The Controversial WHO Report; Funny Vaccine TikTok

Why Pandemics Give Birth To Hate Goats and Soda editor's note Sally Deng for NPR At the Passover Seder, participants recite the biblical list of 10 plagues sent by God so that the Egyptians would set the Israelites free: boils, frogs, darkness ... death of the firstborn. The custom is to name each plague, then dip a finger in a glass of wine and fling the droplet on a plate. This year, some Seder participants added new plagues to the list: the pandemic that has claimed nearly 3 million lives; the police actions that have taken Black lives; the assaults on Asians, with attackers often accusing their targets of being responsible for the coronavirus. These 21st century plagues have their roots in history. This past week, writer Joanne Lu looked at [how humankind has often blamed the "other" for epidemics and other ills](. The story also considered how the global health community can take steps to bring a halt to the plagues of hatred and violence. [Read her story here.]( Even as we mourn the many losses we've suffered during the pandemic, I hope the holidays celebrated by many faiths this spring bring hope in this year of plagues. Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- the week's most popular story Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images [WHO Report: Wildlife Farms, Not Market, Likely Source Of Coronavirus Pandemic]( The highly anticipated report states that the coronavirus most likely did not originate at the wet market in Wuhan and that a lab leak was also "an extremely unlikely pathway." Critics, including the U.S. State Department and a number of scientists, questioned the World Health Organization findings, calling the report incomplete and inaccurate and asking for a new study on the pandemic's origins. in memoriam Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images [The 'Godmother' Of Egyptian Feminism Has Died: Remembering Nawal El Saadawi]( Unwilling to be married off at an early age and, in her words, "not really fit for the role of a wife," El Saadawi forged a career as a doctor and author and coalesced an activist movement that inspired generations of Egyptians. coronavirus FAQs Michele Abercrombie/NPR [Is It Still Risky To Fly After Being Vaccinated?]( That question can best be answered with a healthy chorus of that depends. Also: A reader wants to know if getting a new tattoo has any impact on a vaccine's effectiveness. And: Do vaccines work if you don't have a spleen? video Vick Krishna/NPR [The TikTok That Explains Vaccine Science — And Makes You Laugh]( A new viral TikTok makes complicated vaccine science understandable, and it's pretty funny (it's a horror film parody). The creator and star is a member of NPR's tech team. links we like - [Sudan's "forgotten pyramids"]( are the stars of a New York Times photo essay. The ancient edifices have been endangered by floods and thieves, but now there are efforts to preserve and protect them. - A new BBC video shows how doctors are partnering with traditional healers in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province [to fight HIV](. - Jerome Groopman writes in The New Yorker about "The Politics of Stopping Pandemics." - April is National Poetry Month, and [NPR wants your mini-poems.]( You can submit via Twitter or TikTok. A professional poet will talk about submissions that caught their eye on NPR's All Things Considered. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]