Conor Browne

Biorisk analyst / Fractional CSO

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

Delighted to have had this wide-ranging conversation with @PathogenScribe covering biological weapons, accidental release, the importance of precision in terminology, mitigating airborne pathogens, dual use research of concern, and much more. Thanks for having me on, Heather!

[The Infectious Dose Podcast @PathogenScribe]

🎙️ Now live: From Spillover to Weapons A conversation with biorisk expert

@brownecfm
on why clarity matters more than fear for biological threats — natural, accidental, or deliberate. 📷 Listen now on your fav podcast player or here: #InfectiousDose

https://t.co/1nCRlhHopa

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

Key point in an outstanding thread.

[Dr. Angela Rasmussen @angie_rasmussen]

The human infections in Yakima dairies are a pandemic waiting to happen. We don’t know if this will happen, but allowing unchecked, unmonitored human infections is a good way to find out.

[Gigi Gronvall @ggronvall]

This is incredibly dangerous. Much, much more dangerous than any so-called gain of function laboratory experiment.

[Dr. Angela Rasmussen @angie_rasmussen]

If you think bird flu spreading unchecked in mink is dangerous because of adaptation to respiratory transmission in mammals, wait until you see what happens when it gets to do that in humans

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@RevivalCare Very much so.

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

'Speaking with workers, we believe the official case numbers are a vast undercount'.

Damning and informative thread on H5N1 in Washington State.

[United Farm Workers @UFWupdates]

There is an active outbreak of avian flu (H5 influenza) in dairy herds in Washington State, particularly the Yakima Valley. A number of dairy workers have been infected, with at least one death. Speaking with workers, we believe the official case numbers are a vast undercount. 1/

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

'The current outbreak already ranks second and has had at least three times the number of cases and deaths in the time since it was declared, compared with the West Africa outbreak'.

I have never seen Ebola move so fast.

[The Associated Press @AP]

Congo’s Ebola cases have crossed 11,000 in another development that shows the severity of the outbreak. The Bundibugyo virus responsible for this outbreak has no known vaccine or treatment and has spread to eight of the country’s 26 provinces. https://t.co/UqpoODGbm5

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@GennadySimanovs 💯

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@ZoeMartell1 💯

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

I've been going to the same barber for ten years. I got a haircut yesterday, and, as always, he had arranged that I was the only other person there, and, of course, he masked. He always messages me if he or anyone in his household is unwell, so we can reschedule.

This is easy.

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@mryoung151 🙏

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@vicswift @ClareQ12 I've heard that from quite a few people, Vic - I'm sorry to hear no-one else will mask for you.

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@stonkcat Agreed - I should have said, 'it should be easy'!

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@KayElleTweets @Angellife999 That didn't work out well for me in 2020! :)

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@mryoung151 Please thank her from me!

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@KayPric48807479 I'm so sorry to hear that, Kay!

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@EmJayNabuurs This is an excellent point, MJ - let me clarify, in agreement with you: it *should* be this easy everywhere.

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@stone3Clare @envidreamz Exactly, Clare!

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@drstiehl_m He's fantastic, Michael!

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

'If the worst comes to pass, the Trump Administration has gone out of its way so that the country—and the rest of the world—will be vulnerable to the virus'.

Excellent overview of where we are with H5N1.

We are giving this beast too much room.

[Popular Mechanics @PopMech]

Humans Might Have a Serious Bird Flu Problem on Their Hands https://t.co/va5lhM7t67

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

@maarlev95759 Absolutely!

[Conor Browne @brownecfm]

What I will never, ever understand - or forgive, for that matter - is the absolute contradiction inherent at the policy level of 'normalising' Covid-19, yet simultaneously severely limiting vaccine access and refusing to explain to the public the value of using respirator masks.