Infectious Diseases physician and scientist, with thoughts on Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine, HIV Prevention, Public Health, Biosecurity, and Global Health issues.https://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mk5xhhw6cs2m1/ In today’s mostly vaccinated populations, Paxlovid does not seem to reduce hospitalization or death from COVID in higher-risk adults. Earlier trials (EPIC-HR) showed ~90% risk reduction, but this was in unvaccinated high-risk patients. tinyurl.com/yc2fj8k523 Apr 2026 11:57 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk5xhhw6cs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mjwh5e454k2uAn injection every 6 months can effectively prevent HIV infection. Wonderful to see the scale-up and expanded rollout of lenacapavir in regions most impacted by HIV, where it can make the greatest difference. With support from the Global Fund: tinyurl.com/36u8ubmm20 Apr 2026 12:17 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwh5e454k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mjwesw75tc2umRNA vaccines continue to show major promise. In a small Phase 1 trial led by Dr. Balachandran, some patients with pancreatic cancer (one of the deadliest cancers) reached 6-year survival. This is why sustained investment in science & research matters. tinyurl.com/f4n4anhk20 Apr 2026 11:35 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwesw75tc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mi2u7pc4os2kThere is a new COVID sublineage (BA.3.2) circulating in many regions, including here in Ontario. *Clinical spectrum: same as before *Diagnosis: same as before *Risk factors: same as before *Treatment: same as before *Prevention: same as before27 Mar 2026 19:31 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi2u7pc4os2khttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mg3ryig7gs2uHow well did this year's flu shot work? Interim results: Decently, not perfect. "the risk of medically-attended influenza A(H3N2) illness was reduced by 40% among vaccinated relative to unvaccinated individuals." tinyurl.com/emw36bfa by Separovic et al., in @eurosurveillance.org02 Mar 2026 17:33 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3ryig7gs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mfrlwxmbms2qThere is a Hepatitis A outbreak in Manitoba. It spreads via the fecal-oral route (food, close contact, including sex). In adults it can be severe: unlikely to kill you, but you'll feel miserable. Vaccination is extremely effective. Dr. Drobot explains: tinyurl.com/4wwnty7d26 Feb 2026 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfrlwxmbms2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3memmk7tc222eStep 1: Insert bacteria ("Wolbachia") into mosquitoes. Step 2: Release mosquitoes. Step 3: Watch Dengue rates plummet. Phenomenal results from Singapore. Link: tinyurl.com/59c9t67u, by Lim et al.11 Feb 2026 23:21 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3memmk7tc222ehttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mduwlet5gk2bFlu season (yellow) is winding down in Canada after a really difficult December/early January. RSV (red) is now rising later in the season, while COVID (blue) remains relatively flat, possibly picking up in the spring.02 Feb 2026 13:16 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mduwlet5gk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mcsh36qavc2lInfluenza put considerable pressure on Canada's healthcare system through December but is declining sharply in the New Year.19 Jan 2026 20:08 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcsh36qavc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mc2xi7eei22kCanada’s influenza season has finally peaked and is starting to ease off. RSV and COVID are now slowly ticking upward.10 Jan 2026 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mc2xi7eei22khttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mbrtcrsu6k2mIt’s been a tough flu season in Ontario. The good news is that it likely peaked and is now starting to ease, though we can expect several more weeks of widespread flu activity.06 Jan 2026 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbrtcrsu6k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mbd4unzxec2uHappy new year!01 Jan 2026 00:31 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbd4unzxec2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3mb7tgybhfs2uRegardless of where you land on COVID’s origins, accidental laboratory leaks are a known risk - they can and do happen. Preventing them requires a serious, ongoing global investment in biosafety and biosecurity. A good read, by Manuel Ansede: tinyurl.com/a27pbr3p30 Dec 2025 17:04 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mb7tgybhfs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3masonfyjjc2zMerry Christmas and happy holidays. Thank you to everyone working today, especially those keeping our healthcare system up and running.25 Dec 2025 11:33 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3masonfyjjc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3maqrygxp3k2kChikungunya is a mosquito-borne illness found in many tropical regions that can cause significant discomfort. A vaccine is available in Canada, but use should limited to specific situations because risks generally outweigh benefits for most people. Link: tinyurl.com/yr5bufdv24 Dec 2025 17:28 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3maqrygxp3k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3malihmw5gc26Antibiotic-resistant typhoid infections are a growing global health problem, made worse now by emerging carbapenem resistance. tinyurl.com/4uy7f6y3 by Thirumoorthy et al.22 Dec 2025 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3malihmw5gc26https://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3maenmnwoq22gCanada is in the midst of a rough flu season. It's not too late to get a flu shot.19 Dec 2025 21:38 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3maenmnwoq22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m7vikt2w4225There is a lot of influenza circulating in Canada right now. The flu can be especially rough on older adults & young kids...see below for current flu hospitalization rates. It’s not too late to get your flu shot if you haven’t already.13 Dec 2025 20:57 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7vikt2w4225https://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m7d3ywua7s2tFlu season is here, and it might be a tougher one than usual. It is not too late to get your flu shot.06 Dec 2025 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7d3ywua7s2thttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m76fomvjvk25Two cases of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a dangerous viral infection, detected in France in travellers from the Arabian Peninsula. Another reminder that our world is deeply interconnected & vigilance for imported infections is essential. tinyurl.com/4mdhwfdz04 Dec 2025 16:35 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m76fomvjvk25https://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m6wwwryhb22nOn World AIDS Day, remember that HIV risk often changes over time & that our prevention tools keep expanding. PrEP, PEP & PEP-in-Pocket ("PIP") offer strong, flexible protection. A "buffet" approach lets people choose what best fits their lives. tinyurl.com/2zkf3hak01 Dec 2025 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6wwwryhb22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m6hkne4flk2kWorld AIDS Day is on Dec. 1. Since 2004, global deaths have been in decline due to greater access to diagnostics, treatment & prevention. This hard-won progress is now at risk due to major cuts to global public health. We can't afford to go backward.25 Nov 2025 14:32 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6hkne4flk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m63ehqeghk2wMore data outlining how COVID vaccines reduce the risk of hospitalizations & death, especially among those aged 65 and older. This aligns nicely with recommendations from Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization. 🇨🇦 Link: tinyurl.com/yuwmmtt4 by Hansen et al.20 Nov 2025 18:10 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m63ehqeghk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m5jbec45bs2pSomeone in Germany is shedding poliovirus - a crippling disease which should be eradicated. This is another stark reminder of the risks we face when global vaccination coverage slips. Link: tinyurl.com/y8t73dyc13 Nov 2025 13:26 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5jbec45bs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m5j6snkbjc2pExciting to see a new compound showing promise against malaria. As drug resistance grows, mosquito ranges expand & public health resources remain limited, the need for new treatments has never been greater. tinyurl.com/42wb2efe by @kakape.bsky.social .13 Nov 2025 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5j6snkbjc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/isaacbogoch.bsky.social/post/3m5bsy5xrak2mCanada has lost its measles elimination status...a sad milestone. Now is the time to double down on lowering barriers to routine childhood immunizations and ensuring Canadians have access to credible, science-based information. Link: tinyurl.com/c8nfxvk310 Nov 2025 14:20 +0000at://did:plc:jckkfkzcc4y6myd3ykusqjbm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5bsy5xrak2m