Why subscribe?
Force of Infection is a newsletter about what’s going around, including outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Whether you are immunocompromised, live with a chronic health condition, or don’t want to miss another day of work, my newsletter will equip you with information to help you stay well. Join 45,000+ readers in all 50 states who rely on my newsletter for actionable information to make informed decisions about their health and safety.
Summer Schedule
During summer months, I publish a weekly “weather report” of respiratory and stomach bug activity in the U.S. I also include updates on food recalls and major developments in the news. This is only available to paid subscribers. I also have fun exploring other issues in epidemiology and public health, like radon mitigation.
Winter Schedule
In the fall and winter, my weekly report is free for everyone. I gave early warning of the tripledemic (September!) and alerted readers to a surge in norovirus before it was in the news.
While on the winter schedule, paid subscribers get special access to regional newsletters that contain information specific to the Southern, Western, Northeastern, and Midwest regions. These regional reports have more detailed information about each state, so you can get a better sense of what is happening locally.
Year Round Deep Dives
Occasionally, I post a deep dive on an infectious disease topic. I’ve reflected on moving beyond the pandemic origins debate, missing pieces of the monkeypox (mpox) response, and whether the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Why Readers Stay
Paid subscribers trust Force of Infection with an 85% annual retention rate, which is well above industry average. Readers in all 50 states have generated over 5 million page views, underscoring the demand for reliable, timely analysis about what’s going around.
Since 2022, I've published over 500 newsletters, building a track record of reliability no matter what's happening in the news cycle. Major outlets including NPR, Washington Post, Atlantic, Vox, and STAT News have cited my deep-dive essays, while my early warnings about the tripledemic and the big flu season 2025-2026 reached readers before the typical news cycle.
Who Am I?
My name is Dr. Caitlin Rivers. I’m an epidemiologist and associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where I direct the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation. I have a PhD in epidemiology and an MPH in infectious diseases.
My work focuses on the policies and practices needed to improve outbreak response and pandemic preparedness. I’ve had multiple roles in the Federal government, including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where I helped to found the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics.
I also like to write. I’ve written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Nature, and more. My first book, Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks was published by Viking in 2024.
Sign up
If you enjoy my writing and want more news you can use about what’s going around in your region, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. By upgrading you’ll also be helping keep Force of Infection sustainable so I can help inform readers about “what’s going around.”
Contact
Email us at support@forceofinfection.com.
