A Disgraceful Attack on Fetterman

I  have admired John Fetterman greatly since he overcame his debilitating stroke, speech problems, and the depression that normally follows such a serious medical event. The fact that he has been able to become a Senator and the fact that he has had a moderate view on many issues has been very inspiring.

He is also strongly pro-Israel.

I think the fact that he supports Israel, , he met with Netanyahu in Israel, and he visited Trump at Mar-A-Lago, has put him in the crosshairs of his radical Democrat colleagues, and the result is the shameless New Yorker hit piece. I find it odd that these same Democrats couldn't seem to recognize Biden's obvious cognitive decline, but the can diagnose Fetterman!  I  just hope these despicable Dems don't succeed in forcing him out of office.

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John Fetterman faces new spotlight on health, family drama, sparking online uproar; Gisele Fetterman reportedly clashed with her husband over support for Israel
By Charles Creitz Fox News, May 2, 2025  

"A new exposé about Sen. John Fetterman's, D-Pa., time on Capitol Hill set social media ablaze on Friday. 

"The report raised questions about alleged tensions with his wife, Gisele, over his health regimen, his stance on Israel and her reported run-ins with his staff.

"In "All By Himself: John Fetterman insists he is in good health, but staffers past and present say they no longer recognize the man they once knew," New York Magazine’s Intelligencer lays out recollections from current and former staff members who worked for the Pennsylvania Democrat. In May 2022, Fetterman suffered a serious stroke mid-Senate campaign against Dr. Mehmet Oz.

"The article relates several reported instances, including a February 2023 situation at a Democratic caucus retreat at the Library of Congress.

"A staffer told the outlet that he received a message questioning how Fetterman was doing, as he was found sitting at a table alone, silently drinking a soda.

"The report went on to claim the lawmaker was "nearly struck by a car" and found "wandering" Capitol Hill.

"Physicians at George Washington University Hospital later determined he was severely dehydrated, and had not had a second stroke as feared.

"An ensuing discussion with then-Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, found Fetterman to be nearly "catatonic" when Brown tried to talk with him. Soon after, on Feb. 15, he was admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center.

"After being discharged, Fetterman "threw himself into" his Senate work and became more vociferous than ever on issues like the Israel-Gaza conflict and other topics that have rankled his Democratic colleagues.

"He also took a leading role in calling for the ouster of now-former Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., amid corruption allegations.

"Former and current staffers paint a picture of an erratic senator who has become almost impossible to work for and whose mental-health situation is more serious and complicated than previously reported," the article read.

"After staffers wrote a letter about Fetterman's "gutting betrayal" supporting Israel, the report went on to allege Gisele confronted him about Jerusalem "bombing refugee camps — how can you support this?"

"Gisele "reportedly also went to staffers with her concerns, while a Senate physician in December 2023 reported him "acting bizarrely" near the Senate subway, while he had not had bloodwork in months.

"The hulking lawmaker also reportedly nearly knocked over folks walking in the Capitol.

"Both types of incidents reportedly rankled his wife, who was vociferous on the matter, according to the magazine piece.

"Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman for comment.

"Social media became abuzz after the article dropped, with Bloomberg columnist Matthew Yglesias calling it "a very sad story here on a human level, but of course, it’s also politics and can’t be addressed purely on that level."

"Left-wing former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan wrote that the story and color from former staffers therein "makes clear that Fetterman should not be serving in the Senate. Every Senate Democrat should read this and be asked about it."

"A California progressive group reacted by writing that the story is an indictment of populist lawmakers.

"Whether they're left or right, whether they agree with your preferred policies or not, populism will not get you the best leaders," Bay Area New Liberals wrote.

"Another user said the story showed Gisele as "evil."

"These are not red flags, this is a siren going off. John Fetterman is not taking his meds… He needs inpatient care," commented another.

"Funny how they didn't run these hit pieces or question Fetterman's mental health during the campaign when he was barely able to speak or when he so spectacularly fumbled the debate against Dr. Oz. But now that he turned out not to be a deranged Trump hater, a psychotic terrorist lover, or an obedient progressive, suddenly they're starting to question his mental acuity," a different user wrote.

"Knocking him out early before he can do anything in 2028?" wrote another, who conjectured that both Fetterman and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro could end up battling each other in the next Democratic presidential primary."

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Also see this article at Twitchy:  Just Amazing: New York Magazine Runs Story on John Fetterman's Health That Reads Like a Hit Piece

Don't Mess With Vaccine Success!

Remember the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Well, our COVID vaccine system isn't broke, and RFK Jr. shouldn't tamper with it. And imagine if the Fall vaccine is delayed and we end up having another big COVID surge.

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Updated Covid vaccines for the fall may be in jeopardy under Kennedy's new rules. If the FDA deems Pfizer’s and Moderna’s updated vaccines “new” products, it’s extremely unlikely the doses would be ready for the fall, vaccine experts say 

NBC News, May 1, 2025, 5:48 PM EDT, by Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

"The anticipated rollout of updated Covid vaccines this fall might be at risk after a change by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in how vaccines are tested, experts say.

"Under the change by Kennedy, according to an HHS spokesperson, all new vaccines will need to go through placebo-controlled clinical trials — where some people get the actual shot and others get something inactive, like a saline shot — to compare the results.

"Running trials that include a placebo group is already routine for most new vaccines.

"The original Covid vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, approved in late 2020, went through placebo-controlled trials. But as the virus continued to mutate and the vaccines needed to be updated to match the circulating strain, drugmakers moved to a flu vaccine-like model — using smaller studies to test how well the updated shots triggered an immune response against the variant in question.

"Like the annual flu shot, the updated Covid vaccines weren’t treated as entirely new products, since they still used the same formula, with just a tweak to what strain the vaccine would be targeting. The mRNA Covid vaccines were designed so that this change would be particularly easy to make, in the event the shots needed to be quickly updated.

"Quickly, in this case, turns out to be several months. In order to have enough Covid doses ready to go for the fall, vaccine-makers are told what strain to target in the spring.

"The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee is expected to meet in May or June to make a recommendation on which strains should be included in the next round of shots. A person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the FDA had planned to schedule a meeting for May 22. An HHS spokesperson declined to comment on the meeting date.

"If the FDA deems Pfizer’s and Moderna’s updated vaccines “new” products, requiring fresh trials, it’s extremely unlikely the doses would be ready for the fall, experts said.

"Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, said the change would almost certainly delay the rollout of the updated shots from Pfizer and Moderna by “months,” as it would take time for the drugmakers to design the new trials and enroll participants.

"That would only be the start — the drugmakers would then have to run the actual trial, which would take several months on its own, at minimum, and analyze the results.

"Even the Covid vaccines — which were hailed as “the most successful government science program” because of how quickly they were developed, according to Dr. Alex Greninger, a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at UW Medicine in Seattle — still took at least about six months to run their Phase 3 trials.

"The HHS spokesperson didn’t directly respond to a question about whether the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would require new clinical trials.

"However, the spokesperson said in a statement that “FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary has indicated that significant updates to existing vaccines — such as those addressing seasonal strain changes or antigenic drift — may be considered ‘new products’ requiring additional clinical evaluation.”

“As we’ve said before, trials from four years ago conducted in people without natural immunity no longer suffice,” the spokesperson said. “A four-year-old trial is also not a blank check for new vaccines each year without clinical trial data,” they said, adding that the flu shot would be exempt from the new rule, because it “has been tried and tested for more than 80 years.”

"The FDA has already delayed the approval of Novavax’s updated Covid vaccine, requiring the company to carry out a new clinical trial because the strain included in the shot differs from what was originally authorized.

"Vaccine experts panned the new requirements.

"It’s “unethical,” Offit said, noting that it’s generally frowned upon in the scientific community to give someone a placebo when an approved product already exists that can protect them.

"Dr. Stanley Plotkin, a pediatrician who played a key role in developing the rubella vaccine, said the move would make “no sense.”

“What would be reasonable is to compare the old vaccine with the new vaccine to see whether the new vaccine gives better immunologic responses,” Plotkin said. “We have vaccines against Covid, where we have pretty concrete ideas as to what works and what doesn’t work. We know they’re not perfect, but we have vaccines we know work.”

"Spokespeople for Pfizer and Moderna did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"Former government officials have said HHS, under Kennedy, was moving to slow-walk vaccine approvals, including by imposing new regulatory hurdles on drugmakers, such as changing the requirements for approval or seeking additional clinical trial data. 

"Vaccine experts also fear the rule change is part of a broader effort by Kennedy to sow distrust in vaccines and limit public access to them.

“The goal is to make vaccines more onerous to make, more onerous to test by bringing up these sort of false safety concerns or false efficacy concerns,” Offit said.

"Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases, said the change is unlikely to affect brand-new vaccines. But it could have major implications for vaccines that may require updates besides Covid — like those for RSV — since placebo trials are costly and take significantly more time to conduct.

“It’s really not feasible, and would lead to lots of hospitalizations and deaths,” O’Leary said.

"Plotkin added that vaccines being developed for infections that are incurable, like HIV, may also be at risk.

“Suppose you wanted to develop a new HIV vaccine?” he asked. “Would you do a placebo-controlled trial in that situation? I mean exposing children to a disease which is very serious without offering them anything.”

Glorifying Murder

I thought this had to be a sick joke in very poor taste when I heard about it today, but sadly, it's actually true. Can you imagine what Brian Thompson's widow must think of this? Whatever happened to common decency?

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Luigi Mangione Musical Set to Debut Next Month. The Entire Run Is Already Sold Out 

"Luigi Mangione is getting the Roxie Hart treatment.

"The accused murderer will be the subject of a new musical set to premiere next month in San Francisco, titled Luigi: The Musical.

"Also appearing as characters in the musical will be two of Mangione’s fellow inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center - Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried.

"The play is already sold out for its entire run.

"The premiere comes 99 years after Hart - a fictional character based on accused murderer Beulah Annan - made her Broadway debut in Chicago.

"Annan, like Hart, was ultimately acquitted of murder. 

"A synopsis of the musical, which is set to run at the Taylor Street Theater, suggests the work is more a reimagining of that beloved Broadway classic than an original idea.

“A wildly irreverent, razor-sharp comedy that imagines the true story of Luigi Mangione, the alleged corporate assassin turned accidental folk hero,” writes the theater company.

"It goes on to say that Mangione “navigates friendship, justice, and the absurdity of viral fame” all with “his real-life cellmates … by his side.”

The Pot Calling The Kettle Black

How's this for chutzpah? 

And if, as they say, COVID was indeed present here in 2019, it was only because a few of our soldiers brought it home with them from the World Military Games, which were held in --- Wuhan, China!

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China blames US for origin of COVID-19 and turning 'deaf ear to the numerous questions over its conduct'; A paper published by the Chinese Communist Party also blames the US for not doing enough to combat the virus 

"China is blaming the United States for the origin of COVID-19, accusing Washington of 'evading responsibility' for the virus amid multiple statements by President Donald Trump that it was leaked from a lab in Wuhan.

"In a multipage paper, the Communist regime said the infectious disease was present in the U.S. earlier than what was officially determined. 

"The US should cease from shifting blame and evading responsibility, stop finding external excuses for its internal malaise, and genuinely reflect on and overhaul its public health policies," the paper states. "The US cannot continue to turn a deaf ear to the numerous questions over its conduct."

Possible News About Approval of COVID Boosters

I never liked Marty Makary when he was on the news commenting about COVID; to me he seemed like he preferred quack medicine to the real thing.   Now that he's head of the FDA, I dislike him even more.

Just because we're in a COVID lull right now, it doesn't mean we'll still be in a lull in the Fall. I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Why would you take chances and not approve boosters for next winter? Not all Americans are antivaxxers, and some of us actually get every COVID booster that's been made available. We'd rather not go without.

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From CBS News 4/29/25:

FDA chief says they're looking at whether to approve COVID shots for next winter 

"The head of the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that the agency is now looking at whether it will still approve COVID-19 vaccines for next winter, citing a lack of data on booster shots.

"We're taking a look. I can't comment on any particular application. As you know, we have a bunch of applications for those booster shots," FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett.

"Makary said many health care workers did not get the last round of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, calling it "a bit of a public trust problem."

"I think there's a void of data. And I think rather than allow that void to be filled with opinions, I'd like to see some good data," Makary said.

"His answer marks a change from during the Biden administration, when FDA officials backed plans to routinely update the COVID-19 vaccines each year."

"Violin of Hope"

Attention, Jew-haters. You should read this and learn from it. Unlike you, who wants destruction and death, the Jews bound for the gas chambers still believed in hope and decency, even under the most hellish of circumstances.

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Secret note found hidden in Jewish prisoner’s violin at Dachau concentration camp

A violin from a Nazi concentration camp nearly went unnoticed for over eight decades, then a secret note changed everything.

By Lucy Hicks Beach  4/28/28, Classic FM

"In 1941, while imprisoned at Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, a Jewish violin maker built an instrument that would go on to be known as the ‘violin of hope’ In it, he left a note that would not be discovered for over 80 years.

"When Hungarian arts dealers, Szandra Katona and Tamás Tálosi came across the violin, they were initially intending to donate it. Then, when their friend looked in the violin’s F-hole, they found a note left by its creator that changed everything they understood about the instrument.

“Trial instrument, made under difficult conditions with no tools and materials,” the worn note on the inside of the violin read. “Dachau. Anno 1941, Franciszek Kempa.”

"The violin had been stored among a set of purchased furniture for years, and when the art dealers sent it out for repairs, its history came to light. The professional repairing it was puzzled by what they saw: although the craftsmanship suggested it was built by a skilled maker, the wood was of poor quality.

“If you look at its proportions and structure, you can see that it’s a master violin, made by a man who was proficient in his craft,” said Szandra Katona, one of the art dealers who discovered the violin’s origins, “But the choice of wood was completely incomprehensible.”

"The repairer, in a bid to understand its origins, disassembled the violin, revealing Kempa’s hidden note.

"Dachau, located near Munich, was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in March 1933. It initially housed political prisoners but later became a model for other camps, imprisoning Jews, Roma and others targeted by the Nazi regime. At least 40,000 people are believed to have died there due to starvation, disease, execution, or mistreatment before its liberation on 29 April 1945.

"Musical instruments were present in concentration camps during World War II, and Nazi leaders often encouraged the formation of musician groups within the camps as a mode of propaganda to mislead the outside world about life within them.

"A wide range of musical activities took place in Dachau, both forced and voluntary. Testimonies from prisoners include descriptions of orchestral concerts, cabaret performances, communal singing, choirs, church music and forced singing.

"All known instruments that survived Dachau are believed to have been brought in by prisoners. Kempa’s ‘violin of hope’ as it has been named, is the only known instrument actually built inside the camp.

"Kempa’s note, then, has been deemed a kind of explanation or apology. Although it is unknown exactly why he built the violin, this master violin maker was forced to work within unimaginable conditions and made something that he felt was inadequate.

"Kempa survived the war and returned to his native Poland to continue making instruments before dying in 1953. He was known to the Nazis as an instrument maker, and Tálosi suggested this is how he survived.

“We named it the ‘violin of hope’ because if someone ends up in a difficult situation, having a task or a challenge helps them get through a lot of things,” Tálosi said. “You focus not on the problem, but on the task itself, and I think this helped the maker of this instrument to survive the concentration camp.”

Your Local Epidemiologist - The Dose, 4/29/25

Here's the latest edition of Dr.Katelyn Jetelina's The Dose newsletter for 4/29/25:

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Novavax confusion, food dyes, measles, dengue, and a new backup plan for vaccines
The Dose (April 29)  

"Measles cases are still rising fast, dengue season is heating up early, and food dyes may be on their way out. Plus, a lot of confusion around Novavax Covid-19 vaccine approval and a new backup plan for vaccine policy.

"Here’s the much-needed context and what it may mean to you.

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Infectious disease alerts

"Measles: We’re now at 923 cases nationwide. It’s hard to determine whether we’re at the beginning or middle of these outbreaks, given significant underreporting, but we’re quickly approaching the highest number of cases recorded in the past 25 years.

Figure by Your Local Epidemiologist

"For the big Texas outbreak, I’m keeping a close eye on:

• El Paso: 29 cases in just 18 days.

• Chihuahua, Mexico: Outbreak is surging, with 605 cases reported.

• New Mexico: Signs of slowing, with fewer new cases each week.

"A new KFF poll shows a stark divide in public concern: 76% of Democrats say they’re worried about the measles outbreak, compared to just 28% of Republicans.

"For a deeper dive, check out the SITREP report:

Ysph Vmoc Special Report Measles Outbreak Southwest Us 4 26 2025[43] Read Only

2.01MB ∙ PDF file

Download

"Dengue (also known as breakbone fever), traditionally considered a neglected tropical disease, is creeping northward due to a warming Earth, resulting in more locally acquired cases and an increase in cases from international travel. Last year, Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency. Most infections are asymptomatic, but 1 in 4 infections cause flu-like symptoms and can occasionally (1 in 20 infections) cause more severe disease like hemorrhagic fever.

"This year, CDC has reported 1,568 cases—mostly from international travel and mostly in Puerto Rico. But Hawaii made news last week as they already reported 7 travel-related cases—higher than expected for this time of year:

• 2024: 14 total cases

• Previous years: 4 cases on average

"We will likely see more cases in the U.S., but for now, it remains a rare occurrence.

"What does this mean to you? Risk is very low and not uniform across the States. TX, CA, FL, and PR typically see the most locally acquired cases. Prevention is simple: EPA-recommended insect repellents, especially those with DEET. They really do work. Here is a YLE deep dive on mosquito-borne illnesses in the U.S. if you’re looking for more context.

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FDA moves to phase out all petroleum-based food dyes

"Red dye #3 is already out the door, and the new HHS administration is trying to phase out the rest. Last Tuesday, HHS announced the initiative.

"What actually happened:

• Only two rarely-used colors—Citrus Red 2 and Orange B—were officially revoked.

• For the remaining six, which are more widely used, it will be entirely up to the food industry under a voluntary “understanding”—not a formal ban. Response from industry members so far has been mixed; some have pledged support, while others are maintaining their safety.

"Some key context:

• Contrary to popular belief, five of these six colors are allowed in Europe whose regulatory body follows a more cautionary hazard-based approach to food safety. They just use different names on their food labels. Dr. Andrea Love created a great table (see below).

• Possible tradeoffs: Natural colors are generally less vibrant and may help reduce the appeal of unhealthy foods to kids. It will be interesting to see the impact on consumers. But natural colors are also more expensive to make, less consistent (affected by pH, cooking and processing) and less shelf-stable—which means higher food costs and potentially more food waste. Some natural colors may also pose a risk to individuals with food allergies, making transparency in ingredient labeling critical.

"What does this mean for you? It’s unclear at this point. The impact on you as a consumer will depend on how—and whether—the industry chooses to shift. But again, let’s not lose the forest for the trees. For real progress to make America healthier, we need a number of systematic changes that tackle root causes.

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What’s happening with Novavax? This is a good question.

"Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, Novavax uses a more traditional protein-based platform. It has been available under emergency use authorization while working toward full FDA approval—the gold standard for maintaining market access. Manufacturing delays have slowed that process. But a lot has changed in just the past month.

"Here’s what I know:

• Full approval was originally scheduled for April 1, but that decision was paused—eerily, just after Dr. Peter Marks was forced to resign—sparking speculation of political interference.

• Last week, Novavax announced it’s back on track for full approval.

• Then, over the weekend, the FDA said that it is requiring a clinical trial to reevaluate the effectiveness of Novavax.

• And now, more recent comments suggest that the same bar might be applied to Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as well.

"This is… not normal. A new clinical trial could cost millions of dollars—which isn’t my main concern, given the financial position of these companies—but it would also take time, and that is a concern. Fall is around the corner, and designing, recruiting, conducting trials, and manufacturing doses typically take years—unless we’re in a declared emergency.

"Since the original Covid-19 vaccine trials, we have shifted to a model similar to flu vaccines: anticipate the virus mutating quickly and test a small number of people’s blood to confirm an immune response. The strain changes in the vaccine formula are minor—more like tweaking a few letters in a Word doc than changing the document’s content, length, or format. Meanwhile, real-world data from CDC continues to show that updated Covid vaccines offer additional protection, especially for those over 65.

"Here’s what I don’t know: Are these just FDA talking points to the media, or will this actually become policy for fall approval? What kind of trial is being required—tens of thousands of participants? And why are Covid-19 vaccines now being treated so differently than flu?

"There’s a lot we still don’t know. And until we get clarity, it’s unclear whether updated Covid vaccines will be available this fall—or if they’ll be delayed by shifting expectations and new rules.

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The Vaccine Integrity Project: a new backup plan?

"There are concerns that Secretary Kennedy will politically influence or change ACIP—the external committee for vaccine policy in the United States—which means the possibility of changing eligibility or access to vaccines. If this happens, it will be a mess. States will be on their own, insurance companies will be looking for third-party validation, and there would be a whole lot of confusion.

"So, a shadow group was stood up University of Minnesota (called the Vaccine Integrity Project) backed by a philanthropic gift. This will be an eight-member committee to advise on vaccine protection, effectiveness, and recommendations outside of government.

"What does it mean for you? The Vaccine Integrity Project won’t have formal authority. However, if ACIP’s role becomes politicized, it could serve as an important alternative. It’s another sign that public health groups are mobilizing to stay ahead of potential disruptions.

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Bottom line

"You’re all caught up! Have a great week.

"Love, the YLE Team"

Dr Ruth's COVID & Health News, 4/27/25

Here is Dr Ruth Ann Crystal's latest newsletter, COVID & Health News, 4/27/25:

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"This week, the CDC reports LOW overall levels of respiratory illness with COVID, RSV, and influenza hospitalizations are trending downward nationally. Influenza B remains more prevalent than Influenza A especially in the Northeast, but levels are decreasing.

Regional wastewater levels from: https://data.wastewaterscan.org/

COVID
"Wastewater monitoring from the CDC through 4/19/25 showed that most of the country was at low SARS-CoV-2 levels. As of 4/27/25, WastewaterSCAN shows LOW levels of SARS-CoV-2 across most of the U.S., though MEDIUM levels persist in the Midwest and HIGH levels in the Northeast. Fewer sites are high in the Northeast as compared to last week. Nationally, COVID transmission is declining but remains slightly higher than some past spring lows due to the muted winter surge, per JP Weiland.

"According to Michael Hoerger, about 1 in 196 people in the U.S. are actively infectious with COVID. The South has higher transmission (1 in 118) and Louisiana cases are high (1 in 63). In contrast, the West has lower levels (1 in 240). Emergency department visits and deaths from COVID remain low, and weekly deaths are nearing record lows this spring.

"In California, most regions report LOW wastewater levels for COVID, though Novato is still HIGH per WastewaterSCAN. CDPH's wastewater data have not been updated since 4/10/25.

Variants

"LP.8.1 represents 69% of COVID cases now and XEC is down to 10%.

Acute COVID infections, General COVID info

"This week, the White House deleted health information about COVID testing, treatment, and vaccination, as well as information on Long COVID from the COVID.gov website, replacing it with a lab leak theory featuring a photo of Donald Trump.

Pediatrics

"Children who tested positive for COVID face significantly higher long-term risks for chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiovascular issues compared to peers who tested negative. The study, led by the University of Pennsylvania and part of the NIH’s RECOVER initiative, found kidney disease risks increased up to 35%, GI symptoms by up to 28%, and cardiovascular conditions like heart inflammation or arrhythmias by 63%. Racial differences also emerged with Asian American Pacific Islander children showing slightly higher Long COVID risk.

“While most public attention has focused on the acute phase of COVID-19, our findings reveal children face significant long-term health risks that clinicians need to monitor,” said senior author Yong Chen, PhD.

"Another study from the University of Pennsylvania found that unvaccinated children and adolescents were up to 20 times more likely to develop Long COVID than those who were vaccinated. The vaccine’s protection against Long COVID comes mostly from preventing infection rather than reducing risk after infection.

"A nationwide study in Israel tracked 101,626 five-year-old kindergarteners over a decade and found that myopia (nearsightedness) prevalence nearly tripled from 3.7% to 12.6% following COVID lockdowns. Researchers linked this increase to less outdoor time and more screen use which are known risk factors for myopia.

"Using mass spectrometry and a machine learning technique called support vector machine (SVM) to find protein patterns in blood samples, a group from Rutgers found protein signatures that can distinguish children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) from those with acute COVID infection, pneumonia, or Kawasaki disease. In MIS-C, proteins related to inflammation and clotting increased, while those tied to lipid metabolism decreased. A three-protein model (ORM1, AZGP1, SERPINA3) distinguished MIS-C from mild COVID-19 with high accuracy (up to 93.5% AUC), and another three-protein signature (VWF, SERPINA3, FCGBP) successfully separated MIS-C from other febrile illnesses like pneumonia and Kawasaki disease.

Share

Vaccines

"Amid rising measles cases, vaccine misinformation, and public health funding cuts, CIDRAP has launched the Vaccine Integrity Project to promote evidence-based vaccine use in the United States. Funded by a $240,000 gift from the Alumbra Foundation, the project will evaluate how non-governmental groups can help ensure vaccine safety and effectiveness remain grounded in science.

“This project acknowledges the unfortunate reality that the system that we've relied on to make vaccine recommendations and to review safety and effectiveness data faces threats.” Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH

"The FDA has requested that Novavax complete a new randomized clinical trial for its COVID vaccine creating costly hurdles that could delay U.S. approval. Novavax has already shown 90% efficacy and is approved abroad. This move, influenced by officials under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has raised concerns about political interference in vaccine approvals.

"This week, there was a review in Nature on vaccination in pregnancy as an important way to protect newborns from infections. Since newborns have immature immune systems and limited vaccine options, maternal antibodies passed through the placenta offer crucial early protection. The article highlights successful examples like vaccines for tetanus, pertussis, influenza, and COVID-19, and notes recent approvals for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines and upcoming vaccines for Group B Streptococcus.

From: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-025-01162-5

Antiviral treatments

"A group from Istanbul tested drugs that are already FDA-approved for other indications to see which could inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease. Lumacaftor, candesartan, nelfinavir and other drugs showed strong antiviral activity against COVID replication in vitro. Clinical trials will be needed to see if these drugs could be repurposed to treat COVID.

"A large U.S. EMR-based study found that taking Paxlovid within 5 days of a mild-to-moderate COVID-19 diagnosis significantly lowered the risk of stroke and death 90+ days later. Among nearly 182,000 matched patient pairs, those who took Paxlovid had a 15% lower risk of stroke and a 32% lower risk of death. The benefit was consistent across all age groups, sexes, health conditions, and vaccination statuses, with particularly strong protection seen in older adults and those with obesity or metabolic diseases.

Long COVID

"A new study using specimens from the UCSF LIINC biobank found that people who had COVID, and especially those with Long COVID, showed signs of persistent immune dysfunction and metabolic imbalances up to four months after infection. Those with Long COVID had immature, inflamed immune cells, high oxidative stress, low tryptophan levels, and markers of immune cell exhaustion and senescence especially in CD8 T-cells. The researchers also identified changes in gene methylation linked to disrupted metabolism and potential cancer risk, suggesting that Long COVID may result from long-lasting damage to immune and metabolic systems. Other viruses like Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are known to cause cancers, and SARS-CoV-2 may have oncogenic potential as well.

"Another study showed that mild or asymptomatic COVID infections can cause long lasting changes to DNA methylation patterns seven months after infection. Two specific DNA sites on AFAP1L2 and PC genes which are linked to immune responses and how cells use energy, were consistently altered. Changes resembled patterns seen in autoimmune or inflammatory diseases suggesting long-term epigenetic remodeling even after mild COVID infection.

"Long COVID affects over 400 million people worldwide, yet there is little guidance or formal training for healthcare professionals. This week, two different groups put out amazing articles on the diagnosis and treatment of Long COVID with helpful tables. The first paper was published by a multidisciplinary group associated with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Multidisciplinary PASC Collaborative and the other paper was written by 179 global Long COVID experts, both using a Delphi approach.

"The AAPM&R Multidisciplinary PASC Collaborative wrote an extensive compendium on the differential diagnosis, testing, management and treatment of Long COVID broken down by symptom. I found this article to be extremely helpful and very detailed.

From: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/pmrj.13397

"The second paper entitled “Long COVID clinical evaluation, research and impact on society” was written by 179 international experts on Long COVID who used a 3-round Delphi method to build consensus on key recommendations for definition, diagnosis, treatment, research, and societal issues relating to Long COVID.

"Table 3 Recommended diagnostic tests available to clinicians for evaluation of patients with Long COVID based on clinical history and examination

From: https://ann-clinmicrob.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12941-025-00793-9/tables/3

"Western University in Canada and the Schmidt Initiative for Long COVID (SILC) have launched a global clinical trial to evaluate two repurposed anti-inflammatory drugs upadacitinib and pirfenidone as potential treatments for Long COVID. The trial will enroll 348 participants across seven sites on four continents, using an adaptive trial platform to focus on the most severe symptoms in each patient, including fatigue, brain fog, breathing issues, and muscle aches. The two drugs were selected using artificial intelligence (AI) from over 5,400 proteins linked to Long COVID, offering a promising shortcut to treatment by targeting 13 shared biological pathways.

"A new preprint validated earlier findings that genetic factors strongly influence who develops Long COVID, using data from both U.S. (All of Us) and U.K. (Sano GOLD) cohorts with diverse ancestries. Over 90% of genes identified in the original study were also associated with Long COVID in the U.S. population including in Black and Hispanic groups. These results confirm that combinatorial genetic analysis can uncover more risk genes than traditional Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and support the continued exploration of drug repurposing candidates for Long COVID treatment.

"A study in BMJ Global Health of 6528 adult patients with symptomatic COVID from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates found that 25% of COVID patients reported Long COVID symptoms with higher rates in less wealthy countries and among people of Arab or North African ethnicity.

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Lyme Disease

"New research from Northwestern University suggests that lingering symptoms after Lyme disease treatment may be driven by immune responses to leftover bacterial cell wall fragments called peptidoglycans and not active infection. Scientists found that B. burgdorferi peptidoglycan persists in the liver and joints long after the bacteria are killed. These remnants appear to trigger prolonged inflammation in some patients, much like viral fragment persistence may trigger inflammation in Long COVID. This may explain why anti-inflammatory drugs can sometimes help Lyme disease symptoms when antibiotics do not. The group also showed that B. burgdorferi peptidoglycan alters energy metabolism in immune cells and triggers protein changes similar to those seen in chronic illness after infection.

"Researchers from Virginia Tech screened 500 antibiotics and identified that piperacillin may be a potentially safer alternative to doxycycline for treating Lyme disease. These findings could lead to better treatments and more targeted therapies for the roughly 1,200 people diagnosed with Lyme disease each day in the United States.

ME/CFS

"Researchers used deep learning techniques to analyze genetic data from individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). HEAL2, a novel deep learning framework, identified 115 ME/CFS risk genes that show mutations in the central nervous system (CNS) and immune cells. Further analysis of these ME/CFS genes shows a “genetic correlation between ME/CFS and other complex diseases and traits, including depression and Long COVID.”

H5N1

"A group from SUNY Buffalo developed a nanoparticle vaccine candidate that displays recombinant H5 and N1 proteins from the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b on liposomes. In mice, this vaccine triggered strong immune responses and protected against lethal infection showing promise for future pandemic preparedness. The vaccine will be developed for potential use in both animals and humans.

Graphical Abstract

From: https://www.cell.com/cell-biomaterials/fulltext/S3050-5623(25)00061-3

Measles

"As of 4/24/25, the CDC reports 884 reported US measles cases in 2025 with 11% hospitalization for pneumonia and other complications and 3 reported deaths. Measles have been reported in 29 states now.

4/25/25 From https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/health/measles-outbreak-map.html

"A new simulation study from Stanford warns that declining childhood vaccination rates in the United States could lead to a resurgence of previously eliminated diseases like measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria. Even if we stay at current vaccination rates, measles could become endemic again within 21 years, underscoring the urgent need for high vaccine coverage to prevent major public health setbacks.

"As measles cases surge to the highest levels since 2019, about half of adults and parents are worried, with concern higher among Black, Hispanic, and Democratic respondents per a new KFF poll. Many adults have encountered false claims about measles and MMR vaccines, but overall 83% still express confidence in vaccine safety. Partisan divides strongly influence both awareness of the measles outbreak and belief in vaccine misinformation.

From: https://www.kff.org/health-information-and-trust/poll-finding/kff-tracking-poll-on-health-information-and-trust-the-publics-views-on-measles-outbreaks-and-misinformation/

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Other news

Multiple Sclerosis and Gut Microbiota

"Taking gut bacteria from an identical twin with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and putting it in the gut of germ-free mice triggered MS-like disease in the mice, suggesting a causal role for specific microbes. Implicated bacteria include Eisenbergiella tayi and Lachnoclostridium.

From: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2419689122

"Metformin may prevent a form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in people at high risk of the disease. A common mutation in the DNMT3A (R882) gene increases the risk of this leukemia. The mutated cells rely heavily on mitochondrial energy production (OXPHOS). Using mouse models and human data, a study showed that targeting this energy pathway with Metformin can suppress the expansion of leukemia cells like AML.

"A Danish twin study found that tattoo ink exposure is linked to a higher risk of skin cancer and lymphoma, especially with large tattoos. Individual-level analyses showed hazard ratios up to 3.91 for skin cancer and 2.73 for lymphoma, with tattoos larger than the palm of a hand carrying the greatest risk. The studies were small and larger studies over a longer period of time will be important to clarify health impacts of tattoo ink.

From ChatGPT

"For the first time, microplastics have been detected in human ovarian follicular fluid raising concerns about potential impacts on female fertility. The study found microplastics in 14 out of 18 women undergoing fertility treatments suggesting widespread exposure. Researchers call for further investigation into how these particles affect reproductive health.

"The FDA has suspended milk quality testing due to layoffs of FDA inspectors. Layoffs included FDA staffers responsible for responding to the ongoing bird flu outbreaks as well.

"The Trump administration ended federal funding for the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a landmark study tracking the health of over 160,000 women since the 1990s. Thankfully, a day later, the administration restored funding to the WHI.

"When Serendipity Books in Michigan needed to move to a nearby larger store, owner Michelle Tuplin enlisted 350 local people who made two human chains and passed each book down the line to the new store's bookshelves. The entire store was moved within 2 hours and people had a great time discussing which of the books they enjoyed.

People help move books for Serendipity Books. Photo by Burrill Strong from https://buff.ly/aUgRSBc

"Have a good week,

"Ruth Ann Crystal MD"

Charging the Victims of Jew-Hatred

Why am I not at all surprised to hear this? After all, the targets of the riots since the massacre of October 7 are the victims of that massacre. Supporters of the Hamas Death Cult got off scot-free.

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After 300 Arrests at Campus Hamas Riots, LA Will Charge Only 2 Jews; Hamas supporters get a pass. Jewish community members get charged.

Front Page News, April 27, 2025 by Daniel Greenfield

"During the UCLA Hamas riots, it was routine for the terrorist supporters to mace and assault Jewish community members and students. And for campus security to refuse to intervene, take down evidence or call the police.

"The media covered up the situation.

"And even those who were actually arrested after weeks of this are getting a pass.

"The City Attorney’s Office received over 300 referrals from arrests made during the mass protests on the campuses of UCLA and USC in April and May, 2024, and declined to file criminal charges on most of the referrals.

"Three others will be referred to informal prosecutorial proceedings."

"2 out of over 300. Not 300 arrests, but 300 referrals from arrests. And even those arrests are only the tip of the iceberg.

"But it gets better. The only two people charged are the Jewish targets of the pro-Hamas mobs.

"The vast majority of pro-Hamas perpetrators have their cases dropped.

"CAIR is cheering the move which should tell you everything."

Wanted: Professional Who Won't Write Misleading Headlines

Here we go again. Please fire this headline writer immediately, and lock up the car ASAP.

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Newser, April 27, 2025:  

SUV Kills 9 at Festival Before Crowd Grabs Suspect; Canadian officials say they don't suspect terrorism 

So a car deliberately drove itself into a crowd, killed 9 people, and then the crowd grabbed the car, since it's the car that's the suspect. Also, notice how quickly officials shrugged off any notion of terrorism. Yet:

• The driver "just slammed the pedal down and rammed into hundreds of people," said Kris Pangilinan. "It was like seeing a bowling ball hit—all the bowling pins and all the pins flying up in the air."

Well, that sure sounds deliberate to me. 

"Acting Police Chief Steve Rai described the person arrested as a 'lone male' in his thirties." Did they ever think this could be a lone wolf attack, the definition of which is "often spontaneous and difficult to predict, making them challenging to prevent"?

If Canada is anything like America, I'm sure we'll be hearing all sorts of excuses for this "SUV attack", and if it is terrorism, we'll be hearing less about it.