Abdullahi Tsanni

Guinea-Bissau suspends a US-funded vaccine trial as African scientists question its motives Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services, which funded the controversial study, say that it will proceed as planned.

For anyone following the on-again-off-again saga of the Guinea-Bissau hep B vaccine trial. The latest is that GB health authorities have SUSPENDED the trial.

@sciwriabdul.bsky.social tries to get to the bottom of it, here.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Agencies race to stop DRC Ebola outbreak The virus is genetically distinct from the strain that caused previous outbreaks, suggesting a new spillover event

www.nature.com/articles/d44...

An image with a smiling man in glasses and a quote that says: "The Open Notebook is the home of science journalism. It's not surprising that all science writers are devoted to the priceless resources it offer. TON's legacy will be defined by how it has shaped the careers of journalists across the world, including me. Abdullahi Tsanni, freelance journalist (Senegal)

This year, The Open Notebook is celebrating our 15th year. Here's what TON has meant to @sciwriabdul.bsky.social. #TON15

Learn more about how we're marking this momentous milestone! www.theopennotebook.com/15thannivers...

If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.

Leadership change at African journal sparks calls for bold reform The Journal of Public Health in Africa faces a pivotal moment, and researchers say it must evolve to better serve the scientific community.

“There’s a niche group that knows [the journal] well, but many more of us are clueless."

Story by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

To fight Ebola misinformation, AI mines old-tech radio data Insights from machine learning models in Uganda can be used to tailor policies for handling present and future disease outbreaks.

We're incredibly proud to highlight the work presented by Jonathan Mukiibi of the Makerere AI Lab at #DLI2024 ! ✨
Learn more in @nature.com Africa article: "To fight Ebola misinformation, AI mines old-tech radio data"👉
www.nature.com/articles/d44...
By @sciwriabdul.bsky.social

Africa’s chief diplomat for vaccine manufacturing Virologist Amadou Sall is the driving force behind a world-class manufacturing hub in Senegal.

In this profile of virologist Amadou Sall, on the ground reporting by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social Tsanni reveals how Sall's diplomacy and persuasion have made his vision of 'homegrown' vaccine manufacturing a reality in #Senegal.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Africa’s chief diplomat for vaccine manufacturing Virologist Amadou Sall is the driving force behind a world-class manufacturing hub in Senegal.

Meet the global-health diplomat who is behind a US$220 million world-class facility to make vaccine manufacturing a reality in Africa.

My latest for @nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

AHCJ announces winners of 2024 health journalism contest The Association of Health Care Journalists is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism.

Thrilled to see @cohenjon.bsky.social and @sciwriabdul.bsky.social win an award for their stories about tracking infectious diseases in Nigeria. healthjournalism.org/blog/2025/04...

Congratulations to @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, '23, and Jon Cohen for winning a first place Award for Excellence in Health Care Journalism for their coverage in @science.org on tracking infectious diseases in Nigeria

i spoke with one of the world’s top hunters of hominid fossils about his work to ensure that discoveries made in African countries are studied by Africans in Africa. 🦴

« If we have the natural laboratories there, why can’t we also have the physical laboratories in Africa » an absolute legend !

Outgoing head of heralded U.S. global HIV/AIDS program urges Trump to reverse cuts John Nkengasong, who had helmed PEPFAR since 2022, says “history will remember we showed humanity”

"We were a country that pointed to the North Star, whether it was smallpox eradication or polio elimination or HIV."

@cohenjon.bsky.social's farewell interview with former PEPFAR head John Nkengasong: www.science.org/content/arti...

People brought their families arguing that science is for everyone.

#StandUpForScience

💛

thank you, Linda 😊🙏🏿

‘We have to become self-reliant’: African scientists respond to dramatic U.S. aid cuts The “brutal” loss of billions of dollars shows Africa should no longer depend on foreign donors, researchers say

Provocative piece by the terrific @sciwriabdul.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...

‘We have to become self-reliant’: African scientists respond to dramatic U.S. aid cuts The “brutal” loss of billions of dollars shows Africa should no longer depend on foreign donors, researchers say

Super story by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social—as usual!

‘We have to become self-reliant’: African scientists respond to dramatic U.S. aid cuts | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...

‘We have to become self-reliant’: African scientists respond to dramatic U.S. aid cuts The “brutal” loss of billions of dollars shows Africa should no longer depend on foreign donors, researchers say

Fresh take on cuts to US aid, as seen by African docs & researchers. Cuts are chaotic & costly, but aid has been a mixed bag.

“When you don’t have self-determination, you’re always following & dancing to someone else’s tune.”

By the amazing @sciwriabdul.bsky.social www.science.org/content/arti...

‘We have to become self-reliant’: African scientists respond to dramatic U.S. aid cuts The “brutal” loss of billions of dollars shows Africa should no longer depend on foreign donors, researchers say

“This whole attitude of begging, crying, and throwing hands up needs to stop.” Strong words about Africa's dependency on foreign health aid—and how it could be broken—in a new story by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social: www.science.org/content/arti...

africa is heavily dependent on foreign health aid. but the brutal loss of billions due to the freeze on U.S. aid has spurred calls for African self-reliance. i tried to piece together how the dependency arose, whether it can be broken, and the solutions:

www.science.org/content/arti...

‘We have to become self-reliant’: African scientists respond to dramatic U.S. aid cuts The “brutal” loss of billions of dollars shows Africa should no longer depend on foreign donors, researchers say

Important article by @sciwriabdul.bsky.social.

“Many donor countries also expect political favors in return for their largesse, says @ckyobutungi.bsky.social, executive director of the Nairobi-based African Population and Health Research Center.”

www.science.org/content/arti...

‘The Interview’: Ed Yong Wants to Show You the Hidden Reality of the World The Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer talks about burnout from covering the pandemic and how bird-watching gave him a new sense of hope.

The most achingly beautiful explanation of what science is, from @edyong209.bsky.social: “the idea that much of the world is hidden from us, that we don’t perceive it and don’t understand it, and that it is worth understanding and it is necessary to understand.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/m...

I'm looking to speak with people whose research on disparities in transplantation has been disrupted by the federal funding issues or the executive orders. Signal: eboodman.88. eric.boodman@globe.com Please boost! #journorequest

WHO says 6 contacts of Ugandan Ebola patient are ill, vaccination efforts could begin Sunday Test results on the sick people are pending, and a top WHO official said the outbreak response is proceeding rapidly.

I spoke to #WHO 's Mike Ryan, in Uganda helping with the #Ebola response. Six contacts are ill, but not yet clear if they have Ebola. Vaccination could start Sunday. WHO is covering off key programs hit by the Trump admin's aid freeze, including border screening. www.statnews.com/2025/02/01/u...

My sense is that most of us in science now have at least some institutional guidance on how to cope with latest round of proclamations. I hope you're able to refocus today despite the uncertainty, good luck.

AND we need to brace against future rounds of disruption. Here's what my group is using:

My prediction on the mysterious disease in SW Congo that's killed 143 people:

The world will forget about it as soon as it's not mysterious. This part of Congo is severely neglected. And really, that's the disease.

Inside Clear’s ambitions to manage your identity beyond the airport The company that has helped millions of people cut security lines wants to give you a frictionless future—in exchange for your face.

New from me: I profiled Clear, the airport biometric company that is looking to become the “universal identity platform” of the physical world...and which has (according to its CTO) “1 of the largest private repositories of identities on the planet."

www.technologyreview.com/2024/11/20/1...

Artemisinin Partial Resistance in Ugandan Children With Complicated Malaria This study assesses artemisinin partial resistance, Pfkelch13 variations, and malaria recrudescence in Ugandan children with complicated malaria.

Deeply concerning news.

More than 10% of malaria patients in Uganda had partial resistance to the best & only malaria cure we have, artemisinin.

ht @globalhealthnow.bsky.social

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...