Public health messaging around the hantavirus cruise ship outbreak has been, ‘there is an extremely low risk to the general public,’ but this is suboptimal.
Oh, thank God!!! Dr. Prasad has returned to us! Your breadth of knowledge combined with wisdom, experience, clarity, and measure are what our parched ears long, and indeed, need to hear. I was so hopeful that this gift could be further and wider flung from your seat at the FDA and was for your tenure. And now back to Sensible Medicine, and no doubt other spaces, perhaps even more far-reaching, as you continue your calling.
VP — while I deplore how you were treated by the media and others in the public during your CBER tenure, it is lovely to have you back. I have missed your sarcasm! Also, I subscribed to your YouTube channel and enjoyed your first video.
Ah, nice to have some "Sense" in the narrative. This outbreak on the ship has been tragic for sure. I feel for those who have lost their lives and for those who are worried about their exposure. I came to the same conclusion from what I could find about the Hantavirus. Thank you Vinay
Now, let's say I *am* sweeping mouse droppings in New Mexico (because I do have to clean out my parents' garage) - what are my chances of catching Hantavirus? In Albuquerque...in the city limits.
Anyone who depends on NYT for objective analysis is willfully ignoring the evidence of their Covid coverage. The credibility is zero. Unfortunately their leadership does not seem to have any plan to rebuild an objective viewpoint.
What concerns me most about public health messaging about Andes - or about anything else - is the lack of reflection and lack of humility about the catastrophic damage done. I can't bear to open BlueSky to read the comments, but I do read the IDSA message board and comments on Twitter, and comments like "Hantavirus, death, CDC decimated, Trumptrumptrump" are a dime a dozen.
As the cruise ship landed a bit closer to Germany as to the US, the coverage here is a bit more intense here. I'm just a normal GP and do actually not fear any Hanta virus (2024 we had just around 400 cases for over 80 million people). BUT: is there really NO fear at all. If it were an US or European Hanta I'd agree, but this subtype is type "Andes" Originalität in Chile, Brasil and Argentina. There are possible human to human Transmission. And letality is around 20 fold higher. So the possiblity for a pandemic is very very low but not 0.
Welcome home, Vinay....you've been missed! And for what it's worth our government made a huge mistake in letting you get away. But I can't wipe the smile off my face reading you again on SM.
I also welcome Vinay back. You have a penchant for live in any discussion👍
There’s a dictum in journalism: “blood leads“. Stated otherwise that which is most horrible,most life-threatening, most scary or makes people read or watch whatever the story is will always be number one lead story. Advertisers pay for circulation/viewers. Remember, it’s not the money it’s the MONEY.
The only thing I would add is that since the death rate is so high, the actual spread of the virus is also limited.
As disappointed as I am about you leaving government service I am so happy to be reading your contributions again. Welcome back! I've been seeing an uptick in mask wearers here in my mid Missouri area. Curious, hmm? Thanks for your commonsense approach.
Oh, thank God!!! Dr. Prasad has returned to us! Your breadth of knowledge combined with wisdom, experience, clarity, and measure are what our parched ears long, and indeed, need to hear. I was so hopeful that this gift could be further and wider flung from your seat at the FDA and was for your tenure. And now back to Sensible Medicine, and no doubt other spaces, perhaps even more far-reaching, as you continue your calling.
Onward, Dr.Prasad, onward!
VP — while I deplore how you were treated by the media and others in the public during your CBER tenure, it is lovely to have you back. I have missed your sarcasm! Also, I subscribed to your YouTube channel and enjoyed your first video.
Thanks for this "sensible" message. I appreciate when your posts challenge things without drifting into cynicism. I hope you keep doing more of that.
So for perspective….as a population we should be more worried about measles outbreaks than Hantavirus?
So happy to have your voice of reason in my feed again
Welcome back, Dr. Prasad! Great to have your voice here again.
Ah, nice to have some "Sense" in the narrative. This outbreak on the ship has been tragic for sure. I feel for those who have lost their lives and for those who are worried about their exposure. I came to the same conclusion from what I could find about the Hantavirus. Thank you Vinay
Love having you back Vinay!
Now, let's say I *am* sweeping mouse droppings in New Mexico (because I do have to clean out my parents' garage) - what are my chances of catching Hantavirus? In Albuquerque...in the city limits.
Anyone who depends on NYT for objective analysis is willfully ignoring the evidence of their Covid coverage. The credibility is zero. Unfortunately their leadership does not seem to have any plan to rebuild an objective viewpoint.
What concerns me most about public health messaging about Andes - or about anything else - is the lack of reflection and lack of humility about the catastrophic damage done. I can't bear to open BlueSky to read the comments, but I do read the IDSA message board and comments on Twitter, and comments like "Hantavirus, death, CDC decimated, Trumptrumptrump" are a dime a dozen.
Please post this article on BlueSky, just for kicks.
I don’t have an account and would rather not sign up
No worries. I was just trying to be funny (and failing).
Welcome back, Vinay! Sensible Medicine has become even more sensible!
As the cruise ship landed a bit closer to Germany as to the US, the coverage here is a bit more intense here. I'm just a normal GP and do actually not fear any Hanta virus (2024 we had just around 400 cases for over 80 million people). BUT: is there really NO fear at all. If it were an US or European Hanta I'd agree, but this subtype is type "Andes" Originalität in Chile, Brasil and Argentina. There are possible human to human Transmission. And letality is around 20 fold higher. So the possiblity for a pandemic is very very low but not 0.
Welcome back Vinay Prasad
Welcome home, Vinay....you've been missed! And for what it's worth our government made a huge mistake in letting you get away. But I can't wipe the smile off my face reading you again on SM.
I also welcome Vinay back. You have a penchant for live in any discussion👍
There’s a dictum in journalism: “blood leads“. Stated otherwise that which is most horrible,most life-threatening, most scary or makes people read or watch whatever the story is will always be number one lead story. Advertisers pay for circulation/viewers. Remember, it’s not the money it’s the MONEY.
The only thing I would add is that since the death rate is so high, the actual spread of the virus is also limited.
Ben Hourani MD, MBA
One more "like" for the comment - but the euphonious "if it bleeds, it leads" always sounds better than "blood leads"
Yay 😃 Vinay is Back!
As disappointed as I am about you leaving government service I am so happy to be reading your contributions again. Welcome back! I've been seeing an uptick in mask wearers here in my mid Missouri area. Curious, hmm? Thanks for your commonsense approach.