Expert Public Health Insights by Dr. Jay K. Varma

Explore Dr. Varma’s collection of insightful articles, research findings, and expert commentary on public health, infectious diseases, and health policy.

Learn from a physician, epidemiologist, and public health leader with decades of experience investigating outbreaks, advising governments, and translating science into action.

Latest Blog Posts

  • Could Raw Milk Spread Bird Flu? The Science Behind a Growing Risk
    Raw Milk Myths vs. Public Health Reality Raw milk has long been a favorite among wellness influencers and natural health advocates. Some claim it offers unique nutritional benefits that pasteurized milk lacks. But for infectious disease and public health experts like myself, the risks are far greater than any supposed rewards. A CDC study once […]
  • Planning a Trip to Hawaii? Here’s What You Should Know About Zika Virus
    Why Zika in Hawaii Matters Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and one of the most desirable vacation destinations for Americans. I’ve only been once oer 20 years ago, but have amazing memories of the island of Kauai. So when health agencies report about the emergence of Zika virus there, the […]
  • Ostriches, Outbreaks, and Outrage – An Odd Tale of Bird Flu
    Oz, Ostriches, and Outbreaks If you happened to see headlines recently about Dr. Oz, Canadian ostriches, and bird flu, you may have been as confused as I was. And, of course, tempted to click. This is, in fact, a real story and one that reveals how misinformation and political grandstanding are complicating infectious disease control […]
  • COVID Variant NV.1.81 – Should You Be Worried?
    What Is COVID Variant NV.1.81? How Do We Know It’s Spreading? Does NV.1.81 Cause More Severe Illness? What We Know About COVID-19 in General How to Reduce Your Risk Why Vaccine Policy Is at Risk Final Thoughts What Is COVID Variant NV.1.81? It’s the first time in a long time that I have seen the […]
  • How Anti-Science Becomes Policy: A Deep Dive with Dr. Tom Farley
    Table of Contents Introduction The “Make America Healthy Again” Report From Fact to Fiction: Misinformation in the Report The Rise of Pseudoscience in Health Policy COVID Vaccination in Pregnancy: Science vs. Politics When Scientific Review Is Replaced with AI What You Can Do Introduction On my Thermometer YouTube series, I recently sat down with Dr. […]

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“Public health is about anticipation, prevention, and action.” – Dr. Jay K. Varma