
BTW here are the numbers for all Australia for the year to date, broken out by state and age group.
www.health.gov.au/sites/defaul...
www.health.gov.au/sites/defaul...
The WellKiwis infection survey in Wellington, NZ also has twice as many influenza infections as covid infections from 31 March to 19 October 2025. So I think it's quite plausible symptomatic flu:covid infections are running around 2:1 in 2025.
www.wellkiwis.co.nz/news-and-fin...
www.wellkiwis.co.nz/news-and-fin...
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 AM
The WellKiwis infection survey in Wellington, NZ also has twice as many influenza infections as covid infections from 31 March to 19 October 2025. So I think it's quite plausible symptomatic flu:covid infections are running around 2:1 in 2025.
www.wellkiwis.co.nz/news-and-fin...
www.wellkiwis.co.nz/news-and-fin...
Yes! (I knew this would be confusing 😀)
October 31, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Yes! (I knew this would be confusing 😀)