Helen Branswell
STAT
Boston, MA, United States
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Past articles by Helen:
Flu shot provided relatively robust level of protection this year, data show
This year’s flu shot generated relatively robust levels of protection, new data show. → Read More
A rare Marburg outbreak sparks a race against time to test vaccines and drugs
Finding out if Marburg vaccine candidates actually work in people requires an outbreak, and outbreaks are blessedly rare. But now there are cases in Equatorial Guinea. → Read More
In large study, a single antibiotic dose slashed rate of sepsis in childbirth
An inexpensive, generic drug is seen as a feasible way to lower the risk of maternal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries. → Read More
Tracking the bird flu, experts see a familiar threat — and a virus whose course is hard to predict
While scientists who have been studying H5N1 bird flu for a couple of decades have a very healthy respect for it, a number are hedging their bets about what the virus's future path will look like. → Read More
Rare polio case highlights how hard it will be to keep polio gone once it’s eradicated
An incident that took place at a Dutch polio vaccine production facility late last year is a critical reminder of a major challenge the world faces if and when polio eradication is completed. → Read More
WHO extends public health emergency over Covid but signals end could come soon
The WHO announced that the Covid-19 pandemic remains a public health emergency, but signaled strongly that it believes it may be able to lift that designation in coming months. → Read More
FDA advisers recommend updating Covid vaccines
Advisers to the FDA voted Thursday to back a plan whereby all Covid vaccines would move to the formulation used for the updated boosters, a step toward the goal of creating a single annual Covid shot for most Americans. → Read More
Updated Covid-19 booster still providing strong protection against newer variants, CDC study finds
The updated Covid-19 booster is holding up against the newest Omicron subvariants that are sweeping across the country, CDC scientists reported. → Read More
Is WHO ready to end the global health emergency over Covid? Maybe not just yet
On Friday, an emergency committee will meet again to deliberate whether the time has come to recommend to the WHO director-general that he declare the Covid global health emergency over. → Read More
HIV vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson fails clinical trial
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reported Wednesday that a phase 3 clinical trial of an HIV vaccine was stopped because the vaccine was ineffective at preventing infection. → Read More
XB what? BQ huh? Do you need to keep up with Omicron’s ever-expanding offspring?
Every few months, we’re warned that the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spawned another subvariant. Some experts wonder how useful these discussions are. → Read More
With attention to mpox fading, health officials fear infections will go undetected and unreported
Dwindling case counts obscure an important reality: The global footprint of mpox, which until a few years ago could only be contracted in parts of Africa, has expanded substantially. → Read More
Senior WHO official faults China for undercounting Covid deaths
China is underreporting deaths from Covid-19 during its first big wave of infections, a senior WHO official said Wednesday. → Read More
3 challenges to watch in global health in 2023
As the third year of the Covid pandemic ends and we look to 2023, what can be spotted on the horizon? → Read More
Three years on, the pandemic — and our response — have been jolting. Here's what even the experts didn't see coming
In the hope that lessons for the next pandemic can be found in the things we didn’t anticipate this time, STAT asked 23 experts what had surprised them the most. → Read More
Flu activity in the U.S. continues to decline after early surge
The percentage of people seeking medical care for influenza-like illness in the U.S. dropped for the third straight week. → Read More
Early flu season in U.S. may be peaking early, too
This year’s abnormally early flu season is showing signs it may be peaking in parts of the country, CDC data released Friday suggested. → Read More
WHO names Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, as chief scientist
Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, the world’s second largest private funder of biomedical research, has been named the new chief scientist of the World Health Organization. → Read More
An early lesson from the Uganda Ebola vaccine trial: Shots must be ready to go before the next outbreak strikes
Had these experimental Ebola vaccines been available to push into the field earlier, in ready-to-use vials, the trial starting in Uganda this week might have been more useful. → Read More
Jynneos mpox vaccine provided strong protection against infection, new CDC data show
The study found no difference in efficacy between subcutaneous and intradermal administration of mpox vaccine, which the Biden administration recommended in August to stretch limited supplies. → Read More