Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)

@firedbutfighting

Fired federal employees working to protect public health. Learn more at: linktr.ee/firedbutfighting

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Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· 26d

🚨Measles still spreading in U.S.🚨 The highest incidence of measles in more than 20 years. It’s a reminder of how rapidly measles can resurge when vaccine coverage slips. Vaccination is best way to prevent measles. As of July 10, 2026 there have been 2,231 measles cases in 41 states, including DC.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· 26d

Dr Elizabeth here starting a series about public health in Italy. Check it out. Let us know if there is a public health topic you would like her to cover. #expat #Italy #publichealth #CDC

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· 26d

Celebrate this! Close to 500K comments on federal register notice for Federal Funding Rule Change, proposed federal rule (OMB-2026-0034). These comments can and probably will be used in litigation in the future. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who left a comment.

We did it!
close to 500K comments on OMB rule in the federal register

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· 27d

Reminder that ticks can be ridiculously small. If this image is taking you longer than expected, congratulations you now understand the challenge. Know before you go, so you can be prepared. Treat clothing and gear. Use EPA registered bug repellant. Check body for ticks. 1/2 🧵

Public health officials:
Check for ticks

The ticks:
find me

picture of a strawberry with ticks on it.

The ticks revealed!

picture of a strawberry with ticks on it. Ticks are circled.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 11

Reduce risk: 🥬 Wash fresh fruits & veggies under running water. 🧼 Wash hands with soap & water before preparing or eating food & after using restroom. 💧 Drink clean water especially when traveling. 🧊 Be mindful, rinsing produce helps reduce contaminants, but it may not remove all Cyclospora. 2/3

Tips for Preventing Cyclosporiases

Wash your fresh produce thoroughly with clean water.

If you have lettuce, peel off the outer leaves and throw them away.

You can also cook produce to kill the parasite.

Keep your hands washed and your knives and surfaces clean.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 11

Explosive diarrhea! Cyclospora is causing outbreaks. Diagnosing & tracking isn't simple. Symptoms can be like other stomach bugs, many don't seek medical care quickly, & specialized lab testing is often needed to identify the parasite. Making outbreaks harder to detect & trace back to their source.

Cyclospora

Why is it so difficult to identify?

Diarrhea is common

Many people don’t report it or seek treatment right away.

Cyclosporiases symptoms can appear 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure.

Delays make it harder to find the source of the illness.

it's difficult to to test

Specialized tests are needed to identify cyclospora.

The parasite isn’t present in every stool sample, making it easy for false negative tests.

it's difficult to identify

Many of the foods that could be contaminated with Cyclospora are often eaten together, making it harder to identify the source food.

DNA matching called whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the potential food source can’t be done, making it harder to detect the pathogen.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 11

TLDR: 🦟 Mosquitoes🦟 & West Nile virus in headlines. Don't panic, be prepared. Prevent mosquito bites: ✔️ Use EPA-registered insect repellent ✔️ Wear long sleeves and pants when mosquitoes are most active ✔️ Empty standing water around home ✔️ Keep window and door screens in good repair 2/2 🧵

What is a Mosquito Pool?

Instead of testing every mosquito individually, scientists group mosquitoes together. Usually same:
species
location
collection date

50 mosquitoes in a pool

What Does a Positive Mosquito Pool Mean?

It DOES NOT mean every mosquito is infected.

It means the virus is ciculating locally between birds and mosquitoes.

Mosquito Surveillance is Only One Piece of the Puzzle.

sentinel chickens
birds
mosquitoes
human cases
horses

together, these help public health understand where West Nile virus is active.

Why Does West Nile Virus Surveillance Matter?

Let’s us know where the virus is to prevent people from ever getting sick.

detect virus early
guide mosquito control
inform the public
reduce disease risk

Knowing where west nile virus is helps communities respond before people
become ill.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 11

🦟 Mosquitoes🦟 & West Nile virus in headlines. West Nile virus detected in mosquito populations in several states. This is public health in action. What to know: • WNV in U.S. for 25 plus years. • Finding WNV in mosquitoes doesn't mean an outbreak. • Most people infected don't develop symptoms. 1/2🧵

how do we track West Nile virus?
it's more than just testing mosquitoes.

West Nile virus is mostly a bird virus.

Birds are the natural hosts that keep west nile virus circulating in nature.

This is called the bird-mosquito transmission cycle.

Mosquitoes Spread West Nile Virus.

When a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, it can pick up West Nile virus. Later, that mosquito may bite another bird or occasionally a person or horse.

How do Scientists Know West Nile Virus is Here?

Thousands of mosquitoes may be collected during a season.

Mosquito traps are placed throughout the community to collect mosquitoes.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 10

Everyone is talking about POOP! We figure we should chime in on why cyclosorpa is so tricky to track. We give you Dr Elizabeth. Can you remember everything you ate in the last seven days, including condiments? Drop a ✅️ (yes) or 💩 (no). #explosivediarrhea #poop #publichealth #cyclosorpa

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 9

They say everything old becomes new again, except maybe graphic design. 😉 #ThrowbackThursday, we're celebrating CDC's 80th by looking back at a classic poster. Fonts may be vintage, but mission hasn't changed: using science to help people live healthier, safer lives. This admin won't stop us.

old CDC poster showing various prevention and control activities.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 9

World Cup quarterfinals start today. For many, our team isn't playing anymore. There's still a team worth cheering for Team Public Health. Support efforts to advocate for & strengthen public health. ⚽ Support public health. ❤️ Wear the mission. 🛒 Shop now at www.FiredButFighting.org/shop

GoOOOAAALLLL for public health!

Celebrate the world cup with FBF jerseys.

shop www.firedbufighting.org/shop

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 9

An OMB proposed rule will change how federal grants are managed. Changes will affect funding that supports public health, education, research, emergency preparedness, & communities across the country. 📅 Comments due by July 13 11:59 PM ET. Substack for breakdown, open.substack.com/pub/national...

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 9

Can you recognize measles rash on different skin tones? Accurate recognition, combined with high vaccination rates, is essential to preventing measles outbreaks. Inclusive medical images help everyone recognize illness, reduce disparities in diagnosis, & improve care for all. 1/2 🧵

with measles cases spiking, do you know what it looks like on different skin tones?

pictures

representation matters in medical reference materials.

This is measles rash on dark skin tone.

pictures

measles is spiking, here is what measles rash looks.

pictures

save and share. picture so f measles rash on different skin tones.

no one should have to wonder what measles looks like.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 8

NEW! Admin Proposed & Approved More 2025 Illegal Firings of CDC staff! Internal docs produced in FDA's MSPB litigation reveal HHS had approved a 2nd reduction in force (illegal firings) for May 1, 2025. A 2nd round would have eliminated another 1,600 CDC positions. It was apparently abandoned. 1/3🧵

CDC staffing by the numbers

2,400 Positions Eliminated in April 1, 2025 CDC Reduction in Force

1,600 Positions PROPOSED for elimination on May 1, 2025

~1/3 Potential 2025 reduction of CDC workforce by OPM & HHS

Full Substack article, “Insights from the DOGE Files” available from National Public Health Coalition.

Based on documents contained in FDA's MSPB agency file.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 4

Patriotism is trending right now as we celebrate 250 years since declaring independence and starting this experiment of a nation. But what is patriotism? We asked members of our CDC community to reflect on patriotism and service. Check it out on our substack, open.substack.com/pub/national...

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 3

We are celebrating two anniversaries this July, 250 yrs as a nation and 80 of the CDC. Woot! Our founding fathers believed in public health. We need to ensure our leaders now do too. Vote for safer, healthier people every chance you get. Spread the word. Get registered.

The founding fathers believed in public health.
They believed. they acted.
you should too.
George Washington led the way.
“I have therefore determined that the troops shall be inoculated.”
In 1777, Washington ordered the first mandate for mass inoculation of the Continental Army to protect them from smallpox.
He fought smallpox with science.
Vote for safer, Healthier people.
Honoring 250 years as a nation and 80 years with the CDC.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
- Benjamin Franklin
The Pennsylvania Gazette, 1735

“There is nothing which can better deserve your patronage than the promotion of science and literature.” - George Washington
First Annual Message to Congress, 1790

“Every friend of humanity must look with pleasure on this discovery.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Letter to Edward Jenner on Vaccination, 1806

NPHC is a grassroots organization whose mission is to educate about, and advocate for, the protection of public health as a vital government service;
past, present, and future.

NPHC is the parent organization of Fired But Fighting.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 3

Turns out, "I'll deal with it later" isn't a good public health strategy. Choose prevention. Your future self (and everyone else around you) will thank you. #PublicHealth #Prevention

people on top of Empire State Building with a flag with words on it

"Prevention is powerful when it reaches everyone."

people on top of Empire State Building with a flag with words on it

"Trust Science. Protect each other."

people on top of Empire State Building with a flag with words on it

"public health works best when no one is left behind."

people on top of Empire State Building with a flag with words on it

"when we protect the vulnerable, we strengthen everyone."

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 3

No notes. Just public health professionals celebrating when someone says, "Yep, we're all up to date on our vaccines." 🎉🙌 That's the kind of victory we love to see. #VaccinesSaveLives #PublicHealth

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 2

☀️ Summer cookouts are about great 🍔 food 🌭, great company, & making memories. With the heat 🔥 cranking up, it's also important to be mindful of what ends up on your plate. Here are a few food safety tips for 4th of July. A few smart choices can help keep cookouts memorable for all good reasons. 🍉

What not to eat at the BBQ

potato salad sitting in sun
food on reused plates
undercooked meat
mixed serving tray
outside cheese tray
food at room temp for more than 2 hours or outside at 90 degrees fahrenheit or above for one hour

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jul 1

If seen being patriotic this week: It’s... ❤️Affordable healthcare for everyone 🤍Evidence-based policies 💙Health equity ❤️Environmental justice 🤍Reproductive healthcare access 💙Clean water and air ❤️Action on gun violence 🤍No one, especially kids, in detention 💙Free school lunches Kind of patriotic.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 30

Know what ticks love that way you can do the opposite. Stay safe and avoid all those ticks out there. #Ticks #OutdoorSafety #HealthTips

an image showing what ticks love.

says "we love humans who"
lists out activities that ticks are attracted to.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 27

Source: USDA's New World Screwworm dashboard www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/anim...

There are 10 counties in Texas with reported New World Screwworm cases, with 1 county having no active cases as of June 27, 2026.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 25

🚨Public Comment Open: Federal Funding Rule Change OMB-2026-0034 could change how more than $1.1 trillion in federal funding is awarded & managed, impacting programs like: -Medicaid -Head Start -Title I schools -Transportation services -Food assistance -Community health programs 1/3 🧵

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 24

Source: USDA's New World Screwworm dashboard www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/anim...

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 20

Please be safe while having fun in the sun this summer. Whether you are on the beach, by the pool, at a lake, on the river, or hitting the trails, be sure to protect the skin you are in. Protect your skin now cause skin cancer is no joke.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 19

Ticks don't discriminate and awareness shouldn't either. See how ticks and tick bites can appear across different skin tones, and learn what to watch for after spending time outdoors. Save and share to help spread awareness.

you know what public health doesn't talk enough about?
ticks on different skin tones.

picture of 9 skin tones with the same small tick on it.

Let's look at tick bites on different skin tones, too.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 19

A little public health this or that with Dr Elizabeth. Leave us thoughts in the comments.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 18

Way to go NY Knicks. We hope your parade is amazing. Keep it safe and be healthy. #PublicHealth #vaccines #ticks

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 17

Dr Elizabeth coming in hot with quarantine update for people exposed to hantavirus on the cruise ship.

Fired but Fighting (National Public Health Coalition)@firedbutfighting· Jun 17

KFF Health News reporter Darius Tahir covers how individuals within this administration are profiting off of BIG tobacco. This article is a must read in our opinion. Let us know your thoughts about this reporting in the comments. kffhealthnews.org/courts/fda-t...