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96 Global Health NOW: Inferno in L.A.; The Most Neglected NTD: Cryptosporidiosis; and 鈥嬧�婲o Good Win Goes Unpunished The fires have killed at least five people, burned 27,000+ acres and destroyed ~2,000 structures January 9, 2025 A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7. David Swanson/AFP via Getty An Inferno in L.A. 
Tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders in Los Angeles as high-force winds fuel multiple rampant fires around the city鈥攕ome of the most destructive in L.A.鈥檚 history, . 

The latest: The fires have killed at least five people, burned 27,000+ acres, and destroyed ~2,000 structures, . 

More danger ahead: Much of Los Angeles County remains under a red flag warning, with forecasters predicting dangerous conditions through Friday night.

Far-reaching hazard: The smoke blanketing the area is creating for people across the region, . 

Water shortages: The region鈥檚 water system buckled under the high demand, with some fire hydrants running dry, . 

Evacuation gridlock: Cars clogged major roads as residents fled鈥攁 perilous scene feared by residents who have long advocated for better planning, . 

Slashed resources: L.A.鈥檚 fire chief warned last month that $18 million in budget cuts had 鈥渟everely limited the department's capacity鈥� to prepare for wildfires, . 

Inmate firefighters: California has long depended on hundreds of inmate firefighters to help contain wildfire spread; those numbers have been dwindling due to prison reform and the COVID-19 pandemic, . 

Bigger picture: Climate researchers warn that a warming world increases the number of 鈥渇ire weather鈥� days globally鈥攚here conditions are more suited for conflagrations, . GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, with women and children accounting for more than half of the fatalities, per Gaza鈥檚 Health Ministry, which also reports 109,378 wounded as the 15-month conflict grinds on.
 
Mayo Clinic-led researchers characterized the risk potential for thousands of mutations of the BRCA2 cancer gene, offering insights to help providers identify patients with breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer who might benefit from more targeted treatments, according to a yesterday.
 
Taking doxycycline within 72 hours after sex reduced the incidence of chlamydia (by 79%), syphilis (by 80%), and gonorrhea (by 12%), per a 鈥攐ne of the first to show the effectiveness of the doxyPEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) strategy outside of clinical trials.
 
A new aimed at improving surveillance, research, and response to possible chronic wasting disease spillover from cervids, such as deer to people or farm animals, offers recommendations to help public and animal health agencies recognize and address a species jump. GHN EXCLUSIVE COMMENTARY A light micrograph image of oocysts of the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. M. Kandasamy and B. Striepen The Most Neglected NTD: Cryptosporidiosis
The 14-month-old boy arrived last January at University Teaching Hospitals鈥擟hildren鈥檚 Hospital in Lusaka, after suffering 12 days of diarrhea and poor appetite. Lethargic and dehydrated, he had underlying severe acute malnutrition.

Lab tests confirmed he was infected with Cryptosporidium. Despite maximal care that followed WHO protocols, the child died after a week in the hospital.

Cryptosporidiosis, implicated in the heartbreaking toll of 200,000 child deaths annually, receives far too little attention and should be added to the WHO list of (NTDs), write five members of the Cryptosporidiosis Therapeutics Advocacy Group. 

A place on the WHO鈥檚 list would:

• Increase awareness of the disease鈥檚 impact on vulnerable populations and emphasize the need for quick action.

• Encourage governments to allocate resources and develop strategies for disease surveillance, diagnosis, and control measures. 

• Persuade regulatory agencies like the U.S. FDA to prioritize evaluating and approving diagnostics, treatments, and potential vaccines. 

The takeaway: Achieving these and other crucial steps would give clinicians and public health practitioners the tools they need to reduce cryptosporidiosis鈥檚 devastating impact on children worldwide.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HEARING LOSS What鈥檚 Your Number?
Over the course of our lives, every one of us will experience a decline in hearing.
 
What isn鈥檛 so common: getting regular hearing tests to understand how our hearing changes over time.
 
Now, with free smartphone apps, anyone can learn their 鈥溾�濃�攖he measure in decibels of the softest speech sound a person can hear. This metric could help people decide when to use new strategies and technologies, such as over-the-counter hearing aids, to optimize their hearing.
 
Why it matters: Several large studies have linked hearing loss to cognitive decline. Now there are more accessible tools to identify hearing changes鈥攁nd intervene鈥攅arlier.
 
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION No Good Win Goes Unpunished
For the college football coach lucky enough to clinch the annual Duke始s Mayo Bowl, the prize is bragging rights 鈥� and five gallons of mayo to the face.
 
And teams始 approach to the prank is surprisingly strategic.
 
Like any good sports coach, this year始s Duke始s dumpee, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, assessed his assets. 鈥淚 think with my bald head the mayo should just slide right off,鈥� .  鈥淚 might have to do a little pre-dumping of the mayo just to make sure.鈥�
 
Tryouts to be the mayo dumper include mayo bucket deadlifts and catching footballs with mayo-soaked hands.
 
Not a mayo-thlete? Mere sports fans can dump stuff from the stands in the, which set a record this year by raining over 100,000 plush pals onto the ice at a hockey game in Pennsylvania. QUICK HITS New year brings little new hope for children in Gaza, with at least 74 children reportedly killed in first week of 2025 鈥�

鈥楩orgotten鈥�: How one Mexican city struggles against big industry for water 鈥�

Delhi's air quality remains in 'very poor' category, AQI stands at 322 鈥�

Ecuador: ongoing violence displacing thousands 鈥�

Survival of the luckiest? New study hints at the potential role of luck in evolution 鈥� Issue No. 2837
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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96 Global Health NOW: A Promising Fight Against a Silent Killer; A Powerful Prescription: Cash; and Jimmy Carter鈥檚 Global Health Legacy January 8, 2025 GHN EXCLUSIVE Kennedy Wasilwa, a clinical officer at Lodwar County Referral Hospital, attends to a kala-azar client. December 10, 2024. Scovian Lillian A Promising Fight Against a Silent Killer  
LODWAR, Kenya鈥擨n a sweltering children鈥檚 hospital ward, frail children lie on narrow beds, their tiny bodies locked in battle with kala-azar鈥攁lso known as visceral leishmaniasis.  
  On their wrists, thin plastic cannulas are taped in place, a constant reminder of the daily injections they must endure to survive the parasitic disease.

• Kala-azar is called a silent killer because its early warning signs鈥攆ever, fatigue, low appetite鈥攃an be easy to dismiss. But untreated, the disease, caused by Leishmania parasites transmitted through sandfly bites, kills 90% of its victims.


• And cases have surged recently in arid Turkana County, in northwestern Kenya鈥攚here the hospital now diagnoses and treats around five to 10 cases per day, a significant increase from previous years. 

A big challenge: The disease鈥檚 high death rate, especially among children.
 
Scovian Lillian reported on the reasons for this, the need for safer, simpler treatments, and progress under a framework to eliminate child deaths from the disease by 2030鈥攑ointing to another country鈥檚 success story as proof such ambitious goals are attainable.
 


Ed. Note: This article is part of , made possible through the generous support of loyal GHN readers. Scovian Lillian, an independent journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya, reported on this story as a recipient of the DNDi media fellowship for Eastern African health journalists GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Thousands of rescue workers have poured into Tibet to search for survivors after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake killed ~126 people and trapped hundreds more.

A compound derived from a tree native to southern Brazil kills the parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis and may provide a breakthrough treatment for the disease, a published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy has found.

The U.K. cut health-related aid to vulnerable nations while also hiring nurses from those countries鈥攄espite their 鈥溾�� status as regions with severe health workforce shortages, per a new analysis by the Royal College of Nursing.

The FDA has set limits for toxic lead in processed baby foods like jarred fruits, dry cereals, and yogurts, which could cut exposure by 20%鈥�30%, the agency says; however, the limits are voluntary, not mandatory. TUBERCULOSIS A Powerful Prescription: Cash
A Brazilian economic program that provides cash to poor residents has been linked to significant positive health outcomes鈥攊ncluding lowering rates of tuberculosis, a new published in Nature Medicine has found. 

Researchers looked at data on 54 million+ Brazilians living in poverty, 44% of whom received monthly cash payouts from the country鈥檚 Bolsa Familia Program, launched 20 years ago.

Their findings: Families receiving cash were significantly less likely to contract TB, with TB cases and deaths dropping by over 50%鈥攁nd by more than 60% among Indigenous populations.

How might payouts prevent TB? Researchers say the cash supplements allow people to improve their living conditions, diversify their diets, and take time off work for medical care. 



Related: Significantly shorter treatment regimens for tuberculosis in children and adults now recommended 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES POLIO For Indian Americans, A Not-So-Distant Scourge
For many Indian Americans, polio is a recent painful memory. 

Vaccines only became widely available in India in the 1970s, when ~200,000 cases were reported each year. The country was finally declared polio-free in 2014 after extensive vaccination efforts.

Now, with rising vaccine skepticism and the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as U.S. health secretary, Indian American health providers and advocates are voicing concerns about potential polio resurgence in the U.S.

The Quote: 鈥淚 want to be the last generation who remembers the impact of polio,鈥� said Nahid Bhadelia, director of Boston University鈥檚 Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, whose uncle in India had polio. 鈥淚 wish our children鈥檚 generation didn鈥檛 have to deal with this anymore.鈥�

RIP Jimmy Carter鈥檚 Global Health Legacy 
Following his presidency, Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, spent five decades鈥攈alf of his 100 years鈥攑lacing much of his focus on global health in the world鈥檚 poorest countries. His quiet yet far-reaching work helped bring health and sanitation to millions and reshaped the work of aid organizations, .

Some highlights: 

Focus on NTDs: Carter made a priority of bringing attention to NTDs, especially to Guinea worm. With the help of the Carter Center鈥檚 efforts, cases dropped from 3.5 million in 1986 to 14 in 2023, . 

Leveraging status: Carter visited remote and impoverished populations with his wife, Rosalynn鈥攁nd later advocated for those groups in international forums. He negotiated a ceasefire during Sudan鈥檚 civil war to allow health teams to tackle a parasitic disease and brokered drug donations for illnesses like river blindness. 

Community-led efforts: The Carter Center set new standards for international aid鈥攑rioritizing locally led, long-term initiatives.

Related: 

Jimmy Carter leaves behind a global public health work legacy 鈥�

Covering Carter: Seeing Hope Restored in Africa 鈥�

鈥極ur country ignored Africa,鈥� Jimmy Carter said. He didn鈥檛 鈥� QUICK HITS Breakthrough drugs herald 鈥榥ew era鈥� in battle against dementia, experts predict 鈥�

'Toxic male technique' could reduce female mosquito population by poisoning them during sex 鈥�

Mongolian horses are contracting H5N1 under the radar, says new study 鈥�

Environmental groups sue FDA over refusal to tackle risky plastic packaging 鈥�  

Doctors worry that iodine deficiency 鈥� a dietary problem from the past 鈥� is coming back 鈥�  

New Global Standard? Iron Infusions Boost Pregnancy Outcomes in Landmark Study 鈥�

Atul Gawande on Global Health's Past and Present 鈥� Issue No. 2836
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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96 Global Health NOW: Experts: HMPV Is Not COVID-19; Avian Flu and Other Issues to Watch in 2025; and Your December Recap January 7, 2025 A relative holds an IV drip for a child receiving care at a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province. January 6. STR/AFP via Getty Experts: HMPV Is Not COVID-19
A sharp rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections among children 14 and under in China that began late last month has led to crowded hospitals and global concerns.

• Videos of crowded hospitals have circulated on social media, recalling COVID-19鈥檚 early months.

But: Health officials in China and beyond are trying to allay fears of a repeat of COVID-19, which emerged from the country almost exactly five years ago, .
 
Background:

• HMPV is a common virus that鈥檚 been recognized since 2001, (and circulated in humans for decades before that).


• HMPV infection is usually mild with symptoms similar to the common cold. But severe cases can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, 鈥減articularly among infants, older adults and immunocompromised people,鈥� per the Times.

China鈥檚 take: Health officials said the surge in respiratory cases in the country鈥檚 northern provinces reflects the typical peak in winter, .

• HMPV and influenza cases will likely spike at the end of this month when many Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year holiday, according to an official with China鈥檚 Center for Disease Control and Prevention per the Times.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   Nearly a third of adults surveyed in six African countries said they were reluctant to get the mpox vaccine, according to a study published this week in ; ~40% said they were reluctant to have their children vaccinated.

The U.S. FDA has rolled out new recommendations for manufacturers to improve the accuracy of pulse oximeters鈥� use with patients of color; the devices have been found to overestimate Black patients鈥� oxygen levels, potentially delaying treatment.

Vasectomies increased by 95% and tubal sterilizations by 70% among Americans between 19 and 26, within months of the June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, .
 
Indonesia鈥檚 new government launched a new initiative yesterday to reduce malnutrition by feeding ~90 million children and pregnant women through 2029; the Free Nutritious Meal program will cost $28 billion through 2029. YEAR-END RECAP Global Health Issues to Watch in 2025
It may be a new year, but many of the global health stories from the last few years are still playing out, writes Helen Branswell for STAT鈥攚ho adds that 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 feel like the 2020s are ready to cut us any breaks.鈥� 

Among the questions in the new year:

• How might H5N1 bird flu evolve? 


• Can mpox transmission be stopped? 


• Will the U.S. play a decreased global health role with the incoming Trump administration? 

鈥�And looking back to 2024:

• WHO looks back at 2024&苍产蝉辫;鈥�


• 鈥楴ot the new normal鈥� 鈥� 2024 'one of the worst years in UNICEF鈥檚 history' for children in conflict 鈥�


• 2024: The year in photos&苍产蝉辫;鈥�


• Public Health in 2024: Historic Firsts, Unwelcome Comebacks, and Rays of Hope&苍产蝉辫;鈥�

INFECTIOUS DISEASES More About Avian Flu ...
After the first U.S. death from H5N1 avian flu was reported yesterday鈥攁 Louisiana resident hospitalized last month who was over 65 and had underlying medical conditions鈥攖he WHO said that the risk to the general population remains low, .

• The CDC also says the risk to the broader public remains low, 鈥攁lthough the virus appears to have developed some concerning mutations in the course of the Louisiana patient鈥檚 illness. Canada reported similar findings in a girl who fell ill in November.

Eyes on the U.S. response: A must-read from Amy Maxmen, , traces how America lost control of avian flu鈥攆eaturing dozens of government officials, farmers, farmworkers, and researchers, including virologists around the world who warn that the stage has been set for another pandemic.

• 鈥淵ou are surrounded by highly pathogenic viruses in the wild and in farm animals,鈥� said Marion Koopmans, head of virology at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands. 鈥淚f three months from now we are at the start of the pandemic, it is nobody鈥檚 surprise.鈥�

Trouble points: Slashed public health budgets, lethargic federal interventions, and neglect for the safety of agriculture workers.
 
The Quote: 鈥淚 hear over and over from workers, 鈥楾he cows are more valuable than us,鈥欌�� says Bethany Boggess of the National Center for Farmworker Health. DECEMBER EXCLUSIVES Makeshift houses in the Garden House Compound area of Lusaka that share makeshift toilets built from wood and rags. Lusaka, Zambia, November 6, 2024. Freddie Clayton Exclusives to Close out 2024:
New Local Reporting Initiative reporters Kennedy Phiri and Freddie Clayton explore efforts to avoid a repeat of last year鈥檚 deadly cholera outbreak in Zambia in this two-part series:

•  

Michelle Morse, New York City鈥檚 acting health commissioner, shares her public health priorities for the residents of the largest city in the U.S.鈥攁nd how her global health experience influences her work today鈥攊n a Q&A with GHN鈥檚 Brian W. Simpson.

And, reporter Joanne Silberner examines how the U.S. government鈥檚 approach to public health might change when the second Trump administration begins on January 20鈥攅xploring what powers states have to determine and take action on their own public health priorities.

MORE DECEMBER MUST-READS Cartels Recruiting Chemistry Students
As Mexican cartels seek to dominate the fentanyl market, they are increasingly turning to a new source for recruits: university chemistry labs, using high salaries and other incentives to lure students.

The bigger ambition: Cartels are trying to synthesize chemical compounds known as 鈥減recursors鈥� that are key to making fentanyl, which would free them from being dependent on China for production鈥攎aking it more difficult for law enforcement in both Mexico and the U.S. to stop the flow of the deadly drug. 


  Women on the Lymphatic Filariasis Front Lines
The mosquito-borne disease lymphatic filariasis takes an especially heavy toll on women in India鈥攅specially in poor, rural regions, where women are more vulnerable due to daily outdoor chores and have less access to health care.

• While annual mass drug administration campaigns aim to reduce transmission, mistrust and lack of awareness keep the preventive medicines out of women鈥檚 reach.

  Portugal鈥檚 Practical Health Priorities 
Portugal has a life expectancy nearly four years longer than the U.S.鈥攄espite spending just 20% of what the U.S. spends on health care per person.

The focus? Not cutting-edge technology or expensive medical facilities, but rather 鈥渙ld fashioned primary care and public health,鈥� including free or low-cost health care for every resident and clinics embedded in neighborhoods.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS The surgeon general wants the U.S. to know alcohol causes cancer. Plenty stands in his way 鈥�

WHO announces the development of new guidelines for lenacapavir and updated HIV testing guidelines 鈥�

Sweet Danger: How Sugary Drinks Are Fueling Millions of New Diabetes and Heart Disease Cases Worldwide 鈥�

Krutika Kuppalli and Placide Mbala Kingebeni鈥� What we learnt from the DRC鈥檚 malaria outbreak 鈥�

Mycetoma: A Neglected Tropical Disease Affecting Ethiopia's Rural Communities 鈥�

Health Insurers Limit Coverage of Prosthetic Limbs, Questioning Their Medical Necessity 鈥�

Wait, should I bother using antibacterial soap? 鈥� Issue No. M-Dec.2024
Global Health NOW is an initiative https://us14.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/edit?id=10286596of 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 .

96 Global Health NOW: January 7, 2025 A relative holds an IV drip for a child receiving care at a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province. January 6. STR/AFP via Getty Experts: HMPV Is Not COVID-19
A sharp rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections among children 14 and under in China that began late last month has led to crowded hospitals and global concerns.

• Videos of crowded hospitals have circulated on social media, recalling COVID-19鈥檚 early months.

But: Health officials in China and beyond are trying to allay fears of a repeat of COVID-19, which emerged from the country almost exactly five years ago, .
 
Background:

• HMPV is a common virus that鈥檚 been recognized since 2001, (and circulated in humans for decades before that).


• HMPV infection is usually mild with symptoms similar to the common cold. But severe cases can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, 鈥減articularly among infants, older adults and immunocompromised people,鈥� per the Times.

China鈥檚 take: Health officials said the surge in respiratory cases in the country鈥檚 northern provinces reflects the typical peak in winter, .

• HMPV and influenza cases will likely spike at the end of this month when many Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year holiday, according to an official with China鈥檚 Center for Disease Control and Prevention per the Times.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   Nearly a third of adults surveyed in six African countries said they were reluctant to get the mpox vaccine, according to a study published this week in ; ~40% said they were reluctant to have their children vaccinated.

The U.S. FDA has rolled out new recommendations for manufacturers to improve the accuracy of pulse oximeters鈥� use with patients of color; the devices have been found to overestimate Black patients鈥� oxygen levels, potentially delaying treatment.

Vasectomies increased by 95% and tubal sterilizations by 70% among Americans between 19 and 26, within months of the June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, .
 
Indonesia鈥檚 new government launched a new initiative yesterday to reduce malnutrition by feeding ~90 million children and pregnant women through 2029; the Free Nutritious Meal program will cost $28 billion through 2029. YEAR-END RECAP Global Health Issues to Watch in 2025
It may be a new year, but many of the global health stories from the last few years are still playing out, writes Helen Branswell for STAT鈥攚ho adds that 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 feel like the 2020s are ready to cut us any breaks.鈥� 

Among the questions in the new year:

• How might H5N1 bird flu evolve? 


• Can mpox transmission be stopped? 


• Will the U.S. play a decreased global health role with the incoming Trump administration? 

鈥�And looking back to 2024:

• WHO looks back at 2024&苍产蝉辫;鈥�


• 鈥楴ot the new normal鈥� 鈥� 2024 'one of the worst years in UNICEF鈥檚 history' for children in conflict 鈥�


• 2024: The year in photos&苍产蝉辫;鈥�


• Public Health in 2024: Historic Firsts, Unwelcome Comebacks, and Rays of Hope&苍产蝉辫;鈥�

INFECTIOUS DISEASES More About Avian Flu ...
After the first U.S. death from H5N1 avian flu was reported yesterday鈥攁 Louisiana resident hospitalized last month who was over 65 and had underlying medical conditions鈥攖he WHO said that the risk to the general population remains low, .

• The CDC also says the risk to the broader public remains low, 鈥攁lthough the virus appears to have developed some concerning mutations in the course of the Louisiana patient鈥檚 illness. Canada reported similar findings in a girl who fell ill in November.

Eyes on the U.S. response: A must-read from Amy Maxmen, , traces how America lost control of avian flu鈥攆eaturing dozens of government officials, farmers, farmworkers, and researchers, including virologists around the world who warn that the stage has been set for another pandemic.

• 鈥淵ou are surrounded by highly pathogenic viruses in the wild and in farm animals,鈥� said Marion Koopmans, head of virology at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands. 鈥淚f three months from now we are at the start of the pandemic, it is nobody鈥檚 surprise.鈥�

Trouble points: Slashed public health budgets, lethargic federal interventions, and neglect for the safety of agriculture workers.
 
The Quote: 鈥淚 hear over and over from workers, 鈥楾he cows are more valuable than us,鈥欌�� says Bethany Boggess of the National Center for Farmworker Health. DECEMBER EXCLUSIVES Makeshift houses in the Garden House Compound area of Lusaka that share makeshift toilets built from wood and rags. Lusaka, Zambia, November 6, 2024. Freddie Clayton Exclusives to Close out 2024:
New Local Reporting Initiative reporters Kennedy Phiri and Freddie Clayton explore efforts to avoid a repeat of last year鈥檚 deadly cholera outbreak in Zambia in this two-part series:

•  

Michelle Morse, New York City鈥檚 acting health commissioner, shares her public health priorities for the residents of the largest city in the U.S.鈥攁nd how her global health experience influences her work today鈥攊n a Q&A with GHN鈥檚 Brian W. Simpson.

And, veteran GHN freelancer Joanne Silberner examines how the U.S. government鈥檚 approach to public health might change when the second Trump administration begins on January 20鈥攅xploring what powers states have to determine and take action on their own public health priorities.

MORE DECEMBER MUST-READS Cartels Recruiting Chemistry Students
As Mexican cartels seek to dominate the fentanyl market, they are increasingly turning to a new source for recruits: university chemistry labs, using high salaries and other incentives to lure students.

The bigger ambition: Cartels are trying to synthesize chemical compounds known as 鈥減recursors鈥� that are key to making fentanyl, which would free them from being dependent on China for production鈥攎aking it more difficult for law enforcement in both Mexico and the U.S. to stop the flow of the deadly drug. 


  Women on the Lymphatic Filariasis Front Lines
The mosquito-borne disease lymphatic filariasis takes an especially heavy toll on women in India鈥攅specially in poor, rural regions, where women are more vulnerable due to daily outdoor chores and have less access to health care.

• While annual mass drug administration campaigns aim to reduce transmission, mistrust and lack of awareness keep the preventive medicines out of women鈥檚 reach.

  Portugal鈥檚 Practical Health Priorities 
Portugal has a life expectancy nearly four years longer than the U.S.鈥攄espite spending just 20% of what the U.S. spends on health care per person.

The focus? Not cutting-edge technology or expensive medical facilities, but rather 鈥渙ld fashioned primary care and public health,鈥� including free or low-cost health care for every resident and clinics embedded in neighborhoods.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS The surgeon general wants the U.S. to know alcohol causes cancer. Plenty stands in his way 鈥�

WHO announces the development of new guidelines for lenacapavir and updated HIV testing guidelines 鈥�

Sweet Danger: How Sugary Drinks Are Fueling Millions of New Diabetes and Heart Disease Cases Worldwide 鈥�

Krutika Kuppalli and Placide Mbala Kingebeni鈥� What we learnt from the DRC鈥檚 malaria outbreak 鈥�

Mycetoma: A Neglected Tropical Disease Affecting Ethiopia's Rural Communities 鈥�

Health Insurers Limit Coverage of Prosthetic Limbs, Questioning Their Medical Necessity 鈥�

Wait, should I bother using antibacterial soap? 鈥� Issue No. 2835
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 .

A day after the United States reported its first human death from avian flu, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) insisted on Tuesday that the risk to the wider population remains 鈥渓ow鈥�. 

96 Global Health SNOW Day January 6, 2025 Anoushka and Wolfie don't mind the snow! Arnold, Maryland, January 6. Dayna Kerecman Myers Global Health SNOW Day
A winter storm hit the Baltimore region overnight, closing Johns Hopkins University today and delaying our planned first issue of 2025.

We know there is a lot of global health news to catch up on after the holiday break, and we plan to be back in full force tomorrow with the first official GHN of 2025! Until then, here are a few stories to tide you over. 鈥�Dayna QUICK HITS 9 countries said goodbye to a devastating disease in 2024 鈥�

HHS directs $306 million to avian flu response as virus strikes more US flocks 鈥�

鈥楾here is no safe level鈥� of alcohol to drink, doctor says鈥攏ot even one glass of red wine per day 鈥�

What Covid tried to teach us 鈥� and why it will matter in the next pandemic 鈥�

How visa rejections are stalling Africa's health research 鈥�

22 Public Health Accomplishments in 2024 鈥�

Did anything good happen in 2024? Actually, yes! 鈥� Issue No. 2834
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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In northeast Syria, UN teams pressed ahead with a lifesaving cholera vaccine campaign in Al Hol detention camp complex on Friday, despite rumours of attacks by ISIL extremists and uncertainty across the war-torn country, following the overthrow of the Assad regime. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week reflected on COVID-19, and ongoing efforts to understand the disease, five years after its emergence.

Israel鈥檚 pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, have pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians鈥� access to health and medical care, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday.

The last major functioning health facility in northern Gaza, Kamal Adwan Hospital, is now out of service, putting the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in the area at risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Friday.

Health challenges in northwest Syria have escalated due to harsh winter conditions, exacerbating the vulnerability of displaced populations, the UN World Health Organization (WHO)-led Health Cluster reported on Friday.

In a message commemorating Friday鈥檚 International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, UN Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres urged all nations to invest in resilience and equity to make a healthier and safer world for all.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched a $56.4 million flash appeal to address urgent health needs in Syria, where years of conflict have cripped the healthcare system.

Yemen has reported the highest global burden of cholera, with nearly 250,000 suspected cases and 861 associated deaths as of 1 December, accounting for 35 per cent of worldwide cholera cases and 18 per cent of related deaths this year, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

96 CNNTD Holiday Message 2024/Message de No毛l du RCMTN 2024 An update from CNNTD | Une mise 脿 jour du RCMTN December 20, 2024 / D茅cembre 20, 2024 Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Update /
Mise 脿 jour du R茅seau Canadien pour les
Maladies Tropicales N茅glig茅es Dear Friends, Members and Colleagues,

2024 has been a busy year for the Canadian Network for NTDs! To find out what we鈥檝e been up to, please check out our. As we reflect on this year, we remain grateful for our members鈥� steadfast interest and commitment to advancing NTD prevention and treatment in Canada and globally. We are grateful to all the members of our Steering Committee who meet regularly to guide our direction and we thank Uniting to Combat NTDs for their continued support.

As we look to 2025, we count on your continued engagement and enthusiasm as we join Canada in welcoming other G7 and observer countries to come together to address critical challenges affecting the world today. Throughout next year, we will be working in partnership to advocate for sustained commitments, contributions, and collaboration for neglected tropical diseases, ensuring that these remain strong and unified within Canada and across the G7. We will continue to engage our leaders here in Canada in meaningful dialogue on financing NTD elimination strategies, measuring impact and celebrating the outcomes of NTD investments. At a time when so much is in flux, we need to stay the course and ensure we deliver on the WHO NTD Roadmap goals to improve health and wellbeing for millions of people around the world.

In January, keep your eye out for updates from the Canadian Network to find out more about how you can advance NTD prevention and treatment in 2025. On behalf of the Canadian Network for NTDs team, I wish you and your family a safe, restful and healthy holiday season, and a very happy New Year!

Alison Krentel, PhD
Chair of the Canadian Network for NTDs
.........................

Chers amis, membres et coll猫gues,

2024 a 茅t茅 une ann茅e bien remplie pour le R茅seau canadien pour les MTN! Pour savoir ce que nous avons fait, veuillez regarder notre . Alors que nous r茅fl茅chissons 脿 cette ann茅e, nous restons reconnaissants de l'int茅r锚t et de l'engagement constants de nos membres pour faire progresser la pr茅vention et le traitement des MTN au Canada et dans le monde. Nous sommes reconnaissants 脿 tous les membres de notre comit茅 directeur qui se r茅unissent r茅guli猫rement pour guider notre orientation et nous remercions Uniting to Combat NTDs pour son soutien continu.

脌 l'horizon 2025, nous comptons sur votre engagement et votre enthousiasme continus pour rejoindre le Canada et accueillir les autres pays du G7 et les pays observateurs afin qu'ils s'unissent pour relever les d茅fis cruciaux qui affectent le monde d'aujourd'hui. Tout au long de l'ann茅e prochaine, nous travaillerons en partenariat pour plaider en faveur d'engagements, de contributions et de collaborations durables en faveur des maladies tropicales n茅glig茅es, en veillant 脿 ce qu'elles restent fortes et unifi茅es au sein du Canada et dans l'ensemble du G7. Nous continuerons 脿 engager nos dirigeants, ici au Canada, dans un dialogue constructif sur le financement des strat茅gies d'茅limination des MTN, la mesure de l'impact et la c茅l茅bration des r茅sultats des investissements dans les MTN. 脌 une 茅poque o霉 tant de choses changent, nous devons maintenir le cap et veiller 脿 atteindre les objectifs de la feuille de route de l'OMS pour les MTN afin d'am茅liorer la sant茅 et le bien-锚tre de millions de personnes dans le monde.

En janvier, surveillez les mises 脿 jour du R茅seau canadien pour en savoir plus sur la fa莽on dont vous pouvez faire progresser la pr茅vention et le traitement des MTN en 2025. Au nom de l'茅quipe du R茅seau canadien pour les MTN, je vous souhaite, 脿 vous et 脿 votre famille, des f锚tes de fin d'ann茅e sereines, reposantes et saines, ainsi qu'une tr猫s bonne ann茅e!

Alison Krentel, PhD
Pr茅sidente du R茅seau canadien pour les MTN --> Sustaining Momentum: Canadian Partnerships for Global NTD Integration Webinar Recording / Maintenir le Momentum: Enregistrement du webinaire sur les partenariats canadiens pour l'int茅gration des MTN 脿 l'茅chelle mondiale In case you missed it, of our all-members webinar earlier this month on Canadian Partnerships for Global NTD Integration.  ........... Au cas o霉 vous l'auriez manqu茅, de notre webinaire destin茅 脿 tous les membres, qui s'est tenu au d茅but du mois sur le th猫me des partenariats canadiens pour l'int茅gration des MTN 脿 l'茅chelle mondiale. --> African and European research partnership on infectious diseases Call for Proposals / Partenariat de recherche africain et europ茅en sur les maladies infectieuses Appel 脿 propositions

The Global Health EDCTP3 Work Programme 2025 has been published, and includes new calls for proposals on research and innovations for NTDs among other infectious diseases. To learn more and to apply, please visit this link: 

......

Le programme de travail EDCTP3 2025 pour la sant茅 mondiale a 茅t茅 publi茅 et comprend de nouveaux appels 脿 propositions sur la recherche et les innovations pour les MTN et d'autres maladies infectieuses. Pour en savoir plus et poser votre candidature, veuillez consulter ce lien: 

Copyright 漏 2024 Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, All rights reserved.


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96 看片视频 Perspectives on Global Health: November-December Issue Dec 19, 2024  
NEWSLETTER Welcome to Our November-December Newsletter!

In honor of World AIDS Day (Dec 1), this edition focuses on critical issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

Highlights of this Issue:

• Article from a medical student in Gaza
• Organizations Working on HIV/AIDS
• Academic Research on HIV/AIDS
• A call on submissions

Thank you for being part of our community. Enjoy the read!

-->  Selected Articles from this Month  "Despite everything, I have not given up and I will never give up. There is a dream waiting for me; there are people who need help; there are lives that need to be saved. I am walking towards my dream, while trying to do good everywhere."
- Author: Nermeen Ziyad, a third year medical student currently located in Khan Yunis, Gaza. -->  鈥淭his experience dispelled any assumptions I鈥檇 held about what 鈥榞ood surgery鈥� required 鈥撯�� it wasn鈥檛 about having fancy technology and resources, but about skilled hands, teamwork, and humanity in the most challenging circumstances.鈥�
 - Author: Kacylia Roy Proulx, a third-year medical student at 看片视频 University and a Global Health Programs Travel Award Recipient. --> 鈥淪imply put, abortion bans are bans on healthcare. It is not a procedure that should be politicized, criminalized, or demonized.鈥�
 - Author: Liliana Sisto, a Bachelor of Science in Ecological Determinants of Health at 看片视频. --> "Reflecting on my year in the Global Health program at McMaster University, I grapple with how the field of academic global health often undermines its goals of equity and justice by prioritizing the interests of global North institutions over the needs of the global South communities it seeks to serve."
 - Author: Jordyn Burnett, a Global Health master鈥檚 student. -->  Mission in Motion
  Get ready to be inspired! In this dynamic section, we spotlight global health organizations that are making waves and driving real change around the world. Each month, we showcase their innovative strategies and impactful initiatives as they tackle pressing health challenges and champion equity. 

We shine a spotlight on organizations spreading awareness about the status of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and encourage progress in prevention, treatment and care around the world.  Let鈥檚 celebrate their dedication and commitment as we highlight their vital contributions to research, advocacy, and awareness. --> https://arasa.info/ : Operating in southern Africa, ARASA mobilizes civil society to promote a human rights-based response to HIV, ensuring that affected individuals receive equitable treatment and support. --> Image: https://allianceindia.org/ : India HIV/AIDS Alliance works with grassroots groups across the country to support marginalized populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people. Their focus is on HIV prevention, treatment, and human rights advocacy. -->  In the News
  Stay up to date with news and opinions on Global Health Image: https://x.com/OGreat6/status/1863124702748631495 Check out this to understand popular HIV myths and fact! Here is one:

• Myth #1: HIV is the same as AIDS.
• Fact #1: HIV is not the same with AIDs, but the virus that can lead to AIDS Not everyone with HIV will develop AIDS; with proper treatment, many people live long, healthy lives.

--> Image: https://www.aidshealth.org/ "This World AIDS Day, we call on countries to . Marginalization, criminalization and discrimination against key populations has fuelled HIV transmission and cost lives. By protecting everyone鈥檚 right to health, we can prevent new infections and achieve an AIDS-free generation." - Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -->  New in Global Health Academic Literature
 
By: Olatosi B, Patel RC, Li X. Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/hqLsYJ1MSizPDe537 This explores the compounded challenges of managing HIV in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how the global health response to COVID-19 disrupted HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, particularly in low-resource settings. The authors highlight lessons learned from these intersecting health crises and propose actionable strategies to strengthen the resilience of HIV programs amidst future pandemics. -->
By: Tan BXH, Chong SY, Ho DWS, Wee YX, Jamal MH, Tan RKJ. et al Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/NQ5Aai8wDuXsriz66 This  discusses the importance of involving citizens in HIV implementation science to enhance the effectiveness of interventions. The authors argue that citizen engagement can improve the design, delivery, and evaluation of HIV programs by ensuring they are more community-centered and responsive to local needs. The study calls for a shift towards more inclusive, participatory research approaches to strengthen HIV care and prevention efforts.   --> Opportunities in Global Health
  PEGASUS Institute is a registered charity that works on Peace, Global Health, And Sustainability. PEGASUS is an acronym built from the first letters of our main themes:  PEace, Global health and SUStainability. Formed as a successor to the PEGASUS conference held in 2020, Emerging Leaders Network as part of the PEGASUS Institute intends to provide a platform to the next generation of leaders in the field of Peace, Global Health and Sustainability. 

Come be a part of this amazing network of people, and increase your visibility as well as get the platform to cultivate ideas and work on projects.  -->  Share your Perspective on Global Health
  We are excited to announce a Call for Papers in the following areas! 

• Indigenous Health
• Mental Health
• Refugee Health
• Immigrant Health
• Climate Change 

看片视频 Global Health Perspectives welcomes contributions relevant to global health. Contributions to Global Health Perspectives should pertain to its mission and can include perspectives from your latest research, research experience, key issues in health policy governance, equity related challenges and strengths in global health to name a few. We want to represent a wide range of voices representing global health research, commentaries and opinions on current global health challenges and ideas on future direction of global health. Click  for submission guidelines.

You can submit your article, photo essay or article pitch to us by emailing us at: globalhealthblog@mcgill.ca. --> Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest information and experiences in global health! Follow us on social media  --> Copyright 漏 2017 看片视频 Global Health Programs, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
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96 Global Health NOW: Measles鈥� Enduring Grip in the DRC; Persistent Threats to Pakistan鈥檚 Vaccination Efforts; and a We Are What Diverts Us DRC parents find themselves powerless to protect their children from measles. December 19, 2024 Measles鈥� Enduring Grip in the DRC 
In the DRC, many parents worry about their children contracting measles鈥攂ut find themselves powerless to protect them, with vaccines and treatment options all too often out of reach. 

Relentless threat: 311,000+ cases and 6,000 deaths were reported in the DRC last year. This year, ~97,000 cases have been logged; but the disease has become more lethal, killing 2,100+. 

• For ~4.5 million malnourished Congolese children, measles can be even more dangerous.

And vaccine coverage is low: Only 52% of children in the DRC are vaccinated, with as little as 13% coverage in some remote regions. 

Key obstacles: Logistics and infrastructure. Vaccines are difficult to distribute in the DRC due to the country鈥檚 vast size, poor roads, and unreliable refrigeration. 

Future solutions: Rapid diagnostic tests and vaccine patches may improve prevention efforts in the future.

Bigger picture: Measles cases globally rose by 20% in 2023, reaching 10.3 million cases and 107,000+ deaths, according to .

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE See You Next Year! 
This is the last GHN of 2024.

Thanks to all our readers who support our work in so many ways鈥攆rom opening the newsletter each morning to reading our exclusive reporting, sending tips and feedback, and contributing to our crowdfunding campaign. We appreciate you! 

We鈥檒l be back on Monday, January 6, with more news! 鈥� Annalies The Latest One-Liners
A viral illness dubbed "Dinga Dinga" is affecting women and girls in Uganda's Bundibugyo district; there have been reports of ~300 cases of the mysterious illness, which causes shaking, fever, and weakness. 

Microplastics in the air could be linked to colon and lung cancer, and may be contributing to infertility, finds a of published research in Environmental Science & Technology.

U.S. life expectancy has risen closer to pre-pandemic levels as deaths from COVID-19 and drug overdoses decline, per new from the CDC; life expectancy increased ~1 year to 78.4 years in 2023.

A state of emergency for bird flu has been by California Governor Gavin Newsom, as 300+ herds in the state have tested positive for the virus in the last 30 days alone; meanwhile, the first severe case of human bird flu has been reported in Louisiana. GHN鈥檚 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS A man takes rest from selling water bottles on a hot afternoon near India Gate in Delhi. Cheena Kapoor Jackie's Picks
I鈥檓 a contributing editor with GHN, reviewing stories and summaries in the morning production process to include in the newsletter. I wrote some of the very first summaries for GHN way back in 2014. What a difference ten years鈥攁nd 50,000+ subscribers鈥攎akes! 鈥�Jackie Powder, contributing editor
Best GHN Exclusive India roasted in spring and summer as record-breaking temperatures soared to 126掳F, forcing impoverished residents into heat poverty. Independent journalist Cheena Kapoor describes a Delhi family of five who took on debt to buy an air conditioner so the children wouldn鈥檛 miss school because of heat-related sicknesses. Meanwhile, outside, air conditioners expelled hot air, exacerbating the 鈥渦rban heat island鈥� effect in Delhi, which is dominated by concrete, steel, and asphalt. 
Best News Article ProPublica reporters Annie Waldman, Maya Miller, Duaa Eldeib, and Max Blau interviewed more than 500 therapists to explore an aspect of the U.S. mental health crisis: therapists opting out of health insurance networks in droves. The providers described insurers urging them to reduce treatment for high-risk鈥攁nd more costly鈥攑atients, and withholding reimbursements. The result is a severe shortage of therapists who accept insurance and a lack of access to care for people with mental illness鈥攅ven if they are insured. 
Best Commentary POLIO Persistent Threats to Pakistan鈥檚 Vaccination Efforts
The bombing attack in northwest Pakistan that killed three police officers assigned to protect polio vaccine workers was just the latest in a long history of violence seeking to undermine the country鈥檚 vaccination efforts, . 

• The bombing came a day after gunmen opened fire on police escorting polio workers in the city of Karak, killing one police officer and injuring a health worker.

The violence has escalated as Pakistan launches its final nationwide polio vaccination campaign for 2024 in an effort to reach ~45 million children. 

Adding to obstacles: Health officials have postponed the vaccination drive in the country鈥檚 southwest Balochistan province after health workers there boycotted participation to oppose hospital privatization, .

Ongoing hostility: 200+ polio workers and police assigned to protect them have been killed since the 1990s, as militants claim the campaigns are a Western conspiracy.

• Other subversion tactics include falsifying vaccination records, explained WHO epidemiologist Zubair Mufti Wadood in a . 

Bigger picture: Pakistan has reported 63 polio cases this year. It and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio has not been eradicated. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HEALTH SYSTEMS Sierra Leone鈥檚 Surgical Advance  
People who need surgery in Sierra Leone, which has one of the world鈥檚 least developed health care systems, often must seek treatment abroad, with NGOs helping to cover costs.
 
But now, a new state-of-the art hospital has opened in Freetown, with support from Japan, offering surgical procedures and specialty care.

• The hospital is also training local medical personnel. 鈥淓very operation that takes place is another chance to train and maintain surgical knowledge within Sierra Leone,鈥� writes Jody Ray.

An ongoing challenge: The country still has only one pediatric surgeon and fewer than 10 anesthesiologists鈥攆or a population of 8.6 million. 
 
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Norbert, the beloved cat of GHN staffer Morgan Coulson, representing his species well.  Driven to Distraction 
Some say you are what you eat, but at GHN, we are what diverts us.
 
Weekly diversions are perhaps the clearest lens onto what makes us click, other than global health news. And after an audit of the year, it鈥檚 clear: We can鈥檛 resist an animal story.
 
So much so that at one point, it was suggested that we鈥攇asp!鈥攑ut a moratorium on cat content. Norbert (pictured) has thoughts. Readers: What do you all think?
 
Our animal instinct led us to:

• A prize-winning bear 鈥溾�濃�攁nd also robbing cars.

• This champion poodle styled as a came to much acclaim (鈥減erfection!鈥�)鈥攁nd this dog that had his record-breaking age (We blame the owners.)

• Moo Deng (duh) and the nemesis that came for her crown.

• Our favorite cat-egory: Felines. We learned about the , were horrified by , and had FOMO on a parade that tore through Minneapolis .

QUICK HITS Europe says flu, RSV on the rise and affecting health systems 鈥�

Syphilis microbe circulated in the Americas thousands of years before European contact 鈥�

Unified approach could improve nature, climate and health all at once 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner!

Cheap, smart and efficient: how giant rats are transforming the fight against TB 鈥� Issue No. 2833
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 2024 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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Governor General recognizes 看片视频 community members for exceptional accomplishments and service

Fourteen members of the 看片视频 University community have been appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 highest civilian honours.聽聽

Among the honourees are the University鈥檚 Chancellor and three professors:聽

Academic and industry scientists collaborate on a new method to characterize research antibodies

96 Global Health NOW: 鈥楳ystery Disease鈥� Solved鈥擝ut More Help Needed; Optum Takes Aim at ABA; and Dearth of Care for Gazans with Disabilities December 18, 2024 A mother holds her child while sitting on a bed at the Tudikolela hospital, on the outskirts of Mbuji-Mayi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 1, 2021. Arsene Mpiana/AFP via Getty 鈥楳ystery Disease鈥� Solved鈥擝ut More Help Needed 
An alarming illness circulating in a remote area of the DRC has been confirmed to be an acute form of malaria, exacerbated by malnutrition, .

• ~600 people have been sickened in the outbreak, and 143 have died鈥攎ostly children under 5. 

Background: The outbreak, which began in late October in the remote Panzi health zone of Kwango province, sparked widespread concern because of the illness鈥檚 flu-like symptoms.

• Difficult terrain and communication problems further hampered efforts to manage the outbreak.

The impact of malnutrition: ~40% of the population in the region is malnourished, 鈥攚hich health officials say contributed to the 6.2% case fatality rate.

What鈥檚 next: WHO-provided antimalarial drugs and health kits are being distributed throughout the region. New malaria vaccines have been rolled out in some African countries, but they have not reached the Panzi region, . 

Big picture: Malaria still kills ~600,000 people a year globally鈥攁nd 12% of those deaths occur in the DRC, where it is a leading cause of death. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE Small Contributions Make a Big Difference    While big-ticket donations are always welcome, it is our readers鈥� strength in numbers that has gotten us where we are today. Thank you to all of you who have donated so far! 

Your donations have powered GHN鈥檚 Local Reporting Initiative. Knowing that stories are better told by people who know their communities, we鈥檝e published dozens of articles by journalists around the world who鈥檝e illuminated topics including tiger attacks in the Sundarbans, barriers to health care for Amsterdam鈥檚 sex workers, and climate change鈥檚 threat to Pakistan鈥檚 transgender community.  

We鈥檙e excited to bring you more unique global health stories like these鈥攂ut we need your help to do it. . 

Thank you for joining us! 鈥�Morgan The Latest One-Liners   The notorious 2020 paper that popularized hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment due to ethical concerns and methodological problems; the move follows years of campaigning by scientists who said the study contained major flaws.

As U.S. pertussis cases surge 6X from last year, public knowledge of the contagious disease remains low, finds a new from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to increased risks of hospitalization for mental health conditions as well as physical ailments, per from the University of St Andrews published in BMJ Open.

Most U.S. teens are not drinking, smoking tobacco, or using marijuana, per the annual Monitoring the Future of 24,000 students released yesterday; it is the largest proportion abstaining from those substances since the survey started in 2017. GHN鈥檚 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS Eliud Wekesa speaks to visitors at his home and church compound in Tongaren, Bungoma County, Kenya, on February 29. Dominic Kirui Annalies鈥� Picks
Since starting as a freelancer in 2017 to becoming GHN鈥檚 associate editor鈥攚ith two children in between鈥攖ime with GHN has flown by. I鈥檓 up at dawn most Thursdays serving as GHN鈥檚 lead editor鈥攁 gigantic mug of English breakfast tea in one hand, the other scrolling for the top global health stories so our readers don鈥檛 have to. When I鈥檓 not doing that, I am researching GHN stories on everything from to . And most weeks, I get to cross over to the light side, bringing you our weekly diversions and, hopefully, a smile! 鈥�Annalies Winny, GHN associate editor
Best GHN Exclusive Eliud Wekesa is just one of many religious and cult leaders across Kenya blamed for encouraging followers to shun medicine, undermining health efforts. Journalist Dominic Kirui shows how health officials are involving religious leaders in government health strategies to help dispel these messages. Wekesa has publicly modeled acceptance of medical care, participating in a mass drug administration campaign to combat bilharzia and intestinal parasitic worms.
Best News Article Reporters Nick Thieme, Alissa Zhu, and Jessica Gallagher unveiled a tragic trend among Black men born from 1951 to 1970: The group makes up 7% of Baltimore鈥檚 population, but accounts for ~30% of drug fatalities. It鈥檚 a generation whose lives have been 鈥渟haped by forces that have animated the city鈥檚 drug crisis for decades.鈥�
Best Commentary HEALTH SYSTEMS Optum Takes Aim at ABA
Leaked internal documents reveal that Optum, a UnitedHealth subsidiary, is aggressively targeting applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy鈥攚hich the company acknowledges is the 鈥渆vidence-based gold standard treatment for those with medically necessary needs鈥濃�攖o cut costs.

• Optum is scrutinizing providers who exceed certain cost thresholds, questioning the necessity of treatments, and denying coverage even for medically recommended ABA.

The approach violates autism treatment guidelines and the federal mental health parity law, which mandates equal access to mental health and physical care, autism advocates told ProPublica. 

• Inadequate early intervention may result in more severe challenges and long-term harm for children with autism, ultimately costing insurers more. 

Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe! CONFLICT Dearth of Care for Gazans with Disabilities
Thousands of people in Gaza are facing devastating disabilities, with few resources or care to navigate their new reality.

• 106,000+ people have been injured since the war began, and ~25% of those injured require long-term rehabilitation, per the WHO.

But rehabilitation services are scarce. Gaza鈥檚 fragile health system is overwhelmed, and shortages of wheelchairs, prostheses, and essential medications make even basic rehabilitation nearly impossible. 

Psychological scars: Those injured are also coping with trauma, an inability to work, and societal rejection.

DROWNING Who is Most at Risk? 
The global drowning death rate has dropped 38% since 2000鈥斺�渁 significant health achievement,鈥� per the on drowning prevention.

• 300,000+ people drowned in 2021, and 7.2 million+ may die due to drowning by 2050.


• People under age 29 account for nearly half of all drowning deaths; a quarter involve children under 5鈥攁nd 9 in 10 drowning deaths take place in LMICs.

Recommendations: Installing barriers, teaching water safety and rescue skills, and improving regulations around boating and flood risks. 
 


Related: How to prevent drowning: a ground-breaking report that's startling yet hopeful 鈥� QUICK HITS 鈥業 want help鈥�: Behind bars, pleas for addiction medications often go nowhere 鈥�

Tracing fentanyl鈥檚 path into the US starts at this port. It doesn鈥檛 end there. 鈥�

Cheap, smart and efficient: how giant rats are transforming the fight against TB 鈥�

Health workers think COVID, flu vaccines safe and effective, but many remain hesitant, global survey shows 鈥�

'Cancer ghosting' can be more painful than treatment, survivors say 鈥�

Why cats are the new pigs 鈥� and could spark the next pandemic 鈥�

鈥楽illy and pompous鈥�: Official new names for viruses rile up researchers 鈥� Issue No. 2832
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