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96 Global Health NOW: Mosquito Nets and Geopolitical Bets; Children Face 鈥楨xtremely High鈥� Prevalence of Sexual Violence; and It始s Giving 鈥� #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, Nigeria鈥擜t 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 2017鈥攖hanks 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. 

For now, Alegongo and other frontline clinics still have reserves of tests and antimalarials. But without new funding, supplies could run dry within months. And the  by tracking diagnostics, mosquito net ownership, prevalence, etc., would vanish. It鈥檚 an obliteration of both the gains and the very ability to see them.
 
The Quote: 鈥淲hat people don鈥檛 see now are the logistical strings being cut. 鈥� Those supply chains, once broken, don鈥檛 repair easily,鈥� 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
COVID鈥檚 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 鈥渢he largest and most diverse supply chain鈥� 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 鈥渁 significant burden鈥� on survivors' physical and mental health post-infection, 鈥攚ith patients self-reporting compromised health and daily task efficiency for 13+ days a month.   U.S. Policy News CDC terminates infection control advisory committee 鈥�

Trump picks Casey Means for surgeon general, after first nominee withdraws 鈥�

Health Sec. Kennedy launches autism project using Medicare and Medicaid data 鈥�

Exclusive: Kennedy aide and vaccine critic questions recent expert recommendations 鈥�

US poll finds shifting vaccine trust amid health agency overhauls 鈥� CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH Children Face 鈥楨xtremely High鈥� Prevalence of Sexual Violence 
Globally, at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys have experienced sexual violence before age 18, , considered 鈥渙ne of the most comprehensive assessments to date,鈥� . 

A closer look: The study analyzed data from all countries spanning 1990鈥�2023. 

• 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 鈥渆xtremely high鈥� worldwide, and the numbers are likely an underestimate.

Long-term effects: People who survive sexual violence in their youth face a higher risk for ongoing health issues, including depression, anxiety, STIs, substance abuse, and chronic conditions like asthma. 

• 鈥淪exual violence against children is a widespread human rights and public health issue, and the world is clearly failing to end it,鈥� said study author Emmanuela Gakidou.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES BIG TOBACCO Behind the Curtain 
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 industry鈥檚 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 鈥淒irty Ashtray鈥� award for the alleged adoption of 鈥渢obacco industry tactics.鈥�

ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION 鈥嬧�婭t始s Giving 鈥� #MetGala
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 鈥� and viciously critique Met Gala outfits. .

What netizens noticed:

• While this year始s official theme celebrated Black dandyism, the unofficial dress code appeared to be 鈥�!鈥�

• 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 鈥攁nd stylist shock when she . Gasp!

QUICK HITS India-Pakistan conflict puts Asia鈥檚 rice supplies at risk of trade turmoil, rising prices 鈥�

Pancreatic, colorectal cancer incidence rising fastest among younger individuals 鈥�

US surpasses 1,000 measles cases in 2025, second worst year since disease was declared eliminated 鈥�

Kenya launches National Public Health Institute with WHO backing 鈥�

Baltimore Banner wins Pulitzer Prize for coverage of overdose crisis 鈥�

Guatemala Announces Crucial Water Law Dialogue 鈥�

The future to fighting airborne viruses is in鈥�lamps? 鈥� 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 .

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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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An estimated 3,800 people have died as a result of the devastating earthquakes that struck Myanmar on 28 March. Six weeks on, the situation in Myanmar remains dire, with whole communities still traumatised and vulnerable.

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 鈥渁re at risk of being reversed,鈥� .

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 illness鈥攁nd 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 鈥渄evastating impact鈥� of millions in DOGE cuts, .

Meanwhile, AIDS-related illnesses like tuberculosis continue to be the leading cause of hospitalization globally for people with HIV, , .

Related: 

In Historic First, the Global Fund Procures African-Made First-Line HIV Treatment 鈥�

The Trump Administration鈥檚 Foreign Aid Review: Status of PEPFAR 鈥�

Want to Rebuild US Foreign Aid? Look to PEPFAR 鈥� 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鈥� 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 鈥渁 vacuum of evidence鈥� when it comes to women鈥檚 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 鈥�

USAID Cuts Could Sever HPV Prevention 鈥�

Feeding the hungry will be harder than ever for the world's largest food aid agency 鈥�

Kennedy aide and vaccine critic questions recent expert recommendations 鈥�

New Opioid Data May Not Reflect Harms Accurately, FDA Advisors Warn 鈥� SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY A Wake-Up Call on Social Media鈥檚 Dangers
, a new Bloomberg documentary film, exposes the dark side of social media and its devastating impact on young people鈥攁nd the push to hold tech companies accountable.

• The film, based on investigative reporting by Bloomberg News鈥� 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.

GHN has partnered with Jolt to offer a special virtual screening of the film. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS Twists in Abortion Lawsuit
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 administration鈥檚 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鈥� 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.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES ROAD SAFETY The Lifesaving Potential of Self-Driving Cars 
Makers of autonomous vehicles (AVs) have long touted the safety benefits of their cars: Unlike humans, self-driving cars don鈥檛 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 Austin鈥攁ll without a human driver present. 


• Researchers compared that data to human driving performance over the same distance on the same kind of roads.

The results: Waymo found its AVs reduce crashes that involve an injury by 96%, and pedestrian- and cyclist-involved collisions by 82%鈥�92%, . 

Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff!  QUICK HITS US government secures production, supply of freeze-dried Jynneos mpox vaccine 鈥�

KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Vaccine Safety and Trust 鈥�

How Utah dentists are preparing patients for the first statewide fluoride ban 鈥�

Medical AI trained on whopping 57 million health records 鈥�

COVID-19 Vaccines Not Linked to Miscarriage 鈥�

The power of dogs on your mental health 鈥� 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:

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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: Health Inequities鈥� Lethal Impact; A Closer Look at a Dementia Cluster; and China鈥檚 Unregulated Beauty May 6, 2025 Older adults exercise in a park. Tokyo, Japan, October 1, 2024. David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty Health Inequities鈥� Lethal Impact
33 years. That鈥檚 the difference in life expectancy between people in Japan (which has the world鈥檚 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.

Warning signs:

• 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 benefits鈥攊mpacting health outcomes.

Drivers of disparity: A lack of quality housing, education, and work opportunities are behind the health inequities leading to shorter lives. Discrimination and marginalization exacerbate the inequities. 

Solutions: Addressing income inequality, structural discrimination, and disruptions caused by conflict and climate change could overcome health inequities, per WHO.

The Quote: 鈥淚t is a sad indictment on government leaders that social injustice continues to kill on such a grand scale,鈥� said Michael Marmot, who led the 2008 report, . 鈥樷�楾he targets we set to close the health gap in a generation will be missed.鈥欌��
 
Related:

All-Cause Mortality and Life Expectancy by Birth Cohort Across US States 鈥�
 
Study reveals stark differences in life expectancy across US states over the past century 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   Aiming to 鈥渕ake Europe a magnet for researchers,鈥� the European Union has pledged 鈧�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 鈧�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 鈥� calling it dangerous 鈥�
More than a dozen states, DC sue Trump administration over 'dismantling' of federal health agencies 鈥�

US scientist who touted hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid named to pandemic prevention role 鈥�

The Trump administration's approach to extreme weather will damage health 鈥�  

Key reports addressing violence against Indigenous women are gone from federal sites 鈥�

鈥業t鈥檚 been a tough period鈥�: NIH鈥檚 new director speaks with Science 鈥� ALZHEIMER'S A Closer Look at a Dementia Cluster 
In Starr County, near the border of Texas and Mexico, 鈥渆verybody has somebody in their family鈥� with dementia, said neuroepidemiologist Gladys Maestre.

• The condition affects about 1 in 5 adults on Medicare there鈥攎ore than 2X the national rate.

Why? Researchers say the risk factors associated with dementia鈥攇enetics, environment, and chronic health conditions鈥攈ave accumulated in Starr County. 

• ~1 in 3 people live in poverty and a quarter lack health insurance.


• The community is almost entirely Hispanic鈥攁 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.

Hope for breakthroughs: In 2021, the National Institute on Aging designated a new Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Research Center in south Texas to better understand the dementia cluster and shift outcomes. 

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES SURGERY China鈥檚 Unregulated Beauty 
In China, an estimated 80,000 cosmetic surgery venues operate without a license, and 100,000 practitioners are not qualified鈥攁 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. 

Plastic perfection: Cosmetic procedure apps, surgery influencers, and physical 鈥渁esthetic鈥� requirements for jobs raise the social pressure to meet impossible beauty standards, with many young women and girls receiving multiple, if not dozens, of surgeries. 

OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Dossier of alleged Sudan war crimes handed to Metropolitan police 鈥�

New salmonella outbreak is linked to backyard poultry, CDC says 鈥�

Forgotten disease ravaging Kampala, Wakiso 鈥�

Why midwives are worried 鈥�

A decade of change: maternal mortality trends in Sudan, 2009鈥�2019 鈥�

More babies are being admitted to NICUs 鈥�

Gloves do not replace hand hygiene 鈥� reminder from WHO 鈥�

Popemobile to become health clinic for Gaza children 鈥� 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:

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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.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .

Midwives are vital frontline workers who can provide up to 90 per cent of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health services 鈥� from safely delivering babies to caring for survivors of sexual violence.

Aid teams in South Sudan warned on Tuesday that repeated attacks on healthcare including the bombing of a hospital in eastern Jonglei state at the weekend are just the latest of the 鈥渕ultiple vulnerabilities鈥� the country鈥檚 people face.

Where you're born could be the difference between living over three decades longer than someone else from a poorer country lacking safe housing, good educational opportunities and access to decent jobs, a new UN report revealed on Tuesday.

96 Global Health NOW: Striking on New Antivenom Potential; April Recap; and Sweltering Conditions in Cambodia鈥檚 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, . 

• 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.

The basics: After receiving approval from an ethics review board, researchers analyzed Friede鈥檚 blood and found two potent antibodies. 

• 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.

Great need: Venomous snakes kill tens of thousands of people every year, and disable several hundred thousand more, .

• Developing effective antivenoms has long been a struggle, as most work for just one or a few snakes of one region, .

What鈥檚 next: The researchers plan to test the treatment in snakebitten dogs in Australia and to develop the antivenom for a wider array of snakes. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   An anthrax outbreak in the DRC has so far resulted in 16 suspected cases and one death, leading to a scaled-up response from health officials, ; meanwhile, Thailand has reported its first anthrax death in decades after a man was exposed to an infected cow, .

Ecuador has confirmed three yellow fever cases with a fourth case under investigation, per the nation鈥檚 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 鈥�

RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments 鈥�

Trump's cuts to contraception will kill 'tens of thousands' of women 鈥�

NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know 鈥�

Will America be 鈥渇lying blind鈥� on bird flu? A key wastewater-tracking program may soon end 鈥�

V.A. Mental Health Care Staff, Crowded into Federal Buildings, Raise Patient Privacy Alarms 鈥� APRIL RECAP: MUST-READS A Squirrel鈥檚 Link to Mpox
Scientists have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel as a potential mpox reservoir host鈥攁 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.

Implications: While more research is needed, the findings are 鈥渁 landmark contribution to understanding mpox dynamics,鈥� said an Africa CDC biologist.

 
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 trials鈥攁nd may soon approve the first iPS-cell treatments for diseases like Parkinson鈥檚.

Protective Paint in South Africa
In Cape Town, informal homes made of metal and wood can reach 95掳F (35掳C) and remain hot overnight鈥攄isrupting 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鈥� sleep and health.

APRIL'S TWO-PART EXCLUSIVE SERIES Millions of Indians celebrate Diwali with fireworks鈥攚ithout realizing the dangerous conditions for factory workers. Gurugram, India, October 31, 2024. Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Fireworks and Heartbreak in a Hard-Hit Indian Village  
SIVAKASI, India鈥擡xplosions at fireworks factories are not uncommon in this Southern Indian city that produces nearly 90% of the country鈥檚 fireworks, that describes the toll on the tens of thousands of workers employed by these factories.

• 91 workers were killed in the most recent year鈥攂ut only those killed at the explosion site are counted鈥攏ot those who die later.


• Employers typically pay only for injured workers鈥� initial care.

Of the 650 families who live in Surangudi village, most have lost either a limb or a loved one to fireworks, social activist .

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 month鈥攁 鈥済roundbreaking move鈥� 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. 

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Sweltering Conditions in Cambodia鈥檚 Sweatshops
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 Garment鈥攚hich employed ~4,500 people making clothes in 2023鈥攆ormer employees reported two to three people fainting daily as temperatures inside soared above 100掳F. 

Failed oversight: Workers say oversight groups like the U.N.-backed Better Factories Cambodia have little influence on conditions.

OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Meet The Scientist Warning The World About The Next Pandemic 鈥� 

Chilean woman with muscular dystrophy becomes face of euthanasia debate as bill stalls in Senate 鈥�

How vaccine hesitancy may be driving a spike in pediatric flu deaths 鈥�

Cannabis Could Be Bad for Your Heart 鈥�

Samoa becomes the first Pacific Island country to launch National Action Plan for Health Security 鈥�

Well, That鈥檚 One Way to Address America鈥檚 Vaping Problem 鈥�

Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection 鈥� 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 .

96 Global Health NOW: Striking on New Antivenom Potential; April Recap; and Sweltering Conditions in Cambodia鈥檚 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, . 

• 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.

The basics: After receiving approval from an ethics review board, researchers analyzed Friede鈥檚 blood and found two potent antibodies. 

• 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.

Great need: Venomous snakes kill tens of thousands of people every year, and disable several hundred thousand more, .

• Developing effective antivenoms has long been a struggle, as most work for just one or a few snakes of one region, .

What鈥檚 next: The researchers plan to test the treatment in snakebitten dogs in Australia and to develop the antivenom for a wider array of snakes. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   An anthrax outbreak in the DRC has so far resulted in 16 suspected cases and one death, leading to a scaled-up response from health officials, ; meanwhile, Thailand has reported its first anthrax death in decades after a man was exposed to an infected cow, .

Ecuador has confirmed three yellow fever cases with a fourth case under investigation, per the nation鈥檚 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 鈥�

RFK Jr. calls for CDC plan for alternative measles treatments 鈥�

Trump's cuts to contraception will kill 'tens of thousands' of women 鈥�

NIH cuts baby 'Safe to Sleep' team. Here's what parents should know 鈥�

Will America be 鈥渇lying blind鈥� on bird flu? A key wastewater-tracking program may soon end 鈥�

V.A. Mental Health Care Staff, Crowded into Federal Buildings, Raise Patient Privacy Alarms 鈥� APRIL RECAP: MUST-READS A Squirrel鈥檚 Link to Mpox
Scientists have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel as a potential mpox reservoir host鈥攁 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.

Implications: While more research is needed, the findings are 鈥渁 landmark contribution to understanding mpox dynamics,鈥� said an Africa CDC biologist.

 
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 trials鈥攁nd may soon approve the first iPS-cell treatments for diseases like Parkinson鈥檚.

Protective Paint in South Africa
In Cape Town, informal homes made of metal and wood can reach 95掳F (35掳C) and remain hot overnight鈥攄isrupting 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鈥� sleep and health.

APRIL'S TWO-PART EXCLUSIVE SERIES Millions of Indians celebrate Diwali with fireworks鈥攚ithout realizing the dangerous conditions for factory workers. Gurugram, India, October 31, 2024. Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Fireworks and Heartbreak in a Hard-Hit Indian Village  
SIVAKASI, India鈥擡xplosions at fireworks factories are not uncommon in this Southern Indian city that produces nearly 90% of the country鈥檚 fireworks, that describes the toll on the tens of thousands of workers employed by these factories.

• 91 workers were killed in the most recent year鈥攂ut only those killed at the explosion site are counted鈥攏ot those who die later.


• Employers typically pay only for injured workers鈥� initial care.

Of the 650 families who live in Surangudi village, most have lost either a limb or a loved one to fireworks, social activist .

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 month鈥攁 鈥済roundbreaking move鈥� 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. 

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Sweltering Conditions in Cambodia鈥檚 Sweatshops
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 Garment鈥攚hich employed ~4,500 people making clothes in 2023鈥攆ormer employees reported two to three people fainting daily as temperatures inside soared above 100掳F. 

Failed oversight: Workers say oversight groups like the U.N.-backed Better Factories Cambodia have little influence on conditions.

OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Meet The Scientist Warning The World About The Next Pandemic 鈥� 

Chilean woman with muscular dystrophy becomes face of euthanasia debate as bill stalls in Senate 鈥�

How vaccine hesitancy may be driving a spike in pediatric flu deaths 鈥�

Cannabis Could Be Bad for Your Heart 鈥�

Samoa becomes the first Pacific Island country to launch National Action Plan for Health Security 鈥�

Well, That鈥檚 One Way to Address America鈥檚 Vaping Problem 鈥�

Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection 鈥� 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 .

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Greater awareness and action are needed as Europe and parts of the Middle East grapple with fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) which can have devastating impacts on both animal health and regional economies, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Monday. 

黑料网 announces 2025 cohort of Distinguished James 黑料网 Professors, James 黑料网 Professors and William Dawson Scholars聽
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi has named 31 黑料网 professors as Distinguished James 黑料网 Professors, James 黑料网 Professors or William Dawson Scholars. The internal awards recognize exceptional research achievements.

黑料网 announces 2025 cohort of Distinguished James 黑料网 Professors, James 黑料网 Professors and William Dawson Scholars聽
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi has named 31 黑料网 professors as Distinguished James 黑料网 Professors, James 黑料网 Professors or William Dawson Scholars. The internal awards recognize exceptional research achievements.

黑料网 announces 2025 cohort of Distinguished James 黑料网 Professors, James 黑料网 Professors and William Dawson Scholars聽
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi has named 28 黑料网 professors as Distinguished James 黑料网 Professors, James 黑料网 Professors or William Dawson Scholars. The internal awards recognize exceptional research achievements.

96 Global Health NOW: Underuse and Overuse Fuels AMR; Funding 鈥楳egafarms,鈥� 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 鈥渁ccess鈥� 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.

• 鈥淲e actually have to focus on both 鈥� , in all places,鈥� said senior study author Jennifer Cohn. 

Related: National-level actions found to be effective at tackling antibiotic resistance 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
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 administration鈥檚 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 body鈥檚 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 2023鈥�2024, per , which analyzed surveys of 10,000+ teens; the findings signal a 鈥済rowing public health issue,鈥� per the study鈥檚 lead author. CLIMATE Funding 鈥楳egafarms,鈥� Despite Pollution 
The U.K. government has subsidized industrial-scale poultry farms, despite growing alarm over the farms鈥� contribution to 鈥渟piraling鈥� air and water pollution in the regions where they operate. 

Background: The 鈥渕egafarms,鈥� 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 拢14m of public funds have been paid out over three years to poultry farm operators鈥攁 move that environmental advocates say undermines other ecological policies. 

• The funding exposes 鈥渁ny pretense of practicing effective environmental regulation in this country,鈥� said Charles Watson, chairman of NGO River Action. 

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Newly Vulnerable on the Road
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 programs鈥攁nd 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 鈥� it始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, .

The appreciation may not be mutual. 鈥淚 worked with the seagulls. I went to the beach and I looked at many seagulls 鈥� And I screeched at them, but they became scared of me,鈥� she said.

Ironically, a sense of nihilism keeps Brynald motivated: 鈥淚f 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.鈥� QUICK HITS Israeli wildfires could threaten Jerusalem, prime minister says 鈥�

A WHO Director on the Future of Polio Eradication 鈥�

Wegovy Can Treat a Dangerous Liver Disease, Study Finds 鈥�

Diabetes deaths fall to lowest levels in years, in early CDC figures 鈥�

Myanmar earthquake one-month on: needs remain massive 鈥�

Indonesians are flourishing. People in the UK, Germany, and Spain? Not so much, global survey finds 鈥�

Indian Summit Showcases Solar and Innovative Cooling Methods as Pressure Mounts for Immediate Climate Solutions 鈥�  

Human Evolution Traded Fur for Sweat Glands鈥攁nd Now, Our Wounds Take Longer to Heal Than Those of Other Mammals 鈥� 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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As sudden budget cuts severely impact global health funding, prolonged conflicts around the world are fuelling disease outbreaks and posing a serious threat to public health, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday. 

An anthrax outbreak is compounding the worsening security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), driving up humanitarian needs and further limiting access to basic services. The escalating crisis is also widening critical gaps in healthcare and protection, amid a broader surge in infectious diseases.

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.鈥檚 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.鈥攆rom 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. 

• 鈥淚f I care about food or water or transportation or insurance or my health, this is what climate change means to me,鈥� Texas Tech University climate scientist .

Mounting toll: The past 10 years have been the hottest on record, and last year alone, the U.S. experienced 27 weather and climate-related disasters , reports the .

What鈥檚 next? The Trump administration said the scope of the report 鈥渋s currently being reevaluated.鈥� Researchers worry that a report that downplays risks or contradicts climate science could be published instead, . 

Related: 

UK is not ready for coming climate 鈥榙isaster,鈥� government advisers warn 鈥�

Trump鈥檚 first 100 days: US walks away from global climate action 鈥�

From subs to bases, "climate change crap" has consequences for U.S. military 鈥� 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 Alzheimer鈥檚 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 Alzheimer鈥檚 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.

U.S. Health and Science Policy News CDC reinstates workers who screen coal miners for black lung disease 鈥�

Trump鈥檚 Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows 鈥�

Exclusive: In conversation with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary 鈥�

RFK Jr.'s not-so-secret weapon: the moms 鈥�

Here's how the Trump administration has changed health policy in its first 100 days 鈥� 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 populations鈥攏early half the total.

• India had the highest death count at 39,677 deaths, followed by Pakistan and Egypt.

Consistent contact with DEHP has been shown to cause inflammation in the heart's arteries, which, over time, is associated with an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

The study鈥檚 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 鈥� OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Plague of rats and insects provide latest challenge for war-shattered Gazans 鈥�

The Disappeared: Mexico鈥檚 Industrial-Scale Human Rights Crisis 鈥�

Winnie Byanyimax: Three ways to help the developing world survive the end of aid 鈥�

More and more older Americans want to know their Alzheimer's status, survey finds 鈥�

Top ten research priorities in global burns care: findings from the James Lind Alliance Global Burns Research Priority Setting Partnership 鈥�

COVID vaccine works faster with both doses in the same arm 鈥�  

鈥楽mart insoles鈥� could help diagnose dementia, other health problems 鈥� 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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In the aftermath of the huge 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March, life-saving aid efforts led by the UN are being hampered by damaged infrastructure, ongoing armed conflict and global aid funding cuts.

96 Global Health NOW: Peru鈥檚 Illegal Mining Surges鈥� and Destroys; Autism Database Debate; and The Lingering Legacy of Agent Orange April 29, 2025 GHN EXCLUSIVE REPORT Illegal gold mining in Peru鈥檚 Madre de Dios department has destroyed an average of 21,000 hectares of rainforest per year. May 31, 2024. Ernesto Benavides/AFP via Getty Peru鈥檚 Illegal Mining Surges鈥� and Destroys  
LIMA, Peru鈥擲oaring 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.

The result: Destroyed forests, mercury poisoning, and fast-spreading infectious diseases, says Juan Pablo Murillo, an infectious disease specialist with the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.
 
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谩ndez, who directs Wake Forest University鈥檚 Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation.

The Quote: 鈥淲e need to understand much more about [mercury鈥檚] impact because it is so contaminating,鈥� says Eusebio R铆os, a leader of the Harakmbut Indigenous people. 鈥淚t 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.鈥�

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 Europe鈥攚ith 87% of the cases in Romania鈥攂etween 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 it鈥檚 part of an effort to weaken vaccine efforts. U.S. Health Cuts and Policy News 鈥楴o one can do what America does鈥�: Sudanese refugees bear the brunt as US aid dries up 鈥�

Will US science survive Trump 2.0? 鈥�

Reproductive health groups, ACLU sue Trump administration for withholding family planning grants 鈥�

Health of mothers and children at risk from loss of CDC data program, expert says 鈥�

How this Limpopo NGO prepared itself for Trump funding cuts 鈥� 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 鈥渞eal-world data platform,鈥� . 

Reactions: While some scientists have long pushed for a more comprehensive data source to improve research and treatments, others say it could lead to cherrypicking data to promote the view that vaccines cause autism. 

• Some health providers are reporting an uptick in patient requests to remove personal information from charts over privacy concerns. 

Related:

A severe autism advocate responds to RFK Jr.'s research initiative 鈥�

鈥楾his Is Not How We Do Science, Ever鈥� 鈥�

Fact-checking RFK Jr.鈥檚 claim that environmental toxins cause autism 鈥�

These autistic people struggled to make sense of others. Then they found AI. 鈥� 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. 

The toll: Today, ~3 million people, including many children, still suffer serious health issues associated with exposure, ranging from cancer to birth defects. 

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 administration鈥檚 cuts to foreign aid. 

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS Climate change could increase global levels of antimicrobial resistance, study finds 鈥�  

U.S. maternal deaths doubled during COVID-19 pandemic, among other findings in new study 鈥�

The Disaster of School Closures Should Have Been Foreseen 鈥�

Eliminating Malaria in ASEAN: Lessons From Egypt 鈥�

As a diversity grant dies, young scientists fear it will haunt their careers 鈥�

Weight loss pills could help tackle obesity in poorer countries, experts say 鈥�

He had 2 months to live. Cancer research "that seemed like science fiction" saved his life. 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!

How bugs and beet juice could play roles in the race to replace artificial dyes in food 鈥� 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 .

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After suffering almost 18 months of deadly bombardment, displacement and lack of access to basic services, the embattled people of Gaza face yet another challenge: the threat of insects and rodents.