Liz Highleyman
@lizhighleyman
Freelance medical journalist. Science editor for @pozmagazine.bsky.social, Hep & CancerHealth. Words for aidsmap, Slate, Bay Area Reporter. Research beagle adopter.
I often lament the public's poor understanding of statistics, but this goes beyond that. People are letting their ideology blind them to what they can see -- or in this case, not see -- with their own eyes. Like, if 80% of vaccinated women miscarried, surely we would have noticed?!
I’ll skip the “We told you so” & just say that parents should ignore the current CDC guidance & consult their pediatrician.
Finally en route home from #AIDS2026. Last night's flight got cancelled (pilot ran out the clock), so Delta had to slot in an extra one today at 1:30am -- DL9890. They didn't mention problems with the aircraft, but this bird is hella squeaky & rattly.
Remote conference technology has actually gotten good enough — and in some ways it’s easier to sit in your home or office versus running around on site — but it’s all about the opportunity to see friends and colleagues. #AIDS2026
That’s a wrap from #AIDS2026 in Rio, but more reporting is coming over the next week on @pozmagazine.bsky.social & @aidsmap.bsky.social.
Fun and fitting ending to #AIDS2026 in Rio! Usually they announce the next conference venue at the end, but not this time — we do know it rotates to somewhere in the Asia/Pacific region.
The sex workers always have the best protests at these HIV meetings. #AIDS2025
About to hear about two new potential cases of HIV cure after stem cell transplants at #AIDS2026. They really need a stool for these shorter speakers…
Activists at #AIDS2026 call for accessible HIV treatment & prevention, breaking drug patents — & a cure. “Pills cost pennies, greed cost lives!”
Another year, another media center. I think Riocentro is one of the most beautiful conference venues I’ve ever seen. #AIDS2026
Dinner with @aidsmap.bsky.social colleagues is always a highlight of HIV conferences. Look for our #AIDS2026 coverage — & mine also for @pozmagazine.bsky.social & @bayareareporter.bsky.social — over the next couple of weeks.
I’m visiting Brazil & can’t read the Portuguese text, but the Google Jimothy is active here too!
Atlanta to Rio red eye for #AIDS2026. Wonder how many CDC colleagues are on this bird?
Looks like a case where reporting on an issue shifts its trajectory. That’s the whole point of advocacy journalism — to effect change — but I suspect this isn’t the direction the author & NPR would want.
Shasta has been a go-to in my as yet futile attempt to see the aurora. Saw a SAR arc once, nothing on another occasion despite highly optimistic predictions. I didn’t even consider tonight a possibility due to the clouds, moonlight & unenthusiastic forecasts. One day…
This axolotl mania precedes the World Cup — in recent years I’ve been seen them everywhere. When I mention it, many people say they’ve never heard of them & thought it was an entirely mythical Pokemon character or something. www.reuters.com/sports/socce...
Good interview with @drdemetre.bsky.social — former leader of CDC's HIV prevention, mpox & immunization efforts — at IAPAC’s Continuum 2026 conference. He noted that after every dark age is a renaissance — & what's rebuilt will not necessarily look like what came before.
The one that got away. We debated whether we could keep the latest Ridglan foster -- three beagles is too much, but we rationalized that she was really just two and a half -- but the rescue her a good home while we dithered. The silver lining is we still have an open slot for future fosters.
Always interesting to see how released beagles that lived in confinement learn about the world. The current Ridglan foster girl runs up and down the back stairs to the yard like a champ, but the 3 steps up onto the couch have been challenging.😆
The current Ridglan foster girl has finally found her beagle appetite, thank goodness. She’s tiny — makes my other average-sized beagle, look huge by comparison. My task is to put a few pounds on her before she’s adopted next week.
Having had 11 beagles, I’ve never seen one more reluctant to eat than our current Ridglan foster girl. She’s joined the begging brigade — she must figure if the others are so enthused, it must be good — but she stops midway through her bowl when she’s full, a concept unknown to most beagles.
The adventure continues… Of the 135 beagles newly released from Ridglan, 9 came to the SF Bay Area today. The tiny one is a short-term guest until her family picks her up. She’s only 1 year old — super curious & adventurous, but shy. The other is from the last group & needs some extra TLC.
#SevenDaysinJune candlelight vigil tonight in the Castro. On the 45th anniversary of the first medical report of AIDS, advocates gathered to remember those lost, celebrate long-term survivors & oppose cuts to local, federal & global funding for HIV prevention, treatment & care.
The first report of AIDS was published in the CDC’s Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report on June 5, 1981. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview...
A lot of people aren’t paying much attention to COVID any more, but it’s good to have a post-exposure prophylaxis option. www.shionogi.com/global/en/ne...
Got another video of our former Ridglan foster in her new home. Based on her appearance & behavior, I think she has some hunting beagle blood. I wonder how a hunting phenotype made its way into Ridglan's breeding stock? I presume she was born there.
