Yesterday many US newspapers carried front-page stories on the severity of influenza so far this season. The New York Times story began with "It is not your imagination,more people you know are sick this winter, even people who have had flu shots." Is this really a bad flu season? Before we answer ...

Deans of public health schools in the United States have sent the following letter to President Obama, in which they criticize the use of a vaccination campaign by the Central Intelligence Agency in Pakistan to hunt for Osama bin Laden. I wonder if he will reply. January 6, 2013 Dear ...

The World Health Organization's campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis made impressive inroads in 2012: only 212 cases were reported, compared with 620 the previous year; moreover, India remained polio-free. The dark side of this story is that as wild polio is eliminated, vaccine-associated poliomyelitis moves in to take its place. The ...

On episode #214 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, and Kathy discuss how coagulation factor X binding to adenovirus activates the innate immune system, and a novel polyomavirus associated with brain tumors in raccoons. You can find TWiV #214 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

If you were a science professor, and you received two equally strong applications for the position of  laboratory manager, one from a female, one from a male, which one would you pick? The answer might surprise you. It is well known that women are underrepresented in many fields of science. ...