Nsikan Akpan

New York

Managing Editor, Think Global Health at The Council on Foreign Relations

Highly melanated. Managing Editor, @ThinkGlobalHlth/@CFR_org. BSky: https://t.co/GpvNzpKuAa Past: WNYC, NatGeo, PBS NewsHour | PhD pathobiologist | YNWA

Articles

U.S. Egg Prices See Largest Jump Since 1980 as Bird Flu Outbreaks Continue

2 months ago | thinkglobalhealth.org | Nsikan Akpan

Originally published on February 12, 2025; Updated on March 12, 2025On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shared its latest update on consumer prices, showing that the average cost of a dozen large grade A eggs increased nearly $1 in a single month—to $5.89. This price jump is the largest since 1980–even after adjusting for inflation and beats the record set by February's price data.
U.S. Egg Prices Near 45-Year High as Bird Flu Intensifies

Feb 12, 2025 | thinkglobalhealth.org | Nsikan Akpan

On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly price data, showing that the average cost of large grade A eggs is the highest in 45 years. The price is the second highest—falling $0.15 of a record set in January 2023—after adjusting for seasonal inflation. The egg-price surge stems from H5N1 avian influenza—or bird flu—hitting poultry producers hard this winter.
Giant rat border agents could help put a stop to wildlife poaching

Nov 26, 2024 | snexplores.org | Sophie Hartley |Nsikan Akpan |Stephen Ornes |Sharon Oosthoek

agent: A person or thing (it can be a chemical or even a form of energy) that plays some role in getting something done. agile: Able to move quickly (and pivot as needed) with skill and little apparent effort. Sometimes the term is applied to thinking and project management as well as to athletic pursuits. behavioral ecologist: A scientist who studies how animal behavior relates to where animals live.
Why Pandemic Agreement Negotiations Failed to Land

May 24, 2024 | thinkglobalhealth.org | Chloe Searchinger |Nsikan Akpan

After more than two years of discussion and negotiations, the representatives for 194 nations failed to finalize a draft of the Pandemic Agreement, an international accord meant to fix the weaknesses and global inequities in pandemic preparedness that COVID-19 revealed.
A look at NASA’s new images of Io, Jupiter’s ‘tortured moon’

Apr 28, 2024 | pbs.org | John Yang |Harry Zahn |Vicky Stein |Nsikan Akpan

New research is revealing the secrets of Io, the mysterious volcanic moon of Jupiter. Four centuries after Galileo discovered Io in 1610, NASA sent a spacecraft called Juno on a five-year mission to Jupiter and its moons. Last week, NASA released animated artists’ conceptions of Io based on data Juno collected during two flybys. John Yang reports. Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.
Why it rained so hard Friday: Ophelia returned to hit NYC with an Ida-level storm

Sep 30, 2023 | gothamist.com | Rosemary Misdary |Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky |Nsikan Akpan

New Yorkers and New Jersyans thought they had seen the last of Tropical Storm Ophelia, but the remainder of the weather event that soaked the tristate region last weekend had other plans. The remnants of Ophelia returned in force on Friday, triggering a state of emergency that shut down the New York City subway, roads and airport terminals. At a press briefing, city officials described the situation as the wettest day since Hurricane Ida.
Tropical Storm Ophelia on track to hit NYC, NJ - like a hurricane but ‘cooler’

Sep 22, 2023 | gothamist.com | Nsikan Akpan

A subtropical storm that’s been quietly strengthening off the East Coast most of the week reached tropical storm status Friday afternoon, just in time to ruin New York and New Jersey weekends with a steady rain and hazardous gusty winds. Tropical Storm Ophelia’s most hazardous conditions will make landfall on North Carolina and Virginia, but the storm is big — about 380 miles across east to west and 296 miles north to south in terms of the extent of its winds.
No swimming at some NY beaches due to hurricane rip tides, high surf. Will they open by Labor Day?

Aug 30, 2023 | gothamist.com | Nsikan Akpan

Gov. Kathy Hochul suspended swimming at three Long Island state beaches as rough surf and rip tides and flooding as the effects of faraway storms continue to hit the region. New York City officials also issued a coastal flood advisory and warned that life-threatening rip currents could be present through Thursday. They advised against swimming in areas without lifeguards. But weather officials said they were hopeful the waters will calm in time for Labor Day weekend.
Why your Con Ed bill rose this month - and how it’s only the beginning

Aug 22, 2023 | gothamist.com | Elizabeth Shwe |Sean Carlson |Nsikan Akpan

Residents of New York City and Westchester County may have noticed a recent jump in their gas and electricity bills — one that had nothing to do with running air conditioners on hot summer days. This month, Con Edison increased electricity billing rates by more than 9% and gas rates by more than 8%. The move represents the first of three hikes set to occur between now and 2025.
Got COVID? NYC health commish on what’s behind the sneaky midsummer bump.

Aug 7, 2023 | gothamist.com | Joseph Capriglione |Sean Carlson |Nsikan Akpan

COVID-19 is rebounding in New York City, a few weeks ahead of the usual autumn and winter schedule of respiratory disease. But New Yorkers will find that tracking outbreaks has dramatically changed since the last time the coronavirus was thriving. Federal regulators ended the public health emergency for COVID-19 in May, ushering in a slew of changes in how the disease is reported to the public.