Category: Public Health

The rise and fall of the lab leak hypothesis for the origin of SARS-CoV-2

Two new studies were published last week that strongly support a natural zoonotic origin for COVID-19 centered at the wet market in Wuhan, China. Naturally, lab leak proponents soberly considered this new evidence and thought about changing their minds. Just kidding! They doubled down on the conspiracy mongering, because of course they did.

/ August 1, 2022

New Studies on the Origin of COVID-19

New evidence strongly supports the conclusion that SARS-CoV-2 emerged from the wet markets of Wuhan, killing the lab-leak hypothesis.

/ July 27, 2022

Excess in Non-COVID Deaths

What are the true causes of the excess non-COVID deaths during the pandemic?

/ July 20, 2022
Plague doctor

Is COVID-19 “the forever plague”?

A recent article claims that Omicron reinfections confer "no immunity" such that it's possible to be reinfected with Omicron variants every two to three weeks and calls COVID-19 the "forever plague". Although it makes a reasonable point that "natural" postinfection immunity doesn't last long because of variants, the article is undermines its reasonable criticisms of COVID policy with maximal fear mongering.

/ July 11, 2022

Melatonin poisonings in children are increasing

Melatonin use is increasing, and accelerated during the pandemic. Overdoses are also increasing in children, and in rare cases are linked to serious harms.

/ July 7, 2022

Possible Universal Coronavirus Vaccine

New research potentially points the way to a universal coronavirus vaccine and other applications.

/ July 6, 2022

Moral outrage is not a good guide to pandemic policy reform. Vinay Prasad, please take note.

Vinay Prasad identifies some dubious problems in the government's efforts to protect public health, and offers some questionable solutions.

/ June 30, 2022

COVID Associated With Neurodegenerative Disorders

COVID infection has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative and neurovascular disease - another reason to keep our eye on this serious illness.

/ June 29, 2022

US Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Multivitamins

An updated review of the evidence reinforces that routine vitamin use is mostly worthless.

/ June 22, 2022
Universal health insurance

Medical debt vs. universal health insurance: The interface between SBM and policy

This blog has long argued that the best medicine is science-based medicine (SBM). The problem is that in the US SBM is often not accessible, except at ruinous cost, which is why I argue that we have to broaden our definition of SBM to include the systems that deliver it and pay for it.

/ June 20, 2022