This Week in Virology

Calling out "Happy Christmas to all and to all a good-night, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss high path influenza in dairy herds in Wisconsin and Marburg virus in Ethiopia before Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the slightly higher association of COVID-19 infection with death than following influenza infection, benefit of passive infant immunization with niresevimab, association of COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity protection against severe disease in vulnerable populations, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid...

Vincent travels to Tegernsee, Germany for the Sixth Ringberg Symposium on Giant Viruses, where he talks with John Archibald, Susana Coelho, and Tom Delmont about their work on – you guessed it – giant viruses.

Guests: John Archibald, Susana Coelho, and Tom Delmont

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello protest Vinjay Prasad, head of CBER FDA Nov memo stating administration of the COVID-19 vaccine resulted in 10 children's deaths, but are cautiously delighted by the December memo from those in CBER who dispute this data-less claim, how in 31 states pertussis vaccination rates have declined before Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, of clinical outcomes of oseltamivir versus baloxavir for treating influenza infection, number deaths associated with COVID-19 hospitalizations and disease...

TWiV reviews considerations and perspectives on phage therapy, and the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of hepatitis b virus.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss the rise in norovirus infections, contamination of infant formula and botulism outbreak, confusion and response to the CDC's ACIP decision to reverse the recommendation for a birth dose of the hepatis B virus vaccine and how states in the Northwest and Northeast are responding as well as some insurance companies, then deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, South Carolina's imposed quarantine of individuals due to their accelerated measles outbreak, neurotropism of H1...

Infectious diseases physician Jake Scott returns to TWiV to discuss the dangerous anti-vaccine policies being established in the US and what RFK Jr. and his associates get wrong.

Guest: Jake Scott

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Weekl...

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss the positive side effect of the shingles vaccine on dementia outcomes and how one dose of the HPV vaccine is non-inferior to two doses, but are dismayed about the FDA's secrecy around the inflammatory statement that the COVID-19 vaccine is linked to the death of 10 children. Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, effectiveness of maternal administration of the RVS vaccine or the COVID vaccine for neonates, where to find...

TWiV explains the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of pre-mRNA splicing, and engineering bacteriophage to deliver proteins to the human intestine.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and then decry appointment of the Louisiana State surgeon general as deputy chief of the CDC, the 3 children's deaths during this fall's pertussis outbreak, the Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia, results of the phase 1 safety trial for the novel poliovirus vaccines nOPV1 and nOPV3, and the first human death from H5N5 influenza virus infection in the US this fall, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles...

TWiV explains the 1953 paper by Watson & Crick proposing a structure for DNA, and the role of Epstein-Barr virus in triggering the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are dismayed by the changes on CDC vaccine website positively stating the link between autism and vaccination, the finding of wild type poliovirus 1 in Germany, Marburg virus in Ethiopia, decimation of the elephant breeding colony by H5N1 and the first human case of H5N5 influenza virus infection before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, antibody escape by seasonal flu viruses, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay...

Vincent visits Virginia Tech for the CeZAP Symposium and speaks with XJ Meng and Kylene Kehn-Hall about their research on hepatitis E virus and Rift Valley fever virus.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guests: XJ Meng and Kylene Kehn-Hall

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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Se...

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello record from the ASTMH meeting in Toronto and discuss continuing avian flu outbreaks, the continued global measles outbreak, the effectiveness of high and low doses of the influenza vaccine before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, children hospitalizations following COVID-19 and influenza vaccination, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, and contacting your...

TWiV reviews the passing of James D. Watson, the research that showed human papillomaviruses to be present in genital and laryngeal papillomas and in some cervical cancers, and influenza virus infection, shedding and symptoms in a human challenge study.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses the link between in utero SARS-CoV-2 infection and poor neurodevelopment outcomes, the use of an mRNA vaccine as an anti-cancer therapy, why one should receive the HPV vaccine, asymptomatic H5N1 isolations in humans, and H5N1 on turkey farms, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how two vaccinated physicians became infected with measles, effective of COVID-19 vaccine for children, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay...

TWiV discusses the impact of vaccinating with Gardasil-9 adult women who are human papillomavirus positive or with confirmed squamous intraepithelial lesions, and human monoclonal antibodies that target the monkeypox virus A35 protein which protect against lethal disease.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello ponder the nomination of Casey Means for Surgeon General by President Trump, how mRNA vaccines may enhance effectiveness of check point inhibitor cancer therapies, if viral infection associates with cardiac disease, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and turkey farms, and the effectiveness of the COVID-19, RSV and influenza vaccines before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, if revaccination with the mRNA RSV vaccine is effective, how effective today's COVID-19 vaccine...

TWiV explains studies showing that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines improve life span of cancer patients on checkpoint immunotherapy, and broad immunity conferred by a vaccine central in A(H5) influenza antigenic space.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are distressed by the continuing government shutdown, first locally acquired chikungunya virus infection, President Trump’s suggestion for removing aluminum from vaccines, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and turkey farms, and the suggestion of establishing an alternative to the CDC’s MMWR and asymptomatic measles infections before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the quarantining in the US due to measles, access to anti-influenza antiviral, where to find PEMGARDA, how to a...

TWiV reviews continuing US measles outbreak, host and genetic variations that regulate antibody responses to hepatitis C virus, and varicella-zoster reactivation and the risk of dementia.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are dismayed by the government shutdown, the firings at the CDC including EIS agents, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and its stability in raw milk and cheese, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the quarantining of college students in the US due to measles, Japan’s declaration of a national influenza outbreak, effectiveness of the influenza and COVID vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Pa...

TWiV covers a MacArthur Award for Jason McLellan, 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, first treatment for Huntington’s Disease, structure of an archael dsDNA virus from head to tail, and discovery of a Legionella phage that explains a determinant of human disease.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about Jane Goodall’s death and the Nobel prize in Physiology/Medicine for understanding immune system control before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, if 2 doses of the influenza vaccine are better for protection of first season children, if COVID-19 negatively impacts pregnancy and the unborn child, efficacy of long-acting monoclonal antibody against symptomatic COVID-19, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, can you be retreated wi...

TWiV reviews experiments to understand infection, pathogenesis, and transmission of avian H5N1 influenza virus in goats, and identification of a cellular receptor for tick-borne encephalitis virus.

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Weekly Picks

Brianne – Ast...

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC, increases in screwworm diagnoses, a pertussis death in Mississippi before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, monoclonal antibody therapy against RSV, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, olfactory dysfunction following SARS-CoV-2 infection and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

From ESCV 2025, Vincent speaks with Elke Wollants about a project to identify SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in toilet waste from airplanes.

Guest: Elke Wollants

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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Conte...

TWiV explains experiments to create genetically modified chickens that are resistant to avian influenza infection, and discovery of combination antiviral therapy for HTLV-1 infection.

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Weekly Picks

Rich – Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States<...

Vincent travels to Thessaloniki, Greece to attend the 27th meeting of the European Society for Clinical Virology, where he speaks with Pamela Vallely, ESCV President, and Piotr Kramarz, Chief Scientist, European CDC, about the activities of ESCV and ECDC.

Guests: Piotr Kramarz and Pamela Vallely

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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello lament the anti-vaccine, anti-science composition of the ACIP, US cases of Chagas disease, the Ebola vaccination campaign in the DRC, the death of an infant in LA due to measles complications (SSPE), before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, use of monoclonal antibodies against influenza, the lack of adverse effects of the COVID-19 mRNA in both non-pregnant and pregnant women, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go...

Vincent travels to Waterville Valley, NH to attend the Harvard virology retreat, where he speaks with Aaron Schmidt, Ben Gewurz, and Tatum Sass about their careers and their research on influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and CAR-T cells.

Guests: Aaron Schmidt, Ben Gewurz, and Tatum Sass

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discuss the continued Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem, invasive Asia longhorned tick and associated disease, potential Ebola outbreak in the Congo, Florida ending childhood vaccine mandates, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, SARS-CoV-2 spillover into household/domestic dogs, real data demonstrating the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, states that increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, effective and availability to PAXLOVID, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for an...

TWiV re-issues our 100th episode which featured a discussion of viruses with David Baltimore, an exemplary scientist and Vincent’s exemplary mentor, who passed on 6 September 2025.

Guest: David Baltimore

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Intro music is...

TWiV reviews a study showing that the 2009 influenza pandemic virus disrupted biennial respiratory syncytial virus epidemics in northern Stockholm, and development of broad-spectrum synthetic carbohydrate receptors that inhibit viral entry of coronaviruses, filoviruses, and paramyxoviruses.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello is shocked by COVID vaccine restrictions and uncertainties such as pharmacy stock, the ACIP meeting roster and whether it guidance is legal, 3 new ACIP members all anti-vaccine, ending of childhood vaccine mandates in Florida, the continued Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, cardia benefits of the influenza vaccine, presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk following vaccination, the use of antiviral nasal sprays to treat CO...

TWiV reviews the major shakeup in CDC leadership, herpes simplex virus infection doubles the risk of dementia, and the prototypic crAssphage is a linear phage-plasmid.

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are dismayed about the recent attack on public health the firing of the director of the CDC as well as resignation of 3 others members of the agency’s leadership, the continued Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem, suspension of Ixchiq the Chikungunya virus attenuated infectious vaccine, the first US case of New World screwworm before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, association Guillian-Barré syndrome with RSV vaccination, guidelines for using RSV vaccines, wheth...

Stanley Plotkin joins TWiV to recount his career as a vaccinologist, having participated in the development of vaccines for polio, rabies, and rubella, and his thoughts on the current anti-science, anti-public health, and anti-vaccine climate.

Guest: Stanley A. Plotkin

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In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses outbreaks of Vibrio vulnificus and Legionnaire’s disease in Harlem, the role of the American Association of Pediatrics defining immunization practices, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, effective of the high and low does influenza vaccines, association Gullian-Barre syndrome with RSV vaccination, guidelines for using RSV vaccines, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID ques...