Virology
A Viral Battle in the Rice Field
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Across Asia and beyond, rice crops are frequently attacked by planthoppers and leafhoppers – insects that damage plants during feeding and transmit viruses that can wipe out entire harvests. The chemical insecticides typically used by rice farmers can pose environmental and health risks, and they often also become less effective over […]
Nipah Virus
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Recent news reports have confirmed two cases of Nipah virus infection in West Bengal, India. In response, authorities have quarantined nearly 200 individuals and expanded surveillance efforts both in neighboring countries and among travelers arriving from India. These developments raise an important question: What is Nipah virus, and is it a […]
Why We Vaccinate Newborns Against Hepatitis B
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Events, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey On December 16, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopted new recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that end universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. Under this policy, parents may defer vaccination if the mother tests negative for hepatitis B virus (HBV). This decision disregards […]
A Viral Risk Factor for Lupus
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common human herpesvirus that typically spreads through saliva and is known for causing infectious mononucleosis (i.e., “mono”). There is an established causal link between infection with EBV and the development of multiple sclerosis. Emerging evidence now suggests that EBV may also play a significant role in […]
Vaccine Modalities – Part 2
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Last month’s post provided an overview of various traditional vaccine technologies. The current post highlights more recent advances in the field. Genetic vaccines introduce nucleic acids (DNA and/or RNA) into a recipient’s cells. Once inside the cells, these genetic instructions are used by the cell’s machinery to produce a specific protein. […]
Vaccine Modalities – Part 1
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey During the last 50 years, vaccination efforts have prevented about 154 million deaths worldwide, with the measles vaccine alone responsible for a large portion of this achievement. Childhood vaccinations in particular have not only led to a 40% reduction in global infant deaths throughout the same time period, but they are […]
David Tuller
Trial By Error: No Benefits for Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation in New ME/CFS Study
By David Tuller, DrPH It is refreshing to read a study about a rehabilitative intervention for ME/CFS or Long Covid or so-called “medically unexplained symptoms” that acknowledges the lack of meaningful benefits. This is a rare event. In multiple cases, the trialed interventions produce marginally positive results in subjective measures, which are then touted as […]
Trial By Error: Yet Another CBT Trial for Long Covid with Poor Results
By David Tuller, DrPH The Journal of Psychosomatic Research has often served as a house organ of sorts for the “biopsychosocial” ideological brigades. That’s to be expected, given that folks like Per Fink, Michael Sharpe, and Jon Stone are all members of the journal’s editorial board. It should therefore not be surprising that the journal […]
Trial By Error: Can “Cognitive Rehabilitation” for Long Covid “Reverse” Brain Fog?
By David Tuller, DrPH Cognitive dysfunction, also known as “brain fog,” is among the most disabling aspects of Long Covid—and investigators have struggled to figure out what causes it and how to treat it. Last fall, a study from the National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER initiative, which focuses on Long Covid, found no benefits in […]
Trial By Error: The BMJ Review on Long Covid Interventions Cited in Wired Article
By David Tuller, DrPH I am reposting below a blog about a “living systematic review” of interventions for Long Covid, which was published by The BMJ in late 2024. This systematic review figured prominently in the opening of the recent Wired piece about mind-body interventions for Long Covid. (I’ve posted about the Wired piece here, […]
Trial By Error: Furor Over Wired’s “Mind-Body” Article Continues
By David Tuller, DrPH The furor over the Wired epic about mind-body treatments for Long Covid simmers on. “The Truth About Long Covid,” published on June 1st, proposed that these sorts of interventions might cure people, but that angry patient have censored science and blocked research progress. The piece generated fierce pushback—not least from popular […]
Trial By Error: Some Things I’ve Read Recently–FAIR on Wired; German Psychiatrists on LC and ME/CFS; UK’s ME/CFS Delivery Plan at One Year
By David Tuller, DrPH Media watchdog covers how major news articles have psychologized Long Covid The organization Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), based in New York City, is a progressive news watchdog focused on exposing bias and censorship. FAIR recently published an article called “Media Won’t Stop Psychologizing Long Covid,” by writer and investigative […]