Beth Mole
Senior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before becoming a science writer and journalist, she conducted post-doctoral research on drug development and antibiotic resistance. Now, with over a decade of experience reporting on life sciences and biomedical research, she specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. Before joining Ars in 2015, her stories were featured in publications such as Nature, Science, The Scientist, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Science News. In 2014, her work was honored by the DC Science Writers Association. She currently resides in the Raleigh, NC area, Recent stories by Beth Mole: Human bird flu cases tick up; second Colorado poultry farm reports spread Seven cases have been reported in Colorado this month, bringing the total to 11. Beth Mole– Jul 22, 2024 10:22 pm UTC Illegal drug found in Diamond Shruumz candies linked to severe illnesses New testing finds psilocin, related to psilocybin, in gummies purchased in 2023. Beth Mole– Jul 19, 2024 5:59 pm UTC Long COVID rates have declined, especially among the vaccinated, study finds In large study, rates of long COVID fell from 10% to 3.5% for the vaccinated. Beth Mole– Jul 18, 2024 11:07 pm UTC Recent stories by Beth Mole (continued from previous slide) Five people infected as bird flu appears to go from cows to chickens to humans High temperatures made it hard for workers to use protective gear during culling. Beth Mole– Jul 17, 2024 4:58 pm UTC Genetic cloaking of healthy cells opens door to universal blood cancer therapy Blood stem cells are being engineered to protect them from lethal therapies. Beth Mole– Jul 15, 2024 1:53 pm UTC Drug middlemen inflate US prices, squeeze out competition, FTC says Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are key part of US's high drug costs, report finds. Beth Mole– Jul 9, 2024 9:53 pm UTC
90%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
90%
Examples:
- Beth Mole's reporting is heavily focused on public health and infectious diseases, which may lead to a slight skew towards discussing the negative impacts of certain topics (e.g., drug pricing).
- She also highlights the importance of vaccination and public health measures, which may give her reporting a slightly pro-vaccine slant.
Conflicts of Interest
90%
Examples:
- Beth Mole's reporting on topics such as drug pricing and public health may potentially lead to conflicts of interest (e.g., when discussing the impact of pharmacy benefit managers on drug prices).
- However, there is no evidence that she has any personal or financial ties that would influence her reporting.
Contradictions
85%
Examples:
- However, these contradictions do not significantly detract from the overall accuracy of her reporting.
- There are instances where Beth Mole includes contradicting information from unnamed sources or different reports (e.g., the claim that zosurabalpin is a promising drug for invasive CRAB infections but without mentioning its potential side effects or long term use).
Deceptions
90%
Examples:
- Beth Mole's reporting occasionally includes deceptive practices (e.g., claiming that zosurabalpin is effective at killing a collection of 129 clinical CRAB isolates but failing to mention its effectiveness in treating other types of bacterial infections).
- These instances of deception are relatively minor and do not significantly impact the accuracy of her reporting.
Recent Articles
Seven Cases of Human Bird Flu in Colorado: Virus Spreads from Dairy Farms to Poultry Farms
Broke On: Sunday, 14 July 2024Seven human cases of bird flu have been confirmed in Colorado, linked to two large layer farms where culling operations are underway. The virus, closely related to one affecting dairy cattle and farm workers, has infected over 100 million birds across 13 states since January 2022. Five new dairy farm outbreaks were reported, bringing the national total to 168. The CDC advises poultry workers and those near infected farms to take precautions and avoid contact with sick or dead birds or contaminated surfaces. 
US Government Prepares for Potential Bird Flu Pandemic with Moderna's mRNA Vaccine Development
Broke On: Tuesday, 02 July 2024The US government invests $176 million in Moderna's mRNA vaccine development for a potential bird flu pandemic, targeting the H5N1 strain. Early testing results should be available soon, with late-stage testing starting in 2025. The CDC assesses the risk to the general population as low but takes precautions as H5N1 bird flu has been identified in dairy cows and farm workers. Moderna's mRNA technology vaccine receives funding for a late-stage clinical trial through BARDA, emphasizing pandemic preparedness. 
Novo Nordisk's Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs: $600 a Month in the US, $59 in Germany - CEO to Testify Before Senate Committee
Broke On: Monday, 17 June 2024Novo Nordisk, Europe's most valuable company in 2023, faces scrutiny over price discrepancies of diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy in the US. The CEO will testify before the Senate HELP committee regarding these high prices, which are significantly lower in other countries. A study found that Ozempic costs $541 less per month in Germany, while Wegovy costs $727 less in the UK. Critics argue that justifications for these price disparities do not excuse such significant differences. 
Six Family Members Hospitalized After Consuming Undercooked Bear Meat: A Cautionary Tale of Trichinellosis
Broke On: Friday, 01 July 2022A South Dakota family contracted trichinellosis after consuming undercooked bear meat during a reunion. Six of eight family members fell ill, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Experts confirmed the presence of Trichinella nativa parasites in leftover frozen samples. Proper cooking to an internal temperature of 165°F is the only reliable way to kill trichinella parasites. From 2016-2022, seven US trichinosis outbreaks occurred, with bear meat as the source in most cases. 
Three Women Contract HIV from Vampire Facials at Unlicensed New Mexico Spa: First Cosmetic Procedure-Related HIV Outbreak Identified
Broke On: Wednesday, 25 April 2018Three women contracted HIV from vampire facials at an unlicensed Albuquerque spa, marking the first known outbreak from cosmetic procedures. The CDC investigated and found that the owner, Maria de Lourdes Ramos De Ruiz, practiced medicine without a license and did not follow proper infection control practices. 
New York City's Hidden Health Crisis: The Surge in Leptospirosis Cases Due to Rats
Broke On: Monday, 17 April 2023In New York City, a hidden health crisis is unfolding: Leptospirosis, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection carried by rats, has seen an alarming surge in cases. With up to 3 million rats and ideal conditions for the bacteria's survival due to climate change, men aged 20-80 are most at risk. The city is taking steps to mitigate the issue while urging residents in infested areas like Harlem, Grand Concourse, Bedford-Stuyvesant/Bushwick, and East Village/Chinatown to protect themselves from exposure. 
CDC to Update COVID-19 Isolation Guidance Based on Symptoms, Not Time
Broke On: Tuesday, 13 February 2024The CDC is updating its COVID-19 isolation guidance to recommend that people can end their isolation any time after being fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication and as long as any other remaining symptoms are mild and improving. This change reflects that most people in the US have developed some level of immunity to COVID-19 from prior infections or vaccinations, making it less necessary to isolate for extended periods. 
Zosurabalpin: Promising New Antibiotic for CRAB Infections
Broke On: Friday, 05 January 2024New antibiotic Zosurabalpin shows promise in treating CRAB, a priority 1 pathogen resistant to several antibiotics and causing damaging infections. It prevents bacteria from transporting LPS to its exterior shell, making it vulnerable to attacks. Low Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine Reported Across United States
Broke On: Friday, 27 October 2023The uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is significantly low as of October 2023. The fall COVID-19 shot uptake is reported to be at 7%. Wastewater testing, a method used to detect the presence of the virus in communities, has been impaired.