Day: January 18, 2025

On January 6, the Louisiana Department of Health announced that a patient hospitalized last month for H5N1 avian influenza had died, becoming the first U.S. death from the virus.

To make matters worse, samples taken from the individual suggest that the virus mutated within the patient after infection—meaning it had begun to adapt to infect humans better—raising new questions about H5N1’s pandemic potential. 

There have been 66 confirmed human cases in the U.S., the majority of which have resulted from exposure while working on poultry or dairy farms. Most cases are mild, and the risk to the general public currently remains low, but the escalation of high mortality in other mammals is another red flag for public health experts. 

⚠️ BREAKING:

H5N1 Cases Surge to Highest Level Since 2015, WHO Warns Virus Could Mutate to Spread Easily Between Humans, Saying "It's Only a Matter of Time"; Nearly Half of Infected Humans Have Died Since 2003.

Transmission lets the virus mutate or merge, creating new strains. pic.twitter.com/Kt3ZakJs7x

— SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) January 17, 2025

𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕊‑ℂ𝕠𝕍‑𝟚 (ℂ𝕆𝕍𝕀𝔻-𝟙𝟡)

Please pay attention. https://t.co/QuIc3kuRXE

— Becky A Robertson (@AnciraBecky) January 18, 2025

𝔹𝕖𝕔𝕜𝕪 𝔸 ℝ𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕤𝕠𝕟

Moderna Is Getting $590 Million From the U.S. to Accelerate a Bird Flu Vaccine https://t.co/Inm7Road7U

— Becky A Robertson (@AnciraBecky) January 18, 2025

𝔹𝕖𝕔𝕜𝕪 𝔸 ℝ𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕤𝕠𝕟

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The billionaire said he was “‘impressed” by the US president-elect’s interest in his healthcare innovation proposals

Billionaire Bill Gates has discussed how lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic could be used to “accelerate innovation” in addressing other global health challenges with US President-elect Donald Trump, according to an interview the Microsoft founder and vaccine advocate has given to the Wall Street Journal.

Gates described his recent three-hour dinner with Trump as “long and actually quite intriguing.” The meeting, which included incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and one of Gates’ staffers, reportedly focused on how Trump could contribute to significant milestones, such as developing a cure for HIV and eradicating polio.

“He was fascinated to hear what he could do to maximize the chance that during the next four years that incredible milestone [eradication of polio] will be achieved,” Gates said in a clip published by the Wall Street Journal on Friday.

JUST IN: Bill Gates says he was very “impressed” by Trump during their three hour dinner together.

Everyone is falling in line. Interesting.

Gates said he and the president elect had a very “intriguing” conversation about global health.

“[Trump was] energized and looking… pic.twitter.com/raKz31YHIO

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 17, 2025

ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟 ℝ𝕦𝕘𝕘

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