This Week in Virology

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss reversal of last week’s no review decision on a flu mRNA vaccine by Vinjay Prasad, appointment of Jay Bhattacharya as CDC director, no experience required, and already detectable reduction in hepatitis B virus vaccination rates, then Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, the consequences of measles infection on immune amnesia (shout out to Immune 26), long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, long COVID effect on fertility and type 2 diabetes and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

 

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Download TWiV 1298 (26 MB .mp3, 43 min)
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Links for this episode
Whiplash! F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine
(NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Access New wire)
N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
(NY Times)
Reduction in infant Hepatitis B Immunizations (Oregon State Health Department)
Why Adenovirus vectored vaccine failed: Adenoviral Inciting Antigen and Somatic Hypermutation in VITT (NEJM)
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)
Big outbreak, bright lights…Measles Dashboard(South Carolina Department of Public Health)
Measles Outbreak Hits Florida College (NY Times)
Utah’s measles outbreak reaches 300 cases (CIDRAP)
Measles Is Actively Spreading in SLCo (Salt Lake County Health Department)
Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles(CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Measles 2025 (NEJM)
Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens (Science; Immune 26)
Incomplete genetic reconstitution of B cell pools contributes to prolonged immunosuppression after measles (Science)
Studies into the mechanism of measles-associated immune suppression during a measles outbreak in the Netherlands (Nature Communications)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: cliff notes (CDC FluView)
OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option (xofluza)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV))
Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP)
The risk of cardiac disease events after respiratory syncytial virus disease: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis (European Respiratory Review)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
COVID-19 Antiviral Prescription Receipt Among Outpatients Aged ≥65 Years (CDC: MMWR)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUAfor the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro)
Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Assessing the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on fertility and assisted reproductive techniques outcomes: an umbrella review (Vaccine)
Long-Term Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Population-Based Study in British Columbia, Canada (Diabetes Metabolism Research and Review)
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1298
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV explains the observation that filamentous virions act as non-infectious interfering particles to modulate papillomavirus infection, and transmission of monkeypox virus from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys.
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiV!
Links for this episode
Support science education at MicrobeTV
Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
FDA refuses to review Moderna flu mRNA vaccine (CIDRAP)
Oz measles vaccine call, too little too late? (dw.com)
Defective human papillomavirus interfering virus particles (J Virol)
Fire-footed rope squirrel potential MPXV reservoir (Nature)
Squirrels could be MPXV reservoir (Nature)
Letters read on TWiV 1297
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Weekly Picks
Brianne – Silo TV series
Kathy – Ancient RNA expression profiles from the extinct woolly mammoth and Ancient host-associated microbes obtained from mammoth remains
Alan – Ubik, by Philip K. Dick
Vincent – Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Listener Pick
Beth – Iceland crime fiction authors Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ragnar Jonasson
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are shocked by recent events, including Dr. Oz’s appeal for measles vaccination, Vinjay Prasad’s unilateral rejection of Moderna’s mRNA influenza vaccine application, and the increasing number of New World screw worm cases, then Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, the number of measles deaths in Mexico, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, choroid plexus alterations in long COVID association with neuropathologies and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiV!
Links for this episode
How Dr. Oz’s appeal to get measles vaccine may differ from RFK Jr.’s messaging (ABC News)
FDA reverses course, refuses to review Moderna’s application for new mRNA flu vaccine (CIDRAP)
Hepatitis B Vaccination at Birth: Safety, Effectiveness, and Public Health Benefit (American Academy of Pediatrics: Pediatrics)
US Olympic Committee remains ‘dialed in’ to prevent spread of stomach illness at Winter Games (CNN)
Oz promotes measles vaccination (NY Times; USA Today; Fortune)
Screw worm in Mexico (Gobierno de Mexico)
Mexico reports more human New World screwworm infections (CIDRAP)
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)
Big outbreak, bright lights…Measles Dashboard (South Carolina Department of Public Health)
Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Measles outbreak poses risk of ‘irreversible’ brain damage, health officials warn (Fox News)
In Mexico, at least 28 have died from measles outbreak that started 2025 (Reuters)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: cliff notes (CDC FluView)
Influenza vaccination and the risk of myocardial infarction(BMC Publich Health)
OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option(xofluza)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health)
USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Long-term impact of nirsevimab on prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection using a real-world global database (Infection)
Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV))
Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUAfor the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro)
Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Choroid plexus alterations in long COVID and their associations with Alzheimer’s disease risks (Alzheimer’s & Dementia)
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1296
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV reviews a survey conducted in Cambodia's floating villages to explore measles vaccination perceptions and willingness to consider novel vaccination approaches, and how a prophage defends against an infecting phage.
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Brianne Barker, and Jolene Ramsey
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiV!
Links for this episode
Support science education at MicrobeTV
ASV 2026
Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
Update on US measles outbreak (npr)
Tracking Poll on Trust in the CDC and Views of Federal Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes (KFF)
Measles vaccination perceptions in Cambodia (J Virol)
Prophage defends against infecting phage (Cell Host Micro)
Letters read on TWiV 1295
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Weekly Picks
Brianne - Libib book cataloging app
Rich - The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I by Douglas Brunt
Jolene - Ellie Jameson artwork and Redbubble
Vincent - Recursion by Blake Crouch
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update during Ground hog week, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are back to discuss the measles outbreak in South Carolina, American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine recommendations and shingles vaccine and the reduction of dementia, then deep dives into recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wastewater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, estimated effectiveness of this year’s COVID-19 vaccine, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, long COVID in children, the potential benefits of metformin to reduce disease severity following SARS-CoV-2 infection in obese and overweight patients and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiV!
Links for this episode
Grading the groundhogs (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Sand Mountain Sam predicts an early spring (News19)
All About the AAP Recommended Immunization Schedule (healthychildren.org)
Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026: Policy Statement (American Academy of Pediatrics: Pediatrics)
Herpes zoster vaccination and incident dementia in Canada: an analysis of natural experiments (LANCET: Neurology)
Detection of avian flu antibodies in Dutch dairy cow: ECDC risk assessment remains unchanged (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)
Big outbreak, bright lights…Measles Dashboard(South Carolina Department of Public Health)
Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles(CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option(xofluza)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health)
USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV))
Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Estimated Effectiveness of 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccination Against Severe COVID-19 (JAMA)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro)
Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Anticoagulationguidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Long COVID associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection among children and adolescents in the omicron era (RECOVER-EHR): a retrospective cohort study (LANCET: Infectious Diseases)
Long COVID is here to stay—even in children (LANCET: Infectious Diseases)
Early administration of neutralising monoclonal antibodies and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Preventing Long COVID With Metformin (CID)
Metformin may reduce risk of long COVID by 64% in overweight or obese adults
(CIDRAP)
Effect of Metformin on the Risk of Post-coronavirus Disease 2019 Condition Among Individuals With Overweight or Obese (CID)
Preventing Long COVID With Metformin (CID)
New review highlights growing evidence that diabetes drug metformin can prevent long COVID (CIDRAP)
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1294
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.