KENNEDY PROMOTES CONTROVERSIAL MEASLES STRATEGY AMID OUTBREAK

In a recent interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, presented a controversial strategy for managing the measles outbreak in West Texas, heavily relying on fringe theories about prevention and treatments. He downplayed the need for vaccinations, suggesting vaccine injuries were more common than acknowledged, despite extensive research disproving such claims. Kennedy also promoted natural immunity, gained through infection, as beneficial for preventing not only measles but also cancer and heart disease—claims unsupported by evidence. He endorsed questionable treatments like cod liver oil and suggested that local doctors had achieved “miraculous” recoveries with steroids and antibiotics, despite these treatments having no proven benefit for measles. The outbreak, primarily affecting a Mennonite community, has killed one child, marking the first measles-related death in the U.S. in 10 years. Kennedy’s mixed messages and promotion of unproven remedies have raised concerns among public health experts and local physicians. (New York Times)

NIH TERMINATES VACCINE HESITANCY RESEARCH GRANTS UNDER TRUMP

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is terminating at least 33 research grants on vaccine hesitancy and strategies to increase vaccine uptake, with an additional nine grants potentially modified or reduced. The decision is part of an effort to align with policies backed by President Donald Trump and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The affected research includes projects on mRNA vaccines and understanding why some people are hesitant about vaccination. NIH has also requested information on its involvement in mRNA vaccine research and international collaborations. The termination letters inform researchers that their projects no longer align with NIH priorities, particularly those focusing on vaccine hesitancy. Some grants, especially those involving racial minority groups or adolescent vaccines, are being cut, while others studying HIV or disease outbreaks may retain their funding if they drop the vaccine hesitancy component. This move follows similar actions against research on transgender health. (Science)

PARENTS LACK ACCURATE INFORMATION ON H5N1 AVIAN FLU RISKS

A University of Michigan Health report reveals that less than half of US parents feel they have accurate information about H5N1 avian flu. Many are unaware of whether a human case has occurred in their state, and 40% want more government action to prevent outbreaks. A third of parents have taken steps to prevent infection, such as practicing better hygiene or avoiding contact with birds, though 68% have not made changes, citing either confidence in current practices or lack of awareness. Despite concerns, the general public’s risk remains low, with 70 human cases reported, primarily among farm workers. The report highlights a gap in trust, with 33% of parents doubting the government’s ability to contain the virus. Experts recommend that parents teach their children proper hygiene, avoid contact with dead animals, and ensure they avoid raw milk products to reduce risk. Misinformation and uncertainty continue to fuel public anxiety. (CIDRAP)

WHO REPORTS SECOND EBOLA SUDAN CLUSTER IN UGANDA

On March 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a second cluster of Ebola Sudan cases in Uganda, raising concerns about undetected transmission and prompting increased surveillance. The cluster, linked to a 4-year-old child who died on February 25, includes three confirmed and two probable cases. The child’s mother, who died from an acute illness after childbirth, and her newborn also passed away but were not tested. These deaths, which occurred in Ntoroko district near the DRC border, lacked supervised burials, contributing to the spread. The eleventh and twelfth confirmed cases involve women who had contact with the child and mother. As of March 2, 192 new contacts from Kampala, Wakiso, and Ntoroko districts are under monitoring. This is Uganda’s sixth Ebola Sudan outbreak, with a current case fatality rate of 29%, lower than the 41-70% rates in previous outbreaks. (CIDRAP)

RESEARCHERS DISCOVER NEW EPIGENETIC INHERITANCE MECHANISM IN WORMS

Matthew Eroglu and his team at the University of Toronto were studying cancer signaling pathways when they discovered an unexpected phenomenon in the worms they were using. The normally hermaphroditic worms became increasingly feminine with each generation, eventually becoming sterile. This change was not genetic but instead linked to the accumulation of proteins with amyloid structures and prion-like properties, similar to those in Alzheimer’s plaques. These proteins could be passed down through generations, altering the worms’ reproductive systems. The discovery, featured in Nature Cell Biology, reveals a new form of inheritance that adds to the genetic mechanisms already known. This epigenetic inheritance, influenced by amyloids, could explain some of the “missing heritability” observed in traits and diseases that genes alone cannot account for, such as diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders. While this mechanism has not been proven in humans, it offers a new perspective on inheritance and could have implications for understanding complex diseases. (El Pais)

STUDY LINKS PERMIAN EXTINCTION TO CO2-DRIVEN CLIMATE SHIFT

The Permian-Triassic mass extinction, which occurred 252 million years ago, was caused by volcanic eruptions in the Siberian Traps, releasing 100,000 billion metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. This led to drastic global warming, deoxygenated oceans, and the extinction of most life forms. However, plant fossils provide insights into the climate’s shift, with a 10°C increase in global temperatures that eradicated tundra habitats and transformed polar regions into temperate zones. Scientists studied fossil records from the Permian and Triassic periods to model climate changes and link them to biomes, revealing that higher CO2 levels favored wetter, warmer biomes. The study suggests that current CO2 emissions could cause similar climate shifts within 2,700 years, potentially leading to a mass extinction. However, more fossil data and improved climate models are necessary for a clearer understanding of these transitions and their implications for today’s climate crisis. (FrontiersIn)

FIRST VIDEO SHOWS NARWHALS USING TUSKS FOR PLAY AND FEEDING

Researchers have captured the first recorded video evidence of narwhals using their iconic tusks for both feeding and playful behavior. Traditionally believed to be used by males for courtship, the tusk, which can grow up to 10 feet, has now been observed in the wild to interact with prey in complex ways. Using drones in Canada’s High Arctic, scientists documented 17 distinct behaviors involving narwhals and fish, revealing their tusks’ agility and precision. The footage showed narwhals nudging fish with their tusks in a non-aggressive manner, suggesting playful behavior rather than hunting. Younger narwhals appeared to mimic the behavior of older ones, indicating social learning. The study also uncovered a shift in narwhals’ dietary habits, with them hunting at shallower depths due to competition from seabirds like glaucous gulls. As climate change alters their habitat, narwhals are adapting by modifying their feeding strategies, though the impact of these environmental changes remains a concern. (CNN)

CLIMATE CHANGE FORCES PLANTS TO MIGRATE IN MESOAMERICAN CLOUD FORESTS

In response to climate change, plant species in the cloud forests of Mesoamerica have been gradually moving to higher altitudes, migrating between 1.8 and 2.7 meters per year since 1979. This shift is a survival strategy as the climate at their previous elevation becomes unsuitable. Cloud forests, though covering just 1% of the region’s surface, house over 6,000 plant species, representing 18% of the plant diversity in Mesoamerica. However, these ecosystems are fragile and poorly protected. Researchers, led by Santiago Ramírez Barahona, analyzed data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and satellite imagery to track the movement of 1,021 plant species. Their findings revealed that 36% of species are relocating to higher altitudes. However, this migration is limited by factors like temperature and deforestation, and not all plants are able to move. Climate change is disrupting the balance of these ecosystems, which are crucial for water regulation, making their survival increasingly uncertain. (El Pais)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

IMAGE CREDIT: NASA.