July 13, 2026
TOP STORIESA growing cholera outbreak in Sudan has killed 114 people, per WHO officials, who also reported 1,330+ cases; the outbreak especially threatens vulnerable communities in conflict zones, where aid access continues to be hampered.
A group of NGOs allege rights abuses by wealthy countries that control much of the world鈥檚 pharmaceutical industry as pandemic agreement talks stall; countries including the EU, Norway, Japan, and Switzerland have opposed proposals that would require pharmaceutical companies to grant licenses for production in developing countries, and are 鈥渟ystematically resisting measures essential to realise the right to health鈥� of other nations, .
A U.S. outbreak of cyclosporiasis, the gastrointestinal affliction caused by the parasite Cyclospora, has reached 31 states, with 843 confirmed cases reported, ; however, the true number of infections is likely much higher, with as of Friday.
A Legionnaires鈥� disease outbreak on Manhattan鈥檚 Upper East Side has widened, with reports of 50+ people diagnosed, but fewer than 20 remain hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported; more than two dozen buildings鈥攊ncluding the Guggenheim museum鈥攔ecently tested positive for the bacterium that causes the disease and have reportedly cleaned and disinfected their cooling towers in response.
IN FOCUSA health worker dries gumboots and gloves under the sun at the Mulago National Referral Hospital isolation unit in Kampala, Uganda, on July 8. Badru Katumba/AFP via Getty
The Race for a Bundibugyo VaccineThe first human trial of an experimental vaccine for Bundibugyo will launch in Uganda in the coming weeks, a critical step as researchers rush to develop new protections to stem the rapidly spreading Ebola epidemic. 听
The trial: 110 volunteers are set to receive the vaccine in Masaka, Uganda, which is home to a large research outpost of the UK鈥檚 Medical Research Council and the Ugandan Virus Research Institute, . 听
The shot uses ChAdOx, a viral vector platform developed by Oxford researchers that was used to develop the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as well as vaccines for malaria and the plague. The phase 1 study will focus on safety. 听
Other Bundibugyo vaccines in the pipeline include one from Moderna and another from biotech nonprofit IAVI, with researchers optimistic that at least one candidate could prove successful within a year. 听
The vaccine trials will join the emergency clinical trials of experimental antiviral and antibody-based therapies recently launched in eastern Congo, .
Ever-heightening stakes: While DRC remains at the center of the crisis with 1,800+ infections and hundreds of deaths, health officials are increasingly concerned about cross-border spread in what is now the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, . 听
In Uganda, which has reported 20 cases, bans around public gatherings and handshakes have been put in place. 听
And health leaders are keeping a close eye on South Sudan鈥攚here fragile health systems could swiftly become overwhelmed.
Related:
Congo鈥檚 Ebola Outbreak Spreads to Two More Provinces 鈥�
US citizen tests positive for Ebola in Congo 鈥�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MISINFORMATIONThe Devastating Consequences of Vitamin K RejectionsAs more U.S. parents decline newborn vitamin K shots, doctors are seeing more babies arriving at the hospital with devastating hemorrhages.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not unusual anymore,鈥� said pediatric emergency medicine physician Meghan Martin in St. Petersburg, Florida, whose department treats an infant hemorrhage every month or two.听听听
Background: Vitamin K deficiency, which is common in infants, can cause life-threatening brain or abdominal hemorrhages. Since 1961, cases have been largely prevented through widespread adoption of newborn vitamin K shots.听听
Rising rejections: Vaccine hesitation has led to an uptick of refusals: In 2024, 5.2% of U.S. babies missed the shot, up from 2.9% in 2017, .
Over the last five years, physicians have seen more cases, and severe outcomes鈥攊ncluding lasting brain injury and death.听听听
听听
搁别濒补迟别诲:听听
Lawmakers Call for CDC to Track Vitamin K Shot Refusals, Cite ProPublica Report 鈥� 听听
ICYMI: The newborn vitamin K shot: What every parent needs to know 鈥�
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSLEN can stop HIV. But first people need to understand it 鈥�
Malaria Surge in Urban Teens: Medics cite gaps in care 鈥�
Nearly half of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in ER, missing critical treatment window, study finds 鈥�
World Bank drops climate funding target, raising fears for Africa 鈥�
Federal funding and science doubled life expectancy. We can鈥檛 do more with less. 鈥�
Graduating without a thesis: meet the people getting 鈥榩ractical鈥� PhDs in China 鈥�
听Issue No. 2948
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July 9, 2026
TOP STORIESAttacks on Ebola health care efforts continue in the DRC, as rumors and misinformation fuel violence that has included arson at treatment facilities, assaults on health workers, and repeated clashes over safe burial procedures.
Gun suicides reached a record high of 27,593 in the U.S. in 2024, ; the report, which determined ~45,000 people died by gun violence in 2024, also found that the firearm-related homicide rate dropped 15.8% from 2023.
NFL players are 4X more likely to die of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, dementia, and Parkinson鈥檚 than the general population, finds a study of ~20,000 NFL players; the study, which was published in the Lancet鈥檚 eClinicalMedicine, is the largest of its kind to date to examine mortality in pro football players.
Catnip lotion is an effective mosquito repellent, ; the study, based on trials carried out in Uganda, found the herb has insect-repelling properties 鈥渨ith performance equivalent to DEET.鈥� 听 Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner!听听
IN FOCUSA dermatologist screens a boy living with Albinism for skin cancer at the Thika School for the Blind. Thika, Kenya, June 13. Simon Maina/AFP via Getty
Cancer Outcomes Shaped by IncomeInequities in cancer care are widening worldwide, , which warns that annual cancer cases could soar from ~20.6 million in 2024 to ~35 million by 2050 without 鈥渦rgent鈥� investment in prevention, early detection, and treatment鈥攅specially in lower-income countries, .听听听
Stark survival gaps: The report highlights 鈥減ersistent and widening鈥� disparities between rich and poor countries,听.听Some examples from the report:
Women diagnosed with breast cancer in high-income countries have five-year survival rates of ~87%, compared with ~42% in low-income nations.
Access to 20 priority cancer medicines ranges from 68% to 94% in high-income countries, compared with 9鈥�54% in LMICs.听
<1/3 of countries include comprehensive cancer care in universal health coverage.听听
鈥淔ar too many people are still being left behind,鈥� says Andr茅 Ilbawi, the WHO鈥檚 team lead for cancer control, .听 听听
Powerful opportunities in prevention: Despite the report鈥檚 sobering findings, researchers emphasized that 4 in 10 cancers are preventable, with risk factors including tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, and infections such as HPV and hepatitis, The Washington Post reports.
Already, interventions like smoking cessation and HPV vaccines are leading to major gains.
But that progress is uneven: In North America and Europe, cervical cancer has been reduced to 鈥渁lmost elimination鈥濃�攚hile it is still a leading cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.听
鈥� 鈥e have become more aware of this challenge and the importance of us being out there, being transparent and providing information. We鈥檙e trying to re-establish trust in what we are doing, and鈥痜irst of all, standing up for science.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
鈥�Steffen Thirstrup, MD, PhD
As chief medical officer of the European Medicines Agency, the Amsterdam-based EU drug regulator, Steffen Thirstrup has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-vaccine politics in Europe, and upheaval at the FDA, the EMA鈥檚 U.S. counterpart. 鈥�
But now, other issues are keeping him up at night: health misinformation and anti-science politics. 听 听
why the EMA is taking on a more public role in fighting misinformation鈥攁nd the risks of staying silent. Key takeaways: 鈥�
On choosing battles wisely: 鈥淲e鈥痗annot react to every mis- and disinformation that we by chance pick up, but if we see that there is a potential negative health impact, we try to push back.鈥� 听
On tactics: Communicating at the eye level of the audience, and engaging with trusted鈥痠nfluencers or content creators online鈥攖o push positive messages, and also tackle misinformation. 听听
On challenges ahead: The speed of information flow and social media, where everybody can make themselves an expert; and political movements spreading information that questions science.
Read the full Q&A by Gabriela Galvin ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Turn the Cleat Around听We鈥檝e all seen some fancy footwork during this World Cup. But it鈥檚 unlikely that even the fanciest moves from the likes of Messi, Haaland, and Mbappe can stack up to the maneuvers described in this match in West Hollywood last week :听听
The players headed the ball 鈥� and shimmied to ABBA鈥檚 鈥淕imme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight).鈥� They dance-battled to 鈥淐ar Wash.鈥� They shot penalty kicks to Donna Summers鈥檚 鈥淚 Feel Love.鈥� At one point, a goalie hung upside down from the goal frame, swinging to and fro.听听
These players are of course, cut from a different鈥攑erhaps lam茅?鈥攃loth than your standard soccer roster. That鈥檚 because they aren鈥檛 soccer players. They鈥檙e Discofoot players.听听听
The beautiful game, further beautified: Invented in 2014 by Swedish choreographers, Discofoot is soccer-esque, :
Instead of dribbling, players must improvise dance moves. Goals matter, but judges also give points for artistic merit. The pregame national anthem is the Bee Gees鈥� 鈥淪tayin鈥� Alive.鈥� And crucially: All players must wear shimmering gold shorts.听
I fear a new HIV and Aids epidemic is coming 鈥� and the world won鈥檛 care, UN official warns 鈥�
An Italian region defies US pressure to end a Cuban doctors program 鈥�
Study dampens hope that meningitis vaccine can also prevent gonorrhea 鈥�
State IVF measures may reduce access to fertility care, docs say 鈥�
My Search for a Psychiatric Bed in an Overburdened Health System 鈥�
Are Autonomous Vehicles Safer Than Human Drivers? 鈥�
How to advance revolutionary science: high turnover, high risk and a license to fail 鈥�
听Issue No. 2947
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Reducing vehicle emissions could prevent thousands of deaths in Canada
A shift to cleaner transportation could prevent more than 3,600 premature deaths in Montreal and Toronto by reducing ultrafine particle pollution, finds a new study led by 黑料网爆吃瓜 researchers.
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are microscopic pollutants produced in large quantities by vehicle exhaust. Because of their small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and may contribute to serious health problems such as heart and lung disease.
July 8, 2026
TOP STORIESAn Egyptian court has sentenced a doctor and filmmaker for drawing attention to a pattern of obstetric violence at an Alexandria public hospital鈥攊ncluding widespread physical, sexual, and verbal abuse and medical negligence; the doctor was charged with 鈥渟preading false news,鈥� fined, and given a six-month suspended prison sentence.
A public health emergency in Venezuela is growing as already-strained health systems struggle to meet surging medical needs following the country鈥檚 twin earthquakes; 20 health facilities are facing 鈥渟evere shortages of vital medical supplies,鈥� and just 1,038 healthcare workers are available for a population of 1.7 million+ people.听
Nearly 1 in 4 adults in five states with high rates of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) tested positive for alpha-gal antibodies, suggesting that the presence of the molecule that triggers AGS could be more common than AGS itself, ; the researchers recommend that testing be reserved for patients with clinical symptoms to avoid overdiagnosis.
Average testosterone levels in men declined by 54% between 1972 and 2019, according to data presented this week at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in London; researchers say rising obesity and diabetes are the key drivers but also highlighted endocrine-disrupting chemicals and climate change as potential factors.
IN FOCUSNurses pull on gloves before administering COVID-19 vaccinations to children at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. June 21, 2022. Wesley Lapointe/Los Angeles Times via Getty
Pandemic-Era Push for PPE StallsA U.S. effort to rebuild domestic medical glove manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic has largely fallen short six years later鈥攁 saga that underscores the struggle to sustain the pandemic-era priority of achieving medical supply independence, .
Background: In the face of dire COVID-era PPE shortages, ~$850 million in government funding was allocated to six American companies for nitrile glove manufacturing. 听
That included an effort to kickstart production of butadiene, a key glove ingredient which has long been imported鈥攁 vulnerability highlighted this year as the Iran war led to glove price hikes, . 听
Drained investments: None of those funded companies are producing medical gloves today, and the U.S. still relies heavily on imports. 听
Companies say federal funding was not sustained as they were hit by rising construction costs and struggled with a lack of buyers, since domestic gloves can cost ~2X as much as imported ones. 听
鈥淚t is frustrating to watch because value chains for any medical product take a while to establish and take root,鈥� said Prashant Yadav, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. 听
Future focus: The Trump administration is shifting from manufacturing investment to procurement policies that direct federal agencies to buy American-made nitrile gloves whenever possible. 听
Meanwhile, as another outbreak grows: The Africa CDC is working with manufacturers to scale up domestic PPE production to ensure ~60% of PPE is Africa-produced by 2040, reports New Vision. 听 听
Related:
鈥楳onumental failure of government鈥� led to lost 拢11bn for Covid PPE 鈥� 听
The fight for PPE that fits 鈥�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES AUTISM Long Road of Advocacy in GuineaFamilies of children with autism face an uphill battle in Guinea, where a range of obstacles stand between them and support services: 听
Unclear picture of need: Guinea does not track autism cases, making it harder to train health workers to diagnose the condition and build out support systems. 听
Stigma: The condition is often misunderstood and sometimes attributed to evil spirits. 听
Few facilities: Only a few schools serve children with autism, and they are prohibitively expensive for most families. 听
Advocates press forward: In 2023, the Salim Foundation for Children with Autism opened as a free school for autistic children and as a support hub for families. 听
鈥淭hese children deserve acceptance, understanding, education and unconditional love,鈥� said founder Mariam Aisha Barry. 听
What do you think about GHN鈥檚 length today?
QUICK HITSAd hoc organization relies on creativity, 鈥榮crappy鈥� funding to monitor public health during World Cup 鈥�
Waiver or not, US places no gag rule conditions on Global Fund funding 鈥�
Liberia鈥檚 abortion law reform: A new front in the global culture wars 鈥�
What can France learn from Spain's heatwave protection for workers? 鈥�
What to know about Legionnaires鈥� disease making people sick on New York鈥檚 Upper East Side 鈥�
Americans May Be Smarter About Vaccines Than You Think 鈥�
听Issue No. 2946
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122 黑料网爆吃瓜 research projects awarded $30 million in NSERC Discovery Grants funding
Funding supports bold ideas across natural sciences and engineering disciplines at 黑料网爆吃瓜, in fields ranging from ophthalmology and physics to music research and electrical engineering.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has awarded 122 黑料网爆吃瓜 research projects funding from its Discovery Grants competition for a total investment of $30 million.听听
July 7, 2026
TOP STORIESHealth workers at the center of the Ebola outbreak in DRC鈥檚 Ituri province threatened to strike if the government fails to pay them and improve their working conditions; they say听they have not been paid benefits since the outbreak began and they lack adequate equipment and supplies.
Thousands of women in India are murdered or driven to take their own lives over dowry disputes each year鈥攜et the cases no longer spark public outrage or debate, , despite a rise in cases (from 1,841 in 1988 to 6,516 in 2022); dowries were officially banned in 1961 but remain widespread.听
Armed conflict is tied to a higher measles burden through missed vaccinations, weakened healthcare systems, displacement, and socioeconomic decline,听听led by King's College London and New York University researchers who analyzed and modeled data on battle-related deaths, displacement, economic factors, life expectancy, and education from 193 countries from 2000 to 2023. 听
China-based fentanyl manufacturers听are profiting from US online sales of peptides, which are popular with influencers and are currently blocked from being mixed by compounding pharmacies in the U.S. because of a lack of studies on their health effects.
IN FOCUSA paramedic takes a blood sample from a baby for an HIV test at a state-run hospital. Rato Dero, Pakistan, May 9, 2019. Rizwan Tabassum/AFP via Getty
Pakistan鈥檚 Pediatric HIV Outbreak 听Pakistan鈥檚 government has two weeks to explain how at least 78 children were infected with HIV at a Sindh province hospital.
The Sindh High Court ordered a report last week on the outbreak in Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital after months of government inaction and mounting outrage from the children鈥檚 families.听听听
Tariq Mansoor, the petitioner before the court, said the children were infected by contaminated disposable syringes that had been reused.听听听
Justice delayed: After the HIV cases were reported last November, the families requested the government initiate an independent inquiry. After the government took no action, they petitioned the High Court.听听听听
鈥淲e have been running from pillar to post in search of justice, but the government has offered us no hope,鈥� Mansoor said.听听听
Wider outbreak: The Pakistan Medical Association warned in April of an increase in HIV infection among children in Sindh province. It said the increase was caused by serious infection control failures.听听听
History: The country鈥檚 worst pediatric HIV outbreak emerged in Sindh in April 2019 when 800+ children tested positive for HIV. Private clinics鈥� reuse of syringes and needles in IV treatment was blamed.听听听
听 听听
Related:听听听
As Pakistan鈥檚 monsoon arrives, people with HIV worry 鈥撎�
Cambodia's HIV model the region cannot ignore 鈥撎�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EXTREME HEATOverheated Europe Looks to an Air-Conditioned FutureAir conditioning usage is rapidly growing across Europe, as intensifying heat waves strain infrastructure built for cooler climates.
~20% of European homes have AC units; but adoption is expanding even in historically cooler countries like the U.K., where homes with AC doubled over the past three years; and Germany, where AC adoption jumped 6% between 2023鈥�2024.听听
Prioritizing health care: Britain鈥檚 Climate Change Committee . This week, medical machines broke down in sweltering UK hospital wards even as heat-related admissions surged.听听听
The cost of cooling: Higher electricity prices and aging power grids make widespread AC adoption especially challenging.
Climate experts say Europe requires more efficient AC technology alongside better building design, shade, and urban greenery.听听听
Related:
June heatwave may have killed around 20,000 people in Europe 鈥�
At least 25 people die in US as record heatwave scorches swaths of country 鈥�
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSSan Francisco Celebrates Morning-After Pill for STIs. Other Countries Warn of Antibiotic Resistance 鈥�
Medicaid funding is resuming for Planned Parenthood after being cut off for most of a year 鈥�
How easy is it to get weight-loss drugs online? Secret shoppers from Yale found out 鈥�
Decline of Ph.D. admissions could imperil a 鈥榞eneration of new talent鈥� 鈥�
After Certification: How El Salvador and Belize Remain Malaria-Free 鈥�
Exposure to everyday chemicals can add up 鈥� a toxicologist offers simple steps to reduce your dose 鈥�
听Issue No. 2945
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July 6, 2026
TOP STORIESFamilies of ill and injured Gazans are accusing health officials of taking bribes to place healthy people on medical evacuation lists; protests over medical evacuations have escalated in recent weeks, as 20,000+ people in the region are estimated to be in need of medical help abroad.
Wildfires across southern Europe have forced thousands to evacuate their homes as hundreds of firefighters battle flames that have burned through ~49,500 acres in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain; further forecasts of heat and strong wings have prompted officials to warn of 鈥減owder keg鈥� conditions.
A Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv on July 2 killed at least 22 people, injured dozens, and struck civilian sites including the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry鈥攔uining labs and causing power outages that jeopardize years of work in biological sciences, including research on cell lines used to produce monoclonal and single-chain antibodies.
400+ cases of severe stomach illness from the parasite Cyclospora have been reported across 18 U.S. states, and 20 people have been hospitalized; the parasite, which is transmitted through contaminated food and water, is most common during spring and summer鈥攂ut 鈥渦nusually high鈥� case counts this year have sparked alarm.
IN FOCUSA healthcare worker takes samples from a patient at the Ebola Treatment Center of the Center M茅dical 脡vang茅lique. Bunia, Ituri, DRC, June 23. Benediction Murhabazi/AFP via Getty
Ebola Trial Offers New HopeTwo months into the DRC鈥檚 Ebola outbreak, researchers have launched a major clinical trial to test potential treatments鈥攁 step that WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said 鈥渙ffers real hope鈥� as the Bundibugyo virus continues to sweep through the region, . 听
As of today, the DRC has reported 506 deaths and 1,561 confirmed cases of the virus, which has no approved vaccine or targeted therapy, . 听
The details: The WHO-supported trial will test the impact of two drugs: Gilead Sciences鈥� broad-acting antiviral remdesivir and Mapp Biopharmaceutical鈥檚 experimental antibody treatment MBP134. 听
Patients enrolled in the trial will receive standard care and be randomly assigned to also receive remdesivir, MBP134, a combination of the treatments, or neither. Survival will be tracked for 28 days. 听
Results could take several months and ~1,000 participants鈥攗nless one treatment proves 鈥渉ighly effective鈥� earlier. 听
Challenging conditions: The study is operating at Bunia鈥檚 Evangelical Medical Center in Ituri province, where the launch was characterized by 鈥渦rgency rather than ceremony,鈥� amid overcrowding, conflict, attacks on healthcare workers, and community mistrust, per another AP report. 听
New diagnostic test: The trial was launched as the WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo virus to its last week. The blood test detects the virus by 鈥渞apidly and accurately鈥� identifying its genetic material, . 听 听
Meanwhile, the WHO and Africa CDC are rapidly expanding lab testing capacity. 听
Related: 听听
Ebola outbreak containment hampered by USAID closure, experts say 鈥�
The Battle Against Ebola鈥攁nd Misinformation 鈥�
A safe return home: Tackling stigma on Uganda's Ebola frontline 鈥�
The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak: a warning signal for risks to health workers 鈥�
DATA POINT655 million
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
People globally still living without electricity鈥攚ith sub-Saharan Africa bearing a disproportionate share of 560 million+, while most regions are nearing universal access, . 鈥�
In 2018, Japanese health officials looking for a way to curb unnecessary antibiotic use decided to try a new tactic: financial incentives. 听
At the time, antibiotic overuse was widespread in Japan, especially in pediatric outpatient clinics, where overprescription rates were notably high among children presenting with viral illnesses. 听
How the incentive works: Each time a pediatrician determines that a patient likely has a viral illness and holds off on antibiotic prescriptions, they can claim an extra 800 yen, or $5, when seeking government reimbursement. 听
Paying the doctors has paid off: Participating clinics cut antibiotic prescriptions by , with and no increase in hospitalizations or healthcare costs. 听
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS鈥淗e Didn鈥檛 Need to Die.鈥� How an Immigration Detention Center Repeatedly Failed to Address a Mental Health Crisis. 鈥�
Regular Users Can Tolerate Previously 鈥楿nsurvivable鈥� Amounts of Fentanyl 鈥�
Why U.S. measles outbreaks have grown harder to extinguish 鈥�
Majority of UK smokers wrongly believe vaping is as harmful as cigarettes, experts find 鈥�
Wisconsin Laborers union breaks new ground with peer support for troubled members 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Tanner Kattre!听
听Issue No. 2944
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Gambling addiction treatment underused in Quebec, study finds
A new study finds public specialized gambling addiction treatment services are underused in Quebec, pointing to a need to better reach people with gambling disorder.
Researchers at 黑料网爆吃瓜 and the Douglas Research Centre followed more than 2,300 people with a gambling disorder over 13 years. Despite free access, patients averaged fewer than two treatments during that period.
July 2, 2026
TOP STORIESWildfires in France have posed a growing challenge for firefighters amid extreme heat and high winds, ; meanwhile in the U.S., this July 4 could be the hottest ever for many regions experiencing a massive heatwave鈥攚ith 300+ record temperatures forecast, .
West Nile virus in the U.S. is off to its earliest and worst start in over two decades, per the CDC, which has reported 48 cases in 23 states, including 38 severe cases as of June 30; the average number of cases reported to the CDC by the end of June has typically been ~10 since 2004.
The Trump administration terminated 53 teen pregnancy prevention grants worth ~$67 million two years ahead of schedule鈥攎ost because the Health and Human Services Department听said they normalized or promoted sexual activity for minors and 鈥渘o longer aligned with the agency鈥檚 priorities鈥�; the cuts hit university, community, and public health grantees in more than two dozen states.听
Anthropic announced Claude Science, a new AI tool to support scientific research; the company says it will also use the product for its own research into the development of drugs for rare, neglected diseases.
IN FOCUSA woman holds her child with visible skin infections inside a medical tent in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on August 21, 2025.听Doaa Albaz/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty
Fighting a Growing Fungal Threat听Fungal infections affect 300 million+ people worldwide every year鈥攁nd that burden continues to grow with rising antifungal resistance. 听
Yet fungal infections remain 鈥渙ne of the most neglected global health threats,鈥� : widely underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and largely absent from many national health plans and antimicrobial resistance strategies. 听
That is why the WHO has released a , which provides practical guidelines to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance. 听
Growing stakes: The guidelines are the WHO鈥檚 latest effort to address a threat that is rapidly expanding because of climate change, international travel, and antifungal pesticide usage in agriculture. The blueprint builds on its 2022 .
While common infections such as ringworm are usually treatable, invasive fungal infections can be life-threatening, particularly for transplant recipients, cancer patients, and people living with HIV. People in LMICs face increased risk, says the WHO.听
鈥楢 concrete path forward鈥�: The document calls on countries to focus on four core domains to strengthen response:
Bolster public awareness, preparedness, and antifungal stewardship.听听
Expand access to diagnostics and medicines while supporting research and innovation.
Improve laboratory capacity and surveillance.
Address environmental and agricultural drivers through a One Health approach.听
Meanwhile, two pet-related fungal infections are on researchers鈥� radars:听
A cat-carried fungus, Sporothrix brasiliensis, is a 鈥済rowing public health concern鈥� amidst an outbreak in South America, . 听
And dogs may provide a bellwether for the potentially fatal fungal disease blastomycosis, say health officials in Northern Ontario, where five people died of the disease in 2021, .
Related: Radio Health Journal + syndicated to multiple outlets: The Fungal Frontier: How Fungi Could Trigger A Zombie Pandemic 鈥�
SUCCESS STORIES How Scotland Treated Violence Like an EpidemicIn 2005, Scotland was deemed 鈥渢he most violent country in the developed world鈥� by the UN and had Europe鈥檚 highest murder rate. But today, homicides are at their lowest level in 20+ years and now fall in the middle of European rankings. 听
What made such a turnaround possible? 听
Adopting a public health approach: Officials created the Scotland Violence Reduction Unit in 2005, seeking to reframe violence as a public health problem stemming from preventable risk factors, based on U.S. programs. 听
A slate of interventions has included peer support groups, school programs, and partnerships with courts and health workers鈥攑articularly the group , which trains health workers to support patients vulnerable to violence.
Rapid impact: Violent crime fell by almost a third between 2006鈥�2015. 听
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Ranch Goes with Everything, and EveryoneAt what point does a charming trend become a homeland-security-threatening obsession? When it comes to ranch dressing, the answer is murky鈥攚ith a nice, tangy aftertaste.
It all started a month ago, when international visitors in the U.S. for the World Cup seemingly encountered 鈥溾�� en masse, resulting in viral social media posts praising the sauce鈥檚 boundless virtues. 听
But that enthusiasm has escalated, , which documented a series of somewhat concerning (yet relatable) scenes: 听
A Panama fan 鈥渃hugging a handle of ranch鈥� before entering Newark International Airport. 听
A man at Boston Logan International Airport selling ranch packets out of a suitcase. 听
A Germany fan claiming he had consumed three bottles of ranch in a week, and 鈥渄rank straight from it this morning.鈥� 听
Global 鈥渄ip-lomacy鈥�: The TSA reminding new ranch devotees to 鈥渕ake sure to keep your carry-on sauces to 3.4 oz or less.鈥� 听
In response, food producer Kraft announced it was fast-tracking a 鈥淭SA-Compliant Ranch,鈥� . And UPS launched a "Ship and Dip" deal for travelers, , to ensure 鈥渘o ranch left behind.鈥�
Underground Births, Under Bombardment: Childbearing in Ukraine 鈥�
Kids with autism are prone to drowning. Florida is trying to prevent that 鈥�
A Mom Said Infant Formula Killed Her Baby. The Manufacturer Didn鈥檛 Tell the FDA. 鈥�
Immigration hardliner takes over US foreign aid 鈥�
Provision buried in controversial U.S. rule change would help people legally challenge 鈥榳oke鈥� federal research 鈥�
Women more often hired after losing weight on GLP-1s: Study 鈥�
Coffee Lovers and Their Livers Can Celebrate, Study Suggests 鈥�
听Issue No. 2943
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Copyright 2026 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Contributors to Global Health NOW include: Brian Simpson, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder.
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July 1, 2026
TOP STORIESUganda reported a Marburg disease outbreak to the WHO yesterday鈥攏ews that could complicate the effort to contain the Ebola outbreak that has also affected the country; while the Ugandan government has not disclosed the outbreak publicly, on Monday. 听
The U.S. FDA will allow Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as safer than cigarettes in a 鈥渟ignificant win for tobacco giant Philip Morris International鈥�; the move drew criticism from the American Lung Association, which says the 10 flavors marketed with this claim are designed to appeal to young people.
Niger鈥檚 ban on same-sex acts has led to the arrest of ~40 people and forced LGBTQ+-focused health organizations to shutter; the ban, enacted in February, dictates that same-sex acts are punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years and has created the climate of a 鈥渨itch hunt,鈥� say health workers. 听
A cat-carried parasite that causes toxoplasmosis and can lead to retina-damaging eye infections and permanent vision loss could infect as much as a third of the world鈥檚 population, ; the authors argue that toxoplasmosis meets the criteria for WHO recognition as a neglected tropical disease. 听
IN FOCUSA laboratory worker prepares mRNA at the Inserm ART-RNAm laboratory of the Regional Hospital Centre, in Orleans, France. November 18, 2025. Jean-Francois Monier/AFP via Getty
Building Confidence in the Next Generation of VaccinesBillions of doses of mRNA vaccine have been administered since the first COVID shots to use the technology were brought to market six years ago鈥攁nd the efficacy, safety, and 鈥渢ransformative鈥� potential only continue to bear out, .
But public confidence in the vaccines hinges on the ways scientists and health providers communicate about them, researchers say.听听听
Strong findings, : mRNA vaccines had 87% effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection and 94% against mortality two to six weeks after vaccination.听听
鈥楨xceedingly rare鈥� side effects: While myocarditis and pericarditis are very rare side effects of mRNA vaccines, COVID itself puts people at far greater risk of the same heart issues, .听听听
New promise: The versatility of the mRNA platform is opening a new horizon of treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, influenza, and RSV.听听听
Communication is crucial: In the face of uneven mRNA vaccine uptake, the researchers argue that vaccine hesitancy should be met with better communication and accessible information.听听
鈥淧eople should feel empowered to ask questions about their health and what they put in their bodies,鈥� lead study author Anna Blakney .听听
demonstrates the opportunity for trust-building, finding that relatively few adults firmly believe common vaccine myths, but many remain uncertain and open to credible information鈥攁 group researchers called the 鈥渕alleable middle.鈥澨�
The survey also found that trust in healthcare providers is strongly linked to lower belief in misinformation, .听听听
Related:听听听
If a Lyme disease vaccine gets approved, how would it go over? We asked hunters 鈥� 听听听听听
RFK Jr Changes Terms for US Vaccine Committee as Email Leak Reveals Sustained Political Interference in Vaccine Policy 鈥� 听听
Artificial intelligence could usher in a new era of vaccine development 鈥�
TECH & INNOVATIONSUntethering TB TestingZambia鈥檚 devastating drought in 2024 led to widespread electricity shortages鈥攄isrupting TB testing that relies on large, power-intensive molecular diagnostic machines. 听
But health workers throughout the country will now be equipped with a lifesaving alternative: A handheld, battery-powered device known as a near-point-of-care (NPOC) test. 听
Designed to operate with minimal power, the NPOC can deliver results in under an hour and offers 鈥渋mmense鈥� potential in underserved communities worldwide. 听
While the devices won鈥檛 replace molecular tests, they will allow doctors to 鈥渇ind people earlier, begin treatment faster and save many lives,鈥� said Benin鈥檚 health minister Benjamin Hounkpatin. 听
Further reach: Over the coming months, the Global Fund and partners will deliver ~3 million tests throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. 听
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITSTrump鈥檚 actions signal a move toward institutionalizing people with disabilities, advocates warn 鈥�
Witchcraft and WhatsApp: The fight to contain Ebola misinformation 鈥�
Rizla maker and cult football fashion house cash in on World Cup 鈥�
The shilajit dilemma 鈥�
Affordable Healthcare Emerges as a Voter Priority in Purple Nevada 鈥�
After Trump's reelection, these U.S. scientists found jobs in the U.K. 鈥�
听Issue No. 2942
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Copyright 2026 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Contributors to Global Health NOW include: Brian Simpson, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder.
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June 30, 2026
TOP STORIESThe Ebola outbreak in east Africa could push ~1 million people into poverty and trigger an economic development crisis on the continent, , which projected the outbreak could cost ~$3.6 billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs, with women disproportionately affected.
A new FDA panel on peptides will include doctors and pharmacists with deep financial ties to the growing industry; the meeting next month will reconsider the safety and effectiveness of several popular peptide injections, which have historically been deemed too risky for FDA approval.
The odds that young women received chlamydia testing increased 2.74X when medical assistants prepping patients for doctor鈥檚 appointments received an electronic medical alert, that included 18,000 primary care visits; chlamydia is often asymptomatic but U.S. screening rates are suboptimal.
Medicare will cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss for the first time starting tomorrow, a move that is expected to result in a surge in prescriptions for patients 65+; however, the coverage is a temporary pilot program set to expire at the end of 2027.
IN FOCUSA sign on a door forbids people from carrying guns into a public building on July 17, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
America's Ever-Shifting Ground on Gun PolicyThe U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week striking down Hawaii's default ban on carrying firearms on private property is expected to have ripple effects beyond the state, as lawmakers nationwide grapple with how to craft gun safety laws that can survive the Court's increasingly expansive interpretation of the Second Amendment.
Background: Hawaii legislators passed the law in the wake of a 2022 Supreme Court ruling, which found the Second Amendment gives most people the right to have guns in public, .
Hawaii鈥檚 law required people to get permission to carry guns into privately owned establishments, and is similar to other laws in California, Maryland, New Jersey and New York.
Implications: Business owners must now explicitly prohibit firearms if they want to keep guns off premises.
And the ruling further complicates how states can craft their own gun policy, 鈥攁nd 鈥減erpetuates an atmosphere of uncertainty for legislators that are committed to protecting their communities from gun violence,鈥� said Kelly Roskam, the Center鈥檚 director of law and policy.
Other stories we鈥檝e watched in June, which is Gun Violence Awareness month:
Uninsured gunshot victims in Florida hospitals are discharged significantly sooner than insured patients, even when injuries are similarly severe, finds . On average, uninsured patients stayed about six days鈥攖hree fewer days on average than their insured counterparts.
20+ gun violence prevention bills were signed into law in Virginia this month, ; however, an assault weapons ban has since been blocked by a judge, . 听
The leading cause of non-medical deaths in Alabama children in 2024 was weapons鈥攏early all firearms, .
And new bipartisan Ohio law allows people to temporarily store firearms at gun shops as a suicide prevention measure, .
In winter 2022, invasive Strep A and scarlet fever killed several thousand people across Europe, North America, Australia, and East Asia and culminated in a 鈥攂ut few reports mentioned that Strep A, the bacterium behind strep throat and impetigo, , .
Most of the deaths are in young people in LMICs who suffer from rheumatic heart disease (RHD), in which the鈥痓ody鈥檚鈥痠mmune response to repeated infections misfires and damages heart valves.
In wealthier countries, the threat has largely disappeared, thanks to better鈥痟ousing, sanitation, healthcare, and antibiotics鈥攂ut globally, around鈥�痵till live with RHD.
Collins, who spent her career working on vaccines, had never heard Strep A mentioned as a global health priority鈥攗ntil she joined the . And yet, there are indications that a Strep A vaccine could work鈥攂ut research efforts are鈥�, even compared to diseases with similar mortality like malaria and HIV.
Collins details needed actions to address the issue鈥攊ncluding multiple vaccine candidates approaching clinical trials and a
鈥淓conomic development could one day end this disease. A vaccine could do it now,鈥� says Collins.
DATA POINT5
鈥斺赌�
The number of Americans who die every hour from toxic vehicle emissions, according to 鈥�
I Was an NIH Program Official. Here's What a Peer Reviewer Doesn鈥檛 See: The NEJM editors understand the threat of the proposed federal grant review changes 鈥�
What the Return of the New World Screwworm Means for Public Health 鈥�
Democratic states sue over Medicaid work rules 鈥�
Shortage of Chemotherapy Drugs Brings Rationing Fears 鈥�
May as Well Get COVID and Flu Shots on the Same Day, Study Says 鈥�
Why some Europeans resist air conditioning, even amid deadly heat waves 鈥�
听Issue No. 2941
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Copyright 2026 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Contributors to Global Health NOW include: Brian Simpson, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder.
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