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Syra Madad

@syramadad

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The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong w/the world - Dr. Paul Farmer
Epi🦠Biosecurity☣️on @netflix @history @discovery

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Joined @cnn with @abbydphillip along with @vanjones68 @mariacardonadc @scottjenningsky @shermichael_ to discuss the very real dangers of having someone like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. close to the U.S. public health system with his decades of anti- science rhetoric.

His latest claim—to remove fluoride from public water systems—poses a serious risk to the well-being of communities across the country. Fluoride in water is a simple yet powerful tool in preventing tooth decay and promoting dental health, a public health measure that’s benefited millions for decades. Reversing such a safe and proven practice would set us back. Public health policies should be guided by solid, evidence-based science, not by misinformation that undermines decades of progress in protecting our communities. by @syramadad

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2 years ago

Grateful to be named among @cityandstateny Asian Trailblazers. Asian Americans are shaping NY’s future, in healthcare, public health, policy & beyond. Both, health care and public health are a team sport, and I’m proud to stand with so many leaders driving equity, resilience & impact.

My 5-year-old lit up seeing her mommy in a magazine and excitedly pointed out @zohrankmamdani on the cover (“I’ve seen him!”)🗽 by @syramadad

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a year ago

In other news, I’m thrilled to share the @netflix docuseries I’m in, “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak” that was filmed over 2019 and released January of 2020 has been nominated for an Emmy!

Congrats to the amazing crew and cast! @myanrcgarry @duggernyc @veronika_adaskova @chrisaiola @curlyjunglejake @sarah.ives_ and so many others. by @syramadad

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5 years ago

A 39-year-old woman has died from measles in Pennsylvania, marking the state’s sixth outbreak-associated death.

The UN adopted a declaration urging stronger global cooperation on pandemic prevention and preparedness.

Kenya confirmed a second Ebola case in a relative of its first patient, who developed symptoms while in quarantine.

WHO reports no evidence of ongoing transmission after a Russian laboratory worker died from unexplained pneumonia, with plague tests reportedly negative.

The CDC is monitoring travelers from Russia following a laboratory worker’s death, but the U.S. public risk remains extremely low.

U.S. flu hospitalizations nearly tripled, reaching 3,334 in the week ending October 3.

A New York Times report examines how Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s approach could affect federal handling of vaccine injury claims.

New South Wales is warning residents to avoid bats after bat-related bites and scratches increased more than fourfold.

Detection of a rare brain-infecting fungus increased fourfold at a U.S. reference laboratory between 2023 and 2025.

The CDC is investigating four multistate outbreaks linked to sprouts, raw milk cheese, and pet turtles, with 141 illnesses reported.

Florida has reported 252 locally acquired dengue cases and its first dengue-related death of the year.

Source:
@washingtonpost
@unitednations
@abcnews
@who
@nytimes
@the.independent
@cidrap_
@beckershealthcare by @syramadad

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2 days ago

🎬 Behind the scenes of a new documentary on leadership in public health crises.

In an age of compounding public health crises, from a national measles resurgence reaching levels not seen in decades, to recurring Ebola outbreaks, escalating climate-driven health emergencies, to sweeping cuts to the CDC workforce, the stakes for public health leadership have never been higher.

After navigating multiple public health emergencies, five lessons stand out:

1. Trust is everything. It must be earned long before a crisis begins.

2. Leadership requires courage. Especially when science is evolving, uncertainty is high and decisions are difficult.

3. Preparedness is not optional. The time to build resilient public health systems is before the next emergency.

4. Public health is a team sport. All crises are ultimately local. Our state and local health departments, clinicians, hospitals, and community partners are on the front lines.

5. The social science matters as much as the hard science. How we communicate, listen, build trust, and counter misinformation and disinformation can determine whether even the best public health interventions succeed. by @syramadad

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5 days ago

Proud of our teams at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, Harlem, and Jacobi as they advance toward becoming fully operational Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Centers, significantly expanding NYC’s capacity to safely identify, isolate, and care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases, including Ebola.

Today, nearly 50 healthcare professionals from these hospitals participated in intensive, hands-on training at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, a nationally recognized leader in special pathogens preparedness and our region’s Level 1 treatment center.

Adding these three Level 2 centers is a significant step forward for NYC, strengthening our workforce, expanding specialized care capacity, and building a more coordinated and resilient public health system.

With ~ 13 Ebola disease outbreaks over the past decade, including the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the importance of sustained readiness cannot be overstated. High-consequence infectious disease threats remain a global reality, and preparedness cannot begin when a crisis reaches our doorstep.

Preparedness requires sustained investment, training, and collaboration.

Congratulations to our Elmhurst, Harlem, Jacobi, and Bellevue teams, and our Office of Biopreparedness and Emergency Management colleagues, for helping build a stronger, safer NYC

Link to press release: https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/pressrelease/nyc-health-hospitals-bellevue-strengthens-new-york-citys-special-pathogen-preparedness-through-specialized-hands-on-training/ by @syramadad

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7 days ago

A mysterious laboratory worker death in Russia, reports of a possible second case and growing international attention are raising serious biosecurity questions.

In our latest @medpage article, my coauthor and I examine the reported death of a laboratory employee in Siberia, unverified reports of a second employee with pneumonia, and the broader implications for global health security.

What we know:

- WHO: Contact monitoring reportedly concluded without detection of dangerous infectious pathogens. WHO continues to seek clarification about the cause of death and laboratory testing. WHO has emphasized that additional information is needed for a more complete risk assessment. Its current provisional assessment places the risk at moderate to low for Irkutsk, low for Russia, and very low for the WHO European Region.

- CDC, ASPR, and the U.S. State Department: U.S. officials are actively seeking additional information about the incident and reported quarantine measures.

- Possible second case: Reports of another laboratory employee with pneumonia remain unverified, and Russian authorities have denied a second illness linked to the first employee.

As a biosecurity advisor and member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), I see this as an important reminder that strong laboratory biosafety, biosecurity, rapid detection, and transparent international communication are essential to global health security.

The bottom line: Preparedness over panic. Evidence over speculation. Transparency builds trust.

Read our full analysis on what we know, what remains uncertain, and why this matters for global health security and US preparedness.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/123322 by @syramadad

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8 days ago

Help us recognize the Pakistani American women shaping the future of AI.

As Board Lead of the American Pakistan Foundation (@americanpakistan) Rising Stars Program, I’m proud to spotlight this year’s theme: Rising Stars in Artificial Intelligence.

We are seeking nominations for exceptional Pakistani American women who are advancing AI through innovation, leadership, and meaningful real-world impact.

This program is about more than recognition. It’s about elevating talent, building a powerful network of leaders, and inspiring the next generation.

Know a woman making an impact in AI? Nominate her. Doing groundbreaking work yourself? Self-nominations are encouraged!

Eligibility: Pakistani American women, ages 20–40, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with demonstrated experience in AI.

Nomination Deadline: October 15, 2026

Nominate here & link in bio: https://www.americanpakistan.org/rising-stars-program by @syramadad

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9 days ago

Sheet pan kabobs with garden bell peppers hand-picked by Noora 🫑 by @syramadad

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10 days ago

Covering reports involving possible pneumonic plague and a Russian laboratory worker and addressing the public concern that understandably follows when a dangerous pathogen and a high-containment laboratory are involved.

I discussed what pneumonic plague is, how it spreads, how deadly it can be, available treatment, and what this incident may mean for the risk of a wider outbreak.

Having worked in BSL-3 high-containment facilities, I also addressed the important biosafety and biosecurity questions this incident raises. Importantly, we do not yet know whether this is pneumonic plague, nor do we know the source or circumstances of the reported exposure. Laboratory accidents can happen, which is precisely why rigorous containment, reporting and investigation matter.

A key challenge is the lack of transparency from Russia. Without timely, verifiable information about what happened inside the lab, it’s difficult to independently assess what occurred and uncertainty can itself fuel public concern.

Clear risk communication matters. Good public health depends not only on strong science and robust biosafety and biosecurity, but also on transparency and public trust. by @syramadad

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11 days ago

During NYC Climate Week, we hosted NYC Health + Hospitals’ Second Annual Climate Health Summit, bringing together colleagues across our system who are turning climate action into healthier, more resilient communities.

From our Emergency Management team’s Climate Health Champions training and pregnancy heat alerts during extreme heat/Code Red, to our growing work in biopreparedness and vector-borne disease (even NYC’s rats made an unforgettable appearance 🐀🍕), we explored how a changing climate is reshaping the health threats New Yorkers face.

We also highlighted the extraordinary decarbonization work led by our Chief Decarbonization Officer and Facilities team, and the new COOL Vans deployed this summer by our COR team to bring critical support directly to New Yorkers during extreme heat.

Climate change is a health issue. And across NYC Health + Hospitals, our teams are meeting it with innovation, preparedness & action. by @syramadad

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12 days ago

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) brought world leaders to New York and familiar promises: we will be better prepared for the next pandemic.

But those promises are already being tested by the response to the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

At #UNGA81, I heard Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama speak about health financing; joined conversations on malaria, a disease deeply personal to my family, chatted with Hungary’s Anita Orbán about leadership and preparedness, and heard WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus address rebuilding trust after COVID-19.

The message was clear: pandemic preparedness isn’t measured by promises made in New York. It’s measured by what happens when an outbreak demands action.

The next pandemic will test our promises. Today’s Ebola response is already testing whether we can keep them.

To read @nyasciences piece: https://www.nyas.org/ideas-insights/blog/pandemic-promises-meet-the-second-largest-ebola-outbreak-on-record/ by @syramadad

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16 days ago