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Updated: 5 hours 53 min ago
96
Global Health NOW: Climbing Temperatures, Growing Negative Impact; Dont Leave Thando Behind as PEPFAR Retreats; and Helberg, Right Ahead!
No sign of respite宎 in global climate crisis, report finds
May 29, 2025
An aerial view of cracked soil due to lack of rain is shown as Big Cypress National Preserve and the Florida Everglades experience a severe drought on May 19. Joe Raedle/Getty
Climbing Temperatures, Growing Negative Impact
Global temperatures are expected to persist at or near record levels in the next five years, with no sign of respite, published yesterday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Related:
German court rejects climate case against energy giant RWE
Q&A: Kiley Bense on Climate Journalism in a New Information Environment GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Global AIDS-related deaths could jump from 6 million to 10 million over the next five years unless drastic cuts to HIV-related funding are reinstated, an analysis of UNAIDS forecasts finds.
The UN may cut 20% of jobs across the UN Secretariat, which employs ~35,000 people, and may slash its budget by ~20% in 2026 in response to the reduction in U.S. financial support, per the UN comptroller.
Rat-borne diseases are spreading in Sarajevo, as health experts blame a failure to control the citys rodent population for a spike in infections like leptospirosis.
A new Texas bill could make it easier for parents to exempt their children from all vaccinations required to attend public school, despite the ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas. GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY A health worker manages supplies in a PEPFAR-funded AIDS clinic in Johannesburg. January 27, 2012. Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images Dont Leave Thando Behind as PEPFAR Retreats
Thando* is 11 years old. She lives in Giyani, South Africa. Her mother died of AIDS when Thando was a toddler. Now, her grandmotherwho sells tomatoes by the roadsidewalks with her each month to collect the pills that keep her alive.
But in March, the clinic had no HIV medication. No one explained why, write Joseph Tucker, Molly McNairy, and Linda-Gail Bekker, in an exclusive commentary for Global Health NOW.
Action items: Congress must act and reauthorize PEPFAR, the authors write, calling on philanthropists, faith leaders, and everyday citizens to raise their voices.
*The authors are not using Thandos real name or township to preserve her privacy. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH A Mental Health Crisis Follows Government Cuts
Since January 20, the federal workforce has been cut by 6%as some agencies have been dismantled and others drastically downsized.
Growing distress: Following mass layoffs, federal workers and mental health professionals who see them have reported an uptick of panic attacks, depression, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts.
Last week at his idyllic waterfront home in Norway, Johan Helberg heard the doorbell ring at a time of day [5 a.m.] when I don't like to open. He nevertheless obligedonly to find a panicked neighbor and massive cargo ship run aground in his front yard, .
As Helberg slept, not hearing a peep, a Cypriot-flagged cargo ship ground to a halt just meters away from crashing into his bedroom, which wouldn宎t have been particularly pleasant, he observed.
But there宎s a fine lineor at least a few metersbetween tragedy and adventure. Given that no one was injured, Helberg is simply very excited to see the ship set free.
It's a very bulky new neighbor but it will soon go away, Helberg added. If ony we could say that about QUICK HITS World Health Assembly: Why Multilateralism Needs More Than Solidarity
After CDC cuts, doctors fear women will lose access to contraception research
Public health risk of yellow fever remains high in the Americas due to continued occurrence of human cases
DOH: Travel-related Zika virus case confirmed on Oahu
Eliminating kala-azar: 6 African countries sign agreement to ramp up efforts, cross-border programmes
These countries don't fluoridate their water here's why
That small, high, hateful bugle: The malarial conundrum
Bedbugs may be the first urban pest Issue No. 2733
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 .
Global temperatures are expected to persist at or near record levels in the next five years, with no sign of respite, published yesterday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
- There will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet, said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett.
- The Amazon is likely to face more drought, while northern Europe and South Asia may see increased rainfall.
- Arctic winters may warm 3.5X faster than the global average.
- For the first time, there is a 1% chance of a single year exceeding 2簞C of warming by 2030a shocking finding, climate scientists say, .
- There is an 80% chance that at least one year will break the global heat record set in 2024.
- And 2025 is likely to be one of the three warmest years on record.
Related:
German court rejects climate case against energy giant RWE
Q&A: Kiley Bense on Climate Journalism in a New Information Environment GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Global AIDS-related deaths could jump from 6 million to 10 million over the next five years unless drastic cuts to HIV-related funding are reinstated, an analysis of UNAIDS forecasts finds.
The UN may cut 20% of jobs across the UN Secretariat, which employs ~35,000 people, and may slash its budget by ~20% in 2026 in response to the reduction in U.S. financial support, per the UN comptroller.
Rat-borne diseases are spreading in Sarajevo, as health experts blame a failure to control the citys rodent population for a spike in infections like leptospirosis.
A new Texas bill could make it easier for parents to exempt their children from all vaccinations required to attend public school, despite the ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas. GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY A health worker manages supplies in a PEPFAR-funded AIDS clinic in Johannesburg. January 27, 2012. Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images Dont Leave Thando Behind as PEPFAR Retreats
Thando* is 11 years old. She lives in Giyani, South Africa. Her mother died of AIDS when Thando was a toddler. Now, her grandmotherwho sells tomatoes by the roadsidewalks with her each month to collect the pills that keep her alive.
But in March, the clinic had no HIV medication. No one explained why, write Joseph Tucker, Molly McNairy, and Linda-Gail Bekker, in an exclusive commentary for Global Health NOW.
- Some American lawmakers have the program that supports her care: .
- The sudden and abrupt , jeopardizes that transition plan, they write, adding it risks undermining years of shared investment, and extending the global threat of HIV.
Action items: Congress must act and reauthorize PEPFAR, the authors write, calling on philanthropists, faith leaders, and everyday citizens to raise their voices.
*The authors are not using Thandos real name or township to preserve her privacy. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH A Mental Health Crisis Follows Government Cuts
Since January 20, the federal workforce has been cut by 6%as some agencies have been dismantled and others drastically downsized.
Growing distress: Following mass layoffs, federal workers and mental health professionals who see them have reported an uptick of panic attacks, depression, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts.
- Many say they believe this is intentional, citing budget director Russell Voughts statement that We want bureaucrats to be traumatically affected.
- Phone operators for the Veterans Crisis Line said theyd seen a rise in calls from federal employees.
Last week at his idyllic waterfront home in Norway, Johan Helberg heard the doorbell ring at a time of day [5 a.m.] when I don't like to open. He nevertheless obligedonly to find a panicked neighbor and massive cargo ship run aground in his front yard, .
As Helberg slept, not hearing a peep, a Cypriot-flagged cargo ship ground to a halt just meters away from crashing into his bedroom, which wouldn宎t have been particularly pleasant, he observed.
But there宎s a fine lineor at least a few metersbetween tragedy and adventure. Given that no one was injured, Helberg is simply very excited to see the ship set free.
It's a very bulky new neighbor but it will soon go away, Helberg added. If ony we could say that about QUICK HITS World Health Assembly: Why Multilateralism Needs More Than Solidarity
After CDC cuts, doctors fear women will lose access to contraception research
Public health risk of yellow fever remains high in the Americas due to continued occurrence of human cases
DOH: Travel-related Zika virus case confirmed on Oahu
Eliminating kala-azar: 6 African countries sign agreement to ramp up efforts, cross-border programmes
These countries don't fluoridate their water here's why
That small, high, hateful bugle: The malarial conundrum
Bedbugs may be the first urban pest Issue No. 2733
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: Argentinas Health System Overhaul; The Legacy of Nuclear Testing in Kazakhstan; and Novel Mental Health Care in an L.A. Jail
President Javier Mileis structural review echoes the priorities of RFK Jr.
May 28, 2025
Dozens of organizations and public health workers march to denounce the dismantling of public health by Javier Milei's government. February 27, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Miguel M. Caamano/NurPhoto via Getty
Argentina Charts an Alternate Route
Argentine officials are signalling a sweeping overhaul of the countrys health system following the decision to withdraw from the WHO, which was ratified yesterday during a visit with U.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., .
Backtracking on abortion rights: Meanwhile, Amnesty International says Argentina is becoming a testing ground for undermining reproductive rights, as access to abortion services and essential medications has declined sharply since Milei took office in 2023, . GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners The WHO has designated NB.1.8.1 as a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring (VUM), noting that while it is fueling a rise in cases and hospitalization in some Western Pacific countries, there are no signs that it is causing more severe cases than other circulating variants.
COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women in U.S. CDC guidelines, per a decision by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who did not cite any research or further details that informed the decision.
The WHA passed its first climate change and health action plan in a committee meeting last nightafter the collapse of an hours-long effort to shelve the plan led by Saudi Arabia and supported by other oil-rich Gulf states and Russia.
Dieselgate pollution killed ~16,000 people in the U.K. and caused ~30,000 cases of asthma in children, per a new analysis that follows up on a 2015 scandal, when diesel car manufacturers were caught using illegal defeat devices to cheat regulatory tests. U.S. and Global Health Policy News New Zealand, betting on innovation and economic growth, cuts existing science funds
Federal cuts ripple through a bioscience hub in rural Montana
As the Nations Research-Funding Model Ruptures, Private Money Becomes a Band-Aid Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner!
In a county that backed Trump, people depend on Medicaid and are conflicted about cuts
Read the Full Make America Healthy Again Report
The pool's open. Trump's laid off the team that helps protect swimmers MENTAL HEALTH At California Jails, a Different Model for Care
About half the people incarcerated in the Los Angeles County jail suffer from mental illness.
The need for treatment and the chronic inability to meet that need led two incarcerated men to create a peer-led initiative, in which participants are trained to assist others with severe mental illness.
In the Forensic Inpatient Stepdown program, now 4+ years old, the assistants provide emotional support, use de-escalation techniques, teach life skills, and encourage peers to follow treatment plans.
Impact: Since 2021, the program has expanded to reach 400+ patients.
From 1949 to 1989, the Soviet Union detonated 456 nuclear weapons at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan, exposing 1.5 million people to radioactive fallout.
The Quote: People near the test site became unwitting test subjects, and their lives were treated with casual disregard due to racism and ignorance, said Becky Alexis-Martin, of the University of Bradford in the U.K..
QUICK HITS Saudi Arabias secretive rehabilitation prisons for disobedient women
With aura readings and a Lauryn Hill concert, Philip Morris rolls out a new tobacco product in the U.S.
Where Iran and Israel Align: Youth Tobacco Use
WHO's Big Push To Integrate Traditional Medicine Into Global Healthcare Framework
Climate change driving sexual and reproductive health risks among young adolescents in Kenya
WHO Mandated To Update Of 30-Year-Old Review On Health Impacts Of Nuclear War
Eliminating kala-azar: 6 African countries sign agreement to ramp up efforts, cross-borde programmes
Educating the next generation of global health practitioners and leaders Issue No. 2732
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 .
Argentine officials are signalling a sweeping overhaul of the countrys health system following the decision to withdraw from the WHO, which was ratified yesterday during a visit with U.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., .
- President Javier Milei announced a structural review of Argentinas health agencies, saying there would be stricter oversight of vaccine approvals, a reevaluation of drug authorizations, and a comprehensive review of the toxic ingredients present in ultra-processed products, echoing Kennedy priorities, .
Backtracking on abortion rights: Meanwhile, Amnesty International says Argentina is becoming a testing ground for undermining reproductive rights, as access to abortion services and essential medications has declined sharply since Milei took office in 2023, . GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners The WHO has designated NB.1.8.1 as a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring (VUM), noting that while it is fueling a rise in cases and hospitalization in some Western Pacific countries, there are no signs that it is causing more severe cases than other circulating variants.
COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women in U.S. CDC guidelines, per a decision by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who did not cite any research or further details that informed the decision.
The WHA passed its first climate change and health action plan in a committee meeting last nightafter the collapse of an hours-long effort to shelve the plan led by Saudi Arabia and supported by other oil-rich Gulf states and Russia.
Dieselgate pollution killed ~16,000 people in the U.K. and caused ~30,000 cases of asthma in children, per a new analysis that follows up on a 2015 scandal, when diesel car manufacturers were caught using illegal defeat devices to cheat regulatory tests. U.S. and Global Health Policy News New Zealand, betting on innovation and economic growth, cuts existing science funds
Federal cuts ripple through a bioscience hub in rural Montana
As the Nations Research-Funding Model Ruptures, Private Money Becomes a Band-Aid Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner!
In a county that backed Trump, people depend on Medicaid and are conflicted about cuts
Read the Full Make America Healthy Again Report
The pool's open. Trump's laid off the team that helps protect swimmers MENTAL HEALTH At California Jails, a Different Model for Care
About half the people incarcerated in the Los Angeles County jail suffer from mental illness.
The need for treatment and the chronic inability to meet that need led two incarcerated men to create a peer-led initiative, in which participants are trained to assist others with severe mental illness.
In the Forensic Inpatient Stepdown program, now 4+ years old, the assistants provide emotional support, use de-escalation techniques, teach life skills, and encourage peers to follow treatment plans.
Impact: Since 2021, the program has expanded to reach 400+ patients.
- Units using it report 6X fewer self-harm incidents and 35% fewer returns to hospitals.
- Mental health advocates say the program offers a model for improving care and rehabilitation inside jails.
From 1949 to 1989, the Soviet Union detonated 456 nuclear weapons at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan, exposing 1.5 million people to radioactive fallout.
- Generations of people in the region now suffer high rates of cancer, fertility problems, heart disease, and genetic birth defects.
- Researchers have found the radiation nearly doubled inherited gene mutation risks.
The Quote: People near the test site became unwitting test subjects, and their lives were treated with casual disregard due to racism and ignorance, said Becky Alexis-Martin, of the University of Bradford in the U.K..
QUICK HITS Saudi Arabias secretive rehabilitation prisons for disobedient women
With aura readings and a Lauryn Hill concert, Philip Morris rolls out a new tobacco product in the U.S.
Where Iran and Israel Align: Youth Tobacco Use
WHO's Big Push To Integrate Traditional Medicine Into Global Healthcare Framework
Climate change driving sexual and reproductive health risks among young adolescents in Kenya
WHO Mandated To Update Of 30-Year-Old Review On Health Impacts Of Nuclear War
Eliminating kala-azar: 6 African countries sign agreement to ramp up efforts, cross-borde programmes
Educating the next generation of global health practitioners and leaders Issue No. 2732
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: Cholera Surges in Sudan; Rethinking Skin Cancer: Time to Double Down on Prevention; and Saving Babies as Global Health Shifts
May 27, 2025
Cholera Surges in Sudan
Cholera cases are increasing in Sudan, with more than 2,000 cases in the Khartoum region treated by M矇decins Sans Fronti癡res (MSF) in the past week alone, .
Whats next? Ibrahim said a cholera vaccination campaign will be launched in the coming days and should stem the outbreak.
Related: How cholera bacteria outsmart viruses THE QUOTE "Reducing maternal and child mortality and the risk of infectious diseases are clearly important priorities Investing in strategies to prevent malnutrition and providing opportunities for learning and responsive caregiving would enable all children to thrive and contribute to the human capital of their societies." 漍漍漍漍漍漍漍 Robert Black, professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Latest One-Liners Uganda has allowed impunity for attacks and sexual and other forms of violence against LGBT people, that accuses the country of state-led bigotry and attacks on LGBTQ+ people.
Alcohol consumption ups the risk of pancreatic cancer, per a ; pooled data from nearly 2.5 million people across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America revealed a 3% increase in pancreatic cancer risk for each additional 10 grams of alcohol consumed per day.
Excess deaths in the U.S. kept risingeven after the COVID-19 pandemic peakedwith ~1.5 million+ preventable deaths in 2022 and 2023, ; death rates among US adults aged 2544 were 2.6X higher than in 21 peer high-income countries in 2023.
The U.S. Army spent nearly $1 million last year on untested snakebite drugs, including two drugs that appear to have undergone no independent testing for safety or effectiveness; testing on the civilian version of one of the drugs was determined to be alarmingly weak. World Health Assembly Wrap-Up News WHA Approves Landmark Resolutions on Health Finance, Rare Diseases and Skin Diseases
Most WHO Member States Balk at Saudi-Russian Move to Ice WHO Action Plan on Climate Change and Health
Global aid cuts will kill many but Africa could benefit in the long run, says WHO chief
WHO unveils new guideline to improve global access to controlled medicines
Kenya joins global push to combat snakebite deaths which claim around 4,000 lives annually GHN EXCLUSIVE Colourful beach umbrellas seen from above at Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare, Italy. November 26, 2018. Alev Takil, Unsplash Rethinking Skin Cancer: Its Time to Double Down on Prevention
Each May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of an urgent truth: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year across regions, climates, and skin tones, writes skin cancer expert Shafat Hassan.
Globally, skin cancer was diagnosed in more than 1.5 million people in 2020 alone, .
Essential question: Why are we still waiting for skin cancers to arrive at the hospital doors, instead of preventing them?
Strategy shift: The global health community must view skin cancer with the same urgency and innovation that we apply to other preventable diseases. This means elevating prevention and education to the same level as treatment.
Hassans takeaway: Lets stop waiting for skin cancers to reach our operating roomsand start preventing them from even happening.
to learn essential next steps for global public health. NEONATAL SEPSIS Saving Babies as Global Health Shifts
As rich countries dramatically scale back their investment in global health, health leaders in low-income countries are looking for new models to bring critical tests and therapeutics to market.
Case in point: Infant sepsis kills ~400,000700,000 babies worldwide each year. A rapid diagnostic tool could save hundreds of thousands of lives, but there is little incentive for rich countries to develop one because neonatal sepsis is concentrated in poor countries.
The CDCs public messaging has largely ceased during the Trump administration, with once-regular newsletters on hiatus, social media inactive, and .
Reshuffled structure: The CDCs communications teams saw drastic cuts earlier this year and messaging is now overseen by the HHS.
CORRECTION Trusts Name Check
A May 15 summary about incorrectly identified the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust as the Karnataka Health Project Trust. We regret the error.
Our thanks go to Monika Doshi, PhD, MPH, of the Brown University School of Public Health, for catching this mistake. QUICK HITS FDA's plan to limit covid vaccines worries some who won't be eligible
WHO warns of 'zero-stock' levels of essential medical supplies, equipment in Gaza
US aid kept many hungry Somali children alive. Now that money is disappearing
One Type of Mammogram Proves Better for Women With Dense Breasts
Sleep apnea pill shows striking success in large clinical trial
Harvard researchers devastated as Trump team cuts nearly 1,000 grants
Why is the CDC located in Atlanta and not D.C.? History tied to Coca-Cola and mosquitoes
A top global health expert's message to graduates: Kick the tires Issue No. 2731
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 .
Cholera cases are increasing in Sudan, with more than 2,000 cases in the Khartoum region treated by M矇decins Sans Fronti癡res (MSF) in the past week alone, .
- The surge began in Khartoums twin city, Omdurman, in mid-May, according to MSFs Sudan coordinator Joyce Bakker.
- Cholera patients have overwhelmed MSF treatment centers in Omdurman, said Bakker, noting the organization is only seeing a fraction of the cases.
- An average of 600700 cholera cases per week have been reported in the past month, per Sudans Health Minister Haitham Ibrahim.
- The outbreak, which was first declared in August 2024, has led to 60,000+ cases and 1,600+ deaths, according to official statistics .
Whats next? Ibrahim said a cholera vaccination campaign will be launched in the coming days and should stem the outbreak.
Related: How cholera bacteria outsmart viruses THE QUOTE "Reducing maternal and child mortality and the risk of infectious diseases are clearly important priorities Investing in strategies to prevent malnutrition and providing opportunities for learning and responsive caregiving would enable all children to thrive and contribute to the human capital of their societies." 漍漍漍漍漍漍漍 Robert Black, professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The Latest One-Liners Uganda has allowed impunity for attacks and sexual and other forms of violence against LGBT people, that accuses the country of state-led bigotry and attacks on LGBTQ+ people.
Alcohol consumption ups the risk of pancreatic cancer, per a ; pooled data from nearly 2.5 million people across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America revealed a 3% increase in pancreatic cancer risk for each additional 10 grams of alcohol consumed per day.
Excess deaths in the U.S. kept risingeven after the COVID-19 pandemic peakedwith ~1.5 million+ preventable deaths in 2022 and 2023, ; death rates among US adults aged 2544 were 2.6X higher than in 21 peer high-income countries in 2023.
The U.S. Army spent nearly $1 million last year on untested snakebite drugs, including two drugs that appear to have undergone no independent testing for safety or effectiveness; testing on the civilian version of one of the drugs was determined to be alarmingly weak. World Health Assembly Wrap-Up News WHA Approves Landmark Resolutions on Health Finance, Rare Diseases and Skin Diseases
Most WHO Member States Balk at Saudi-Russian Move to Ice WHO Action Plan on Climate Change and Health
Global aid cuts will kill many but Africa could benefit in the long run, says WHO chief
WHO unveils new guideline to improve global access to controlled medicines
Kenya joins global push to combat snakebite deaths which claim around 4,000 lives annually GHN EXCLUSIVE Colourful beach umbrellas seen from above at Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare, Italy. November 26, 2018. Alev Takil, Unsplash Rethinking Skin Cancer: Its Time to Double Down on Prevention
Each May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of an urgent truth: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year across regions, climates, and skin tones, writes skin cancer expert Shafat Hassan.
Globally, skin cancer was diagnosed in more than 1.5 million people in 2020 alone, .
Essential question: Why are we still waiting for skin cancers to arrive at the hospital doors, instead of preventing them?
Strategy shift: The global health community must view skin cancer with the same urgency and innovation that we apply to other preventable diseases. This means elevating prevention and education to the same level as treatment.
Hassans takeaway: Lets stop waiting for skin cancers to reach our operating roomsand start preventing them from even happening.
to learn essential next steps for global public health. NEONATAL SEPSIS Saving Babies as Global Health Shifts
As rich countries dramatically scale back their investment in global health, health leaders in low-income countries are looking for new models to bring critical tests and therapeutics to market.
Case in point: Infant sepsis kills ~400,000700,000 babies worldwide each year. A rapid diagnostic tool could save hundreds of thousands of lives, but there is little incentive for rich countries to develop one because neonatal sepsis is concentrated in poor countries.
- Some manufacturers are instead turning to middle-income countries like India, South Africa, and Kenya to invest in emerging interventions that those countries might actually use in large numberssignaling growing independence and resilience of low- and middle-income countries.
The CDCs public messaging has largely ceased during the Trump administration, with once-regular newsletters on hiatus, social media inactive, and .
Reshuffled structure: The CDCs communications teams saw drastic cuts earlier this year and messaging is now overseen by the HHS.
- Since the shift, staffers describe delayed or withheld public posts, even as outbreaks of measles, salmonella, and listeria continue, and as chronic health conditions go unaddressed.
- "We feel like our hands are tied behind our backs, said one CDC employee.
CORRECTION Trusts Name Check
A May 15 summary about incorrectly identified the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust as the Karnataka Health Project Trust. We regret the error.
Our thanks go to Monika Doshi, PhD, MPH, of the Brown University School of Public Health, for catching this mistake. QUICK HITS FDA's plan to limit covid vaccines worries some who won't be eligible
WHO warns of 'zero-stock' levels of essential medical supplies, equipment in Gaza
US aid kept many hungry Somali children alive. Now that money is disappearing
One Type of Mammogram Proves Better for Women With Dense Breasts
Sleep apnea pill shows striking success in large clinical trial
Harvard researchers devastated as Trump team cuts nearly 1,000 grants
Why is the CDC located in Atlanta and not D.C.? History tied to Coca-Cola and mosquitoes
A top global health expert's message to graduates: Kick the tires Issue No. 2731
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: MAHA Commission Report; Online Abuse Is Undermining the Right to Health; and What Would You Do For a Labubu?
MAHA report expected to outline causes of chronic disease in children, without specific policy proposals.
May 22, 2025
MAHA Commission Report Set for Release
Today the White House is expected to release the first report from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again Commission, which aims to outline causes of chronic disease in children, .
Background: President Trump tasked the commission in February to examine what he called the growing health crisis in America, starting with the childhood chronic disease crisis, .
Potential report highlights: Ultra-processed foods, pharmaceutical drugs, and environmental toxins are expected to be named in the report as key drivers of obesity, cancer, depression, and ADHD.
Pushback from agricultural groups and some Republican lawmakers has started, as they expressed worry about the reports expected focus on chemicals such as the herbicide glyphosate, .
In observance of the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S., GHN will not publish on Monday, May 26.
We宎ll be back Tuesday with more news! The Editors The Latest One-Liners
Vitamin D supplementation may help slow cellular aging by protecting telomeres, the DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to disease development, .
A cross-border effort to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis has been launched by nine African countries, as leaders from the countries signed a joint strategy for surveillance, treatment, and disease control during a World Health Assembly event.
A new malaria battle tactic could involve targeting the parasite carried by mosquitoes instead of mosquitoes themselves, which determined that a drug cocktail applied to bed nets then absorbed through mosquitoes legs successfully eliminated the parasite from the insects.
A commercial chicken farm in Brazil's central Tocantins state is free from bird flu, preliminary tests from the state's farm agency showa boon following Brazils first outbreak reported last week, which led to trade bans and restrictions for the worlds top poultry exporter. GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY Online Abuse Is Undermining the Right to Health
In Kenya, a 14-year-old was evicted from her home when a health care provider texted a reminder about her HIV status to a shared family phone.
In Ghana, a gay man was lured to a meeting by fake romantic messages, then ambushed by men carrying machetes and sticks.
In Colombia, transgender sex workers were tracked to their homes after their details were shared online without consent.
These examples, , reveal rising online abuse against young adults living with HIV, sex workers, and LGBTQ+ individuals in low- and middle-income countries.
These abuses arent just horrifyingthey are becoming normalized, .
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES VACCINES Gamechanger Gonorrhea Vaccine Program Launched
England will launch the worlds first gonorrhea vaccination program, as cases continue to reach record highs in the country.
Rising infections: 85,000+ gonorrhea cases were recorded in England in 2023, an all-time high.
Antibiotic resistance: Health officials have also warned that drugs are becoming ineffective against some strains of gonorrhea, highlighting the need for novel interventions, .
Vaccine details: The 4CMenB vaccine, originally for meningococcal B, shows 32.7%-42% effectiveness against gonorrhea.
If you宎ve recently peered down to admire an expensive handbag, only to be glared at by a plush gremlin dangling from its strapthen you宎ve met Labubu.
The clip-on creatures that boast a slightly grotesque charm and wide emotional range are a Gen Z sensation, . While cuteness may be in the eye of the beholder, there宎s no denying that this plushie punches above its weight.
What宎s the appeal? For starters, they
West Nile virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time as climate change linked to spread
Indonesia on alert as COVID-19 surges across Asia
6-year study of deer home range, habitat preference could help officials manage CWD
When measles struck, a surge of parents stepped up to vaccinate their children
A husband and wife photographed each other during her cancer journey. Here is what they learned Issue No. 2730
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 .
Today the White House is expected to release the first report from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again Commission, which aims to outline causes of chronic disease in children, .
Background: President Trump tasked the commission in February to examine what he called the growing health crisis in America, starting with the childhood chronic disease crisis, .
Potential report highlights: Ultra-processed foods, pharmaceutical drugs, and environmental toxins are expected to be named in the report as key drivers of obesity, cancer, depression, and ADHD.
- It presents a broad assessment without specific policy proposals and calls for further investigation, people familiar with the report told the Times.
Pushback from agricultural groups and some Republican lawmakers has started, as they expressed worry about the reports expected focus on chemicals such as the herbicide glyphosate, .
- Kennedy has said the report is not going to do anything to jeopardize farmers business model.
In observance of the Memorial Day holiday in the U.S., GHN will not publish on Monday, May 26.
We宎ll be back Tuesday with more news! The Editors The Latest One-Liners
Vitamin D supplementation may help slow cellular aging by protecting telomeres, the DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to disease development, .
A cross-border effort to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis has been launched by nine African countries, as leaders from the countries signed a joint strategy for surveillance, treatment, and disease control during a World Health Assembly event.
A new malaria battle tactic could involve targeting the parasite carried by mosquitoes instead of mosquitoes themselves, which determined that a drug cocktail applied to bed nets then absorbed through mosquitoes legs successfully eliminated the parasite from the insects.
A commercial chicken farm in Brazil's central Tocantins state is free from bird flu, preliminary tests from the state's farm agency showa boon following Brazils first outbreak reported last week, which led to trade bans and restrictions for the worlds top poultry exporter. GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY Online Abuse Is Undermining the Right to Health
In Kenya, a 14-year-old was evicted from her home when a health care provider texted a reminder about her HIV status to a shared family phone.
In Ghana, a gay man was lured to a meeting by fake romantic messages, then ambushed by men carrying machetes and sticks.
In Colombia, transgender sex workers were tracked to their homes after their details were shared online without consent.
These examples, , reveal rising online abuse against young adults living with HIV, sex workers, and LGBTQ+ individuals in low- and middle-income countries.
These abuses arent just horrifyingthey are becoming normalized, .
- Victims rarely see justice; some are criminalized instead.
- Police often dismiss complaints; digital platforms often fail to respond.
- And the fear of exposure leads many to stop seeking care altogether.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES VACCINES Gamechanger Gonorrhea Vaccine Program Launched
England will launch the worlds first gonorrhea vaccination program, as cases continue to reach record highs in the country.
Rising infections: 85,000+ gonorrhea cases were recorded in England in 2023, an all-time high.
Antibiotic resistance: Health officials have also warned that drugs are becoming ineffective against some strains of gonorrhea, highlighting the need for novel interventions, .
Vaccine details: The 4CMenB vaccine, originally for meningococcal B, shows 32.7%-42% effectiveness against gonorrhea.
- While not fully preventative, the vaccine reduces transmission risk, and helps combat antibiotic resistance, with sexual health advocates calling the shot a landmark moment and a gamechanger.
If you宎ve recently peered down to admire an expensive handbag, only to be glared at by a plush gremlin dangling from its strapthen you宎ve met Labubu.
The clip-on creatures that boast a slightly grotesque charm and wide emotional range are a Gen Z sensation, . While cuteness may be in the eye of the beholder, there宎s no denying that this plushie punches above its weight.
What宎s the appeal? For starters, they
- Are both ugly and cute.
- Wear fabulous outfits.
- Can hang on purses and also have their own purses.
- Have .
- Are apparently trade-war resistant, .
West Nile virus detected in UK mosquitoes for first time as climate change linked to spread
Indonesia on alert as COVID-19 surges across Asia
6-year study of deer home range, habitat preference could help officials manage CWD
When measles struck, a surge of parents stepped up to vaccinate their children
A husband and wife photographed each other during her cancer journey. Here is what they learned Issue No. 2730
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: Narrowing Eligibility for COVID-19 Shots; Starved for Care; and Australias HIV Priority Shift
May 21, 2025
Narrowing Eligibility for COVID-19 Shots
The FDA has announced new guidelines for which Americans will be eligible for the seasonal COVID-19 vaccine, limiting boosters to adults 65+ and others at high risk while more trials are conducted for younger, healthier people, .
The new , marks a shift from the previous policy recommending annual boosters for nearly all Americans ages 6 months+, raising questions about whether people who want the vaccine will be able to get it.
Details: The current vaccine approval process will remain in place for older and high-risk groups, but vaccine manufacturers will need to conduct clinical trials before boosters are approved for healthier people.
Metabolites from ultraprocessed foods can be identified in blood and urine, ; the findings could help researchers better understand links between these foods and diseases like cancer and diabetes.
A new Indonesian bill will allow broadcasters to censor LBGT content on digital platforms, including social media; advocates against the bill, which is still under deliberation, say it seeks to discriminate and control the countrys LGBT population.
Urban rats are spreading bacteria that can cause leptospirosis in humans, finds a six-year ; the research generated new insights by analyzing DNA samples from rat kidneys. World Health Assembly News Global leaders reaffirm commitment to WHO with at least US$ 170 million raised at World Health Assembly 2025 pledging event
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr Extends Olive Branch to WHO With Strings Attached
The world now has its first ever pandemic treaty. Will it make a difference?
Director-Generals Award for Global Health given to Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Professor Sir Brian Greenwood DATA POINT Nearly $700,000 漍漍漍漍漍漍漍
The total average annual cost associated with each case of opioid use disorder in the U.S. MENTAL HEALTH Starved for Care
Eating disorders claim over 10,000 lives every yearbut new data from the University of Louisvilles Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab show that health insurers are creating formidable barriers for those seeking care.
An EAT published last year shows the most common reasons insurers deny their claims:
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Australias HIV Priority Shift
Women are no longer considered a priority group in Australias HIV elimination strategy, despite frequently being diagnosed lateyears after their health has deteriorated.
Call to action: Normalize HIV testing for women, increase access to support services in high-risk regional areas, and improve representation of women in research.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Crippling tropical diseases threaten to surge after U.S. funding cuts
U.S. funding halted Africas HIV crisis. Trumps cuts have forced a reckoning. Thanks for the tip, Steven Hansch!
Pets Might Be Adding To Antibiotic Resistance
Bird flu vaccine for cattle aces early test
Family likely infected with histoplasmosis in bat-colonized cave
Its time to stop the great food heist powered by big business. That means taxation, regulation and healthy school meals
9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything Issue No. 2729
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 FDA has announced new guidelines for which Americans will be eligible for the seasonal COVID-19 vaccine, limiting boosters to adults 65+ and others at high risk while more trials are conducted for younger, healthier people, .
The new , marks a shift from the previous policy recommending annual boosters for nearly all Americans ages 6 months+, raising questions about whether people who want the vaccine will be able to get it.
Details: The current vaccine approval process will remain in place for older and high-risk groups, but vaccine manufacturers will need to conduct clinical trials before boosters are approved for healthier people.
- While the FDA says 100 million+ Americans fall in the eligible category, it remains unclear how eligibility would be determined.
- They also warn it undermines trust in reliably safe vaccines and could limit access by reducing insurance coverage, .
- It is unclear what this decision will have on those deliberations, with critics saying this decision preempts advisory panels role, .
Metabolites from ultraprocessed foods can be identified in blood and urine, ; the findings could help researchers better understand links between these foods and diseases like cancer and diabetes.
A new Indonesian bill will allow broadcasters to censor LBGT content on digital platforms, including social media; advocates against the bill, which is still under deliberation, say it seeks to discriminate and control the countrys LGBT population.
Urban rats are spreading bacteria that can cause leptospirosis in humans, finds a six-year ; the research generated new insights by analyzing DNA samples from rat kidneys. World Health Assembly News Global leaders reaffirm commitment to WHO with at least US$ 170 million raised at World Health Assembly 2025 pledging event
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr Extends Olive Branch to WHO With Strings Attached
The world now has its first ever pandemic treaty. Will it make a difference?
Director-Generals Award for Global Health given to Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Professor Sir Brian Greenwood DATA POINT Nearly $700,000 漍漍漍漍漍漍漍
The total average annual cost associated with each case of opioid use disorder in the U.S. MENTAL HEALTH Starved for Care
Eating disorders claim over 10,000 lives every yearbut new data from the University of Louisvilles Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab show that health insurers are creating formidable barriers for those seeking care.
An EAT published last year shows the most common reasons insurers deny their claims:
- 43% reported that their insurer did not cover the appropriate level of care.
- 43% said they妡d been discouraged from seeking treatment because they didn妡t seem sick enough.
- 36% reported there were no eating disorder treatment providers in their insurers network.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Australias HIV Priority Shift
Women are no longer considered a priority group in Australias HIV elimination strategy, despite frequently being diagnosed lateyears after their health has deteriorated.
- Nationally, 38% of women are diagnosed latea figure that jumps to 50% in some territories.
- Cases among women have not fallen nearly as much as among men; a recent 10-year span showed a 6% dip for women compared to a 36% decrease for men.
Call to action: Normalize HIV testing for women, increase access to support services in high-risk regional areas, and improve representation of women in research.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Crippling tropical diseases threaten to surge after U.S. funding cuts
U.S. funding halted Africas HIV crisis. Trumps cuts have forced a reckoning. Thanks for the tip, Steven Hansch!
Pets Might Be Adding To Antibiotic Resistance
Bird flu vaccine for cattle aces early test
Family likely infected with histoplasmosis in bat-colonized cave
Its time to stop the great food heist powered by big business. That means taxation, regulation and healthy school meals
9 Federally Funded Scientific Breakthroughs That Changed Everything Issue No. 2729
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: WHO Pandemic Agreement Is a Done Deal; U.S. Funding Cuts Stop Crucial HIV Research Work; and The Puzzling Drop in Human H5N1 Cases
May 20, 2025
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivers his report before delegates during the World Health Assembly in Geneva. May 19. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty
Done Deal: WHO Pandemic Agreement
After three years of arduous negotiations, the Pandemic Agreement was formally adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva this morningthough a key global player was notably absent.
Takeaways:
No show: U.S. negotiators stopped participating in Pandemic Agreement discussions on January 20 when President Trump began the 12-month process to .
Because it didnt participate in the agreement, the U.S. is not bound by it, per Reuters.
The Quote: It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, thatif implementedcould shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity, Michelle Childs, of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, told Reuters.
Related:
A Pandemic Treaty Without Teeth Will Leave Africa and the World Exposed
For the first time, the U.S. is absent from WHO's annual assembly. What's the impact?
After US cuts funding, WHO chief defends $2.1B budget request by comparing it with cost of war GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Papua New Guinea has eliminated trachoma as a public health problemthe countrys first elimination of an NTDwith the WHO crediting PNGs robust disease surveillance, noting that many other countries trachoma elimination efforts required surgery campaigns, antibiotic mass drug administration, and targeted water, sanitation and hygiene improvements.
The U.K. is the sick person of the wealthy world, led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that underscored that, even as mortality from cancer and heart disease has decreased, deaths from drugs, suicide, and violence have increased.
Austria, Norway, Oman, and Singapore earned recognition from the WHO at the World Health Assembly for their efforts to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from their food supplies; other countries are welcome to apply by August 31 to be considered for the third cycle of the TFA (trans-fatty acids) elimination validation program.
Surgeons from Keck Medicine of USC and UCLA Health performed the worlds first in-human bladder transplant at UCLA earlier this month, restoring bladder function to a 41-year-old patient who had been dialysis-dependent for seven years. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Executive Order to Lower U.S. Drug Prices Could Hurt the Poorest Countries
Trumps science adviser defends funding cuts as a chance to revitalize U.S. science
Trumps NIH Chief Lets Loose on Fauci, Vaccines and Covid Cover-Ups
Exclusive: NIH grant rejections have more than doubled amid Trump chaos
RFK Jr. calls for healthier school meals as Trump cancels program that funded them GHN EXCLUSIVE An aid worker who used to work with children orphaned by the AIDS virus poses for a photo at her home near Mbombela, South Africa. March 13. Phill Magakoe / AFP via Getty US Cuts Stop Crucial HIV Research in Its Tracks
JOHANNESBURGAll the groundwork had been laid and the official approvals for a Phase 1 clinical trial were secured. But now, vials of a valuable medicine sit untouched in laboratory refrigerators.
U.S. government research funding cuts halted the seminal mRNA HIV vaccine study, part of the BRILLIANT consortium, mere days before its planned start in March 2025, writes Elna Sch羹tz.
And, as the worlds third largest contributor to HIV research, South Africa is facing a unique double-whammywith both researchers and people who receive clinical care feeling the impact.
Just six months ago, there was optimism around controlling the HIV epidemic, says Linda-Gail Bekker, director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre. We were really in a position where we could maybe tame the tiger and put it back in its cage, she says.
Now, she says, it feels like the cages doors have been opened wide and the key thrown away.
Ed. Note: This article was produced in collaboration with . GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES AVIAN FLU The Puzzling Drop in Human H5N1 Cases
Three months have passed since a human bird flu case was reported in the U.S., but epidemiologists are not sure whyespecially as animal outbreaks are ongoing.
Potential explanations include:
Seasonal factors: The U.S. could be experiencing a natural, though possibly temporary, decline in cases, given that bird flu often peaks in fall and winter, the CDC told doctors earlier this month.
Underreporting: Fear among migrant farmworkers amid the federal immigration crackdown may mean they are not seeking treatment for or reporting cases.
Weakened surveillance: Widespread government staffing cuts at the USDA and FDA, plus reduced targeted surveillance, could be hindering detection efforts.
DISASTERS How Warnings Failed as Helene Loomed
As Hurricane Helene bore down on the mountains of western North Carolina, the advisories from the National Weather Service grew grim, then apocalyptic as it warned Helene could be the regions most destructive weather event in the modern era.
But in small communities in places like Yancey County, those warnings did not translate to evacuation orderseven in the most vulnerable locations.
Why?
Lack of preparedness: Hurricanes were not a feature of disaster planning for emergency officials in the region. Warning and evacuation systems were not in place.
Underestimating danger: Unfamiliar with the level of flooding or landslides brought by Helene, many people downplayed or did not heed warnings that were issued.
Communication collapse: During the storm, cell service and communication systems went down, and volunteer responders were overwhelmed.
QUICK HITS Bidens sudden diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer is unfortunately all too common
Scabies on the Rise Worldwide, Even in High-Income Countries
Poll: 83% of Americans say benefits of MMR vaccines outweigh risks
2-in-1 COVID-flu vaccine looks promising in trial but experts say approval may be delayed
Why sunblock in the U.S. is so much worse than in the E.U.
Can AI therapists really be an alternative to human help?
This Is Your Priest on Drugs Issue No. 2728
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 .
Takeaways:
- The agreement improves future pandemic prevention and response by strengthening disease surveillance and access to vaccines and other medicines, .
- The WHO cannot control individual states responses such as travel restrictions, vaccine mandates, or lockdowns.
- Participating manufacturers must share a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines, and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access, .
- Todays approval followed a vote yesterday in which Member States registered 124 in favor of the agreement with no objections and 11 abstentions, .
No show: U.S. negotiators stopped participating in Pandemic Agreement discussions on January 20 when President Trump began the 12-month process to .
Because it didnt participate in the agreement, the U.S. is not bound by it, per Reuters.
The Quote: It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, thatif implementedcould shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity, Michelle Childs, of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, told Reuters.
Related:
A Pandemic Treaty Without Teeth Will Leave Africa and the World Exposed
For the first time, the U.S. is absent from WHO's annual assembly. What's the impact?
After US cuts funding, WHO chief defends $2.1B budget request by comparing it with cost of war GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Papua New Guinea has eliminated trachoma as a public health problemthe countrys first elimination of an NTDwith the WHO crediting PNGs robust disease surveillance, noting that many other countries trachoma elimination efforts required surgery campaigns, antibiotic mass drug administration, and targeted water, sanitation and hygiene improvements.
The U.K. is the sick person of the wealthy world, led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that underscored that, even as mortality from cancer and heart disease has decreased, deaths from drugs, suicide, and violence have increased.
Austria, Norway, Oman, and Singapore earned recognition from the WHO at the World Health Assembly for their efforts to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from their food supplies; other countries are welcome to apply by August 31 to be considered for the third cycle of the TFA (trans-fatty acids) elimination validation program.
Surgeons from Keck Medicine of USC and UCLA Health performed the worlds first in-human bladder transplant at UCLA earlier this month, restoring bladder function to a 41-year-old patient who had been dialysis-dependent for seven years. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Executive Order to Lower U.S. Drug Prices Could Hurt the Poorest Countries
Trumps science adviser defends funding cuts as a chance to revitalize U.S. science
Trumps NIH Chief Lets Loose on Fauci, Vaccines and Covid Cover-Ups
Exclusive: NIH grant rejections have more than doubled amid Trump chaos
RFK Jr. calls for healthier school meals as Trump cancels program that funded them GHN EXCLUSIVE An aid worker who used to work with children orphaned by the AIDS virus poses for a photo at her home near Mbombela, South Africa. March 13. Phill Magakoe / AFP via Getty US Cuts Stop Crucial HIV Research in Its Tracks
JOHANNESBURGAll the groundwork had been laid and the official approvals for a Phase 1 clinical trial were secured. But now, vials of a valuable medicine sit untouched in laboratory refrigerators.
U.S. government research funding cuts halted the seminal mRNA HIV vaccine study, part of the BRILLIANT consortium, mere days before its planned start in March 2025, writes Elna Sch羹tz.
- Such a vaccine could fundamentally change the HIV burden for South Africa, which reports the worlds highest number of people living with HIV.
And, as the worlds third largest contributor to HIV research, South Africa is facing a unique double-whammywith both researchers and people who receive clinical care feeling the impact.
Just six months ago, there was optimism around controlling the HIV epidemic, says Linda-Gail Bekker, director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre. We were really in a position where we could maybe tame the tiger and put it back in its cage, she says.
Now, she says, it feels like the cages doors have been opened wide and the key thrown away.
Ed. Note: This article was produced in collaboration with . GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES AVIAN FLU The Puzzling Drop in Human H5N1 Cases
Three months have passed since a human bird flu case was reported in the U.S., but epidemiologists are not sure whyespecially as animal outbreaks are ongoing.
Potential explanations include:
Seasonal factors: The U.S. could be experiencing a natural, though possibly temporary, decline in cases, given that bird flu often peaks in fall and winter, the CDC told doctors earlier this month.
Underreporting: Fear among migrant farmworkers amid the federal immigration crackdown may mean they are not seeking treatment for or reporting cases.
Weakened surveillance: Widespread government staffing cuts at the USDA and FDA, plus reduced targeted surveillance, could be hindering detection efforts.
DISASTERS How Warnings Failed as Helene Loomed
As Hurricane Helene bore down on the mountains of western North Carolina, the advisories from the National Weather Service grew grim, then apocalyptic as it warned Helene could be the regions most destructive weather event in the modern era.
But in small communities in places like Yancey County, those warnings did not translate to evacuation orderseven in the most vulnerable locations.
Why?
Lack of preparedness: Hurricanes were not a feature of disaster planning for emergency officials in the region. Warning and evacuation systems were not in place.
Underestimating danger: Unfamiliar with the level of flooding or landslides brought by Helene, many people downplayed or did not heed warnings that were issued.
Communication collapse: During the storm, cell service and communication systems went down, and volunteer responders were overwhelmed.
QUICK HITS Bidens sudden diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer is unfortunately all too common
Scabies on the Rise Worldwide, Even in High-Income Countries
Poll: 83% of Americans say benefits of MMR vaccines outweigh risks
2-in-1 COVID-flu vaccine looks promising in trial but experts say approval may be delayed
Why sunblock in the U.S. is so much worse than in the E.U.
Can AI therapists really be an alternative to human help?
This Is Your Priest on Drugs Issue No. 2728
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: New Levels of Horror as Attacks on Health Care Increase; Eroded Protections for Children; and Poisonous Profits
May 19, 2025
Rescue workers provide medical aid to a wounded patient in a hospital damaged by a Russian drone strike on March 1, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Ivan Samoilov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty
New Levels of Horror as Attacks on Health Care Increase
Health workers, hospitals, and clinics were attacked in 3,623 incidents in 2024, a record figure that reflects an increasing disregard for humanitarian law, .
The attacks are up 15% from 2023 and 62% from 2022, including, bombings, looting, armed facility takeovers, and the detention of health workers.
By the numbers:
Increased devastation: Explosive weapons accounted for 48% of incidents last yearan increase as drone strikes become more common, .
No recourse: The rise in attacks reflects a complete erosion in the respect for international humanitarian law and the responsibility to protect healthcare in conflict, said Christina Wille, who led the reports data collection. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Yellow fever cases in the Americas more than tripled in 2024, with five countries confirming 212 cases and 85 related deathsa 40% case-fatality rate, ; Brazil recorded the highest number of cases and fatalities.
The FDA has approved Novavaxs COVID-19 shot, but has included new restrictions: The vaccine is approved for use only in adults 65+, or those ages 1264 with health problems putting them at increased risk from COVID.
Girls with healthier diets tend to get their first periods later, regardless of BMI, from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center that looked at the records of 7,500+ children ages 914; more research is needed to understand the linkage.
Bangladeshs air pollution could be lowered by a simple intervention: stacking bricks fired in kilns differently, ; the improved stacking pattern improves the airflow and efficiency of kilns, reducing black smoke emissions. IMMIGRATION POLICY Eroded Protections for Children
The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), historically tasked with protecting immigrant children, is increasingly aiding immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, .
Shift in role: The ORR was formed to play a humanitarian role, assisting unaccompanied migrant children.
Forgoing medical care: Meanwhile, migrants fearing ICE are going without vital medical services for medical conditions including chronic illness, high-risk pregnancies, and injuries, .
Despite being a potent neurotoxin, mercury remains the primary method for extracting gold from ore in West Africas booming informal mining sector.
According to the UN Environment Programme, artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest global source of mercury emissions.
For many, the risk is worthwhile: Senegalese gold processors earn $370$745 per monthmore than double the national average salary.
ICYMI: Perus Illegal Mining Surges and Destroys OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Spike in Saudi Mers cases sparks outbreak fears ahead of Hajj
Reports of sexual violence in Eastern DRC surge by almost 700% in March as armed conflict intensifies
Africa Turns to Mpox Lessons to Fight Cholera & Cholera Plan to Map Hotspots in Five African Countries
The fans just circulate hot air: how indoor heat is making life unbearable in Indias sweltering cities
US brain drain: Natures guide to the initiatives drawing scientists abroad
How do middle-aged folks get dementia? It could be these proteins
Why we fall for fake health information and how it spreads faster than facts
TikTok brings raw milk craze to Britain despite it being 45 times more likely to put you in hospital
A pickled pepper maker knows exactly how hard it is to switch to natural food dyes Issue No. 2727
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 .
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Health workers, hospitals, and clinics were attacked in 3,623 incidents in 2024, a record figure that reflects an increasing disregard for humanitarian law, .
The attacks are up 15% from 2023 and 62% from 2022, including, bombings, looting, armed facility takeovers, and the detention of health workers.
By the numbers:
- 927 health care workers were killed, 473 were arrested, and 140 were kidnapped.
- 1,111 incidents led to damaged and destroyed health facilities.
- The numbers are likely an undercount, the report states.
Increased devastation: Explosive weapons accounted for 48% of incidents last yearan increase as drone strikes become more common, .
No recourse: The rise in attacks reflects a complete erosion in the respect for international humanitarian law and the responsibility to protect healthcare in conflict, said Christina Wille, who led the reports data collection. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Yellow fever cases in the Americas more than tripled in 2024, with five countries confirming 212 cases and 85 related deathsa 40% case-fatality rate, ; Brazil recorded the highest number of cases and fatalities.
The FDA has approved Novavaxs COVID-19 shot, but has included new restrictions: The vaccine is approved for use only in adults 65+, or those ages 1264 with health problems putting them at increased risk from COVID.
Girls with healthier diets tend to get their first periods later, regardless of BMI, from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center that looked at the records of 7,500+ children ages 914; more research is needed to understand the linkage.
Bangladeshs air pollution could be lowered by a simple intervention: stacking bricks fired in kilns differently, ; the improved stacking pattern improves the airflow and efficiency of kilns, reducing black smoke emissions. IMMIGRATION POLICY Eroded Protections for Children
The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), historically tasked with protecting immigrant children, is increasingly aiding immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, .
Shift in role: The ORR was formed to play a humanitarian role, assisting unaccompanied migrant children.
- But in the last several months, current and former staffers say the office is being forced to share data used to target children and their sponsors for deportation.
Forgoing medical care: Meanwhile, migrants fearing ICE are going without vital medical services for medical conditions including chronic illness, high-risk pregnancies, and injuries, .
- Children are especially at risk when their parents avoid the medical system.
Despite being a potent neurotoxin, mercury remains the primary method for extracting gold from ore in West Africas booming informal mining sector.
- Miners mix the liquid metal into crushed ore, then heat the mixture to evaporate the mercury, leaving the gold behind.
- Once released, mercury spreads through air, water, and soil. After heavy rains, it contaminates rivers, poisons fish, and accumulates up the food chain.
According to the UN Environment Programme, artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest global source of mercury emissions.
For many, the risk is worthwhile: Senegalese gold processors earn $370$745 per monthmore than double the national average salary.
ICYMI: Perus Illegal Mining Surges and Destroys OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Spike in Saudi Mers cases sparks outbreak fears ahead of Hajj
Reports of sexual violence in Eastern DRC surge by almost 700% in March as armed conflict intensifies
Africa Turns to Mpox Lessons to Fight Cholera & Cholera Plan to Map Hotspots in Five African Countries
The fans just circulate hot air: how indoor heat is making life unbearable in Indias sweltering cities
US brain drain: Natures guide to the initiatives drawing scientists abroad
How do middle-aged folks get dementia? It could be these proteins
Why we fall for fake health information and how it spreads faster than facts
TikTok brings raw milk craze to Britain despite it being 45 times more likely to put you in hospital
A pickled pepper maker knows exactly how hard it is to switch to natural food dyes Issue No. 2727
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 .
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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.
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Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Tuberculosis Prevention Cuts in India; Kennedy Faces Congress; and Lollipop Guilt: Click and Ye Shall Receive
May 15, 2025
GHN EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Dr. Renu Singh checks a patient for possible signs of tuberculosis in the district TB center in Patna, Bihar, India. August 10, 2010. Lynsey Addario via Getty
Tuberculosis Prevention Cuts in India
DELHI, IndiaIndias path to eliminating tuberculosis has multiple barriers. The latest: U.S. funding cuts to prevention programs.
Example: The supported a TB buddy system that helps TB patients with documentation, offers emotional support, and ensures treatment completion.
The Quote: The [TB] doctors in hospitals cater to hundreds of patients a day and have minimal time for explanations or comprehensive care which leads to many patients dropping out of the program, says Akshata Acharya, a MDR-TB survivor and author of a book about overcoming TB. This is where NGOs have played a significant role in ensuring the patients continue their treatment. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
U.S. overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest one-year decline ever seen; the ~30,000 reduction in deaths has been attributed to a range of factors from naloxone availability and expanded addiction treatment to shifts in drug use trends.
The WHO has cut its management team by half and will scale back operations as the organizations 20262027 budget is reduced 21% following the U.S. decision to leave the agency and drop funding.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for medical residents, ; the risk is especially high during the first academic quarter of the first residency year.
Treating parasitic worms known as helminths may become easier, as researchers have developed a new formulation of the only drug used to treat the worms, ; the updates include making doses smaller, water soluble, and more efficiently absorbed. U.S. HEALTH POLICY Kennedy Faces Congress
U.S. lawmakers from both parties sharply questioned HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during congressional hearings yesterday, asking him about deep staffing cuts, funding freezes, and vaccine messaging, as Kennedy defended his goals for restructuring the nations health department, .
Takeaways:
Budget cuts and department restructuring: Lawmakers described how thousands of job cuts and funding freezes have impacted their districts, including interruptions in constituents medical care, .
Vietnams tobacco products remain cheap and widely accessible compared to other countries, leading to high tobacco usage and a growing health toll, say the nations health officials.
Low tax, high usage: Vietnams tobacco retail tax rate is just 36%, far below WHOs recommended rate of 7075%.
Reform needed: Vietnam health leaders are urging regular tax hikes to outpace income growth and align with international standards.
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Lollipop Guilt: Click and Ye Shall Receive
If you thought ordering a viral face cream at 3 a.m. was an impulse purchase, you haven宎t met Liam.
With a couple of clicks, the 8-year-old Kentucky boy ordered nearly 70,000 Dum-Dums lollipops on Amazon, .
Mom, my suckers are here! he exclaimed, intending to host a carnival for his friends.
I just about fainted, said his mom Holly LaFavers, who last weekend found the double ramparts of suckers stacked on her doorstep, and a $4,200 charge that sent her bank account into the red, .
While the retail snafu sucked the fun out of her Sunday, LaFavers was ultimately refunded and found loving homes for the pops. But more shocking than the boy宎s dream is that his whimsy could be actualized literally overnight.
Whoever runs the lollipop supply chain is no dum-dum. OPPORTUNITY Apply to the In-Sight Humanitarian Mentorship Program
, a co-learning collaborative of global humanitarian practitioners, activists, nonprofit workers, displaced people, and others is currently accepting applications for its 6-week mentorship program this summer.
The Dangerous Consequences of Funding Cuts to U.S. Global Health Programs
Were ready to fight: activists brace as US anti-rights figures descend on Africa
New Drug Combos Could Cut Heart Failure Mortality by 60%
Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly
A Texas abortion ban sponsor aims to clarify when doctors can do the procedure
A new generation of birth control skeptics leans right
Low-quality papers are surging by exploiting public data sets and AI
The tick-borne disease turning MAGA-supporters vegan
Are beards really dirtier than toilet seats? Issue No. 2726
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.
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DELHI, IndiaIndias path to eliminating tuberculosis has multiple barriers. The latest: U.S. funding cuts to prevention programs.
Example: The supported a TB buddy system that helps TB patients with documentation, offers emotional support, and ensures treatment completion.
- The project helped those with latent TB infection (LTBI)those infected with TB bacteria but who do not have the disease.
- ~360,000 Indian children under 5 were eligible for LTBI treatment, with 5%10% at risk of developing active TB (when people feel ill and can spread TB germs to others), .
The Quote: The [TB] doctors in hospitals cater to hundreds of patients a day and have minimal time for explanations or comprehensive care which leads to many patients dropping out of the program, says Akshata Acharya, a MDR-TB survivor and author of a book about overcoming TB. This is where NGOs have played a significant role in ensuring the patients continue their treatment. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
U.S. overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest one-year decline ever seen; the ~30,000 reduction in deaths has been attributed to a range of factors from naloxone availability and expanded addiction treatment to shifts in drug use trends.
The WHO has cut its management team by half and will scale back operations as the organizations 20262027 budget is reduced 21% following the U.S. decision to leave the agency and drop funding.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for medical residents, ; the risk is especially high during the first academic quarter of the first residency year.
Treating parasitic worms known as helminths may become easier, as researchers have developed a new formulation of the only drug used to treat the worms, ; the updates include making doses smaller, water soluble, and more efficiently absorbed. U.S. HEALTH POLICY Kennedy Faces Congress
U.S. lawmakers from both parties sharply questioned HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during congressional hearings yesterday, asking him about deep staffing cuts, funding freezes, and vaccine messaging, as Kennedy defended his goals for restructuring the nations health department, .
Takeaways:
Budget cuts and department restructuring: Lawmakers described how thousands of job cuts and funding freezes have impacted their districts, including interruptions in constituents medical care, .
- Kennedy defended reducing HHS staff by ~20,000 people and consolidating divisions, arguing the agency was inefficient and overly bureaucratic. He said the HHS will do a lot more with less, but acknowledged that further 2026 budget cuts are going to hurt, .
- In response to questions about whether he would vaccinate his own child against measles, Kennedy said, I dont think people should be taking medical advice from me, .
Vietnams tobacco products remain cheap and widely accessible compared to other countries, leading to high tobacco usage and a growing health toll, say the nations health officials.
Low tax, high usage: Vietnams tobacco retail tax rate is just 36%, far below WHOs recommended rate of 7075%.
- It is also far lower than regional peers including the Philippines (71.3%), Singapore (67.5%), and Thailand (78.6%).
- The affordability means cigarettes are easily accessible to first-time users and even children.
Reform needed: Vietnam health leaders are urging regular tax hikes to outpace income growth and align with international standards.
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Lollipop Guilt: Click and Ye Shall Receive
If you thought ordering a viral face cream at 3 a.m. was an impulse purchase, you haven宎t met Liam.
With a couple of clicks, the 8-year-old Kentucky boy ordered nearly 70,000 Dum-Dums lollipops on Amazon, .
Mom, my suckers are here! he exclaimed, intending to host a carnival for his friends.
I just about fainted, said his mom Holly LaFavers, who last weekend found the double ramparts of suckers stacked on her doorstep, and a $4,200 charge that sent her bank account into the red, .
While the retail snafu sucked the fun out of her Sunday, LaFavers was ultimately refunded and found loving homes for the pops. But more shocking than the boy宎s dream is that his whimsy could be actualized literally overnight.
Whoever runs the lollipop supply chain is no dum-dum. OPPORTUNITY Apply to the In-Sight Humanitarian Mentorship Program
, a co-learning collaborative of global humanitarian practitioners, activists, nonprofit workers, displaced people, and others is currently accepting applications for its 6-week mentorship program this summer.
- Designed to help anyone inor considering a career ininternational relations, peace building, humanitarian work, or related fields learn more about leadership in the humanitarian sector.
- The program, with five cohorts, is offered in English, Spanish, and Arabic, and will run from June 30 to August 11, 2025.
- Application deadline: June 13, 2025
The Dangerous Consequences of Funding Cuts to U.S. Global Health Programs
Were ready to fight: activists brace as US anti-rights figures descend on Africa
New Drug Combos Could Cut Heart Failure Mortality by 60%
Meta-analysis: Zika-infected pregnant moms 4 times more likely to have babies with microcephaly
A Texas abortion ban sponsor aims to clarify when doctors can do the procedure
A new generation of birth control skeptics leans right
Low-quality papers are surging by exploiting public data sets and AI
The tick-borne disease turning MAGA-supporters vegan
Are beards really dirtier than toilet seats? Issue No. 2726
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.
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You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Forced From Home; South Africas Backstreet Abortion Problem; and Scaling Up Desalination
May 14, 2025
Displaced Sudanese girls, who fled the Zamzam camp, look on as they gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur, on February 14. AFP via Getty
Forced From Home
Conflicts and disasters drove a record number of people worldwide from their homes in 2024, with 83.4 million living in internal displacement, .
The FDA is seeking to ban prescription fluoride supplements for children from the market, with the saying ingested fluoride changes the human microbiome, even though research is inconclusive; the move contradicts years of medical best practices.
Nasal boosters can trigger strong local immune protection in the lungs and airways against respiratory diseases like COVID-19, findings that may help researchers design more safe and effective nasal vaccines.
Half of womens aid organizations are at risk of shutting down in six months due to global aid cuts, ; such closures are looming as womens aid needs are intensifying amid conflict and displacement. U.S. and Global Heatlh Policy News Brown Professor Sounds an Alarm: An Interview with Dr. Craig Spencer NSF board member resigns in protest of Trump policies at agency
Trumps Focus on Punishing Drug Dealers May Hurt Drug Users Trying to Quit
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signs order restricting autism data collection
A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS South Africas Backstreet Abortion Problem Although abortion is legal in South Africa, unsafe abortion clinics are thriving: a result of scammers, social media misinformation, and a lack of knowledge about legal options.
Real information: Efforts to deliver science-based, nonjudgmental helpespecially for teenagers who become pregnantseek to flip the script on social media.
Related:
More than 50 cross-party MPs back amendment to decriminalise abortion
Digging into the math of a study attacking the safety of the abortion pill GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES WATER Scaling Up Desalination
Hundreds of thousands of people in the Arabian Gulf are gaining access to a stable source of drinking water, as innovations in desalination lower barriers.
Energy efficiencies like solar-powered reverse osmosis have lowered costs from $5 to under $0.50 per cubic meter over a decade.
Growing demand: Desalination is rapidly expanding in both historically arid regions and regions newly grappling with water scarcity.
The Quote: Access to safe drinking water is key to public health, and desalination is not just a utilityits a lifeline, said Jasim al-Zarai, a resident of Jalan Bani Bu Ali in Oman.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS The deadly riddle of blackwater fever: the search for answers over illness killing Ugandas children
US brain drain: the scientists seeking jobs abroad amid Trumps assault on research
Indonesia builds AI model for malaria diagnosis
A Different Way to Think About Medicines Most Stubborn Enigma
Whats Behind the Rise in Serious Injuries on New York Citys Streets?
So you want to increase your countrys birth rate? Experts say its tough
Bill Gates says the world will be better in 20 years: 'My optimism hasn't been shaken'
The 'Oscar' of food prizes goes to a Brazilian who harnessed the power of bacteria Issue No. 2725
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.
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Conflicts and disasters drove a record number of people worldwide from their homes in 2024, with 83.4 million living in internal displacement, .
- That is 2X the number from 2018, reflecting "both a policy failure and a moral stain on humanity," said Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, . Cuts to humanitarian aid only heighten and prolong the crisis, he said.
- Sudan reported 11.6 million internally displaced people, the highest ever for one country.
- Tens of millions live in protracted displacement in Afghanistan, Colombia, Syria, and Yemen.
- The U.S. saw 11 million displacementsthe highest ever for a single countryas storms and other disasters inflicted mass damage and evacuations.
The FDA is seeking to ban prescription fluoride supplements for children from the market, with the saying ingested fluoride changes the human microbiome, even though research is inconclusive; the move contradicts years of medical best practices.
Nasal boosters can trigger strong local immune protection in the lungs and airways against respiratory diseases like COVID-19, findings that may help researchers design more safe and effective nasal vaccines.
Half of womens aid organizations are at risk of shutting down in six months due to global aid cuts, ; such closures are looming as womens aid needs are intensifying amid conflict and displacement. U.S. and Global Heatlh Policy News Brown Professor Sounds an Alarm: An Interview with Dr. Craig Spencer NSF board member resigns in protest of Trump policies at agency
Trumps Focus on Punishing Drug Dealers May Hurt Drug Users Trying to Quit
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signs order restricting autism data collection
A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS South Africas Backstreet Abortion Problem Although abortion is legal in South Africa, unsafe abortion clinics are thriving: a result of scammers, social media misinformation, and a lack of knowledge about legal options.
- 16% of deaths from miscarriages were attributed to unsafe abortion, from South Africas health department. But thats likely an undercount, as abortions obtained at unsafe or illegal clinics are often concealed.
Real information: Efforts to deliver science-based, nonjudgmental helpespecially for teenagers who become pregnantseek to flip the script on social media.
- On TikTok, posts videos like how to put on a condom and how to avoid getting scammed by illegal abortion providers.
Related:
More than 50 cross-party MPs back amendment to decriminalise abortion
Digging into the math of a study attacking the safety of the abortion pill GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES WATER Scaling Up Desalination
Hundreds of thousands of people in the Arabian Gulf are gaining access to a stable source of drinking water, as innovations in desalination lower barriers.
Energy efficiencies like solar-powered reverse osmosis have lowered costs from $5 to under $0.50 per cubic meter over a decade.
- Some Gulf nations now rely on desalination for up to 90% of their drinking water.
Growing demand: Desalination is rapidly expanding in both historically arid regions and regions newly grappling with water scarcity.
The Quote: Access to safe drinking water is key to public health, and desalination is not just a utilityits a lifeline, said Jasim al-Zarai, a resident of Jalan Bani Bu Ali in Oman.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS The deadly riddle of blackwater fever: the search for answers over illness killing Ugandas children
US brain drain: the scientists seeking jobs abroad amid Trumps assault on research
Indonesia builds AI model for malaria diagnosis
A Different Way to Think About Medicines Most Stubborn Enigma
Whats Behind the Rise in Serious Injuries on New York Citys Streets?
So you want to increase your countrys birth rate? Experts say its tough
Bill Gates says the world will be better in 20 years: 'My optimism hasn't been shaken'
The 'Oscar' of food prizes goes to a Brazilian who harnessed the power of bacteria Issue No. 2725
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.
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You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Famine Stalks Gaza; Complications in the Chikungunya Fight and Africa Facing the Full Spectrum of Extreme Weather
500,000 people in Gaza face starvation, report finds.
May 13, 2025
Palestinians queue to receive food distributed by charity organizations amid the ongoing Israeli attacks and blockade, in Nuseirat camp, Gaza on May 13. Moiz Salhi/Anadolu via Getty
Famine Stalks Gaza
Gaza is sliding into famine as 500,000 people face starvation and food supplies dwindle, according to by a hunger monitoring group.
Key report takeaways:
The Quote: Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border, said Cindy McCain, executive director of the WFP, per . If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
The first all-oral treatment for an acute form of sleeping sickness is now freely available for special treatment-center patients in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; health ministries in Africa have green-lit use of Fexinidazole Winthrop against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.
The U.S. has suspended live cattle, horse, and bison imports along the Southern border because of the New World Screwworms spread in Mexico; screwworm larvae burrow into the flesh of warm-blooded animals (including, rarely, people) and can kill.
A drug approved to treat migraine headachesubrogepantis the first that can also alleviate early prodrome symptoms including fatigue, neck pain, light sensitivity, and trouble concentrating, per described in Nature Medicine. VACCINES Complications in the Chikungunya Fight
Chikungunya is resurging on R矇union Island in the Indian Ocean, leading to ~50,000 cases and 12 deaths, and spreading to nearby islands like Mauritius.
Vaccine setbacks: While a live-attenuated vaccine, Ixchiq, was approved by a range of regulatory bodies last year, several reports of adverse effects and two deaths on R矇union have led the European Medicines Agency to while a review is conducted.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES CLIMATE CRISIS Africa Facing the Full Spectrum of Extreme Weather
Climate change is impacting every single aspect of socio-economic development in Africa, leading to displacement, hunger, and insecurity, has found.
By the numbers: The average surface temperature of the continent in 2024 was ~0.86簞C above the 1991-2020 average.
QUICK HITS A quarter of children have a parent with substance use disorder, a study finds
Development experts mull cash transfers amid shrinking aid budgets
Elizabeth Holmes rises again or at least her partner does
The constant surveillance of modern life could worsen our brain function in ways we don't fully understand, disturbing studies suggest
New AI tool predicts your biological age from a selfie Issue No. 1864
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:
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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.
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Gaza is sliding into famine as 500,000 people face starvation and food supplies dwindle, according to by a hunger monitoring group.
Key report takeaways:
- All of Gaza will face a nutrition emergency (the IPC phase before catastrophe) by September, per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative.
- The Israeli blockade and increasing conflict since March has disrupted access to humanitarian assistance, markets, health, water and sanitation services.
- All 25 World Food Programme (WFP)-supported bakeries closed last month because of a lack of supplies.
- Most of the 177 hot meal kitchens in Gaza are reportedly out of food.
- Wheat flour prices in parts of Gaza have increased by 3,000% since February.
The Quote: Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border, said Cindy McCain, executive director of the WFP, per . If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
The first all-oral treatment for an acute form of sleeping sickness is now freely available for special treatment-center patients in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; health ministries in Africa have green-lit use of Fexinidazole Winthrop against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.
The U.S. has suspended live cattle, horse, and bison imports along the Southern border because of the New World Screwworms spread in Mexico; screwworm larvae burrow into the flesh of warm-blooded animals (including, rarely, people) and can kill.
A drug approved to treat migraine headachesubrogepantis the first that can also alleviate early prodrome symptoms including fatigue, neck pain, light sensitivity, and trouble concentrating, per described in Nature Medicine. VACCINES Complications in the Chikungunya Fight
Chikungunya is resurging on R矇union Island in the Indian Ocean, leading to ~50,000 cases and 12 deaths, and spreading to nearby islands like Mauritius.
Vaccine setbacks: While a live-attenuated vaccine, Ixchiq, was approved by a range of regulatory bodies last year, several reports of adverse effects and two deaths on R矇union have led the European Medicines Agency to while a review is conducted.
- The FDA and CDC have also .
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES CLIMATE CRISIS Africa Facing the Full Spectrum of Extreme Weather
Climate change is impacting every single aspect of socio-economic development in Africa, leading to displacement, hunger, and insecurity, has found.
By the numbers: The average surface temperature of the continent in 2024 was ~0.86簞C above the 1991-2020 average.
- Floods, heatwaves, and droughts displaced ~700,000 people across Africa last year.
- They also devastated livestock and crop yields, contributed to water scarcity, and disrupted childrens education.
- While climate drivers like El Ni簽o contributed to the volatility, scientists say Africa is bearing the brunt of fossil fuel-driven climate change.
QUICK HITS A quarter of children have a parent with substance use disorder, a study finds
Development experts mull cash transfers amid shrinking aid budgets
Elizabeth Holmes rises again or at least her partner does
The constant surveillance of modern life could worsen our brain function in ways we don't fully understand, disturbing studies suggest
New AI tool predicts your biological age from a selfie Issue No. 1864
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.
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Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: The Spread of Schistosomiasis; The Risks at Polands Poultry Farms; and A Gamble With Leafy Greens
May 12, 2025
Bulinus truncatus, a freshwater snail that can be a shistosomiasis carrier. Constantine, Algeria, February 18. Karim Haddad via iNaturalist (cropped),
The Spread of Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is spreading to new regions and populations, as scientists warn that climate change, migration, and tourism are reshaping the habitat of the parasitic infections carrier, freshwater snails, .
Background: The that can wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal system affects ~240 million people, with 90% of cases found in sub-Saharan Africa.
New gains: The parasite has begun to spread in European waters over the last decade, researchers shared at a Wellcome Trust gathering last week, with 120+ cases reported in Corsica alone since 2014.
Meanwhile in Malawi, researchers have uncovered new evidence of zoonotic hybrid schistosome species infecting humans, raising concerns about the need for new diagnostic tools, . , describes how overlapping snail habitats have led to cross-species hybridization. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Kerala, India, reported a new case of Nipah virus on May 8, in a 42-year-old woman; it marks the seventh appearance of the virus in Malappuram district since 2018.
President Trump says he will sign an executive order today directing HHS to tie what Medicare pays for some medications to the lowest price paid by other countries.
Los Angeles public health officials have declared a hepatitis A outbreak, citing 3X more cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, and an unusually high 29 cases so far this yearand wastewater monitoring suggests that cases are undercounted.
The obesity drug Zepbound led to ~50% more weight loss than rival drug Wegovy, , ; but one of Americas largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS Healths Caremark, has excluded Zepbound from coverage despite the new research, . U.S. and Global Health Policy News How hard are USAID cuts hitting Africa's healthcare?
Trump health cuts create 'real danger' around disease outbreaks, workers warn
NIHs key vaccine center slammed by contract cuts DATA POINT
50 million
漍漍漍漍
People at risk of hunger in West and Central Africa, a region pounded by conflict, displacement, economic hardship, and extreme weather, the World Food Programme warns. AVIAN FLU The Risks at Polands Poultry Farms
Poultry farming has become a major industry in Poland, which exports chicken across Europe. But the rise of avian flu means farming practices in the country are now under intense scrutiny.
Related: Coming home to roost: residents rise up against UK chicken megafarms GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES FOOD SAFETY A Gamble With Leafy Greens
When it comes to foodborne outbreaks in the U.S., a common culprit has emerged: bagged lettuce.
Exacerbating the problem: U.S. food safety oversight has weakened under both the Biden and Trump administrations, with funding cuts leading to reduced inspections and delayed outbreak notifications.
A safer alternative: Whole heads of lettuce carry less risk, say food safety experts.
OPPORTUNITY - LAST DAY TO APPLY! QUICK HITS On International Nurse Day, we remember Keralas braveheart Lini Puthussery who fought Nipah virus
The rising threat of Nipah virus: a highly contagious and deadly zoonotic pathogen
Gates can't do it alone
The proportion of people of 50+ with HIV has doubled in 10 years. What does that mean for healthcare?
Group targets over 900,000 children in 2025 deworming campaign
Infertility in women linked to higher risk of heart disease
FDA will allow three new color additives made from minerals, algae and flower petals
Should you toss your plastic kitchen tools for health reasons? Here's the scoop Issue No. 2723
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 .
Schistosomiasis is spreading to new regions and populations, as scientists warn that climate change, migration, and tourism are reshaping the habitat of the parasitic infections carrier, freshwater snails, .
Background: The that can wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal system affects ~240 million people, with 90% of cases found in sub-Saharan Africa.
New gains: The parasite has begun to spread in European waters over the last decade, researchers shared at a Wellcome Trust gathering last week, with 120+ cases reported in Corsica alone since 2014.
- Once one snail is infected, they infect a whole population of snails which then infect a whole population of humans, said Bonnie Webster, researcher at the Schistosome Snail Resource at Londons Natural History Museum.
Meanwhile in Malawi, researchers have uncovered new evidence of zoonotic hybrid schistosome species infecting humans, raising concerns about the need for new diagnostic tools, . , describes how overlapping snail habitats have led to cross-species hybridization. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Kerala, India, reported a new case of Nipah virus on May 8, in a 42-year-old woman; it marks the seventh appearance of the virus in Malappuram district since 2018.
President Trump says he will sign an executive order today directing HHS to tie what Medicare pays for some medications to the lowest price paid by other countries.
Los Angeles public health officials have declared a hepatitis A outbreak, citing 3X more cases in 2024 compared to the previous year, and an unusually high 29 cases so far this yearand wastewater monitoring suggests that cases are undercounted.
The obesity drug Zepbound led to ~50% more weight loss than rival drug Wegovy, , ; but one of Americas largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS Healths Caremark, has excluded Zepbound from coverage despite the new research, . U.S. and Global Health Policy News How hard are USAID cuts hitting Africa's healthcare?
Trump health cuts create 'real danger' around disease outbreaks, workers warn
NIHs key vaccine center slammed by contract cuts DATA POINT
50 million
漍漍漍漍
People at risk of hunger in West and Central Africa, a region pounded by conflict, displacement, economic hardship, and extreme weather, the World Food Programme warns. AVIAN FLU The Risks at Polands Poultry Farms
Poultry farming has become a major industry in Poland, which exports chicken across Europe. But the rise of avian flu means farming practices in the country are now under intense scrutiny.
- The country has reported ~80 of the EUs 200 confirmed outbreaks this year.
- But even without those problems, the viruss appearance in a region with so many closely sited farms is like throwing a spark into a powder keg, one epidemiologist said.
Related: Coming home to roost: residents rise up against UK chicken megafarms GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES FOOD SAFETY A Gamble With Leafy Greens
When it comes to foodborne outbreaks in the U.S., a common culprit has emerged: bagged lettuce.
- Leafy greens, particularly romaine lettuce, caused most of the U.S.s foodborne outbreaks in 2022. Last year, an E. coli outbreak tied to romaine sent 36 people to the hospital across 15 states.
Exacerbating the problem: U.S. food safety oversight has weakened under both the Biden and Trump administrations, with funding cuts leading to reduced inspections and delayed outbreak notifications.
A safer alternative: Whole heads of lettuce carry less risk, say food safety experts.
OPPORTUNITY - LAST DAY TO APPLY! QUICK HITS On International Nurse Day, we remember Keralas braveheart Lini Puthussery who fought Nipah virus
The rising threat of Nipah virus: a highly contagious and deadly zoonotic pathogen
Gates can't do it alone
The proportion of people of 50+ with HIV has doubled in 10 years. What does that mean for healthcare?
Group targets over 900,000 children in 2025 deworming campaign
Infertility in women linked to higher risk of heart disease
FDA will allow three new color additives made from minerals, algae and flower petals
Should you toss your plastic kitchen tools for health reasons? Here's the scoop Issue No. 2723
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.
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You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Mosquito Nets and Geopolitical Bets; Children Face Extremely High Prevalence of Sexual Violence; and It宎s Giving #MetGala
Malaria programs in peril amid U.S. funding withdrawal
May 8, 2025
A child receives a free malaria test. Lagos, Nigeria, April 24, 2022. Emma Houston/Xinhua via Getty
Mosquito Nets and Geopolitical Bets
IBADAN, NigeriaAt the Alegongo Primary Health Centre clinic, a nurse can efficiently diagnose a feverish child with malaria and dispense free antimalarial medication within minutes.
But amid broader uncertainties surrounding the withdrawal of U.S. funding for anti-malaria programs in Africa, that progress could soon unravel.
The Quote: What people dont see now are the logistical strings being cut. Those supply chains, once broken, dont repair easily, notes one person who worked with CCP in Abuja until this past March.
Ed. Note: This article was produced in collaboration with magazine and is part of a series that examines frontline impacts of cuts in U.S. funding. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
COVIDs evolutionary journey appears to parallel that of SARS, jumping from bats to other wild mammals and eventually to humans via wildlife markets, that analyzed the genomes of the two coronaviruses.
Carcinogens like formaldehyde are in a wide range of beauty products used on a weekly basis by 53% of Black and Latina women surveyed in Los Angeles, ; the products range from lotion and shampoo to eyeliner and eyelash glue.
The EU has secured the largest and most diverse supply chain to manufacture ~478 million reserve doses of pandemic flu vaccine in its effort to prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak in humans.
Long COVID continues to impose a significant burden on survivors' physical and mental health post-infection, with patients self-reporting compromised health and daily task efficiency for 13+ days a month. U.S. Policy News CDC terminates infection control advisory committee
Trump picks Casey Means for surgeon general, after first nominee withdraws
Health Sec. Kennedy launches autism project using Medicare and Medicaid data
Exclusive: Kennedy aide and vaccine critic questions recent expert recommendations
US poll finds shifting vaccine trust amid health agency overhauls CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH Children Face Extremely High Prevalence of Sexual Violence
Globally, at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys have experienced sexual violence before age 18, , considered one of the most comprehensive assessments to date, .
A closer look: The study analyzed data from all countries spanning 19902023.
Tobacco industry lobbyists have made significant inroads among officials in the Philippines, giving them behind-the-scenes influence over national and even international tobacco regulations.
Pulling strings at public health forums? Tobacco lobbyists are barred from attending the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Yet at the most recent conference in 2024, Filipino officials actively sought to protect the industrys interests and worked to block the creation of new regulations.
For one glorious night a year, the fashion elites toss the internet this sartorial bone: The chance to curl up in its pajamas, crack its knuckles and viciously critique Met Gala outfits. .
What netizens noticed:
Pancreatic, colorectal cancer incidence rising fastest among younger individuals
US surpasses 1,000 measles cases in 2025, second worst year since disease was declared eliminated
Kenya launches National Public Health Institute with WHO backing
Baltimore Banner wins Pulitzer Prize for coverage of overdose crisis
Guatemala Announces Crucial Water Law Dialogue
The future to fighting airborne viruses is in奸amps? Issue No. 2722
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 .
IBADAN, NigeriaAt the Alegongo Primary Health Centre clinic, a nurse can efficiently diagnose a feverish child with malaria and dispense free antimalarial medication within minutes.
But amid broader uncertainties surrounding the withdrawal of U.S. funding for anti-malaria programs in Africa, that progress could soon unravel.
- Nigeria bears the highest malaria burden, .
- However, rates since 2017thanks in part to a finely tuned malaria prevention and treatment supply chain that U.S.-funded groups like the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) helped make possible.
The Quote: What people dont see now are the logistical strings being cut. Those supply chains, once broken, dont repair easily, notes one person who worked with CCP in Abuja until this past March.
Ed. Note: This article was produced in collaboration with magazine and is part of a series that examines frontline impacts of cuts in U.S. funding. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
COVIDs evolutionary journey appears to parallel that of SARS, jumping from bats to other wild mammals and eventually to humans via wildlife markets, that analyzed the genomes of the two coronaviruses.
Carcinogens like formaldehyde are in a wide range of beauty products used on a weekly basis by 53% of Black and Latina women surveyed in Los Angeles, ; the products range from lotion and shampoo to eyeliner and eyelash glue.
The EU has secured the largest and most diverse supply chain to manufacture ~478 million reserve doses of pandemic flu vaccine in its effort to prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak in humans.
Long COVID continues to impose a significant burden on survivors' physical and mental health post-infection, with patients self-reporting compromised health and daily task efficiency for 13+ days a month. U.S. Policy News CDC terminates infection control advisory committee
Trump picks Casey Means for surgeon general, after first nominee withdraws
Health Sec. Kennedy launches autism project using Medicare and Medicaid data
Exclusive: Kennedy aide and vaccine critic questions recent expert recommendations
US poll finds shifting vaccine trust amid health agency overhauls CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH Children Face Extremely High Prevalence of Sexual Violence
Globally, at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys have experienced sexual violence before age 18, , considered one of the most comprehensive assessments to date, .
A closer look: The study analyzed data from all countries spanning 19902023.
- Rates of affected girls were highest in South Asia, at 26.8%; and highest in sub-Saharan Africa for boys, at 18.6%, .
- However, the prevalence is extremely high worldwide, and the numbers are likely an underestimate.
- Sexual violence against children is a widespread human rights and public health issue, and the world is clearly failing to end it, said study author Emmanuela Gakidou.
Tobacco industry lobbyists have made significant inroads among officials in the Philippines, giving them behind-the-scenes influence over national and even international tobacco regulations.
Pulling strings at public health forums? Tobacco lobbyists are barred from attending the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Yet at the most recent conference in 2024, Filipino officials actively sought to protect the industrys interests and worked to block the creation of new regulations.
- The moves were so clearly pro-tobacco that a coalition of nonprofits awarded the Philippine delegation a Dirty Ashtray award for the alleged adoption of tobacco industry tactics.
For one glorious night a year, the fashion elites toss the internet this sartorial bone: The chance to curl up in its pajamas, crack its knuckles and viciously critique Met Gala outfits. .
What netizens noticed:
- While this year宎s official theme celebrated Black dandyism, the unofficial dress code appeared to be !
- And while even pantsless stars concealed their looks under long coats, the rapper Doechii opted to .
- Demi Moore while her 1-pound chihuahua wore an absolutely tiny one.
- There were and stylist shock when she . Gasp!
Pancreatic, colorectal cancer incidence rising fastest among younger individuals
US surpasses 1,000 measles cases in 2025, second worst year since disease was declared eliminated
Kenya launches National Public Health Institute with WHO backing
Baltimore Banner wins Pulitzer Prize for coverage of overdose crisis
Guatemala Announces Crucial Water Law Dialogue
The future to fighting airborne viruses is in奸amps? Issue No. 2722
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: Redrawing Battle Lines in the AIDS Fight; Twists in Abortion Lawsuit; and The Lifesaving Potential of Self-Driving Cars
May 7, 2025
Students from the University of the Witwatersrand explain how to use a self HIV testing kit, in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, on March 19, 2018. Mujahid Safodien/AFP via Getty
Redrawing Battle Lines in the AIDS Fight
Global strategies to fight AIDS are quickly being reshaped, as cascading funding losses triggered by U.S. cuts continue to undermine footholds gained against the virus.
The latest:
UNAIDS is cutting its workforce by more than half and moving its offices to cheaper locations, with leaders saying that decades-long gains are at risk of being reversed, .
In Liberia, doctors are already seeing the impacts of fewer people receiving antiretroviral medication as clinic workers have been laid off, ; they worry about increased illnessand increased transmission.
In the American South, community health programs are scaling back spending on HIV testing and outreach, .
Related:
In Historic First, the Global Fund Procures African-Made First-Line HIV Treatment
The Trump Administrations Foreign Aid Review: Status of PEPFAR
Want to Rebuild US Foreign Aid? Look to PEPFAR GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners A hospital bombing in South Sudan last weekend was the latest in a series of attacks on health facilities as escalating violence hampers civilians access to basic medical care, and could lead to the closure of more clinics.
A lack of female-only medical trials in the UK is forcing doctors to make decisions in a vacuum of evidence when it comes to womens health; male-only trials were nearly twice as common as female-only studies among the thousands reviewed.
Consuming cannabis while pregnant appears to increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant death, .
Conversion therapy exposure has been linked with elevated blood pressure, increased systemic inflammation, and higher odds of self-reported hypertension diagnosis, finds a cohort study of 703 sexual and gender minority young adults. U.S. and Global Health Policy News N.I.H. Bans New Funding From U.S. Scientists to Partners Abroad
USAID Cuts Could Sever HPV Prevention
Feeding the hungry will be harder than ever for the world's largest food aid agency
Kennedy aide and vaccine critic questions recent expert recommendations
New Opioid Data May Not Reflect Harms Accurately, FDA Advisors Warn SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY A Wake-Up Call on Social Medias Dangers
, a new Bloomberg documentary film, exposes the dark side of social media and its devastating impact on young peopleand the push to hold tech companies accountable.
The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to sharply restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, arguing in its filing that the three states suing the FDA lack legal standing.
The request to dismiss the closely watched case is a notable deviation from the Trump administrations positions so far on reproductive rights.
Originally filed in 2022, the lawsuit made its way to the Supreme Court but was thrown out for plaintiffs lack of standing to sue. Attorneys for the three states amended and revived the suit a few months later.
Makers of autonomous vehicles (AVs) have long touted the safety benefits of their cars: Unlike humans, self-driving cars dont text and drive, or drive while sleepy or impaired.
Research is starting to bear those claims out, with a large and comprehensive new study showing significant safety performance compared to human driving, .
Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff! QUICK HITS US government secures production, supply of freeze-dried Jynneos mpox vaccine
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Vaccine Safety and Trust
How Utah dentists are preparing patients for the first statewide fluoride ban
Medical AI trained on whopping 57 million health records
COVID-19 Vaccines Not Linked to Miscarriage
The power of dogs on your mental health Issue No. 2721
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 .
Global strategies to fight AIDS are quickly being reshaped, as cascading funding losses triggered by U.S. cuts continue to undermine footholds gained against the virus.
The latest:
UNAIDS is cutting its workforce by more than half and moving its offices to cheaper locations, with leaders saying that decades-long gains are at risk of being reversed, .
In Liberia, doctors are already seeing the impacts of fewer people receiving antiretroviral medication as clinic workers have been laid off, ; they worry about increased illnessand increased transmission.
In the American South, community health programs are scaling back spending on HIV testing and outreach, .
- The long-term impact on infection rates could be severe, as Southern states have the highest level of poverty, a severe shortage of rural clinics, and depend heavily on federal funding.
- HIV research at Florida universities will face the devastating impact of millions in DOGE cuts, .
Related:
In Historic First, the Global Fund Procures African-Made First-Line HIV Treatment
The Trump Administrations Foreign Aid Review: Status of PEPFAR
Want to Rebuild US Foreign Aid? Look to PEPFAR GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners A hospital bombing in South Sudan last weekend was the latest in a series of attacks on health facilities as escalating violence hampers civilians access to basic medical care, and could lead to the closure of more clinics.
A lack of female-only medical trials in the UK is forcing doctors to make decisions in a vacuum of evidence when it comes to womens health; male-only trials were nearly twice as common as female-only studies among the thousands reviewed.
Consuming cannabis while pregnant appears to increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant death, .
Conversion therapy exposure has been linked with elevated blood pressure, increased systemic inflammation, and higher odds of self-reported hypertension diagnosis, finds a cohort study of 703 sexual and gender minority young adults. U.S. and Global Health Policy News N.I.H. Bans New Funding From U.S. Scientists to Partners Abroad
USAID Cuts Could Sever HPV Prevention
Feeding the hungry will be harder than ever for the world's largest food aid agency
Kennedy aide and vaccine critic questions recent expert recommendations
New Opioid Data May Not Reflect Harms Accurately, FDA Advisors Warn SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY A Wake-Up Call on Social Medias Dangers
, a new Bloomberg documentary film, exposes the dark side of social media and its devastating impact on young peopleand the push to hold tech companies accountable.
- The film, based on investigative reporting by Bloomberg News Olivia Carville, takes viewers inside the fight for justice for families whose children suffered tragic consequences as a result of their social media use and makes the case for urgent reform.
The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to sharply restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, arguing in its filing that the three states suing the FDA lack legal standing.
The request to dismiss the closely watched case is a notable deviation from the Trump administrations positions so far on reproductive rights.
Originally filed in 2022, the lawsuit made its way to the Supreme Court but was thrown out for plaintiffs lack of standing to sue. Attorneys for the three states amended and revived the suit a few months later.
- If allowed to proceed, the case could have a major impact on abortion access, as abortion pills are used in two-thirds of abortions in the U.S.
Makers of autonomous vehicles (AVs) have long touted the safety benefits of their cars: Unlike humans, self-driving cars dont text and drive, or drive while sleepy or impaired.
Research is starting to bear those claims out, with a large and comprehensive new study showing significant safety performance compared to human driving, .
- In a , AV company Waymo analyzed the performance of its AVs over 56.7 million miles driven in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austinall without a human driver present.
- Researchers compared that data to human driving performance over the same distance on the same kind of roads.
Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff! QUICK HITS US government secures production, supply of freeze-dried Jynneos mpox vaccine
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Vaccine Safety and Trust
How Utah dentists are preparing patients for the first statewide fluoride ban
Medical AI trained on whopping 57 million health records
COVID-19 Vaccines Not Linked to Miscarriage
The power of dogs on your mental health Issue No. 2721
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: Health Inequities Lethal Impact; A Closer Look at a Dementia Cluster; and Chinas Unregulated Beauty
May 6, 2025
Older adults exercise in a park. Tokyo, Japan, October 1, 2024. David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty
Health Inequities Lethal Impact
33 years. Thats the difference in life expectancy between people in Japan (which has the worlds highest life expectancy at 84.5 years) and Lesotho (which has the lowest at 51.5), .
Solutions: Addressing income inequality, structural discrimination, and disruptions caused by conflict and climate change could overcome health inequities, per WHO.
The Quote: It is a sad indictment on government leaders that social injustice continues to kill on such a grand scale, said Michael Marmot, who led the 2008 report, . The targets we set to close the health gap in a generation will be missed.
Related:
All-Cause Mortality and Life Expectancy by Birth Cohort Across US States
Study reveals stark differences in life expectancy across US states over the past century GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Aiming to make Europe a magnet for researchers, the European Union has pledged 500 million in new money over the next two years and vows to protect scientific freedom to lure foreign scientists; separately, France announced plans to dedicate 100 million to attracting foreign researchers.
Pharmacists in England face inappropriate demands for unnecessary antibiotics despite the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance; according to a National Pharmacy Association survey, 79% of pharmacists report having to refuse requests for antibiotics from patients at least once a day.
Teens with anxiety and depression spend ~50 more minutes per day on social media than their peers, and report more dissatisfaction with aspects of the experience, such as the number of their online friends, per a of 3,340 adolescents in the UK.
Study participants given the shingles vaccine showed a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease for up to 8 years compared to those who did not receive the vaccine, of 1 million+ people ages 50 and up. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Trump restricts funding for 'gain-of-function' research calling it dangerous
More than a dozen states, DC sue Trump administration over 'dismantling' of federal health agencies
US scientist who touted hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid named to pandemic prevention role
The Trump administration's approach to extreme weather will damage health
Key reports addressing violence against Indigenous women are gone from federal sites
Its been a tough period: NIHs new director speaks with Science ALZHEIMER'S A Closer Look at a Dementia Cluster
In Starr County, near the border of Texas and Mexico, everybody has somebody in their family with dementia, said neuroepidemiologist Gladys Maestre.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES SURGERY Chinas Unregulated Beauty
In China, an estimated 80,000 cosmetic surgery venues operate without a license, and 100,000 practitioners are not qualifieda result of increased demand in the country for plastic surgery. But without enough qualified professionals botched surgeries and dangerous complications are on the rise.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Dossier of alleged Sudan war crimes handed to Metropolitan police
New salmonella outbreak is linked to backyard poultry, CDC says
Forgotten disease ravaging Kampala, Wakiso
Why midwives are worried
A decade of change: maternal mortality trends in Sudan, 20092019
More babies are being admitted to NICUs
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene reminder from WHO
Popemobile to become health clinic for Gaza children Issue No. 2720
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 .
33 years. Thats the difference in life expectancy between people in Japan (which has the worlds highest life expectancy at 84.5 years) and Lesotho (which has the lowest at 51.5), .
- The publication follows a 2008 initial report that set targets to reduce life expectancy disparities between and within countries by 2040. Those targets are not likely to be met.
- Children born in poorer countries are 13X more likely to die before age 5 than those born in wealthier countries.
- 94% of maternal deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
- 3.8 billion people lack adequate social protections, such as child/paid sick leave benefitsimpacting health outcomes.
Solutions: Addressing income inequality, structural discrimination, and disruptions caused by conflict and climate change could overcome health inequities, per WHO.
The Quote: It is a sad indictment on government leaders that social injustice continues to kill on such a grand scale, said Michael Marmot, who led the 2008 report, . The targets we set to close the health gap in a generation will be missed.
Related:
All-Cause Mortality and Life Expectancy by Birth Cohort Across US States
Study reveals stark differences in life expectancy across US states over the past century GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Aiming to make Europe a magnet for researchers, the European Union has pledged 500 million in new money over the next two years and vows to protect scientific freedom to lure foreign scientists; separately, France announced plans to dedicate 100 million to attracting foreign researchers.
Pharmacists in England face inappropriate demands for unnecessary antibiotics despite the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance; according to a National Pharmacy Association survey, 79% of pharmacists report having to refuse requests for antibiotics from patients at least once a day.
Teens with anxiety and depression spend ~50 more minutes per day on social media than their peers, and report more dissatisfaction with aspects of the experience, such as the number of their online friends, per a of 3,340 adolescents in the UK.
Study participants given the shingles vaccine showed a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events including stroke, heart failure, and coronary heart disease for up to 8 years compared to those who did not receive the vaccine, of 1 million+ people ages 50 and up. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Trump restricts funding for 'gain-of-function' research calling it dangerous
More than a dozen states, DC sue Trump administration over 'dismantling' of federal health agencies
US scientist who touted hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid named to pandemic prevention role
The Trump administration's approach to extreme weather will damage health
Key reports addressing violence against Indigenous women are gone from federal sites
Its been a tough period: NIHs new director speaks with Science ALZHEIMER'S A Closer Look at a Dementia Cluster
In Starr County, near the border of Texas and Mexico, everybody has somebody in their family with dementia, said neuroepidemiologist Gladys Maestre.
- The condition affects about 1 in 5 adults on Medicare theremore than 2X the national rate.
- ~1 in 3 people live in poverty and a quarter lack health insurance.
- The community is almost entirely Hispanica population that faces a significantly higher risk of dementia, yet remains one of the most under-studied groups in dementia research in the U.S.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES SURGERY Chinas Unregulated Beauty
In China, an estimated 80,000 cosmetic surgery venues operate without a license, and 100,000 practitioners are not qualifieda result of increased demand in the country for plastic surgery. But without enough qualified professionals botched surgeries and dangerous complications are on the rise.
- 20 million people pay for cosmetic procedures annually.
- 80% are women.
- The average age to undergo surgery is 25.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Dossier of alleged Sudan war crimes handed to Metropolitan police
New salmonella outbreak is linked to backyard poultry, CDC says
Forgotten disease ravaging Kampala, Wakiso
Why midwives are worried
A decade of change: maternal mortality trends in Sudan, 20092019
More babies are being admitted to NICUs
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene reminder from WHO
Popemobile to become health clinic for Gaza children Issue No. 2720
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: Striking on New Antivenom Potential; April Recap; and Sweltering Conditions in Cambodias Sweatshops
May 5, 2025
A Jameson's mamba, one of Kenya's 13 medically relevant snakes due to a significant rate of deadly snakebite cases, at the Kenya Snakebite Research and Intervention Centre. Nairobi, March 7. Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty
Striking on New Antivenom Potential
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in antivenom development, thanks to an unusual research partner: an American snake collector who allowed himself to be bitten hundreds of times, .
Background: In hopes of developing a universal antivenom, lead study author Jacob Glanville had wanted to study antibodies in a person exposed to multiple snake venoms, .
Ecuador has confirmed three yellow fever cases with a fourth case under investigation, per the nations health minister; yellow fever outbreaks continue to be reported across South America.
Men die younger across different global regions for a range of reasons often related to increased prevalence of diseases and risk factors and lower access to care, .
The animal sedative medetomidine is increasingly turning up in illegal drugs in the U.S., ; it is being mixed with other illicit drugs, primarily fentanyl, and has been reported in overdose clusters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs
RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments
Trump's cuts to contraception will kill 'tens of thousands' of women
NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know
Will America be flying blind on bird flu? A key wastewater-tracking program may soon end
V.A. Mental Health Care Staff, Crowded into Federal Buildings, Raise Patient Privacy Alarms APRIL RECAP: MUST-READS A Squirrels Link to Mpox
Scientists have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel as a potential mpox reservoir hosta discovery that could help researchers understand cross-species spillover.
Japan Ramps up Regenerative Medicine
Japan is rapidly expanding its biotechnology sector, investing heavily in regenerative medicine.
In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that adult cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like state known as iPS cells, allowing them to become any kind of tissue.
Protective Paint in South Africa
In Cape Town, informal homes made of metal and wood can reach 95簞F (35簞C) and remain hot overnightdisrupting sleep and increasing stress levels.
In a simple intervention, researchers are testing UV-resistant reflective paint on roofs, a practice that has already been used to reduce temperatures in chicken coops.
SIVAKASI, IndiaExplosions at fireworks factories are not uncommon in this Southern Indian city that produces nearly 90% of the countrys fireworks, that describes the toll on the tens of thousands of workers employed by these factories.
Ed. Note: Our thanks go to Padmavathy Krishna Kumar who shared the idea for this topic and received an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by Global Health NOW and the . APRIL'S BEST NEWS Hope for Fistula Survivors in Nigeria
Free fistula repair surgery will soon be available at clinics throughout Nigeria, health officials announced earlier this montha groundbreaking move in a country that sees ~12,000 new cases a year of vesicovaginal fistula, which can be a debilitating and highly stigmatizing condition.
Decades after promised reforms in Cambodian sweatshops that produce goods for companies like Nike, workers still frequently fainted and required medical intervention due to high heat and long hours, employees and medics say.
Bigger picture: 57,000+ people produce Nike goods at garment factories in Cambodia. Fainting has been a commonly reported problem, with the Cambodian government reporting 4,500+ occurrences in factories between 2017 and 2019.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Meet The Scientist Warning The World About The Next Pandemic
Chilean woman with muscular dystrophy becomes face of euthanasia debate as bill stalls in Senate
How vaccine hesitancy may be driving a spike in pediatric flu deaths
Cannabis Could Be Bad for Your Heart
Samoa becomes the first Pacific Island country to launch National Action Plan for Health Security
Well, Thats One Way to Address Americas Vaping Problem
Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection Issue No. M-5-2025
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 .
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in antivenom development, thanks to an unusual research partner: an American snake collector who allowed himself to be bitten hundreds of times, .
Background: In hopes of developing a universal antivenom, lead study author Jacob Glanville had wanted to study antibodies in a person exposed to multiple snake venoms, .
- He found his man in Tim Friede, a self-taught herpetologist who has allowed himself to be bitten ~200 times by more than a dozen venomous snakes over two decades.
- By combining them with an existing drug, they made a cocktail that allowed mice to survive venom from 19 species of dangerous elapid snakes, which include cobras, mamba, and taipans, .
- Not covered: Venom from vipers, which make up about half of venomous snakes.
- Developing effective antivenoms has long been a struggle, as most work for just one or a few snakes of one region, .
Ecuador has confirmed three yellow fever cases with a fourth case under investigation, per the nations health minister; yellow fever outbreaks continue to be reported across South America.
Men die younger across different global regions for a range of reasons often related to increased prevalence of diseases and risk factors and lower access to care, .
The animal sedative medetomidine is increasingly turning up in illegal drugs in the U.S., ; it is being mixed with other illicit drugs, primarily fentanyl, and has been reported in overdose clusters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs
RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments
Trump's cuts to contraception will kill 'tens of thousands' of women
NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know
Will America be flying blind on bird flu? A key wastewater-tracking program may soon end
V.A. Mental Health Care Staff, Crowded into Federal Buildings, Raise Patient Privacy Alarms APRIL RECAP: MUST-READS A Squirrels Link to Mpox
Scientists have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel as a potential mpox reservoir hosta discovery that could help researchers understand cross-species spillover.
- DNA from the squirrel matched virus samples taken from mpox-infected sooty mangabey monkeys during an outbreak in Ivory Coast. Researchers believe the monkeys were infected after eating squirrels with the virus.
Japan Ramps up Regenerative Medicine
Japan is rapidly expanding its biotechnology sector, investing heavily in regenerative medicine.
In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that adult cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like state known as iPS cells, allowing them to become any kind of tissue.
- Since then, Japan has led the field globally, hosting nearly one-third of iPS-cell clinical trialsand may soon approve the first iPS-cell treatments for diseases like Parkinsons.
Protective Paint in South Africa
In Cape Town, informal homes made of metal and wood can reach 95簞F (35簞C) and remain hot overnightdisrupting sleep and increasing stress levels.
In a simple intervention, researchers are testing UV-resistant reflective paint on roofs, a practice that has already been used to reduce temperatures in chicken coops.
- The study will measure potential temperature changes and effects on residents sleep and health.
SIVAKASI, IndiaExplosions at fireworks factories are not uncommon in this Southern Indian city that produces nearly 90% of the countrys fireworks, that describes the toll on the tens of thousands of workers employed by these factories.
- 91 workers were killed in the most recent yearbut only those killed at the explosion site are countednot those who die later.
- Employers typically pay only for injured workers initial care.
Ed. Note: Our thanks go to Padmavathy Krishna Kumar who shared the idea for this topic and received an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by Global Health NOW and the . APRIL'S BEST NEWS Hope for Fistula Survivors in Nigeria
Free fistula repair surgery will soon be available at clinics throughout Nigeria, health officials announced earlier this montha groundbreaking move in a country that sees ~12,000 new cases a year of vesicovaginal fistula, which can be a debilitating and highly stigmatizing condition.
- In 2022, 600+ women with VVF were abandoned by their families in the state of Borno.
- Advocates say comprehensive counseling services are also needed to support VVF survivors with the psychological trauma associated with the condition.
Decades after promised reforms in Cambodian sweatshops that produce goods for companies like Nike, workers still frequently fainted and required medical intervention due to high heat and long hours, employees and medics say.
Bigger picture: 57,000+ people produce Nike goods at garment factories in Cambodia. Fainting has been a commonly reported problem, with the Cambodian government reporting 4,500+ occurrences in factories between 2017 and 2019.
- In one factory, Y&W Garmentwhich employed ~4,500 people making clothes in 2023former employees reported two to three people fainting daily as temperatures inside soared above 100簞F.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Meet The Scientist Warning The World About The Next Pandemic
Chilean woman with muscular dystrophy becomes face of euthanasia debate as bill stalls in Senate
How vaccine hesitancy may be driving a spike in pediatric flu deaths
Cannabis Could Be Bad for Your Heart
Samoa becomes the first Pacific Island country to launch National Action Plan for Health Security
Well, Thats One Way to Address Americas Vaping Problem
Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection Issue No. M-5-2025
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: Striking on New Antivenom Potential; April Recap; and Sweltering Conditions in Cambodias Sweatshops
May 5, 2025
A Jameson's mamba, one of Kenya's 13 medically relevant snakes due to a significant rate of deadly snakebite cases, at the Kenya Snakebite Research and Intervention Centre. Nairobi, March 7. Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty
Striking on New Antivenom Potential
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in antivenom development, thanks to an unusual research partner: an American snake collector who allowed himself to be bitten hundreds of times, .
Background: In hopes of developing a universal antivenom, lead study author Jacob Glanville had wanted to study antibodies in a person exposed to multiple snake venoms, .
Ecuador has confirmed three yellow fever cases with a fourth case under investigation, per the nations health minister; yellow fever outbreaks continue to be reported across South America.
Men die younger across different global regions for a range of reasons often related to increased prevalence of diseases and risk factors and lower access to care, .
The animal sedative medetomidine is increasingly turning up in illegal drugs in the U.S., ; it is being mixed with other illicit drugs, primarily fentanyl, and has been reported in overdose clusters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs
RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments
Trump's cuts to contraception will kill 'tens of thousands' of women
NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know
Will America be flying blind on bird flu? A key wastewater-tracking program may soon end
V.A. Mental Health Care Staff, Crowded into Federal Buildings, Raise Patient Privacy Alarms APRIL RECAP: MUST-READS A Squirrels Link to Mpox
Scientists have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel as a potential mpox reservoir hosta discovery that could help researchers understand cross-species spillover.
Japan Ramps up Regenerative Medicine
Japan is rapidly expanding its biotechnology sector, investing heavily in regenerative medicine.
In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that adult cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like state known as iPS cells, allowing them to become any kind of tissue.
Protective Paint in South Africa
In Cape Town, informal homes made of metal and wood can reach 95簞F (35簞C) and remain hot overnightdisrupting sleep and increasing stress levels.
In a simple intervention, researchers are testing UV-resistant reflective paint on roofs, a practice that has already been used to reduce temperatures in chicken coops.
SIVAKASI, IndiaExplosions at fireworks factories are not uncommon in this Southern Indian city that produces nearly 90% of the countrys fireworks, that describes the toll on the tens of thousands of workers employed by these factories.
Ed. Note: Our thanks go to Padmavathy Krishna Kumar who shared the idea for this topic and received an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by Global Health NOW and the . APRIL'S BEST NEWS Hope for Fistula Survivors in Nigeria
Free fistula repair surgery will soon be available at clinics throughout Nigeria, health officials announced earlier this montha groundbreaking move in a country that sees ~12,000 new cases a year of vesicovaginal fistula, which can be a debilitating and highly stigmatizing condition.
Decades after promised reforms in Cambodian sweatshops that produce goods for companies like Nike, workers still frequently fainted and required medical intervention due to high heat and long hours, employees and medics say.
Bigger picture: 57,000+ people produce Nike goods at garment factories in Cambodia. Fainting has been a commonly reported problem, with the Cambodian government reporting 4,500+ occurrences in factories between 2017 and 2019.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Meet The Scientist Warning The World About The Next Pandemic
Chilean woman with muscular dystrophy becomes face of euthanasia debate as bill stalls in Senate
How vaccine hesitancy may be driving a spike in pediatric flu deaths
Cannabis Could Be Bad for Your Heart
Samoa becomes the first Pacific Island country to launch National Action Plan for Health Security
Well, Thats One Way to Address Americas Vaping Problem
Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection Issue No. 2719
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 .
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in antivenom development, thanks to an unusual research partner: an American snake collector who allowed himself to be bitten hundreds of times, .
Background: In hopes of developing a universal antivenom, lead study author Jacob Glanville had wanted to study antibodies in a person exposed to multiple snake venoms, .
- He found his man in Tim Friede, a self-taught herpetologist who has allowed himself to be bitten ~200 times by more than a dozen venomous snakes over two decades.
- By combining them with an existing drug, they made a cocktail that allowed mice to survive venom from 19 species of dangerous elapid snakes, which include cobras, mamba, and taipans, .
- Not covered: Venom from vipers, which make up about half of venomous snakes.
- Developing effective antivenoms has long been a struggle, as most work for just one or a few snakes of one region, .
Ecuador has confirmed three yellow fever cases with a fourth case under investigation, per the nations health minister; yellow fever outbreaks continue to be reported across South America.
Men die younger across different global regions for a range of reasons often related to increased prevalence of diseases and risk factors and lower access to care, .
The animal sedative medetomidine is increasingly turning up in illegal drugs in the U.S., ; it is being mixed with other illicit drugs, primarily fentanyl, and has been reported in overdose clusters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs
RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments
Trump's cuts to contraception will kill 'tens of thousands' of women
NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know
Will America be flying blind on bird flu? A key wastewater-tracking program may soon end
V.A. Mental Health Care Staff, Crowded into Federal Buildings, Raise Patient Privacy Alarms APRIL RECAP: MUST-READS A Squirrels Link to Mpox
Scientists have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel as a potential mpox reservoir hosta discovery that could help researchers understand cross-species spillover.
- DNA from the squirrel matched virus samples taken from mpox-infected sooty mangabey monkeys during an outbreak in Ivory Coast. Researchers believe the monkeys were infected after eating squirrels with the virus.
Japan Ramps up Regenerative Medicine
Japan is rapidly expanding its biotechnology sector, investing heavily in regenerative medicine.
In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that adult cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like state known as iPS cells, allowing them to become any kind of tissue.
- Since then, Japan has led the field globally, hosting nearly one-third of iPS-cell clinical trialsand may soon approve the first iPS-cell treatments for diseases like Parkinsons.
Protective Paint in South Africa
In Cape Town, informal homes made of metal and wood can reach 95簞F (35簞C) and remain hot overnightdisrupting sleep and increasing stress levels.
In a simple intervention, researchers are testing UV-resistant reflective paint on roofs, a practice that has already been used to reduce temperatures in chicken coops.
- The study will measure potential temperature changes and effects on residents sleep and health.
SIVAKASI, IndiaExplosions at fireworks factories are not uncommon in this Southern Indian city that produces nearly 90% of the countrys fireworks, that describes the toll on the tens of thousands of workers employed by these factories.
- 91 workers were killed in the most recent yearbut only those killed at the explosion site are countednot those who die later.
- Employers typically pay only for injured workers initial care.
Ed. Note: Our thanks go to Padmavathy Krishna Kumar who shared the idea for this topic and received an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by Global Health NOW and the . APRIL'S BEST NEWS Hope for Fistula Survivors in Nigeria
Free fistula repair surgery will soon be available at clinics throughout Nigeria, health officials announced earlier this montha groundbreaking move in a country that sees ~12,000 new cases a year of vesicovaginal fistula, which can be a debilitating and highly stigmatizing condition.
- In 2022, 600+ women with VVF were abandoned by their families in the state of Borno.
- Advocates say comprehensive counseling services are also needed to support VVF survivors with the psychological trauma associated with the condition.
Decades after promised reforms in Cambodian sweatshops that produce goods for companies like Nike, workers still frequently fainted and required medical intervention due to high heat and long hours, employees and medics say.
Bigger picture: 57,000+ people produce Nike goods at garment factories in Cambodia. Fainting has been a commonly reported problem, with the Cambodian government reporting 4,500+ occurrences in factories between 2017 and 2019.
- In one factory, Y&W Garmentwhich employed ~4,500 people making clothes in 2023former employees reported two to three people fainting daily as temperatures inside soared above 100簞F.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Meet The Scientist Warning The World About The Next Pandemic
Chilean woman with muscular dystrophy becomes face of euthanasia debate as bill stalls in Senate
How vaccine hesitancy may be driving a spike in pediatric flu deaths
Cannabis Could Be Bad for Your Heart
Samoa becomes the first Pacific Island country to launch National Action Plan for Health Security
Well, Thats One Way to Address Americas Vaping Problem
Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection Issue No. 2719
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: Underuse and Overuse Fuels AMR; Funding Megafarms, Despite Pollution; and Heavy Caw-petition
New studies highlight the dual crisis of antibiotic resistance
May 1, 2025
Scanning electron micrograph of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, yellow) surrounded by cellular debris (red). NIH/NAID/IMAGE.FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty
Underuse, Overuse: The Dual Crisis of Antibiotic Resistance
As scientists continue to sound the alarm about antibiotic overuse driving antimicrobial resistance, new research shows how the crisis is also being exacerbated by the opposite problem: lack of antibiotic access.
Overuse: show how globally just 52% of antibiotics prescribed fell under the access category of first and second-line antibiotics. That rate should be closer to 70%, per WHO targets, but many patients are receiving antibiotics for more severe infections, .
Underuse: Meanwhile, lack of access to the correct antibiotics is further driving the spread of superbugs, , which found that <7% of people with severe infections in poorer countries get the necessary antibiotics, .
Stewardship and innovation: The crisis must be addressed by improving both access to a wider spectrum of antibiotics, and by implementing stewardship policies, .
The authors of the underuse study said stewardship is not enough: Low- and middle-income countries need new drugs and antibiotic innovation.
China is redoubling its claim that COVID-19 may have originated in the U.S., in a white paper about its own pandemic response released this week, following the Trump administrations launch of a website that blames the pandemic on a lab leak in China.
Sierra Leone has launched a widespread mpox vaccination campaign as cases of the virus surge; the country has confirmed 763 cases, with 177 recorded in a two-day period last week.
Depression, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions could be linked to the bodys immune response, ; the data could help in developing a range of more effective treatments, researchers say.
Nicotine pouch usage nearly doubled among U.S. highschoolers between 20232024, per , which analyzed surveys of 10,000+ teens; the findings signal a growing public health issue, per the studys lead author. CLIMATE Funding Megafarms, Despite Pollution
The U.K. government has subsidized industrial-scale poultry farms, despite growing alarm over the farms contribution to spiraling air and water pollution in the regions where they operate.
Background: The megafarms, which can hold up to a million birds, have proliferated in the region near the Wye and Severn rivers. Already, the farms have .
Outcry over subsidies: At least 瞿14m of public funds have been paid out over three years to poultry farm operatorsa move that environmental advocates say undermines other ecological policies.
Truck drivers who travel between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo relied on a network of mobile community health workers to help deliver critical HIV medication while on the road.
That network has broken down following U.S. cuts to foreign aid, leading to closures of clinics and HIV programsand leaving truck drivers without access to their HIV medication.
High risk: Long-haul truck drivers are nearly 6X as likely as the general adult population to be HIV positive, .
Also vulnerable: Sex workers, who rely on the same health networks for HIV medication and PreP.
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Heavy Caw-petition
If it looks like a gull, sounds like a gull, and dresses like a gull it宎s probably a contestant in the European Gull Screeching Contest.
This past weekend, 70 participants from 13 countries descended on the Belgian coastal town of De Panne for the squawk-off designed to rehabilitate the reputation of the oft-maligned coastal birds, .
Ironically, a sense of nihilism keeps Brynald motivated: If there isn't any meaning in life, that means I can do literally everything I want. I can make seagull sounds, because I don't care. QUICK HITS Israeli wildfires could threaten Jerusalem, prime minister says
A WHO Director on the Future of Polio Eradication
Wegovy Can Treat a Dangerous Liver Disease, Study Finds
Diabetes deaths fall to lowest levels in years, in early CDC figures
Myanmar earthquake one-month on: needs remain massive
Indonesians are flourishing. People in the UK, Germany, and Spain? Not so much, global survey finds
Indian Summit Showcases Solar and Innovative Cooling Methods as Pressure Mounts for Immediate Climate Solutions
Human Evolution Traded Fur for Sweat Glandsand Now, Our Wounds Take Longer to Heal Than Those of Other Mammals Issue No. 2718
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 .
As scientists continue to sound the alarm about antibiotic overuse driving antimicrobial resistance, new research shows how the crisis is also being exacerbated by the opposite problem: lack of antibiotic access.
Overuse: show how globally just 52% of antibiotics prescribed fell under the access category of first and second-line antibiotics. That rate should be closer to 70%, per WHO targets, but many patients are receiving antibiotics for more severe infections, .
Underuse: Meanwhile, lack of access to the correct antibiotics is further driving the spread of superbugs, , which found that <7% of people with severe infections in poorer countries get the necessary antibiotics, .
Stewardship and innovation: The crisis must be addressed by improving both access to a wider spectrum of antibiotics, and by implementing stewardship policies, .
The authors of the underuse study said stewardship is not enough: Low- and middle-income countries need new drugs and antibiotic innovation.
- We actually have to focus on both , in all places, said senior study author Jennifer Cohn.
China is redoubling its claim that COVID-19 may have originated in the U.S., in a white paper about its own pandemic response released this week, following the Trump administrations launch of a website that blames the pandemic on a lab leak in China.
Sierra Leone has launched a widespread mpox vaccination campaign as cases of the virus surge; the country has confirmed 763 cases, with 177 recorded in a two-day period last week.
Depression, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions could be linked to the bodys immune response, ; the data could help in developing a range of more effective treatments, researchers say.
Nicotine pouch usage nearly doubled among U.S. highschoolers between 20232024, per , which analyzed surveys of 10,000+ teens; the findings signal a growing public health issue, per the studys lead author. CLIMATE Funding Megafarms, Despite Pollution
The U.K. government has subsidized industrial-scale poultry farms, despite growing alarm over the farms contribution to spiraling air and water pollution in the regions where they operate.
Background: The megafarms, which can hold up to a million birds, have proliferated in the region near the Wye and Severn rivers. Already, the farms have .
Outcry over subsidies: At least 瞿14m of public funds have been paid out over three years to poultry farm operatorsa move that environmental advocates say undermines other ecological policies.
- The funding exposes any pretense of practicing effective environmental regulation in this country, said Charles Watson, chairman of NGO River Action.
Truck drivers who travel between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo relied on a network of mobile community health workers to help deliver critical HIV medication while on the road.
That network has broken down following U.S. cuts to foreign aid, leading to closures of clinics and HIV programsand leaving truck drivers without access to their HIV medication.
High risk: Long-haul truck drivers are nearly 6X as likely as the general adult population to be HIV positive, .
Also vulnerable: Sex workers, who rely on the same health networks for HIV medication and PreP.
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Heavy Caw-petition
If it looks like a gull, sounds like a gull, and dresses like a gull it宎s probably a contestant in the European Gull Screeching Contest.
This past weekend, 70 participants from 13 countries descended on the Belgian coastal town of De Panne for the squawk-off designed to rehabilitate the reputation of the oft-maligned coastal birds, .
- Seagull Boy, who GHN celebrated last year, took home a second victory in the youth category, .
- Newcomer Anna Brynald beaked out a victory in the adult category and captured our hearts with her sympatico with the seabirds. After all, both Anna and the gulls are misunderstood, and love fries, .
Ironically, a sense of nihilism keeps Brynald motivated: If there isn't any meaning in life, that means I can do literally everything I want. I can make seagull sounds, because I don't care. QUICK HITS Israeli wildfires could threaten Jerusalem, prime minister says
A WHO Director on the Future of Polio Eradication
Wegovy Can Treat a Dangerous Liver Disease, Study Finds
Diabetes deaths fall to lowest levels in years, in early CDC figures
Myanmar earthquake one-month on: needs remain massive
Indonesians are flourishing. People in the UK, Germany, and Spain? Not so much, global survey finds
Indian Summit Showcases Solar and Innovative Cooling Methods as Pressure Mounts for Immediate Climate Solutions
Human Evolution Traded Fur for Sweat Glandsand Now, Our Wounds Take Longer to Heal Than Those of Other Mammals Issue No. 2718
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 .
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Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Climate Report Frozen; Phthalates May Contribute to Heart Disease; and The Human Toll of Meta Moderation
April 30, 2025
A view of a flipped tractor trailer in Asheville, North Carolina, after heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Helene. September 30, 2024. Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty
Climate Report Frozen
Scientists working on the U.S.s flagship climate report were dismissed this week by the Trump administration, which researchers say could impede critical planning and mitigation efforts at the national and community level, .
The , mandated by Congress and produced by ~400 volunteer authors, is a comprehensive source of information about how climate change affects the U.S.from how quickly sea levels are rising near cities to how to cope with wildfire smoke exposure.
The report covers public health impacts and recommendations for addressing them, including planning for extreme heat in urban areas and bolstering food and water security.
Whats next? The Trump administration said the scope of the report is currently being reevaluated. Researchers worry that a report that downplays risks or contradicts climate science could be published instead, .
Related:
UK is not ready for coming climate disaster, government advisers warn
Trumps first 100 days: US walks away from global climate action
From subs to bases, "climate change crap" has consequences for U.S. military GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Trumps Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows
Exclusive: In conversation with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary
RFK Jr.'s not-so-secret weapon: the moms
Here's how the Trump administration has changed health policy in its first 100 days ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Phthalates May Contribute to Heart Disease
Daily exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a chemical used to make household plastic items, could be linked to more than 10% of all global mortality from heart disease in 2018, .
While DEHP is used globally, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East saw a much larger share of the more than 365,000 global deaths than other populationsnearly half the total.
The studys authors say the resulting economic burden from the deaths was ~$510 billion.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MENTAL HEALTH The Human Toll of Meta Moderation
The people tasked with sifting through the most disturbing images flagged on Facebook and Instagram are underpaid and work in grueling conditions, .
Background: Meta keeps the identities of its content-moderation subcontractors a closely guarded secret, but TBIJ identified one as a French multinational company, Teleperformance, which operates out of Accra, Ghana.
The toll: Moderators say they are held to strict performance targets, work under surveillance, and receive no psychological support for the difficult work, which involves reviewing images of extreme violence and abuse.
Related: How to keep violent porn out of your home and away from your kids OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Plague of rats and insects provide latest challenge for war-shattered Gazans
The Disappeared: Mexicos Industrial-Scale Human Rights Crisis
Winnie Byanyimax: Three ways to help the developing world survive the end of aid
More and more older Americans want to know their Alzheimer's status, survey finds
Top ten research priorities in global burns care: findings from the James Lind Alliance Global Burns Research Priority Setting Partnership
COVID vaccine works faster with both doses in the same arm
Smart insoles could help diagnose dementia, other health problems Issue No. 2717
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 .
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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.
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Scientists working on the U.S.s flagship climate report were dismissed this week by the Trump administration, which researchers say could impede critical planning and mitigation efforts at the national and community level, .
The , mandated by Congress and produced by ~400 volunteer authors, is a comprehensive source of information about how climate change affects the U.S.from how quickly sea levels are rising near cities to how to cope with wildfire smoke exposure.
The report covers public health impacts and recommendations for addressing them, including planning for extreme heat in urban areas and bolstering food and water security.
- If I care about food or water or transportation or insurance or my health, this is what climate change means to me, Texas Tech University climate scientist .
Whats next? The Trump administration said the scope of the report is currently being reevaluated. Researchers worry that a report that downplays risks or contradicts climate science could be published instead, .
Related:
UK is not ready for coming climate disaster, government advisers warn
Trumps first 100 days: US walks away from global climate action
From subs to bases, "climate change crap" has consequences for U.S. military GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
One HPV vaccine dose provides similar protection to two doses in preventing infection, per data from an involving 20,000 girls, presented ahead of the June meeting of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Florida is poised to ban fluoride in public drinking water after state lawmakers approved the measure Tuesday; the bill now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose administration has supported ending fluoridation despite warnings from dentists and public health advocates.
In an Alzheimers breakthrough, U.K. scientists have used living human brain tissue to mimic the early stages of the disease, exposing healthy brain tissue from NHS patients to a toxic form of a protein linked to Alzheimers to demonstrate damage to brain cell connections in real time.
Low emission zones in London significantly reduced harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, that documented measurable public health and economic benefits, including an 18.5% drop in sick leave, following LEZ implementation.
Trumps Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows
Exclusive: In conversation with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary
RFK Jr.'s not-so-secret weapon: the moms
Here's how the Trump administration has changed health policy in its first 100 days ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Phthalates May Contribute to Heart Disease
Daily exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a chemical used to make household plastic items, could be linked to more than 10% of all global mortality from heart disease in 2018, .
While DEHP is used globally, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East saw a much larger share of the more than 365,000 global deaths than other populationsnearly half the total.
- India had the highest death count at 39,677 deaths, followed by Pakistan and Egypt.
The studys authors say the resulting economic burden from the deaths was ~$510 billion.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MENTAL HEALTH The Human Toll of Meta Moderation
The people tasked with sifting through the most disturbing images flagged on Facebook and Instagram are underpaid and work in grueling conditions, .
Background: Meta keeps the identities of its content-moderation subcontractors a closely guarded secret, but TBIJ identified one as a French multinational company, Teleperformance, which operates out of Accra, Ghana.
The toll: Moderators say they are held to strict performance targets, work under surveillance, and receive no psychological support for the difficult work, which involves reviewing images of extreme violence and abuse.
- As a result, many are coping with depression and substance abuse; some have even attempted suicide.
Related: How to keep violent porn out of your home and away from your kids OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Plague of rats and insects provide latest challenge for war-shattered Gazans
The Disappeared: Mexicos Industrial-Scale Human Rights Crisis
Winnie Byanyimax: Three ways to help the developing world survive the end of aid
More and more older Americans want to know their Alzheimer's status, survey finds
Top ten research priorities in global burns care: findings from the James Lind Alliance Global Burns Research Priority Setting Partnership
COVID vaccine works faster with both doses in the same arm
Smart insoles could help diagnose dementia, other health problems Issue No. 2717
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:
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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.
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You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Perus Illegal Mining Surges and Destroys; Autism Database Debate; and The Lingering Legacy of Agent Orange
April 29, 2025
GHN EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Illegal gold mining in Perus Madre de Dios department has destroyed an average of 21,000 hectares of rainforest per year. May 31, 2024. Ernesto Benavides/AFP via Getty
Perus Illegal Mining Surges and Destroys
LIMA, PeruSoaring gold prices and plunging U.S. government funds are .
U.S. cuts: Canceled U.S.-supported projects had reforested devastated areas, traced how mercury poisoned people, and worked with communities on ways to avoid fish species with the highest mercury levels, says tropical ecologist Luis Fern獺ndez, who directs Wake Forest Universitys Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation.
The Quote: We need to understand much more about [mercurys] impact because it is so contaminating, says Eusebio R穩os, a leader of the Harakmbut Indigenous people. It is a silent threat because you do not see it. We are consuming it without knowing it or how it will affect us in the future.
Ed Note: This article was produced in collaboration with and is the first in a series that examines front-line impacts of cuts in U.S. funding. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Measles is surging in Europe and the Americas; in Europewith 87% of the cases in Romaniabetween 2023 and 2024, and the in the Americas so far this year compared to the same period last year, with all related deaths (3) and the highest case count (900) in the U.S.
130+ pregnant women, new mothers, and children who fled Haiti to seek health care in the Dominican Republic were rounded up in hospitals and deported as part of a new crackdown on undocumented migrants.
100 days into the Trump administration, 44% of Americans say they expect to lose trust in public health under new leadership, compared with 28% expecting greater trust, per a new poll of 3,000+ Americans that reflects a partisan divide, with 76% of Democrats reporting waning trust, and 57% of Republicans expressing more optimism.
The FDA confirmed yesterday that it will require Novavax to run a new clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccine, which was previously updated annually to target current strains without the need for new clinical trials, prompting concern from former health officials that its part of an effort to weaken vaccine efforts. U.S. Health Cuts and Policy News No one can do what America does: Sudanese refugees bear the brunt as US aid dries up
Will US science survive Trump 2.0?
Reproductive health groups, ACLU sue Trump administration for withholding family planning grants
Health of mothers and children at risk from loss of CDC data program, expert says
How this Limpopo NGO prepared itself for Trump funding cuts AUTISM Database Debate
Autism advocates and health privacy experts are raising concerns after the Trump administration announced plans to pursue wide-scale data collection in an effort to expedite autism research, .
Pivot from initial plan: The administration initially announced it would create a new registry of people with autism, but retreated from the plan after intense backlash and privacy concerns.
A severe autism advocate responds to RFK Jr.'s research initiative
This Is Not How We Do Science, Ever
Fact-checking RFK Jr.s claim that environmental toxins cause autism
These autistic people struggled to make sense of others. Then they found AI. DATA POINT CONFLICT The Lingering Legacy of Agent Orange
The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago, but the fallout from the Agent Orange supply used in the country by U.S. troops continues to affect new Vietnamese generations.
Clean-up in jeopardy: Vietnam continues decades-long, painstaking remediation efforts, but U.S. funds allocated for the effort have been called into question with the Trump administrations cuts to foreign aid.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS Climate change could increase global levels of antimicrobial resistance, study finds
U.S. maternal deaths doubled during COVID-19 pandemic, among other findings in new study
The Disaster of School Closures Should Have Been Foreseen
Eliminating Malaria in ASEAN: Lessons From Egypt
As a diversity grant dies, young scientists fear it will haunt their careers
Weight loss pills could help tackle obesity in poorer countries, experts say
He had 2 months to live. Cancer research "that seemed like science fiction" saved his life. Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!
How bugs and beet juice could play roles in the race to replace artificial dyes in food Issue No. 2716
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.
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LIMA, PeruSoaring gold prices and plunging U.S. government funds are .
- A longtime problem in the department of Madre de Dios, which borders Bolivia and Brazil, illegal mining is booming as gold prices top $3,000 per ounce.
- The gold rush requires a massive influx of workers and large amounts of mercury, which is used to extract gold from ore.
U.S. cuts: Canceled U.S.-supported projects had reforested devastated areas, traced how mercury poisoned people, and worked with communities on ways to avoid fish species with the highest mercury levels, says tropical ecologist Luis Fern獺ndez, who directs Wake Forest Universitys Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation.
The Quote: We need to understand much more about [mercurys] impact because it is so contaminating, says Eusebio R穩os, a leader of the Harakmbut Indigenous people. It is a silent threat because you do not see it. We are consuming it without knowing it or how it will affect us in the future.
Ed Note: This article was produced in collaboration with and is the first in a series that examines front-line impacts of cuts in U.S. funding. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Measles is surging in Europe and the Americas; in Europewith 87% of the cases in Romaniabetween 2023 and 2024, and the in the Americas so far this year compared to the same period last year, with all related deaths (3) and the highest case count (900) in the U.S.
130+ pregnant women, new mothers, and children who fled Haiti to seek health care in the Dominican Republic were rounded up in hospitals and deported as part of a new crackdown on undocumented migrants.
100 days into the Trump administration, 44% of Americans say they expect to lose trust in public health under new leadership, compared with 28% expecting greater trust, per a new poll of 3,000+ Americans that reflects a partisan divide, with 76% of Democrats reporting waning trust, and 57% of Republicans expressing more optimism.
The FDA confirmed yesterday that it will require Novavax to run a new clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccine, which was previously updated annually to target current strains without the need for new clinical trials, prompting concern from former health officials that its part of an effort to weaken vaccine efforts. U.S. Health Cuts and Policy News No one can do what America does: Sudanese refugees bear the brunt as US aid dries up
Will US science survive Trump 2.0?
Reproductive health groups, ACLU sue Trump administration for withholding family planning grants
Health of mothers and children at risk from loss of CDC data program, expert says
How this Limpopo NGO prepared itself for Trump funding cuts AUTISM Database Debate
Autism advocates and health privacy experts are raising concerns after the Trump administration announced plans to pursue wide-scale data collection in an effort to expedite autism research, .
Pivot from initial plan: The administration initially announced it would create a new registry of people with autism, but retreated from the plan after intense backlash and privacy concerns.
- Still, the administration plans to collect and consolidate autism-related data, combining federal health data, medical records, insurance claims, and readouts from wearable devices to create a real-world data platform, .
- Some health providers are reporting an uptick in patient requests to remove personal information from charts over privacy concerns.
A severe autism advocate responds to RFK Jr.'s research initiative
This Is Not How We Do Science, Ever
Fact-checking RFK Jr.s claim that environmental toxins cause autism
These autistic people struggled to make sense of others. Then they found AI. DATA POINT CONFLICT The Lingering Legacy of Agent Orange
The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago, but the fallout from the Agent Orange supply used in the country by U.S. troops continues to affect new Vietnamese generations.
- At Da Nang, the site of a U.S. air base, soil remains highly toxic, with dangerous chemicals like dioxin leaching into food and water supplies.
Clean-up in jeopardy: Vietnam continues decades-long, painstaking remediation efforts, but U.S. funds allocated for the effort have been called into question with the Trump administrations cuts to foreign aid.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS Climate change could increase global levels of antimicrobial resistance, study finds
U.S. maternal deaths doubled during COVID-19 pandemic, among other findings in new study
The Disaster of School Closures Should Have Been Foreseen
Eliminating Malaria in ASEAN: Lessons From Egypt
As a diversity grant dies, young scientists fear it will haunt their careers
Weight loss pills could help tackle obesity in poorer countries, experts say
He had 2 months to live. Cancer research "that seemed like science fiction" saved his life. Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!
How bugs and beet juice could play roles in the race to replace artificial dyes in food Issue No. 2716
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.
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You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Gaza Aid at a Breaking Point; The Struggle for Inclusive Care in Nigeria and Kenya; and Japans Regenerative Medicine Revolution
April 28, 2025
Palestinians, mostly children, wait in long lines for food aid distributed by charity organizations at Nuseirat Refugee Camp, near Deir al-Balah, Gaza. April 28. Hassan Jedi/Anadolu via Getty
Gaza Aid at a Breaking Point
Food and medical aid are nearing total collapse in Gaza, as a blockade by Israel stretches into a second month, humanitarian groups are warning. The increasingly dire alerts come as hearings begin at the UN's top court in The Hague, with a Palestinian envoy accusing Israel of destroying the fundamentals of life in Palestine, .
International hearings begin: In The Hague, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of breaching international law by blocking critical aid, attacking aid workers, and displacing citizens, .
Yellow fever poses a growing threat in the Asia-Pacific region due to expanded mosquito habitats, accelerated urbanization, and increased international travel, posits.
Uganda declared the end of its Ebola outbreak last Friday, with the last patient discharged March 14; ring vaccination, Remdesivir treatment, and border health measures were among the components of the countrys fast, coordinated, and effective response.
Mpox cases have declined in Africa over the past six weeks due to an intensification of public health measures including increased surveillance and contact tracing, Africa CDC officials said last week; however, 17 of 24 countries still report active transmission, and the virus continues to show up in new countries.
The Trump administration is restoring funding to a major NIH-led womens health research study; the reversal of last weeks defunding decision drew relief from scientists involved in the decades-long project, though they said they havent yet received official confirmation. U.S. and Global Health Cuts and Policy News: WHO, WFP announce cuts and layoffs after US withholds funding
Aid groups are erasing climate change from their websites
Health program for 9/11 illnesses faces uncertain future after federal staffing cuts
USDA withdraws a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry
Researcher of 1918 flu virus takes over NIAID
Trump-appointed National Science Foundation leader resigns INCLUSION The Struggle for Inclusive Care in Nigeria and Kenya
Despite Nigerias and Kenyas commitment to health care accessibility for people with disabilities and national laws for inclusive health care, these rights have not been fully realized, and many of those affected are not aware of their primary care rights.
Related:
Disability Protection Groups in Two States Pause Services After Missing Federal Funds
Supreme Court to hear school disability discrimination case GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Japans Regenerative Medicine Revolution
Across Japan, biotechnology labs are proliferating as the countrys government continues to bet big on the future of regenerative medicine.
Background: In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that adult cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like state known as induced pluripotent stem cells (or iPS cells), allowing them to become any kind of tissue, from retinas to cardiac muscle.
Since then, the Japanese government has poured $760 million (110 billion yen) into regenerative medicine development.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Sudan war: People eating charcoal and leaves to survive, aid agency warns
Killer Robots Threaten Human Rights During War, Peace: Urgent Need for Treaty on Autonomous Weapon Systems
More US adults willing to receive mpox vaccine now than in 2022
HMC launches first clinical study to help shisha smokers quit
WHO issues new recommendations to end the rise in medicalized female genital mutilation and support survivors
Huge reproducibility project fails to validate dozens of biomedical studies
Whooping cough cases are rising again in the US
Angie Murimirwa: From hiding in the bathroom to Time's most influential people list Issue No. 2715
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.
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Food and medical aid are nearing total collapse in Gaza, as a blockade by Israel stretches into a second month, humanitarian groups are warning. The increasingly dire alerts come as hearings begin at the UN's top court in The Hague, with a Palestinian envoy accusing Israel of destroying the fundamentals of life in Palestine, .
International hearings begin: In The Hague, Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of breaching international law by blocking critical aid, attacking aid workers, and displacing citizens, .
-
Israel has criticized the case as systematic persecution and delegitimization and denies deliberately targeting civilians and aid staff. The court will likely take months to rule.
Brink of catastrophe: Aid groups say that food and critical supplies are nearly out and that essential bakeries and kitchens have shuttered across the enclave, .
-
The World Food Programme announced last week its stocks in Gaza are depleted, saying that since the ceasefire, conditions have once again reached a breaking point, .
Meanwhile, pregnant women face growing dangers in Gaza, with miscarriages, premature births, complications, and deaths in childbirth all rising, .
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-LinersYellow fever poses a growing threat in the Asia-Pacific region due to expanded mosquito habitats, accelerated urbanization, and increased international travel, posits.
Uganda declared the end of its Ebola outbreak last Friday, with the last patient discharged March 14; ring vaccination, Remdesivir treatment, and border health measures were among the components of the countrys fast, coordinated, and effective response.
Mpox cases have declined in Africa over the past six weeks due to an intensification of public health measures including increased surveillance and contact tracing, Africa CDC officials said last week; however, 17 of 24 countries still report active transmission, and the virus continues to show up in new countries.
The Trump administration is restoring funding to a major NIH-led womens health research study; the reversal of last weeks defunding decision drew relief from scientists involved in the decades-long project, though they said they havent yet received official confirmation. U.S. and Global Health Cuts and Policy News: WHO, WFP announce cuts and layoffs after US withholds funding
Aid groups are erasing climate change from their websites
Health program for 9/11 illnesses faces uncertain future after federal staffing cuts
USDA withdraws a plan to limit salmonella levels in raw poultry
Researcher of 1918 flu virus takes over NIAID
Trump-appointed National Science Foundation leader resigns INCLUSION The Struggle for Inclusive Care in Nigeria and Kenya
Despite Nigerias and Kenyas commitment to health care accessibility for people with disabilities and national laws for inclusive health care, these rights have not been fully realized, and many of those affected are not aware of their primary care rights.
- 17% of Nigerias population, or 35 million people, have disabilities.
- 57% of the 6 million people with disabilities in Kenya are women.
Related:
Disability Protection Groups in Two States Pause Services After Missing Federal Funds
Supreme Court to hear school disability discrimination case GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Japans Regenerative Medicine Revolution
Across Japan, biotechnology labs are proliferating as the countrys government continues to bet big on the future of regenerative medicine.
Background: In 2006, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered that adult cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like state known as induced pluripotent stem cells (or iPS cells), allowing them to become any kind of tissue, from retinas to cardiac muscle.
Since then, the Japanese government has poured $760 million (110 billion yen) into regenerative medicine development.
- Of the 60+ iPS-cell clinical trials worldwide, nearly one-third are in Japan.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Sudan war: People eating charcoal and leaves to survive, aid agency warns
Killer Robots Threaten Human Rights During War, Peace: Urgent Need for Treaty on Autonomous Weapon Systems
More US adults willing to receive mpox vaccine now than in 2022
HMC launches first clinical study to help shisha smokers quit
WHO issues new recommendations to end the rise in medicalized female genital mutilation and support survivors
Huge reproducibility project fails to validate dozens of biomedical studies
Whooping cough cases are rising again in the US
Angie Murimirwa: From hiding in the bathroom to Time's most influential people list Issue No. 2715
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.
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You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
