96
Global Health NOW: Tragedy in Texas and Your June Recap
July 7, 2025
A K-9 Unit with the Texas Game Wardens conducts a search in flood damage area near Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, on July 5. Desiree Rios for The Washington Post via Getty
Tragedy in Texas
Flash floods in central Texas over the weekend killed at least 82 people, including 28 children鈥攁nd dozens remain missing as widespread search and rescue efforts continue, .
The disaster is prompting scrutiny of how flood warnings are handled in the flood-prone region, which is home to summer camps along the Guadalupe River, as forecasts call for more rain today.
Sudden flooding: A severe early-morning storm dropped 12 inches of rain within hours across Texas Hill Country, leading to rapidly rising waters and a
An Australian man has died after contracting a rare lyssavirus from a bat bite; closely related to rabies, the virus has killed four people in Australia since 1996.
Chikungunya is circulating in the south of France, per Sant茅 publique France; while ~712 imported cases of the virus were recorded May 1鈥揓uly 1, 14 locally acquired infections were reported in the same period.
The herbicide ingredient diquat, used as a replacement for glyphosate in products like Roundup, can kill gut bacteria and damage organs, ; while the substance is banned in the U.K., EU, and China, it is legal and increasingly used in the U.S.
An oral rabies vaccine can be spread through vampire bat populations via the bats鈥� mutual grooming techniques, ; the 鈥渋nnovative鈥� vaccine was applied to the fur as a gel, then spread rapidly as the bats licked each other. U.S. and Global Health Policy News NIH restores grants to South Africa scientists, adds funding option for other halted foreign projects 鈥�
Farewell to USAID: Reflections on the agency that President Trump dismantled 鈥�
Local health departments face rising workforce strains, report says 鈥�
Foreign medical residents fill critical positions at US hospitals, but are running into visa issues 鈥�
CDC Staff Dedicated to Birth Control Safety Eliminated by HHS 鈥� JUNE RECAP: MUST-READS Argentina鈥檚 鈥楾idal Wave鈥� of Health Cuts
Drastic cuts to Argentina鈥檚 health systems under President Javier Milei鈥檚 austerity measures have forced patients and their families to resort to desperate measures to access vital care, including turning to Facebook to obtain donated cancer drugs.
Related: Milei took a chainsaw to Argentina鈥檚 health system. Now it鈥檚 鈥榖leeding to death鈥� 鈥�
ICYMI: Disrupted but Determined: Lessons From Argentine Scientists 鈥�
North America鈥檚 Measles Problem
Eli Saslow chronicled a West Texas family鈥檚 measles odyssey that forced the father and four children to spend days in the hospital.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e been lied to,鈥� the father, Kiley Timmons, texted his wife, as his temperature hit 40掳C (104掳F). He treated himself with cod liver oil and vitamin D, as recommended by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
When his oxygen level fell to 85%, his wife drove him to the ER.
A Closer Look at Cheap Cigarettes in Laos
Cigarette prices in Laos are among the lowest in the world, contributing to some of the highest smoking rates in the region and smoking-related diseases, which account for 1 in 7 deaths in the country.
Behind the low prices: A 2001 contract signed behind closed doors with Imperial Brands tobacco set a 25-year tax freeze鈥攁nd steered millions toward an in-law of then-president Bounnhang Vorachit. This Pulitzer Center鈥搒upported story surfaces the issue ahead of the contract鈥檚 set expiration next year.
JUNE EXCLUSIVES The Andes mountain range between Lima and Cerro de Pasco east of Canta. DeAgostini/Getty The Mystery of Chronic Mountain Sickness
HUAYLLAY, Peru鈥擜bout 5%鈥�10% of people who have lived their whole lives at high altitude eventually come down with the last illness they would expect: altitude sickness.
Ed. Note: We thank Dulce Alarc贸n-Yaquetto for sharing the idea for this story, which won a grand prize in the , co-sponsored by GHN and the .
Zambia Drags Heels on Mercury Amalgam Ban
LUSAKA, Zambia鈥擲ome nations have already taken decisive steps to ban mercury amalgam in dental fillings, but in Zambia, despite the dangers, progress has stalled.
Just 0.6 grams of mercury, the average amount , can pollute 100,000 liters of water, about the size of a swimming pool鈥攁nd Zambia is especially vulnerable to harmful impacts of mercury due to inadequate disposal systems and mitigation processes.
Success stories: How other countries鈥攊ncluding Tanzania, Uganda, and Gabon鈥攐vercame resistance and banned mercury amalgam.
Ed. Note: Thanks to Michael Musenga for this story idea, which won an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by GHN and the . Q&A: 鈥楪ardening始 in the Gut
The pipeline for new drugs to fight antibiotic-resistant infections is rife with challenges, but one promising solution offers a workaround: tackling drug-resistant bacteria in the gut.
鈥淭he tobacco industry鈥檚 tricks are constantly evolving; so too must our cities鈥� tactics.鈥� 鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌� Michelle Morse, acting health commissioner and chief medical officer of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Daniel Soranz, secretary of health for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in an from Rio de Janeiro and New York City.
JUNE'S GOOD NEWS The Clay Floor Advantage
In Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, the nonprofit EarthEnable is reducing dust and parasites in homes by installing clay-based flooring鈥攚hich delivers health and environmental benefits over dirt floors at less than half the price of concrete.
Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff!
More Solution Stories from June:
The floating clinics bringing healthcare to the banks of the Amazon 鈥�
Stigma in the schoolyard: How Rwanda is protecting HIV-positive students 鈥�
As Federal Health Grants Shrink, Memory Cafes Help Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS Measles cases hit highest level since it was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000 鈥�
Why has polio re-emerged in Angola? 鈥�
The Hidden Human Cost of AI Moderation 鈥�
Wellcome CEO Urges Global Health Rethink: 'Science Alone Is Not Enough' 鈥�
Don鈥檛 let states interfere with medical school grading systems 鈥�
Are seed oils actually bad for your health? Here's the science behind the controversy 鈥�
This paint 鈥榮weats鈥� to keep your house cool 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner! Issue No. 2752
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 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.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Flash floods in central Texas over the weekend killed at least 82 people, including 28 children鈥攁nd dozens remain missing as widespread search and rescue efforts continue, .
The disaster is prompting scrutiny of how flood warnings are handled in the flood-prone region, which is home to summer camps along the Guadalupe River, as forecasts call for more rain today.
Sudden flooding: A severe early-morning storm dropped 12 inches of rain within hours across Texas Hill Country, leading to rapidly rising waters and a
- Flash floods are the top storm-related cause of death in the U.S., killing an average of 127 people annually, .
- The disaster has renewed debates over flood preparedness, with officials and forecasters calling for improved warning systems and better public messaging, .
- A flood monitoring and warning system along the river proposed eight years ago was never implemented due to a lack of funding.
An Australian man has died after contracting a rare lyssavirus from a bat bite; closely related to rabies, the virus has killed four people in Australia since 1996.
Chikungunya is circulating in the south of France, per Sant茅 publique France; while ~712 imported cases of the virus were recorded May 1鈥揓uly 1, 14 locally acquired infections were reported in the same period.
The herbicide ingredient diquat, used as a replacement for glyphosate in products like Roundup, can kill gut bacteria and damage organs, ; while the substance is banned in the U.K., EU, and China, it is legal and increasingly used in the U.S.
An oral rabies vaccine can be spread through vampire bat populations via the bats鈥� mutual grooming techniques, ; the 鈥渋nnovative鈥� vaccine was applied to the fur as a gel, then spread rapidly as the bats licked each other. U.S. and Global Health Policy News NIH restores grants to South Africa scientists, adds funding option for other halted foreign projects 鈥�
Farewell to USAID: Reflections on the agency that President Trump dismantled 鈥�
Local health departments face rising workforce strains, report says 鈥�
Foreign medical residents fill critical positions at US hospitals, but are running into visa issues 鈥�
CDC Staff Dedicated to Birth Control Safety Eliminated by HHS 鈥� JUNE RECAP: MUST-READS Argentina鈥檚 鈥楾idal Wave鈥� of Health Cuts
Drastic cuts to Argentina鈥檚 health systems under President Javier Milei鈥檚 austerity measures have forced patients and their families to resort to desperate measures to access vital care, including turning to Facebook to obtain donated cancer drugs.
- Before Milei, Argentina鈥檚 public health system ensured that health care was free for most who couldn鈥檛 afford private insurance; Milei has slashed the country鈥檚 health budget by 48% and laid off 2,000+ health ministry workers.
Related: Milei took a chainsaw to Argentina鈥檚 health system. Now it鈥檚 鈥榖leeding to death鈥� 鈥�
ICYMI: Disrupted but Determined: Lessons From Argentine Scientists 鈥�
North America鈥檚 Measles Problem
Eli Saslow chronicled a West Texas family鈥檚 measles odyssey that forced the father and four children to spend days in the hospital.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e been lied to,鈥� the father, Kiley Timmons, texted his wife, as his temperature hit 40掳C (104掳F). He treated himself with cod liver oil and vitamin D, as recommended by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
When his oxygen level fell to 85%, his wife drove him to the ER.
A Closer Look at Cheap Cigarettes in Laos
Cigarette prices in Laos are among the lowest in the world, contributing to some of the highest smoking rates in the region and smoking-related diseases, which account for 1 in 7 deaths in the country.
Behind the low prices: A 2001 contract signed behind closed doors with Imperial Brands tobacco set a 25-year tax freeze鈥攁nd steered millions toward an in-law of then-president Bounnhang Vorachit. This Pulitzer Center鈥搒upported story surfaces the issue ahead of the contract鈥檚 set expiration next year.
JUNE EXCLUSIVES The Andes mountain range between Lima and Cerro de Pasco east of Canta. DeAgostini/Getty The Mystery of Chronic Mountain Sickness
HUAYLLAY, Peru鈥擜bout 5%鈥�10% of people who have lived their whole lives at high altitude eventually come down with the last illness they would expect: altitude sickness.
- Chronic mountain sickness (CMS), characterized by low levels of oxygen saturation and excessive amounts of hemoglobin, can progress to life-threatening pulmonary or cerebral edema.
- For a century, scientists have been trying to understand the cause of the 鈥渃omplex and insidious鈥� disease; research that led to a 2019 Nobel Prize may offer new insights.
Ed. Note: We thank Dulce Alarc贸n-Yaquetto for sharing the idea for this story, which won a grand prize in the , co-sponsored by GHN and the .
Zambia Drags Heels on Mercury Amalgam Ban
LUSAKA, Zambia鈥擲ome nations have already taken decisive steps to ban mercury amalgam in dental fillings, but in Zambia, despite the dangers, progress has stalled.
Just 0.6 grams of mercury, the average amount , can pollute 100,000 liters of water, about the size of a swimming pool鈥攁nd Zambia is especially vulnerable to harmful impacts of mercury due to inadequate disposal systems and mitigation processes.
Success stories: How other countries鈥攊ncluding Tanzania, Uganda, and Gabon鈥攐vercame resistance and banned mercury amalgam.
Ed. Note: Thanks to Michael Musenga for this story idea, which won an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by GHN and the . Q&A: 鈥楪ardening始 in the Gut
The pipeline for new drugs to fight antibiotic-resistant infections is rife with challenges, but one promising solution offers a workaround: tackling drug-resistant bacteria in the gut.
- The method combines oral vaccinations with harmless bacteria that outcompete the bacteria for food and 鈥渟tarve them out,鈥� Emma Slack of ETH Zurich and the University of Oxford鈥檚 Sir William Dunn School of Pathology told GHN.
鈥淭he tobacco industry鈥檚 tricks are constantly evolving; so too must our cities鈥� tactics.鈥� 鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌� Michelle Morse, acting health commissioner and chief medical officer of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Daniel Soranz, secretary of health for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in an from Rio de Janeiro and New York City.
JUNE'S GOOD NEWS The Clay Floor Advantage
In Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, the nonprofit EarthEnable is reducing dust and parasites in homes by installing clay-based flooring鈥攚hich delivers health and environmental benefits over dirt floors at less than half the price of concrete.
- So far, EarthEnable has installed 39,000+ floors in Rwanda, 5,000+ in Uganda, and 100+ in Kenya.
Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff!
More Solution Stories from June:
The floating clinics bringing healthcare to the banks of the Amazon 鈥�
Stigma in the schoolyard: How Rwanda is protecting HIV-positive students 鈥�
As Federal Health Grants Shrink, Memory Cafes Help Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS Measles cases hit highest level since it was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000 鈥�
Why has polio re-emerged in Angola? 鈥�
The Hidden Human Cost of AI Moderation 鈥�
Wellcome CEO Urges Global Health Rethink: 'Science Alone Is Not Enough' 鈥�
Don鈥檛 let states interfere with medical school grading systems 鈥�
Are seed oils actually bad for your health? Here's the science behind the controversy 鈥�
This paint 鈥榮weats鈥� to keep your house cool 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner! Issue No. 2752
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 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.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: The Megabill鈥檚 Major Health Cuts; Hanoi鈥檚 Concrete-Driven Air Quality Crisis; and Medical Schools Dust Off Old Curriculum
On the line with the 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill鈥� passed by the U.S. Senate: Cuts to Medicaid, providers, rural hospitals, and more.
July 2, 2025
Storm clouds hover over the U.S. Capitol shortly after the Senate passed its version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" yesterday. Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty
The Megabill鈥檚 Major Health Cuts
The 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill鈥� passed yesterday by the U.S. Senate includes massive rollbacks to health programs that could lead to lost coverage for ~17 million Americans over the next decade, .
The cuts also threaten the viability of hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers, as they face the prospect of absorbing more care costs and receiving less federal support, .
On the line:
Cuts to Medicaid, and work requirements: Medicaid faces the largest cuts in the program鈥檚 history, , largely stemming from a work requirement that could end coverage for millions who do not meet new standards and that involves filing regular paperwork proving 80 hours of work a month.
Blows to providers鈥攁nd rural care: The bill ends a decades-long practice of state provider taxes, which health facilities pay to increase matching federal payments for state Medicaid plans, .
What鈥檚 next: The bill now returns to the House, which passed an earlier version; some Republicans have raised objections to the Senate鈥檚 changes to that version of the bill.
Related: Mayors, doctor groups sue over Trump鈥檚 efforts to restrict Obamacare enrollment 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EDITORS' NOTE No GHN July 3鈥�4
We鈥檒l be on a short publishing break for the July 4 holiday in the U.S. We鈥檒l be back on Monday, July 7!
But for now, more news. 鈥�The Editors The Latest One-Liners A fast-moving wildfire fueled by a European heat wave killed two farmers in northern Lleida, Spain, late Tuesday before a rainstorm helped firefighters bring the fire under control; European weather officials link the scorching temperatures鈥攗nprecedented for this early in the summer鈥攖o climate change.
A 3-year-old in Burma has been paralyzed by polio after contracting vaccine-derived polio鈥攁n indication of reduced vaccination coverage as the country鈥檚 health care system continues to deteriorate amid its civil war.
Neighborhood segregation contributes to lung cancer development, per a new study of 71,634 participants that found that reduced residential segregation was 鈥渟ignificantly鈥� associated with fewer lung cancer cases among Black adults.
Women 65+ are more likely to have high-risk HPV infections and abnormal cervical cells than younger women, , suggesting that cervical screenings should be offered to over-65s, a population unlikely to have received HPV vaccinations. U.S. and Global Health Policy News USAID cancelled rape survivor kits for Congo as conflict erupted 鈥�
Turmoil at US science academy as Trump cuts force layoffs 鈥�
HHS layoffs were likely unlawful and must be halted, US judge says 鈥�
RFK Jr. singled out one study to cut funds for global vaccines. Is that study valid? 鈥� Tom Frieden: RFK Jr.鈥檚 intellectually dishonest excuse for defunding Gavi, the vaccine alliance 鈥�
Health and Science Diplomacy Protects Everyone 鈥� POLLUTION Hanoi鈥檚 Concrete-Driven Air Quality Crisis
Over the last year, Hanoi repeatedly topped global air pollution charts as smog draped the city.
As vaccination rates in the U.S. fall, medical students and young physicians are getting more schooling on how to identify once-eliminated or rarely seen childhood diseases鈥攊ncluding measles, rotavirus, pertussis, and chicken pox.
Old diseases, new tools: AI diagnostic aids and learning modules鈥攊ncluding how to identify a measles rash on different skin tones鈥攁re being called a 鈥済ame changer鈥� for medical training.
The Quote: 鈥淲e鈥檙e having a [measles] resurgence, the highest in 25 years, and you might have not reviewed that since the first year of medical school,鈥� said Nicholas Cozzi, EMS medical director at Rush University Medical School.
MINI DIVERSION QUICK HITS Lethal heat is Europe鈥檚 new climate reality 鈥�
What therapists treating immigrants hear 鈥�
鈥楾he nurse told me I couldn鈥檛 keep my baby鈥�: how a controversial Danish 鈥榩arenting test鈥� separated a Greenlandic woman from her children 鈥�
What I Heard on a Suicide Hotline for Trans Kids 鈥�
Doctors don't get much menopause training. State lawmakers are trying to change that 鈥�
Decolonising global health: an essential conversation in medical education 鈥�
Should grant applicants judge competitors鈥� proposals? Unorthodox approach gets two real-world tests 鈥�
People are using AI to 'sit' with them while they trip on psychedelics 鈥� Issue No. 2751
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 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.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
The 鈥淏ig Beautiful Bill鈥� passed yesterday by the U.S. Senate includes massive rollbacks to health programs that could lead to lost coverage for ~17 million Americans over the next decade, .
The cuts also threaten the viability of hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers, as they face the prospect of absorbing more care costs and receiving less federal support, .
On the line:
Cuts to Medicaid, and work requirements: Medicaid faces the largest cuts in the program鈥檚 history, , largely stemming from a work requirement that could end coverage for millions who do not meet new standards and that involves filing regular paperwork proving 80 hours of work a month.
- Medicaid enrollees could also face new out-of-pocket copays up to $35.
Blows to providers鈥攁nd rural care: The bill ends a decades-long practice of state provider taxes, which health facilities pay to increase matching federal payments for state Medicaid plans, .
- Loss of this funding could push 300+ hospitals toward service reductions or closure, .
What鈥檚 next: The bill now returns to the House, which passed an earlier version; some Republicans have raised objections to the Senate鈥檚 changes to that version of the bill.
Related: Mayors, doctor groups sue over Trump鈥檚 efforts to restrict Obamacare enrollment 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EDITORS' NOTE No GHN July 3鈥�4
We鈥檒l be on a short publishing break for the July 4 holiday in the U.S. We鈥檒l be back on Monday, July 7!
But for now, more news. 鈥�The Editors The Latest One-Liners A fast-moving wildfire fueled by a European heat wave killed two farmers in northern Lleida, Spain, late Tuesday before a rainstorm helped firefighters bring the fire under control; European weather officials link the scorching temperatures鈥攗nprecedented for this early in the summer鈥攖o climate change.
A 3-year-old in Burma has been paralyzed by polio after contracting vaccine-derived polio鈥攁n indication of reduced vaccination coverage as the country鈥檚 health care system continues to deteriorate amid its civil war.
Neighborhood segregation contributes to lung cancer development, per a new study of 71,634 participants that found that reduced residential segregation was 鈥渟ignificantly鈥� associated with fewer lung cancer cases among Black adults.
Women 65+ are more likely to have high-risk HPV infections and abnormal cervical cells than younger women, , suggesting that cervical screenings should be offered to over-65s, a population unlikely to have received HPV vaccinations. U.S. and Global Health Policy News USAID cancelled rape survivor kits for Congo as conflict erupted 鈥�
Turmoil at US science academy as Trump cuts force layoffs 鈥�
HHS layoffs were likely unlawful and must be halted, US judge says 鈥�
RFK Jr. singled out one study to cut funds for global vaccines. Is that study valid? 鈥� Tom Frieden: RFK Jr.鈥檚 intellectually dishonest excuse for defunding Gavi, the vaccine alliance 鈥�
Health and Science Diplomacy Protects Everyone 鈥� POLLUTION Hanoi鈥檚 Concrete-Driven Air Quality Crisis
Over the last year, Hanoi repeatedly topped global air pollution charts as smog draped the city.
- In January, the average air quality index surpassed the 鈥渉azardous鈥� threshold, prompting warnings from health officials.
- And in March, the city recorded levels of harmful PM2.5 particle levels that were more than 24X the WHO鈥檚 recommended limits.
- The creation and use of cement accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions.
- Vietnam uses more cement per capita than any country except China, and almost 2X than the U.S.
As vaccination rates in the U.S. fall, medical students and young physicians are getting more schooling on how to identify once-eliminated or rarely seen childhood diseases鈥攊ncluding measles, rotavirus, pertussis, and chicken pox.
Old diseases, new tools: AI diagnostic aids and learning modules鈥攊ncluding how to identify a measles rash on different skin tones鈥攁re being called a 鈥済ame changer鈥� for medical training.
The Quote: 鈥淲e鈥檙e having a [measles] resurgence, the highest in 25 years, and you might have not reviewed that since the first year of medical school,鈥� said Nicholas Cozzi, EMS medical director at Rush University Medical School.
MINI DIVERSION QUICK HITS Lethal heat is Europe鈥檚 new climate reality 鈥�
What therapists treating immigrants hear 鈥�
鈥楾he nurse told me I couldn鈥檛 keep my baby鈥�: how a controversial Danish 鈥榩arenting test鈥� separated a Greenlandic woman from her children 鈥�
What I Heard on a Suicide Hotline for Trans Kids 鈥�
Doctors don't get much menopause training. State lawmakers are trying to change that 鈥�
Decolonising global health: an essential conversation in medical education 鈥�
Should grant applicants judge competitors鈥� proposals? Unorthodox approach gets two real-world tests 鈥�
People are using AI to 'sit' with them while they trip on psychedelics 鈥� Issue No. 2751
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 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.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: The Loneliest Numbers: 100 Deaths an Hour; The DRC Aims to Eliminate AIDS in Children; and Using AI to Fight Ebola Misinformation
July 1, 2025
Silhouette of a boy looking through the window of a colorful building in the Commonwealth of Dominica. June 13, 2019. Michael Melford/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty
The Loneliest Numbers: 100 Deaths an Hour
Every year, 871,000+ people die of causes stemming from loneliness, , which named the issue as 鈥渁 defining challenge of our time.鈥�
Diagnosing loneliness: The WHO defines loneliness as the distress that comes from the lack of desired relationships, while social isolation is defined by the objective absence of social ties, .
Especially vulnerable: People in low- and middle-income countries, who report loneliness at 2X the rate in high-income countries; and young people, as ~20.9% of adolescents reported loneliness compared with 11.8% of those aged 60+, .
Roadmap for action: The WHO is urging countries to make loneliness a priority in research, including policy in areas like digital reform and community spaces, and public interventions like Sweden鈥檚 鈧�30 million loneliness initiative.
Related: The cost of loneliness can be death. Here鈥檚 how to find good friends 鈥� DATA POINT
14 million+
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Preventable deaths by 2030 if USAID defunding continues. 鈥� The Latest One-Liners Civilian deaths and rights violations in Ukraine are increasing鈥攚ith a 37% increase in civilian casualties from December 2024 through May 2025 over the same period a year earlier, , fueled by a sharp rise in drone attacks.
Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to earn WHO malaria-free certification yesterday; strategies including universal access to diagnosis and treatment, an extensive community health worker network, and nationwide screening helped reach even high-risk mobile populations in remote mining areas.
Mpox can infect the brain and damage brain cells, , which found that as the virus spreads between neuronic cells it creates bead-like thickenings seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
Aging-related inflammation appears to be linked to industrialized lifestyles, and varies significantly across global populations, , which found that among Indigenous populations, inflammation increased with infections鈥攂ut not with age. U.S. and Global Health Policy News The Impact of NIH Cuts Ripples Beyond U.S. Borders 鈥�
Why it鈥檚 so easy for the US to cut children鈥檚 access to healthcare: 鈥楾here鈥檚 no right to these programs鈥� 鈥�
EPA employees put names to 鈥榙eclaration of dissent鈥� over agency moves under Trump 鈥�
How to Wreck the Nation鈥檚 Health, by the Numbers 鈥�
From Atlanta to C么te D'Ivoire: How the CDC Protects Americans Overseas 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS The DRC Aims to Eliminate AIDS in Children
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has launched a new national initiative to eliminate AIDS among children by 2030鈥攁 move the UNAIDS director for the DRC called a 鈥渁 breath of fresh air鈥� amid widespread cuts to global HIV services.
Background: Despite significant gains in the country鈥檚 response to adult HIV, children still have 鈥渆xtremely limited鈥� access to HIV prevention and treatment services.
Related: In a World with HIV Treatment, Why Are Teenagers Still Dying of AIDS? 鈥嬧�嬧�� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES TECH & INNOVATION Using AI to Fight Ebola Misinformation
Scientists in Uganda have used AI to generate transcripts based on thousands of hours of radio broadcasts for a study to learn what the nation鈥檚 communities are hearing about Ebola outbreaks.
The study found that the radio conversations during Uganda's Ebola outbreak in 2022 were largely dominated by government officials and media personalities. The lack of input from scientists led many Ugandans to believe the outbreak was tied to political and financial interests and that it was fabricated.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT QUICK HITS Israeli bombing exposes critical shortages in Iran鈥檚 healthcare system 鈥�
From coop to cave: Inside the high-tech hunt for H5N1 and Disease X 鈥�
Infertility experts warn against 鈥榬estorative reproductive medicine,鈥� promoted by new Arkansas law 鈥�
A Texas boy needed protection from measles. The vaccine cost $1,400 鈥�
Maternal flu vaccine protects newborns, vaccination in kids also effective, studies show 鈥�
Study Links Health Center Closures to Higher County Mortality Rates 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!
New AI tool raises concerns over industry's ability to sow doubt on pollution research 鈥�
Obesity drugs made in China could power next wave of treatments 鈥�
Candy colors, THC inside: How cannabis edibles are tricking teen brains 鈥� Issue No. 2750
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 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.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Every year, 871,000+ people die of causes stemming from loneliness, , which named the issue as 鈥渁 defining challenge of our time.鈥�
Diagnosing loneliness: The WHO defines loneliness as the distress that comes from the lack of desired relationships, while social isolation is defined by the objective absence of social ties, .
- One in 6 people globally suffers from loneliness. Social isolation is estimated to affect up to 1 in 3 older adults, and 1 in 4 adolescents.
Especially vulnerable: People in low- and middle-income countries, who report loneliness at 2X the rate in high-income countries; and young people, as ~20.9% of adolescents reported loneliness compared with 11.8% of those aged 60+, .
- The loneliest group: Teenage girls, with 24.3% reporting the condition.
Roadmap for action: The WHO is urging countries to make loneliness a priority in research, including policy in areas like digital reform and community spaces, and public interventions like Sweden鈥檚 鈧�30 million loneliness initiative.
Related: The cost of loneliness can be death. Here鈥檚 how to find good friends 鈥� DATA POINT
14 million+
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Preventable deaths by 2030 if USAID defunding continues. 鈥� The Latest One-Liners Civilian deaths and rights violations in Ukraine are increasing鈥攚ith a 37% increase in civilian casualties from December 2024 through May 2025 over the same period a year earlier, , fueled by a sharp rise in drone attacks.
Suriname became the first country in the Amazon region to earn WHO malaria-free certification yesterday; strategies including universal access to diagnosis and treatment, an extensive community health worker network, and nationwide screening helped reach even high-risk mobile populations in remote mining areas.
Mpox can infect the brain and damage brain cells, , which found that as the virus spreads between neuronic cells it creates bead-like thickenings seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
Aging-related inflammation appears to be linked to industrialized lifestyles, and varies significantly across global populations, , which found that among Indigenous populations, inflammation increased with infections鈥攂ut not with age. U.S. and Global Health Policy News The Impact of NIH Cuts Ripples Beyond U.S. Borders 鈥�
Why it鈥檚 so easy for the US to cut children鈥檚 access to healthcare: 鈥楾here鈥檚 no right to these programs鈥� 鈥�
EPA employees put names to 鈥榙eclaration of dissent鈥� over agency moves under Trump 鈥�
How to Wreck the Nation鈥檚 Health, by the Numbers 鈥�
From Atlanta to C么te D'Ivoire: How the CDC Protects Americans Overseas 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS The DRC Aims to Eliminate AIDS in Children
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has launched a new national initiative to eliminate AIDS among children by 2030鈥攁 move the UNAIDS director for the DRC called a 鈥渁 breath of fresh air鈥� amid widespread cuts to global HIV services.
Background: Despite significant gains in the country鈥檚 response to adult HIV, children still have 鈥渆xtremely limited鈥� access to HIV prevention and treatment services.
- Just 44% of DRC children living with HIV in the country currently receive lifesaving treatment.
- And every year, thousands of Congolese children are born infected鈥攁s a lack of prenatal screening means opportunities are missed to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
Related: In a World with HIV Treatment, Why Are Teenagers Still Dying of AIDS? 鈥嬧�嬧�� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES TECH & INNOVATION Using AI to Fight Ebola Misinformation
Scientists in Uganda have used AI to generate transcripts based on thousands of hours of radio broadcasts for a study to learn what the nation鈥檚 communities are hearing about Ebola outbreaks.
- , meaning 36.5 million people are offline.
- ~55% of the population relies on the radio for information.
The study found that the radio conversations during Uganda's Ebola outbreak in 2022 were largely dominated by government officials and media personalities. The lack of input from scientists led many Ugandans to believe the outbreak was tied to political and financial interests and that it was fabricated.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT QUICK HITS Israeli bombing exposes critical shortages in Iran鈥檚 healthcare system 鈥�
From coop to cave: Inside the high-tech hunt for H5N1 and Disease X 鈥�
Infertility experts warn against 鈥榬estorative reproductive medicine,鈥� promoted by new Arkansas law 鈥�
A Texas boy needed protection from measles. The vaccine cost $1,400 鈥�
Maternal flu vaccine protects newborns, vaccination in kids also effective, studies show 鈥�
Study Links Health Center Closures to Higher County Mortality Rates 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!
New AI tool raises concerns over industry's ability to sow doubt on pollution research 鈥�
Obesity drugs made in China could power next wave of treatments 鈥�
Candy colors, THC inside: How cannabis edibles are tricking teen brains 鈥� Issue No. 2750
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 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.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Alan Evans receives Order of Canada
Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours
A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Dietetics students help MUHC mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with a special meal
Earlier this month, the 51吃瓜网 Health Centre (MUHC) marked National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) with a special Indigenous-inspired cafeteria meal, featuring baked salmon, wild rice salad, and blueberry bannock.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Dietetics students help MUHC mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with a special meal
Earlier this month, the 51吃瓜网 Health Centre (MUHC) marked National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) with a special Indigenous-inspired cafeteria meal, featuring baked salmon, wild rice salad, and blueberry bannock.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Dietetics students help MUHC mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with a special meal
Earlier this month, the 51吃瓜网 Health Centre (MUHC) marked National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) with a special Indigenous-inspired cafeteria meal, featuring baked salmon, wild rice salad, and blueberry bannock.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Dietetics students help MUHC mark National Indigenous Peoples Day with a special meal
Earlier this month, the 51吃瓜网 Health Centre (MUHC) marked National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) with a special Indigenous-inspired cafeteria meal, featuring baked salmon, wild rice salad, and blueberry bannock.
Categories: Global Health Feed
