Vaccines, Outbreaks, and Political Contention Drive 1/23/2026 Infectious Update
An Infectious Information roundup reports vaccine-policy turmoil (removal of two vaccine-injury advisory members amid fears of RFK Jr.'s changes), mpox can be transmitted asymptomatically and may have long-term effects, and a measles outbreak in South Carolina is expanding with Utah also seeing more cases; a CDC deputy director questions the impact of losing elimination status; the shingles vaccine might slow aging and delay dementia; a WSJ poll shows divided public confidence in federal vaccine guidance amid Trump-era changes; histoplasmosis clusters rise in Middle Tennessee; three new H9N2 avian-flu cases in China; Minnesota faces a heavy H5N1 season; long Covid in kids links to absenteeism; New World screwworm has crossed into Mexico; USAID cuts under DOGE have raised the death toll while the administration withdraws from WHO, accompanied by conspiracy-driven law-enforcement rhetoric from Texas officials—compiled by Daily Kos community diary Infectious Information.
