Twitter round-up: Prof Peter Hotez’s tweet on New Zealand’s measles outbreak top tweet in Q4 2019
Pharmaceutical Technology lists ten of the top tweets on infectious diseases in Q4 2019, based on data from GlobalData’s Influencer Platform.
The top tweets were chosen from influencers as tracked by GlobalData’s Influencer Platform, which is based on a scientific process that works on pre-defined parameters. Influencers are selected after a deep analysis of the influencer’s relevance, network strength, engagement, and leading discussions on new and emerging trends.
1. Prof Peter Hotez’s tweet on New Zealand’s measles outbreak
Prof Peter Hotez’s, an American scientist, tweeted on a measles outbreak in New Zealand. The influencer noted that the measles infection in pregnant women led to the death of two unborn babies. Moreover, the outbreak led to the hospitalisation of three encephalitis cases and 65 pneumonia cases.
Awful news out of #NewZealand from a devastating #measles outbreak due to its #antivax movement. So far 2 unborn babies die after mothers catch measles, 3 people hospitalized for encephalitis, 65 for pneumonia. Similar numbers in 2018-19 #USA NY epidemic. https://t.co/cojVjCptnu
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By GlobalData
Retweets: 395
Likes: 409
2. Francis S. Collins’ tweet on gene editing for curing unthinkable diseases
Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, shared an article on the potential of advanced gene editing techniques to cure conditions like the sicklecell disease and HIV.
The prime editing nicks just one strand of the DNA molecule and then uses RNA and reverse transcriptase to direct highly targeted changes to a cell’s DNA.
Gene editing has the potential to treat conditions that were once unthinkable including #sicklecell disease and #HIV. A new @liugroup advance brings us even closer to this breakthrough. #NIHhttps://t.co/0wYv6QFN6J
3. Helen Branswell’s tweet on the approval of Ebola vaccine in Europe
Helen Branswell, a senior writer for infectious diseases, shared an article on the marketing approval of Merck’s Ebola vaccine, Ervebo in Europe. The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation to Merck’s Ervebo, which is designed to protect against the Zaire species of Ebola.
The article noted that the vaccine was designed at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory with funding from the US government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
This is a day for the #Ebola history books: There is now a licensed Ebola vaccine. Merck's Ervebo has been approved in Europe. https://t.co/zWURhXipYy
4. Dr. Tara C. Smith’s tweet on anti-vaxx ads funding on Facebook
Dr. Tara C. Smith, an American epidemiologist, shared an article examining the funding of antivaccine ads on on Facebook. The article noted that a majority of the ads spreading misinformation about vaccines was funded by two organisations.
The article also noted that the anti-vaccine ads are linked back to products people could buy, including “natural” remedies, books and seminars.
New paper examining who's funding antivaccine ads on Facebook. Two key culprits: RFK Jr. and known grifter Larry Cook. https://t.co/dtLSZJ4kvg
And "…anti-vaccine ads…also linked back to products people could buy, including “natural” remedies, books and seminars."
5. Paul Sax’s tweet on cancer drugs making billions of revenues
Paul Sax, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, shared an article on how pharmaceutical companies are making billions from cancer drugs.
The article noted that oncology therapies’ share of U.S. drug revenue almost quadrupled to 28% over the past two decades, even as cardiovascular drugs dropped from dominance to 1%, according to Boston Consulting Group.
Wow. Extraordinary graphic of proportion of drug revenues by disease area over time. Main story is about Cancer, but note early DAA era (Infection) and shift to INSTI-Rx (HIV) — big advances with big prices. h/t @manfordouhttps://t.co/nXeP38Iqu8pic.twitter.com/0pdx7cInNv
6. Judy Stone’s tweet on infections killing migrant children
Judy Stone, an infectious diseases physician, shared an article detailing how infectious diseases took the lives of several migrant children. The article further noted that the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) had also announced that they would not provide flu vaccines to detained migrants.
The article further explained that the children were succumbing to diseases because of inhumane and unsanitised conditions.
7. Laurie Garrett’s tweet on China’s plague outbreak
Laurie Garrett, an American science journalist, shared an article on the Chinese government informing the World Health Organization (WHO) about two people being hospitalised in Beijing with the pneumonic plague. The article noted that the government aims to manage public reaction about the disease instead of being concerned about the spread of germs.
China notified @WHO that two people are hospitalized in Beijing with pneumonic #plague— the form that spreads thru the air. That notification happened on Nov 13 — nearly 2 weeks after the cases were found. Here, I explain why that's a big problem. https://t.co/lA6Gc7JnLF
Seth Berkley, CEO of the Gavi Alliance, shared an article that detailed diarrhoeal diseases as the third leading cause of child mortality globally.
The article noted that rotavirus is the single largest causative agent for diarrhoeal diseases. According to WHO, diarrhoeal diseases are both ‘preventable and treatable’. Several interventions, such as ORS, breastfeeding and sanitation target all-causes of diarrhea, whereas vaccination and antibiotics are used against the causative agents of the disease.
Diarrheal diseases are the third leading cause of child mortality globally & rotavirus is the leading cause of childhood diarrhea. @Gavi has helped to immunize over 76 million children against this deadly virus! Here's why it's such an important vaccine: https://t.co/vWB4tIBHln
9. Peter Collignon’s tweet on antibiotic use in food animals
Peter Collignon, an infectious diseases physician, tweeted on the 70% fall in antibiotic use in food animals in The Netherlands since 2007, but no fall in food animal production. He further added that the fall in antibiotic use is associated with a fall in antimicrobial resistance levels.
A 70% drop in antibiotic use in food animals in The Netherlands since 2007, but with no drop in food animal production. And associated with a drop in antimicrobial resistance levels. pic.twitter.com/r1wqbH4yXH
10. Dr. Ron Daniels’s tweet on proper help for Sepsis survivors
Dr. Ron Daniels, founder and chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, tweeted on the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among various survivors. The influencer noted that critical illnesses such as Sepsis leave lifelong hidden scars and proper help should be provided at the right time.
On #WorldMentalHealthDay2019, let's not forget that critical illness, and particularly #sepsis, can leave lifelong hidden scars for survivors. We need to ensure we start to deliver the right help at the right time. pic.twitter.com/KGHqcSPVq7
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