July 30, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFA study on gas stoves and asthma was curtailed by EPA funding cuts, but even partial results found that removing gas stoves from the participants鈥� homes led to fewer asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and missed days of work, while levels of nitrogen dioxide in their kitchens fell by 70%. 听
Antibiotic prescription chatbot tools on hospital staffers鈥� phones are being deployed to help prevent drug-resistant infections in four hospitals across Kenya and Zambia that are a part of a pilot program through , which seeks to optimize antimicrobial stewardship.
A quarter of young Africans are optimistic that USAID cuts could have a positive impact in their home countries, forcing local leaders to solve problems, , which interviewed ~5,000 people across 16 countries. 听
National scabies control programs in Solomon Islands and Fiji led to 鈥渟ubstantial and sustained decreases鈥� of the parasitic skin disease, ; the mass drug administration of ivermectin resulted in drastic reductions of scabies as well as impetigo across all age groups in both countries.
EDITOR鈥橲 NOTEHeads Up: GHN鈥檚 Summer Break Next WeekWe鈥檒l be taking a summer break from publishing GHN next week, August 3鈥�7, to give our team some R&R time. We鈥檒l be back on Monday, August 10, with more news! 鈥撯��Dayna
IN FOCUSA member of staff exits the Madera Community Hospital, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2023, in Madera, California, on May 10, 2023. Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty
Hazards of Investor-Driven HealthcareThe hypothermia death of a patient at an Illinois hospital last year is just one portrait of widespread human risks increasingly associated with the financialization of healthcare, advocates say. 听 听
One person鈥檚 life: Last year, a patient at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Illinois, became disoriented and wandered to a rooftop, where she was stranded for hours in freezing temperatures before her death. Her family later learned she had been assigned a sitter out of safety concerns鈥攂ut staffing furloughs instituted a week prior by the hospital鈥檚 for-profit owner, American Healthcare Systems, meant no sitter was available,
The bigger picture: The case reflects broader concerns that private equity and other investor-backed ownership models create pressure to cut costs at the expense of patient safety.
Earlier this month, identified 500+ joint ventures between private equity and nonprofit healthcare providers, . 听
But states are pushing back: This summer, Vermont became the latest state on a growing list pushing for greater regulatory powers over private equity in healthcare, .
Further fears: Looming Medicaid cuts from the 鈥淥ne Big Beautiful Bill Act鈥� set to be enacted next year are expected to increase financial pressure on hospitals, and the Medicare Rights Center has warned of blows to and .
In hearings next week, senators will hear about the 鈥渙n-the-ground reality of Medicaid cuts,鈥� . 听
In the face of $28 billion in new costs, requiring large corporations to pay a 鈥淔air Share鈥� contribution to the state鈥檚 safety net health coverage, Medi-Cal, .
Related: Private equity might dodge state laws by partnering with healthcare nonprofits 鈥�
A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEFBrian interviews a Soft Power Health clinic leader about the impact of U.S. government funding cuts on patients in Kyabirwa, Uganda, on July 4, 2025. Joanne Cavanaugh Simpson听听
Farewell, ReadersMy last day as GHN鈥檚 editor-in-chief will be August 24. (In GHN style, I lead with the key point first.)
After 25 thrilling, challenging years at the Bloomberg School, I am moving on to new opportunities. It鈥檚 been the great joy of my professional life to document the expansive landscape of public health challenges and the lifesaving efforts of so many dedicated people. Along the way, I鈥檝e watched GHN grow from an email I鈥檇 send to a dozen or so office colleagues into a newsletter with 50,000+ subscribers in 170 countries.
GHN鈥檚 success is due to our amazingly talented team: Dayna, Annalies, Morgan, Kate, Jackie, and Melissa. Special thanks go to Dayna, GHN鈥檚 full-time managing editor. She shoulders much of the day-to-day work, ensuring that GHN remains an invaluable resource.
Finally, I want to thank you, our GHN readers, who have supported us for the past 12 years by giving us your time, attention, ideas, and financial support. Together, we鈥檝e built a special community within the field of global health.
Knowing all of this will continue after I鈥檝e moved on exceeds my most improbable hopes.
I still plan to work in global public health, so please stay in touch.
Thank you again,
Brian W. Simpson, MPH
Editor-in-Chief, Global Health NOW
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Buy It Some Peanuts and Cracker JacksThe scoreboard said Orioles vs. Tigers. But the real MVP Monday night at Detroit鈥檚 Comerica Park was an animal of the brighter-eyed and bushier-tailed variety.
In a nutshell: A 鈥渞ogue鈥� in the sixth inning and ran away with the game as it zigzagged to the infield and found an ally in Orioles third-base coach Buck Britton鈥攚ho rewarded it with a few sunflower seeds, . 听
It then went on a tear in the seventh, leading the entire grounds crew on a wild chase, flipping into and out of Leody Taveras鈥� glove, and earning its own riveting broadcast play-by-play before finally getting captured in a towel (to a stadium-wide chorus of boos) and escorted away.
鈥淭he whole squirrel thing was nuts,鈥� Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said after the game, .
If you build it, they will come: This isn鈥檛 the first time a squirrel has scurried into the Tigers鈥� home park. Another furry free agent鈥攐r perhaps the same big-league hopeful鈥攙isited Comerica Park last season, . Was an acorn misplaced? Or could it be time for a new Detroit mascot?
QUICK HITSIs it safe to drink Red Bull and vodka? Dubious research tied to the company has shaped energy drink policy. 鈥�
What a Legionnaires鈥� Outbreak Can Teach Us About Water Vigilance 鈥� 听
Most 鈥極varian Cancer鈥� Isn鈥檛. And That Fact Can Save Lives. 鈥�
Advancing oncology education in low-income and middle-income African settings: global insights for local action 鈥�
Ten years after WHO recognition, mycetoma remains one of the world鈥檚 most neglected diseases 鈥�
Limiting sugar before the age of two could cut risk of dementia, study suggests 鈥�
The 鈥楧omino Chains鈥� Transforming Kidney Donation 鈥�
听Issue No. XXXX
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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 29, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFAn mpox outbreak has grown to 3,000+ cases and killed 20 in Madagascar, where the virus鈥檚 clade 1b strain has hit several coastal city commercial hubs; ~65% of mpox tests carried out in the country have been positive鈥攁 sign that many cases may be going undetected.
Europe is off-track from its 2030 target to eliminate viral hepatitis, ; the region has made steady progress, however, with hepatitis B prevalence now at near-zero levels among children under 5.
The WHO has updated leishmaniasis treatment guidelines for eastern Africa and South-East Asia, that 鈥渟ignificantly improve patient care,鈥� including alternatives to the longstanding regional protocol that uses sodium stibogluconate, a drug that requires painful daily injections and causes severe side effects.
The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis for the second time in its history as blood donations fell to a four-year summer low, worsened donor turnout has likely been driven by extreme heat, poor air quality, and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, the Red Cross said.
IN FOCUSCallum Diaz-Cheng, 3 (left), and Aevin Lee, 2 (right), play while waiting for their vaccinations at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, with physicians Andrew Cheng and Jennifer Su nearby. June 21, 2022. Wesley Lapointe/Los Angeles Times via Getty
Ongoing U.S. Vaccine Volatility听The outlook for vaccine policy in the U.S. remains in flux as the White House pushes for sweeping changes even as state legislators, court rulings, congressional resistance, and polling indicate pushback against an anti-vaccination agenda. 听
International outlook: The State Department will release ~$600 million that Congress appropriated months ago for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Susan Collins announced yesterday, ; the disbursement comes after Kennedy sought to delay the funding over criticisms of Gavi. 听
Federal outlook: After a federal judge paused the Trump administration鈥檚 efforts to narrow the routine childhood immunization schedule, recent reporting suggests that President Trump pushed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be more aggressive in rolling back vaccine requirements鈥攄espite polling showing vaccine cutbacks are politically risky ahead of the midterms, . 听
State outlook: Vaccine-related laws were a fixture in state legislative sessions this year, with ~400 bills introduced鈥攊ncluding 200+ across 34 states that aimed to weaken vaccination rules or systems, .
Playground outlook: Meanwhile, parents are proving to be some of the more vocal advocates for childhood vaccinations: found that 36% of U.S. parents in a nationally representative study reported advocating that other parents vaccinate their children, while 12% discouraged other parents from vaccinating, .
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES DISABILITYSupport Networks Take Root in NigeriaIn Nigeria, people with Down syndrome and other disabilities and their families have long endured isolation and discrimination, with few resources or cultural support. 听
But that is slowly changing, as advocates nurture growing peer support communities, which are also beginning to push for greater institutional change. 听
A 2024 national assessment of disability inclusion in Nigeria found that longstanding systemic barriers have prevented 鈥渇ull participation in national life鈥� for many with disabilities. 听
And in many regions, beliefs that disabilities are caused by curses or witchcraft persist. 听
Strengthening supports: Groups formed in the last few years, including GlowingStar Empowerment Initiative and Development, aim to connect families, provide public education, and push for policy change like more inclusive schools, affordable healthcare, and bolstered caregiver support. 听
MINI POLLHow do you feel about the geographical balance in GHN?
QUICK HITSActivists and leaders at global HIV meeting decry price of prevention drug 鈥� 听
Lancet Report Recommends Paradigm Shift in Care for Older Adults with HIV 鈥� 听
Six key issues we鈥檙e watching at Fauci鈥檚 hearing 鈥�
FDA official says food supply is safe as cyclosporiasis cases climb 鈥�
Trump Has Quietly Throttled an Agency Devoted to the Safety of American Healthcare 鈥�
Temps are predicted to hit 106 in Egypt this week. How do people stay cool? 鈥�
听Issue No. 2598
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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 28, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFA severe drought in Eastern Uganda has caused crop failures that have led to 19 deaths from hunger; the government announced plans to distribute 9,400 tons of emergency food supplies over the next two months.
A cheery Barclays research note recently advised investors on profit opportunities from the 鈥渟uper鈥� El Ni帽o weather cycle, which is predicted to cause extreme weather events that may leave 100 million people hungry.
Fewer adolescent participants in a key U.S. mental health study reported using tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana last year鈥攃ontinuing a positive trend among 12- to 17-year-olds.
U.K. industrial farms that raise chickens have led to a dangerous increase in the Campylobacter bacterium鈥攁 common cause of diarrhea, ; the crowded industrial conditions are fostering antimicrobial resistance.
IN FOCUSParkside Pediatrics provider, Nathan Heffington, preps in full PPE gear to asses a patient with measles symptoms. Spartanburg, South Carolina, January 30. The Washington Post
The New Normal of an Old ThreatAs the U.S. marked its highest measles case count in 35 years last week, American doctors are voicing frustration as they grapple with the resurgence of a preventable virus, .
The overview: , as of July 24鈥攚ith nearly all of the confirmed cases in unvaccinated or undervaccinated people, .
That number already outpaces last year鈥檚 total measles cases鈥攁nd jeopardizes the U.S.鈥檚 measles elimination status, to be determined later this year.
鈥淭he significance of reaching this milestone is that the US has not been able to stop measles virus transmission or outbreaks as it has in the past,鈥� 鈥攁dding that the virus is spreading between communities in the U.S., rather than being limited to infections brought in from abroad.
The frontline view: In a series of , six Utah doctors describe treating unvaccinated children hospitalized for measles, and the complexities of discussing the virus and vaccines with parents.
鈥淚 wish that people could see what I see,鈥� says Nathan Money, a hospital pediatrician in Utah. 鈥淚 see what happens when things go poorly鈥� And the child is terrified, and the parents are scared that their child might die.鈥�
The long view: With an unavoidable need for more therapeutic tools amid declining vaccination, researchers and biotech companies are stepping up efforts to develop measles-specific treatments, including monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs, .
GHN EXCLUSIVE Q&AVital Strategies CEO Mary-Ann Etiebet speaks to the UN General Assembly foreign policy panel in September 2025. Courtesy: Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies鈥� Mary-Ann Etiebet on Global Health鈥檚 FundamentalsShe calls it her 鈥渂aptism by fire.鈥�
Mary-Ann Etiebet took charge of the global public health organization Vital Strategies just months before the U.S. government upended global health last year. The CEO says the cuts have cost lives and livelihoods, and caused 鈥渢ectonic plate shifting in global health and global health financing.鈥�
They have also created an opportunity for global health 鈥渢o move away from a scarcity mindset, where we鈥檙e all fighting over a slice of the pie.鈥� Instead, she argues, it鈥檚 time to find ways to increase the pie.
Takeaways from her :
鈥淚f governments enact health taxes to increase the price of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages by 50% globally, in five years, we could get $3.7 trillion. This could support up to 40% of national health budgets in low- and middle-income countries.鈥�
Such health taxes have a 鈥渢riple win effect: raising revenue, reducing healthcare burden, and saving lives.鈥�
Investment in noncommunicable diseases is lacking because 鈥渕ost of the NCD data is all modeling and estimates.鈥� Developing national data systems like birth and death registries would yield reliable data that would be 鈥渉arder to ignore,鈥� she says.
After PCOS became PMOS, there鈥檚 hope for new awareness among Black and Latina women 鈥� 听
When spit hoods are used on children, troubling patterns emerge 鈥�
Trump administration demands hospitals share emergency room records 鈥�
AI helps Stanford scientists discover 鈥渘atural Ozempic鈥� without the usual side effects 鈥�
Study links heavy TV watching to brain changes tied to Alzheimer鈥檚 鈥�
International PhD students to face strict limits on time in the US 鈥�
听Issue No. 2597
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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 27, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFMore health workers have gone on strike at a treatment center in the Ebola epicenter of eastern Congo, demanding pay as the rapidly growing outbreak nears ~3,000 confirmed cases and 1,300+ deaths.
Migraine-related ER visits increase during periods of wildfire smoke, in which Canadian researchers analyzed ~1 million emergency visits for migraine conditions between 2010 and 2023 and saw a 6% uptick in such visits during periods of smoke-filled air.
Baltimore is expanding its 911 dispatch to include 鈥渨raparound support鈥� for crises that may not require EMS or police response, including connection to mobile crisis teams for people in mental health distress and emergency housing support; the service will be funded by opioid-related legal settlements.
Restricted eating windows could be linked to a reduced dementia risk, presented at the American Society for Nutrition鈥檚 annual meeting, which found that cognitive skills were improved in older women who restricted their eating to an 8鈥�9-hour window and avoided eating four hours before bed, compared with participants who spread their meals across ~12 hours.
IN FOCUSA nurse prepares to inject a patient with lenacapavir on June 8, at Paulina Morapeli Clinic in Embalenhle township outside Secunda, South Africa. Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty
Hope and Headwinds in the HIV FightThe world鈥檚 largest scientific conference on HIV/AIDS kicks off this week at an inflection point in the decades-long fight against the virus: The promise of wider PrEP access is rapidly brightening the outlook in some of the world鈥檚 most vulnerable communities. At the same time, funding cuts and political shifts threaten to undermine years of progress.
That tension was on full display at the yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, where health activists protested U.S. PEPFAR disruptions and U.S. officials acknowledged a need to continue reaching at-risk populations.
Pivotal moment for PrEP: Merck announced last week that it licensed seven generic manufacturers to produce a low-cost version of its investigational monthly PrEP pill, alimatravir, for 129 LMICs, .
The decision could rapidly expand access to the pill in those countries if late-stage clinical trials succeed. 听
Progress meets political disruption: Such innovations come as progress has stalled on cutting HIV infection rates. There were 1.2 million new HIV infections in 2025, per UNAIDS, while recent analyses show PrEP initiation fell sharply in several high-burden countries amid reductions in U.S. and other donor funding.
U.S. under scrutiny: Meanwhile, a U.S. government session outlining the country鈥檚 new 鈥淎merica First Global Health Strategy鈥� was interrupted by HIV activists blowing whistles and chanting, 鈥淵ou lie, people die,鈥� .
At the session, U.S. officials acknowledged that despite the recent focus on treatment for mothers and babies, ending the epidemic requires reaching 鈥渁ll people at risk鈥濃�攊ncluding key populations. 听
鈥淲e can鈥檛 forget any group because if we do, we will fail,鈥� said Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing PEPFAR. 听
Related:
Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean helped build the future of HIV prevention. But will they be able to benefit from it? 鈥� 听
She Wasn鈥檛 Supposed to Survive. Her Fight Saved Thousands 鈥�
Kenyan Professor Kenneth Ngure Elected President of the International AIDS Society in Brazil 鈥�
DATA POINT300,000
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Drowning deaths worldwide each year鈥攎ost preventable, and 90%+ in LMICs. Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day yesterday, the WHO released a technical package of ; the framework is being launched in Ghana, where ~three people die each day from drowning. 鈥�
An emerging field of study and innovation is stemming from a long-discarded biological resource: menstrual blood. 听
A growing number of researchers and biotech companies are exploring the potential of such blood samples as a tool for understanding fertility, diagnosing disease, and studying the body鈥檚 healing systems.
Recent developments include:
A system that collects and analyzes blood from used tampons, creating a 鈥渓iquid biopsy鈥� without invasive procedures.
A self-collection kit that uses a tampon to screen for HPV.
An FDA-approved pad used for hemoglobin A1c monitoring. 听
A menstrual cup used for endometriosis diagnosis. 听
Broader insights: Researchers are also studying whether menstruation may provide a 鈥渂lueprint鈥� for the body鈥檚 response to inflammation and tissue repair.
OPPORTUNITY Conference: Tending to the Public Health WorkforceJoin the National Network of Public Health Institutes in lively Nashville, Tennessee, August 24鈥�26, 2026, for their annual public health workforce development conference, Open Forum: Next Generation. 听
Students get a discounted rate of $375 for the entire conference.
by July 29!
Ebola Thrives in DR Congo鈥檚 Chaos. The World May Soon Pay the Price 鈥�
Yemen鈥檚 health workers race to halt latest outbreak of deadly dengue fever 鈥�
Gaza: Dialysis patients face gruelling hospital journey by donkey cart 鈥�
Todd R. Lawrence and Madison A. Kesler: E-bikes, e-scooters are a burgeoning pediatric public health emergency 鈥�
NIH is again terminating grants that the Trump administration dislikes 鈥�
Trump 鈥減ublic charge鈥� rule resets health test for green cards 鈥�
Grocery Shopping in the Age of Explosive Diarrhea 鈥�
听Issue No. 2596
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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 23, 2026
IN FOCUSA sign for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland, is seen through a prism on April 8, 2025. Maansi Srivastava/The Washington Post via Getty
The Deeper Dynamics of the Peptide DebateThe future of peptide drugs in the U.S. will be under scrutiny to review the safety of the increasingly popular products.
But the stakes go beyond peptides themselves: The meetings also reflect broader tensions over the future of federal health policy and the role of regulatory groups in the Trump administration. Scientists warn that traditional vetting processes are being compromised by the interests of a rapidly growing wellness industry that has received significant support from health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥攚ho appointed panel members with deep industry ties,
Background: The panel of experts will weigh whether compounding pharmacies should be allowed to produce seven injectable peptides that have surged in popularity through an online 鈥済ray鈥� marketplace,鈥� despite limited evidence proving their safety and efficacy in humans, .
Peptides are short chains of amino acids used for a variety of health products, including some well-established medicines like insulin and GLP-1 drugs.
But the compounds under review鈥攊ncluding BPC-157, TB-500, and MOTs-C鈥攁re largely promoted for wellness, recovery, longevity, and weight management, and have not been subject to significant human clinical trials.
Collision course: While supporters argue allowing compounding would move patients away from an unregulated online market and into physician-supervised care, the FDA鈥檚 own warn there is a lack of evidence to justify their usage, .
And FDA leadership rejecting the advice of its own internal scientists could set a precedent that 鈥渦ndermines their authority and consistency,鈥� said Paul Knoepfler, cell and molecular biologist at the University of California, Davis.
The Trump administration is seeking to overhaul U.S. priorities in scientific research by shifting funding away from universities toward private companies and individual researchers, and by putting more focus on AI, robotics, and nuclear energy instead of 鈥渓ife sciences,鈥� the administration鈥檚 science adviser Michael Kratsios told the House yesterday.
A Ukrainian warehouse of HIV prevention products was destroyed by a Russian missile strike Sunday; the warehouse held 62 million prevention items including syringes, needles, and condoms intended for harm reduction programs for 300,000+ people in the country, which has one of the highest HIV burdens in Europe.
4 million+ people lost federal food assistance in the U.S. between July 2025 and March this year鈥攊ncluding 1.5 million+ children鈥攁fter the passage last year of the One Big Beautiful Bill, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Pending tobacco restrictions in Indonesia are receiving pushback from tobacco groups in the country, who say the regulations鈥攚hich include plain packaging and nicotine and tar limits鈥攚ill lead to industry 鈥渃ollapse鈥� if they go into effect next week as planned.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTSHow the U.S.听Is Exporting Anti-Abortion PoliticsThe Trump administration鈥檚 restrictions on U.S. funding for abortion-related organizations have marked a pivotal shift, potentially affecting up to $30 billion in aid.
But the new policies build on years of efforts by U.S. anti-abortion groups to shape reproductive policies in Africa.
Mounting funding and opposition: 17 U.S. anti-abortion nonprofits spent $25 million+ in Africa between 2019鈥�2024, per an analysis by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change. 听
Reproductive health workers and health advocates across Africa report increased harassment, legal threats, and support for new policies limiting reproductive rights, including a draft African Union charter rejecting some sexual and reproductive health protections.
And maternal risks rise: Already, sub-Saharan Africa has the world鈥檚 highest rates of maternal deaths and unsafe abortions, with 6 million+ unsafe abortions reported annually.
Related: Trump team is pulling funds from sex ed groups that don鈥檛 teach abstinence and the value of marriage 鈥�
OPPORTUNITY From Pregnancy to Practice: Infrastructure for Rural Health ResearchJoin Bloomberg School and West Virginia University School of Public Health investigators for a virtual discussion highlighting important topics in rural health.
The August 3 seminar will feature the Mountain Mama & Baby Cohort Study as a case study in cardiovascular health in pregnancy and expand into broader discussions of rural health research infrastructure.
Topics include:
Strategies for recruiting representative samples
Building sustainable community-engaged studies
Leveraging existing resources for collaborative research
Monday, August 3, 11:30 a.m.鈥�12:30 p.m., EST
All levels of experience and interest in rural health research are welcome.
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Jimothy Cricket!At any given moment, the internet needs a famous animal we can all get behind鈥攁nd right now it鈥檚 Jimothy. 听
Two weeks ago, the deformed-but-spry raccoon was unknown 鈥渂eyond the bins of an area of Seattle,鈥� . Now, he鈥檚 a hometown hero being cheered at Mariners games, muse, and the inspiration behind 鈥淛imothy Summer.鈥� 听
What鈥檚 in a name? explained Kiana Hall, who . And she was 100% right, gifting the world not only a creature we can鈥檛 stop watching, but a name we can鈥檛 stop saying. 听
With his cheeky scamper, Jimothy has been likened to mythical creatures like cryptids and chupacabras鈥攐r as one Instagrammer put it: 鈥淢e getting out the shower when I forget my towel.鈥�
And if you thought nothing could be cuter than Jimothy 鈥� there鈥檚 baby Jimothy! An captures the pre-fame raccoon growing up in a loving family among some cedar trees, as an early fan foreshadows his enduring je ne sais quoi. 听
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got it,鈥� she assured him. 鈥淲hatever it 颈蝉.鈥�
QUICK HITSCongo: Ebola deaths increase to over 1,000 鈥�
Climate change has intensified Europe's risk of drought, scientists say 鈥�
Africa still vulnerable to pandemics despite improved preparedness 鈥�
US FDA says it is investigating another cyclosporiasis outbreak 鈥�
Sex work or starve: Aid workers in Nepal left jobless by USAID cuts turn to sex work to survive 鈥�
听Issue No. 2595
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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 22, 2026
IN FOCUSThembelani Mbatha, 23, holds a bottle of lenacapavir after being injected with the new HIV prevention drug on June 8, at Paulina Morapeli Clinic in Embalenhle, South Africa. Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty
How PEPFAR Disruption Derailed the HIV FightDisruptions to the PEPFAR program last year significantly weakened global HIV prevention and treatment efforts, creating gaps that could trigger yearslong cascading effects, . 听
The report is the first large survey of organizations that previously received PEPFAR funding鈥�166 groups across 46 countries鈥攁nd offers an early snapshot of how upended funding has led to 鈥渨idespread degradation鈥� of interconnected programs, impacting every point of service, . 听
鈥淲ith HIV and infectious disease, each day is deadly. Each day that we don鈥檛 have those systems in place, you see new infections,鈥� said Jennifer Sherwood, amfAR鈥檚 director of research and public policy. 听
Key findings, :
Access lost: 1,700+ HIV clinics and service sites have shuttered, and 6,000+ staff positions have been cut. 听
Most at risk, most impacted: Deepest cuts were to services for key populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and people who inject drugs. 听
Core care eroded: Respondents reported diminished HIV treatment, testing, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission, despite U.S. guidance that such core programs continue.
Prevention pushed off course: PrEP programs and condom distribution also declined sharply.
Local impact: Local organizations were more likely than international groups to lose funding.
Recommendations to restore care: With the report slated for presentation at the next week, amFAR called for the reinstatement of U.S. support for all HIV services and pushed for other national governments to spend more.
But: Rebuilding HIV services and restoring community trust could take years, even if funding returns, researchers said.
2,295 U.S. measles cases have been reported so far this year, outpacing last year鈥檚 total of 2,286, that draws from state and local health data; this year鈥檚 case count is the highest in 35 years.
A doctor-led fraud ring in India claimed snakebites as the cause of death for people who had actually died from suicide, heart attacks, and other causes; the forgery scam sought to take advantage of a government program meant to compensate families who lost loved ones to snakebites, said investigators who arrested 17 people. 听
Childhood malaria chemoprevention programs in Africa鈥檚 highest-burden countries could yield billions of dollars in 鈥渟ocietal net benefits,鈥� ; the medication reduces malaria morbidity and mortality among school-aged children while also curbing absenteeism, leading to improved literacy. 听
The Trump administration will freeze $1 billion+ in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota over alleged fraud concerns, officials announced Tuesday鈥攖he second time the two blue states have had Medicaid funds halted due to alleged fraud.
GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY鈥淭he dengue narrative needs to shift. 鈥� It can no longer be seen just as a second-tier health issue behind malaria.鈥� 听
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鈥�Michael B. Macdonald in
Dengue, described at the turn of the century as 鈥�,鈥� is living up to the name. 听
Sri Lanka is battling its worst outbreak in nearly a decade, dispatching military drones to track stagnant pools of water on rooftops, . 听
In India, where dengue used to be a seasonal disease confined to monsoon season, outbreaks are becoming 鈥渁 year-round scourge,鈥� . 听
And now, more than half the world鈥檚 population is now at risk, as dengue transmission鈥攆ueled by climate change, urbanization, and population mobility鈥攈as exploded. Yet Aedes-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya draw far less attention and funding than other diseases, such as malaria and HIV, .
Momentum for change: , held last month in Singapore, marks a shift from a regional movement into a global call to action and sets a framework for solutions. 听
READ THE FULL COMMENTARY BY MICHAEL B. MACDONALD OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSVenezuela confirms 3 people have died of hantavirus infections, with 2 more deaths suspected 鈥�
Africa CDC urges U.S. to lift Uganda Ebola travel restrictions 鈥�
Pandemic detour leads to clues about a mysterious disease 鈥�
鈥業f all else fails, sue鈥�: how ultra-processed food firms are using the courts to obstruct health rules 鈥�
Magic mushrooms may reshape the brain long after the trip ends 鈥�
听Issue No. 2594
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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 21, 2026
TOP STORIESGlobal road injuries and deaths have fallen by nearly a third from 1990 to 2023, ; but traffic crashes still led to +1.1 million deaths last year.
A healthy diet is beyond the financial reach of 2.7 billion people, , though global hunger fell for the third year in a row; the authors said countries must subsidize dairy, fruits, and vegetables rather than cereals and starchy foods.
India鈥檚 drug regulator has approved the country鈥檚 first dengue vaccine after reviewing a phase 3 trial that included 20,000+ participants in eight countries; Takeda Pharmaceutical had partnered in 2024 with India鈥檚 Biological E to manufacture 100 million doses annually of the QDENGA vaccine by 2030.
U.S. universities that lost research grants may have a better chance of getting them back after a federal judge鈥檚 July 17 ruling that the Trump administration cannot rescind active grants because of a shift in the government鈥檚 priorities.
IN FOCUSA girl fills containers with water drawn from the leftovers of underground pipes at a camp for people displaced by war in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City on July 6. Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty
War鈥檚 Continued Toll on Gaza鈥檚 Women and ChildrenThe ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reshaped daily life for women and children in the enclave, as both struggle to help their families survive amid the collapse of infrastructure and public institutions.
Children forced into work: Aid groups say extreme poverty has driven many children into hard labor鈥攈auling water, selling food, or scavenging for materials鈥攖o earn money for their families, .
With ~85% of schools destroyed, 625,000+ children have been out of formal education for three years. And the proportion of children 10鈥�17 engaged in hard labor has risen 5X+ compared to pre-war levels.
Health workers report rising injuries and long-term physical and mental harm; meanwhile, UNICEF warns prolonged absence from school increases the risk of dropping out. 听
Women bear water crisis: At the same time, a finds women and girls in Gaza have been especially impacted by the destruction of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the enclave, with lack of safe water complicating pregnancy, menstrual hygiene, and caregiving, :
Women are forced to journey long distances and wait hours in unsafe conditions to fetch just a few liters of water.
Related: MSF demands Israel release detained Palestinian healthcare workers 鈥�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES ONE HEALTHRecruiting Fish in the Battle Against Schistosomiasis听Researchers in Senegal are testing whether raising fish in rice fields can reduce the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, while also boosting crop yields and food security. 听
How it works: African bonytongue fish prey on the freshwater snails that carry the schistosomiasis-causing parasitic worm, while tilapia provide natural fertilizer through their waste, potentially boosting rice yields without costly chemical fertilizers. Farmers can also harvest the fish for food or income.
Early promise: where the fish were raised in rice fields found the approach suppressed snail populations and increased rice yields by ~25%, though researchers say larger studies are needed to confirm lasting health and agricultural benefits.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSThe resistance gene that鈥檚 causing 鈥榥ightmares鈥� in US hospitals 鈥�
#Aids2026: What The Polygamist gets wrong about HIV 鈥� and what would save lives in real life 鈥�
This Lifesaving Genetics Tool Works Best if You鈥檙e White 鈥�
鈥楥ancer Doesn't Care What Party You Belong To鈥�: Poisoned Water Is Turning This Rural State Bluer 鈥�
New study finds avocado oil products may contain cheaper oils 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Xiaodong Cai!
鈥楬eat deaths are not inevitable鈥�: WHO pushes Europe to heat鈥憄roof its hospitals 鈥�
The squad of motorbike-riding women fighting wildfires in the jungle 鈥�
听Issue No. 2593
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July 20, 2026
IN FOCUS As Aid Cuts Deepen, Countries Rush to AdaptThe U.K. has outlined deep cutbacks to its overseas aid budget, with some of the steepest reductions hitting sub-Saharan African nations over the next three years: Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania will each face aid cuts of ~90% by 2029, . 听
While officials say the goal is to move to 鈥減artnerships rather than paternalism,鈥� aid groups and researchers warn that the drastic, abrupt shift could have devastating, immediate consequences for health, education, and humanitarian programs. 听
鈥淚t is just too sudden, too soon,鈥� Saskia Osendarp with the NGO Micronutrient Forum .
A new aid paradigm: The massive cuts from both the U.K. and the U.S. last year are rapidly reshaping sub-Saharan Africa鈥檚 health sectors, forcing countries to experiment with new funding models in both public and private sectors. 听
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a phase between the old order and a new order,鈥� said Dan Banik, a researcher with the University of Oslo who studies the role of aid in the region, per .
Malawi presents a case study of such adaptation, as external donors have for years funded over half of the country鈥檚 health spending. 听
The country is seeking new models for its health sector鈥攆rom grassroots initiatives like the construction of a community-funded clinic in central Malawi to longer-term government reforms including taxes for a national health fund. 听
But such efforts will take time and will not fully offset the rapid loss of external support during the transition, say Malawi health officials.
Related: In Malawi, funding cuts hold back medical help from above 鈥�
TOP STORIESSeven U.S. aid workers have been quarantined in the U.S.-run facility in Kenya after responding to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, though none are reporting symptoms, ; meanwhile, Uganda is calling on countries to lift travel restrictions to the nation after its last Ebola patient was discharged last week, .
Spain鈥檚 largest wildfire is burning for a fifth day in the country鈥檚 central Guadalajara province, forcing the evacuation of ~1,000 residents as forecasters warn of increased fire risks throughout the country as another 鈥宧eat wave looms.
A third death from Legionnaires鈥� disease has been reported amid an outbreak in New York City that has led to at least 74 cases; the city鈥檚 health department says the source of the bacteria has been eliminated but that anyone who spent time in affected areas and develops flu-like symptoms should seek medical attention.
The source of the Cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. remains unclear, that a re-review of lettuce samples from Taylor Farms鈥攚hich already issued a widespread recall of lettuce products鈥攑roduced a false positive for the parasite, meaning as of yesterday that 鈥渢here are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora.鈥�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES OBESITYHow Big Soda Leveraged the World Cup Spotlight听Coca-Cola鈥檚 sponsorship of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup allowed the company to use branded replay and clip videos and social media campaigns that vastly expanded the company鈥檚 reach beyond live matches鈥攊ncluding to children, say researchers calling for more regulation over what they described as 鈥渟portswashing,鈥� .
鈥淏y aligning its brand with athletic excellence, Coca-Cola perpetuates a false sense of health and legitimacy that directly contradicts what sport represents,鈥� said Nalin Singh Negi, lead author of a .
that most news coverage of Coca-Cola鈥檚 2024 Paris Olympics sponsorship was favorable and rarely addressed public health risks. 听
Vital Strategies鈥� findings were presented at the . The conference convened researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to discuss efforts to curb Mexico鈥檚 obesity rates, including recent tax hikes on sugar-sweetened beverages, front-of-package warning labeling, tactics to reduce stigma, and new medical care protocols.
PAHO and the Organization of American States also presented new , designed with ministries of health and education across the Americas.
Violence repeatedly erupts in dementia care despite warnings, inspections show 鈥�
Doctors 鈥楥ringe鈥� at Possibility of Documenting Which Medicaid Enrollees Too Sick To Work 鈥�
Climate Change Hits Women Hardest. It's Time Our Solutions Reflected That. 鈥�
'No more families should endure this' - parents of student who died from MenB back new vaccine advice 鈥� 听
Quitting smoking is hard. A Medicare change may push doctors to give more help 鈥�
Trump administration ends dozens of grants for studying patient care 鈥�
How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires 鈥�
听Issue No. 2952
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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.
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July 16, 2026
TOP STORIESFrance鈥檚 parliament adopted an intensely debated right-to-die bill yesterday, supporting assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses; the bill is slated to undergo review by France鈥檚 Constitutional Council before it can take effect.
More health workers in the DRC have gone on strike claiming a lack of pay amid the region鈥檚 ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has now exceeded ~2,000 cases and led to 754 deaths, ; meanwhile a hospital in Uganda is set to discharge the country鈥檚 last known Ebola patient, triggering a 42-day countdown after 鈥寃hich it could be declared free of the virus, .
The link between multiple sclerosis and the Epstein-Barr virus is becoming better understood, as researchers were able to show how the virus triggers the immune system ; researchers also demonstrated how an immunotherapy treatment can prevent relapses and slow disease progression.
Reducing ultra-processed foods could help prevent thousands of heart disease deaths, , which suggests between 23%鈥�38% of heart disease deaths could be attributable to UPF consumption.
IN FOCUSA nurse administers the cholera vaccine to a child in Sudan's Gedaref city on November 20, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
Gradual, Vulnerable Vaccine GainsGlobal childhood vaccination rates continue to gradually recover after their steep pandemic dropoff鈥攂ut rates are still far off the pace needed to meet global immunization goals, and could further unravel under global health funding cuts, .
"Millions of vulnerable children are still being left unprotected due to conflict, displacement, and poverty,鈥� said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell.
Key takeaways: ~13.5 million children remained 鈥渮ero-dose鈥� in 2025, meaning they missed all routine vaccinations. That number is down ~750,000 from the previous year, but still well above pre-pandemic levels. And it is ~4 million off the 2025 milestone needed to meet the global goal of halving the number of unvaccinated children by 2030, .
Conflict, poverty, displacement, and rapid population growth are the key barriers, as more than half of zero-dose children live in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings.
Uneven progress: WHO also warned that growing numbers of children start vaccine schedules but fail to complete them, contributing to stalled measles coverage and renewed outbreaks, .
Globally, 7.3 million infants are estimated to have received their first DTP dose, but dropped out before receiving their first measles dose.
Looming impact of aid cuts: The 2025 data sets also do not yet reflect major international funding cuts. Already, though, surveillance systems 鈥渁re themselves showing strain,鈥� the report found.
Sudan鈥檚 bright spot: Despite ongoing conflict, Sudan recorded the largest improvement globally last year, 鈥渄emonstrating what is possible鈥� when access is improved, per the report.
Meanwhile in the U.S.: Vaccine policy remained in focus on Capitol Hill as senators led by Sen. Bill Cassidy sharply questioned CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz, who sidestepped queries about whether the agency would maintain scientific independence under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., .
Cassidy also confronted Sean Kaufman, who has been tapped to lead the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, over Kaufman鈥檚 previous vaccine-skeptical posts and doubts over mRNA research, .
New Alzheimer鈥檚 research is continuing to uncover new clues about the disease, as scientists seek more ways to understand risk, identify the disease sooner, and refine treatment routes.
The research, much of which was presented this week at the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association International Conference in London, demonstrates the growing emphasis on earlier, more personalized approaches to preventing and slowing the disease.
Better understanding risk: A blood test measuring a biomarker called p-tau217 could help identify symptom-free older adults at higher risk of developing Alzheimer鈥檚 years before cognitive problems appear, . The study, , drew results from long-running studies of 2,684 older adults.
For now, researchers view the early test primarily as a way to recruit participants for prevention trials rather than as a routine screening tool.
New pathways to treatment: An experimental drug might help slow early Alzheimer鈥檚 disease by lowering levels of the brain protein tau, . While further tests are needed, the Biogen drug, diranersen, could introduce a different approach than the medications lecanemab and donanebab, which clear buildup of the better-known amyloid protein.
Related: New WHO guidelines: up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed 鈥�
SURVEYWhat do you think of GHN鈥檚 frequency (Monday鈥揟hursday)?
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Peanut Butter and LegacyIt鈥檚 hard enough spreading peanut butter evenly on a PB&J sandwich.
Now imagine being asked to evenly spread 800 lbs of the stuff鈥攅nough for 15,000 sandwiches鈥攁cross a 25-meter hexagon.
Punishment? Nay! An honor of the highest artistic order鈥攁nd also 鈥渁 lot of work,鈥� admitted one PB-worker who helped to spread the piece on a museum floor in honor of its creator, the Dutch conceptual artist Wim T. Schippers, who died last month, .
To spread the love, Schippers left behind instructions for replicating Pindakaasvloer, or peanut butter floor: 鈥淣o one is supposed to stand in, or lie down on the peanut butter,鈥� he ordered. But visitors at the latest installation have already trodden on the work and dropped their phones in it,
Schippers鈥� Floor Covering Series also included one covered in glass shards and salt. A warning to vandals: If you step on that one, the joke鈥檚 on you.
QUICK HITSDengue outbreak complicates Bangladesh measles crisis response 鈥�
U.S. military will test service members鈥� testosterone levels, Pete Hegseth says 鈥�
Are Microplastics Linked To Higher Heart Attack Risk? 鈥�
Parkinson鈥檚 drastically changed how they have sex. They're not alone. 鈥�
Lawmakers want to make daylight-saving time permanent 鈥� health experts say that's precisely the wrong idea 鈥�
Medici family mystery may be solved after more than 400 years with new DNA analysis 鈥�
听Issue No. 2951
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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 15, 2026
TOP STORIESMany of DRC鈥檚 newly reported Ebola deaths are people who died in their communities without ever receiving care鈥攁 鈥渕ost alarming finding,鈥� per the WHO, which warned that a majority of new cases are coming from 鈥渦nknown chains of transmission,鈥� as the toll for the fastest-growing outbreak ever approaches 2,000 confirmed cases and 700+ deaths.
221 people have died in Nigeria鈥檚 Lassa fever outbreak, which has spread to 23 of the nation鈥檚 36 states, per the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; the case fatality rate of the outbreak is now 24%, with people ages 21鈥�30 the most affected.
A tuberculosis outbreak at an ICE facility in Colorado has sickened ~12 people, and dozens of others have reportedly been placed in quarantine without air conditioning, per detainee accounts; another outbreak was reported in the same facility last spring.
A U.S. appeals court has revived hundreds of lawsuits claiming links between acetaminophen usage during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders; a lower court had previously thrown out the suits, which were filed against pharmacies and the manufacturer of Tylenol, as scientists and obstetrics groups repeatedly emphasize that there is no connection between the medication and such disorders.
IN FOCUSAn advertisement for Zyn smokeless nicotine pouches at a smoke shop in New York City on January 27, 2024. Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty
Pushback Against Big Tobacco鈥檚 Political BoostLongstanding efforts to curb youth tobacco use in the U.S. could be undermined in coming years, warn health advocates, as federal regulators loosen restrictions on vapes and nicotine products while also rolling back smoking prevention and cessation programs. 听
Eased federal guidance on newer tobacco products 鈥渉elps the tobacco industry target kids and threatens the hard-won progress our nation has made in reducing youth tobacco use,鈥� argued a coalition of public health groups, pediatricians, and parents who filed yesterday, . 听
Background: In May, the FDA released new guidance that rolled back restrictions on vaping鈥攊ncluding the sale of flavored vapes鈥攁nd fast-tracked the approval of nicotine pouches. 听
Meanwhile, a that the agency approved Zyn nicotine pouches without fully assessing or determining the composition of materials used in the pouches. 听
Diminished prevention efforts: At the same time, CDC鈥檚 office on smoking and health has been shuttered for more than a year, and a federal advisory panel set to issue updated guidance on helping young people quit tobacco has been stalled since last March, . 听
The 鈥渂roadly pro-tobacco agenda鈥� is coming into play as President Trump increased his investments in major tobacco companies and as industry groups donated millions to Trump-aligned political committees, per an investigation by KFF Health News. 听 听
Related:
Making Americans Smokers Again: Trump Administration Cuts Anti-Tobacco Programs 鈥�
Cola, Cotton Candy and 鈥榮weet-flavoured鈥� vapes to be banned to protect children 鈥�
Cigarettes are back in vogue. How did this happen? 鈥�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES NEGLECTED DISEASESFun, Games, and PreventionTo combat the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, public health workers in Nigeria rely on an arsenal of interventions: testing, preventive drugs, and a rousing variation of the board game Chutes and Ladders.
鈥淪chisto & Ladders,鈥� more than a decade ago, shows kids how to navigate the complex quest of preventing and treating schistosomiasis:
On a colorful board, players slide down 鈥淪chisto worms鈥� for risky behaviors, such as playing in an infected river. But they can also 鈥渃limb ladders鈥� for healthy choices, like taking preventative praziquantel at school or cutting vegetation around a river to discourage snails, the parasite鈥檚 host. 听
Interactive impact: One 2020 study found that after six months of gameplay, more than two-thirds of 275 students were familiar with praziquantel, and 65% consented to treatment. 听
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS
The new malaria vaccine helps in Africa but faces a test: Completing all 4 doses 鈥�
Americans in Congo barred from听immediately听returning home amidst Ebola听outbreak 鈥�
鈥榃hen she turns听eight听they will take her鈥�: rising number of Afghan girls being sold into child marriage 鈥�
The Dangerous Unraveling听Of听The听United States鈥櫶鼺amily Planning Safety Net 鈥�
What to watch for as senators question CDC nominee Erica Schwartz 鈥�
Medieval plague survivors left us graffiti, court听records听and a lesson for COVID 鈥�
The rise of evidence-based medicine and the 鈥榤avericks鈥� who championed it 鈥� Thanks听for the tip, Cecilia Meisner!听
Going to museums, movies, and theater may help your body stay younger 鈥�
听Issue No. 2950
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July 14, 2026
TOP STORIESEl Salvador earned WHO validation for eliminating trachoma鈥攖he world's leading infectious cause of blindness鈥攁s a public health problem; El Salvador conducted targeted assessments between 2023鈥�2026 and found no evidence of active trachoma transmission, detected no signs of the disease in children, and found no advanced cases capable of causing blindness in adults.
First responders to the burgeoning Ebola outbreak in the DRC need better protective equipment and pay,听; dozens of Ituri province health workers joined a strike yesterday demanding back pay.听
After landslides in Bangladesh this month killed at least 13 Rohingya refugees and displaced听4,000+, Human Rights Watch warns that refugees 鈥渃rammed into bamboo and tarp shelters ... on steep, deforested hillsides鈥� are vulnerable to cyclones, floods, and landslides and called on the Bangladesh authorities, the UN, and donors听to reduce overcrowding and restore aid for embankments, drainage, access routes, and emergency relocation sites.
Michigan health officials have tentatively linked salad greens or lettuce to the outbreak of explosive diarrhea that has topped 2,600 cases in the state, though other sources of cyclosporiasis cannot be ruled out.听
IN FOCUSJaan Vaart, coordinator of the harm reduction service, stands inside a van equipped with syringes and emergency equipment. Tallinn, Estonia, November 18, 2019. Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP via Getty
A Swiftly Evolving Drug Crisis 听When Estonia cut fentanyl overdose deaths by a stunning 70%+ by 2018, there was little time to celebrate: Soon, even more dangerous synthetic opioids filled the void fentanyl left behind, driving overdoses up once again, . 听 听
Mutating threats: Estonia鈥檚 crisis points to a new frontier in the global opioid epidemic, as potent, lab-manufactured opioids emerge faster than researchers, public health officials, or law enforcement can respond. 听 听
Nitazenes, which can be 40X stronger than fentanyl, have led to a dramatic uptick in overdoses in Estonia. This year, an even more lethal opioid, cychlorphine, has hit the streets. 听 听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 changing too quickly,鈥� said Katri Abel-Ollo, a researcher at Estonia鈥檚 National Institute for Health Development. 听 听
Cychlorphine is a growing concern in the U.S. too, 鈥攁nd many of the victims have skewed younger, according to Luis Agostini, a DEA public information officer. The overdose-reversing drug Narcan or naloxone can work to an extent, but it may take multiple doses, given cychlorphine鈥檚 strength. 听
Expanding access to a lifeline: In the U.S., momentum is growing to open up naloxone access to teens, who often face barriers obtaining and carrying it due to varying state laws and consent requirements, . 听
A bipartisan bill in Congress, the School Access to Naloxone Act, seeks to fund naloxone supply and training for schools, and expand legal protections for those who administer the medication in emergencies. 听
The Quote: 鈥淚 think it would be good if people realize that putting things in a lockbox and telling people no isn鈥檛 going to stop a teenager,鈥� says Max Zimbron Martinez, a leader of the Bulldogs Against Overdose student group at Garfield High School in Seattle.
Related: Inside the push for a fentanyl vaccine 鈥�
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARYWhy Global Health Needs a Planetary Health StrategyIf you鈥檙e committed to advancing global health, it鈥檚 time to join the young, transdisciplinary field of planetary health, . 听听
The field recognizes that Earth鈥檚 natural systems play a critical role in supporting human health, and the degradation of those systems is becoming a dominant driver of the global burden of disease, writes Myers, faculty director of the Planetary Health Alliance and the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health. 听听
What can be done: 听
Medical and public health practitioners and researchers can break down silos to focus on different innovations, policies, and practices to protect the public鈥檚 health.
Researchers can work with nontraditional partners like urban planners, business leaders, material scientists, and others. 听
Nurses and physicians can advise patients to adopt a planetary health diet (high in plants and low in meat and dairy) and spend time in nature to improve their health. 听听
These are just a few ways we can adapt our efforts to reflect the fact that the health of humanity and the state of the planet are inextricably connected, argues Myers.
Read the full commentary by Samuel Myers OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSSingapore bat colony could unlock the future of medicine 鈥�
Reforming WHO: Five Considerations for the Next Director General 鈥�
鈥業f a woman is killed, they say she fell, she took poison鈥�: Pakistan鈥檚 devastating rise in 鈥榟idden鈥� sexual violence 鈥�
Profound health inequalities between Sub-Saharan Africa and other world regions 鈥�
Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease 鈥�
How wearable tech such as watches or bracelets could help to detect Sepsis more quickly 鈥�
Is there a doctor on board? Yes, and airlines depend on it 鈥�
听Issue No. 2949
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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 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
Related: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�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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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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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�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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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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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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June 29, 2026
TOP STORIESDRC鈥檚 Ebola outbreak is still growing and outpacing the response, the WHO says, while that there is a 70% chance the outbreak will spread into South Sudan; researchers say preparing for that scenario should be a priority, given the country鈥檚 weakened health infrastructure.
Europe鈥檚 heatwave has been linked to 1,300+ excess deaths since June 21 per WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; temperature records were broken continent-wide again yesterday, including in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Undiagnosed tuberculosis leads to at least one death a week in England, finds a ; older, British-born men were among those most likely to have been diagnosed after death, suggesting health workers could be overlooking the possibility of TB in patients with that profile. 听
An LGBTQ+-specific crisis hotline is being relaunched after the Trump administration ended it last year鈥攂ut it might exclude the suicide prevention program The Trevor Project, which originally helped develop and run the hotline.
IN FOCUSPeople gather outside the Domingo Luciani hospital searching for relatives following twin earthquakes in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 25. Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty.
Collapse Upon Collapse in VenezuelaMore than 72 hours after Venezuela鈥檚 devastating twin earthquakes, overwhelmed first responders and health workers are improvising and relying on civilian volunteers as the country鈥檚 long-deteriorating health system buckles under the country鈥檚 deadliest natural disaster in decades, .
The latest: ~1,450 people have died, ~3,150 people have been injured, and 12,721 people are displaced, with officials warning that those numbers will rise.
International assistance is accelerating, but many communities continue to rely on volunteers using shovels, ropes, and bare hands for rescue and relief efforts as the window narrows for finding survivors. 听
Overwhelmed facilities, desperate measures: In hard-hit La Guaira, two of the state鈥檚 three public hospitals are out of service, and others across the region are heavily damaged, .
Surviving facilities have faced dire shortages of water, electricity, medicines, and both medical and communications equipment. 听
Makeshift trauma wards have filled with patients lying on benches, IVs held up by tree branches, citizens supplying water and medical supplies, and overflowing morgues, per and . 听
Already on the brink: The earthquakes struck a health system long hollowed out by years of economic crisis, underinvestment, and mass emigration of health workers.
鈥淭he earthquake didn鈥檛 collapse the health system. We already had a collapsed health system,鈥� Janeth M谩rquez, director of the Venezuela chapter of the Catholic charity Caritas, told The New York Times. 听
Ongoing health crisis: Physicians warn that the crisis is entering a more critical phase as people trapped for longer periods have arrived with more complex medical needs.
Meanwhile, recovery workers face mounting risks, including contamination from bodies under the rubble and a lack of protective and sanitation gear, .听
In an era of rising misinformation, declining reliance on institutions, and social upheaval driven by climate change, conflict, and AI, how do public health communicators gain trust from their communities?听
The age-old, yet revolutionary answer: Sustained human connection.
鈥淚nformation alone does not change lives. Trust, relationships, and human connections do,鈥� said Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Dean Keshia Pollack Porter of the in Panama City last week.听
What connection looks like: Instead of a top-down public health messaging approach, the field is shifting toward locally based, community-led strategies that especially look to Indigenous knowledge holders and young voices to craft interventions that reflect the lived realities of the people they are meant to serve.听
Cross-discipline connection: Researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and creatives from a wide range of backgrounds must work together to support needed changes.
鈥淣o single organization, country, or discipline can solve today鈥檚 challenges alone,鈥� said Babafunke Fagbemi, executive director of the Centre for Communication and Social Impact.
To that point: The 2026 summit included participants from 125 countries.听听
Related, via the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs:
Thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, the Iran war death toll is rising 鈥�
Whereabouts of nearly 300 people with Ebola unknown in DR Congo 鈥� 听
Sunset or new dawn? UNAids fights for survival 鈥�
Three Candidates Vying for Global Fund Leadership in Contentious Race 鈥�
MAHA feels betrayed after Supreme Court ruling on Monsanto, glyphosate 鈥�
Support builds on the right for prosecuting women who get abortions 鈥�
Explaining inequalities in quality of life: a longitudinal study of health disparities in Norway 鈥�
听Issue No. 2940
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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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