🦠 Axios PM: Viral mystery

Plus: Diversity in science | Monday, June 17, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By U.S. Travel Association   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Jun 17, 2024 Good afternoon, and happy Monday. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 534 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Viruses surge worldwide Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   A slew of once-controlled diseases are roaring back to prominence all over the globe — and scientists don't fully know why. Measles, tuberculosis, strep throat and dengue are all surging, according to an analysis from Bloomberg and disease forecasting firm Airfinity. Flu cases in the U.S. are up 40% over pre-pandemic levels. Cases of whooping cough in China are 45 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. Australia has seen RSV cases double in just the past year. 😷 What they're saying: A lot of this has been blamed on "immunity debt" — the idea that COVID lockdowns softened people's immune systems, so now they're more vulnerable to other diseases. But the opposite may also be true: Countries that contained COVID well are now seeing high rates of excess deaths, while many places where it spread widely are back to their pre-pandemic baselines. "Why would it be worse in places that did a good job? That seems a bit strange. Some of this is the idea that those countries kept frail, elderly people alive," Christopher Murray, the director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, told Bloomberg. Rising global poverty and declining vaccination rates — driven by a combination of pandemic-era interruptions and anti-vaccine movements — are also partly to blame. Go deeper.     2. 🔬 Women scientists make gains globally Data: Scopus and NamSor; Chart: Axios Visuals 📈 The share of women researchers grew over the past two decades, Axios Science author Alison Snyder writes from a new Elsevier report. Countries with Hispanic and Latin backgrounds — Portugal, Spain, Argentina and Brazil — had the highest share of women researchers. The U.S. came in at 42%, just above the global average. 💡 Why it matters: Women's participation in science influences what topics are studied and what products are invented — from health products to AI algorithms. Studies have repeatedly found that gender diverse teams are more innovative. Share this story.     A message from U.S. Travel Association America's travel industry: Moving travelers safely and efficiently     This summer, more people will be traveling by air than ever before. The U.S. travel industry is working to get you there safely and hassle-free. From the plane you fly on to the technology TSA uses to verify and safeguard your identity, flying is safer and more efficient than ever before. Learn more.     3. Catch me up A firefighter passes flames in Healdsburg, Calif., on Sunday. Photo: Noah Berger/AP 🚒 Firefighters are gaining ground against wildfires that have burned nearly 23 square miles near Los Angeles. The latest. 🔎 The House Foreign Affairs Committee will interview former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki next month about the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Press release. 🗞️ The Washington Post said that due to "perceived and potential conflicts," former senior managing editor Cameron Barr — who stepped down last year and now is on contract as a senior associate editor — will oversee the paper's coverage of controversies related to publisher Will Lewis. Go deeper.     4. 🏷️ Lucrative Legos The McKays asked people to reserve their place in line for the Lego sale due to high demand. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios Lego devotees waited in line for up to 30 minutes this past weekend for an epic Lego garage sale, Axios Austin's Nicole Cobler reports. Thomas and Erin McKay have been buying and selling Legos through eBay for years — and their inaugural Lego garage sale drew so much interest that they set up a system to let people reserve a place in line. 🧱 Offerings included a variety of figurines — from witches to stormtroopers, penguins to dragons. Plus, they had plenty of already-built Lego sets, including a roller coaster, a "Harry Potter" train platform and a Parisian restaurant, which went for $225. One person spent over $800 Saturday morning, according to Thomas.     A message from U.S. Travel Association Nearly 3 million passengers fly safely every day in the U.S.     The travel industry is committed to a safe and secure traveler experience. With record-setting air travel on the horizon, TSA's screening technologies and the expertise of the U.S. airline industry will get you to your destination safely and seamlessly. Learn more.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: