Apoorva Mandavilli

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social

Science and global health reporter for The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/by/apoorva-mandavilli
Signal: amnyt.91

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 7:42 PM

As measles spreads nationwide, hospitals and health officials are pouring more money into efforts to increase vaccinations, testing and surveillance of the disease. The funds include a surprise $100 million infusion in recent weeks to states from the CDC.

🎁 🔗: www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/w...

nytimes.comC.D.C. Offers States $100 Million in Measles Support as Cases Climb (Gift Article)States said the cash infusion will help bolster efforts to increase vaccinations and identify cases.

@avac.org Oct 7, 2026, 4:39 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

This incredibly important piece from @apoorvanyt.bsky.social captures what's at stake as delays & cuts threaten decades of #HIV research:

“What took 40 yrs to build on here could just collapse in a minute w/out continued investment & commitment.” - Wafaa El-Sadr

🎁 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/h...

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 4:44 PM

The future of four large research networks that test vaccines and treatments for HIV, TB and emerging infectious diseases is in limbo after weeks of delays from the Trump administration in launching the process to renew their funding.

🎁 🔗 www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/h...

nytimes.comTrump Administration Delays Threaten Funding for HIV Research (Gift Article)The networks also develop treatments and preventions for other infectious diseases and were instrumental in testing the Covid vaccine.

@sherylnyt.bsky.social Sep 28, 2026, 2:33 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

ICYMI: "It's a zombified CDC." The agency that was once the world's "undisputed leader in public health" is a skeleton of its former self. by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...

@gavinyamey.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 8:42 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

I’ve been genuinely shocked by how rapidly & how extensively RFK Jr & Jay Bhattacharya dismantled the CDC It will take a generation or more to repair it & restore it to its former glory—pre-MAGA/MAHA, it was revered & seen as one of the finest public health agencies in the world Great reporting 👇

@pedsaly.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 2:13 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

In less than 3 minutes, @apoorvanyt.bsky.social shows - and tells - us what’s happened inside the CDC.

Everyone needs to watch ❤️‍🩹

@donmoyn.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 1:46 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

“Imagine losing a third of a city’s firefighters and then wondering why downtown is burning.” Connecting the dots between cuts and public sector failures is often difficult, but we are seeing the damage in public health. The only category of employee growing at CDC are political appointees.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 1:20 PM

50% gone at chronic disease centers, 30% overall. And even infectious disease centers, mostly unaffected by the layoffs, have hemorrhaged people over the past year+

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 1:20 PM

Big kudos to Public Data Observatory for pulling together data showing the staffing loss at each center, division and branch. The numbers are startling — and sobering.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 1:17 PM

I talked to nearly 30 current and former CDC employees. The agency is no longer the independent beacon of public health it once was, they told me. Nothing — from bathroom cleanup to Ebola response — is working the way it should.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 1:15 PM

I’ve been reporting on the CDC for years, and have written about many of its troubles over the past year. I was still shocked by the extent of the staff losses and political interference I found when reporting this one.

www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...

nytimes.com‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission (Gift Article)The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.

@gregfolkers.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 12:59 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

NYT: ‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission

by Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social @nytimes.com

nyti.ms/4rxU8iJ unlocked

@miriam2024.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 12:21 PMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social’s in-depth obituary for CDC, murdered at the age of 80 by #RFK Jr.

“Imagine losing a third of a city’s firefighters and then wondering why downtown is burning”

Understaffing, political interference, and chaos are putting us all at risk.

@politicshealth.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 10:19 AMReposted by @apoorvanyt.bsky.social

So fuc*ing infuriating and sad.

The CDC used to be the crown jewel of the world's scientific firmament.

Other countries came to us for help fighting deadly diseases. Its disease detectives learned what caused illness and helped change practices to prevent them. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 25, 2026, 10:29 PM

The US and the EU rejected a declaration by member countries of the UN that pledged international collaboration and solidarity in preparing for and responding to pandemics. Yes, you read that right.

🎁 🔗 www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/u...

nytimes.comU.S. Rejects U.N. Declaration on Preparing for Future Pandemics (Gift Article)Most member nations spoke in support of the declaration, but some rich countries had strong objections.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 5:27 PM

Dr. Nicole Saphier, Mr. Trump’s pick for surgeon general, expressed unequivocal support for childhood vaccines during a hearing on Wednesday held by the Senate health committee.
W/ Dani Blum

www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/w...

nytimes.comSurgeon General Nominee Pledges Support for Vaccines in Senate Hearing (Gift Article)Dr. Nicole Saphier appeared on track for confirmation, as did two other nominees for high-ranking health positions.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 4, 2026, 10:32 PM

Escalating a political fight over two deaths in Pennsylvania, the CDC said on Friday that it did not have any records to indicate “measles is the underlying cause” of any deaths in the country this year.

www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/u...

nytimes.comC.D.C. Says No Deaths This Year Attributed to Measles (Gift Article)The agency’s weekly update escalates a political fight after Pennsylvania said two deaths had been caused by the virus.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Sep 4, 2026, 7:40 PM

RFK Jr. has hired an Army doctor with a history of questioning the safety of Covid vaccines to investigate unsubstantiated claims that more than 2,500 U.S. service members died after receiving the shots.

www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/u...

nytimes.comKennedy Hires Army Doctor Who Opposed Covid Shots to Investigate if They Killed 2,500 Troops (Gift Article)In a legal deposition, the doctor, Theresa Long, compared immunizing service members against Covid to Nazi doctors experimenting on concentration camp prisoners.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Aug 31, 2026, 10:45 PM

Erica Schwartz, the new CDC director, ordered agency officials to challenge two measles deaths reported by PA, shunning the agency’s normal procedure of accepting state data and amplifying comments made by her boss, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/h...

nytimes.comC.D.C. Director Challenges Pennsylvania’s Report of Two Measles Deaths (Gift Article)Questioning a state’s investigation is highly unusual for the public health agency, but reflects tensions between the Trump administration and many states over health issues.

@apoorvanyt.bsky.social Aug 13, 2026, 4:43 PM

The city of Belém in northern Brazil was overwhelmed by an outbreak of dengue two years ago. An all-out municipal effort has reduced cases and may offer lessons to American cities.

www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/h...

nytimes.comA City Mobilizes Against a Stubborn Health Threat: Mosquitoes (Gift Article)The city of Belém in northern Brazil was overwhelmed by an outbreak of dengue two years ago. An all-out municipal effort has reduced cases and may offer lessons to American cities.

Older posts