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Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: February Recap

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:50:00 -0500

Global Health NOW: February Recap

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March 3, 2025


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Client files are seen stacked on a table during an HIV clinic day at TASO Mulago service center. February 17, Kampala, Uganda. Hajarah Nalwadda/Getty

A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients

Organizations working with HIV and AIDS across Africa are laying off staff and shuttering services this week—a sea change that could translate to “a death sentence” for hundreds of thousands of people over the next decade, reports The Guardian.

Desperate attempts, dire end: There had been some hope that global HIV/AIDS efforts would be spared USAID cuts as part of waivers offered to “life-saving” projects.

But last week the State Department terminated 90% of foreign aid contracts issued by USAID—a death knell for many programs.

Quantifying a catastrophe: In South Africa alone, eliminating PEPFAR is projected to lead to 601,000 HIV-related deaths over 10 years, finds a sobering study conducted before the cuts, per a STAT commentary.

At a press conference last week, clinicians and researchers in South Africa said programs were “being pushed off a cliff,” reports Science.

“This will be a bloodbath. Millions will suffer as a result of these actions, and global health—and the very notion of solidarity—will be unrecognizable,” said Jirair Ratevosian, former chief of staff at PEPFAR.

Other human costs include hundreds of thousands of deaths from malaria, malnutrition, and other diseases, per a new memo drawn up by departing USAID officials, per The New York Times (gift link).

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

Uganda’s second Ebola death, a 4-year-old who was being treated at the main referral facility in Kampala, was confirmed on Saturday, raising concerns that the outbreak declared on Jan. 30 has not been contained; the WHO says efforts are underway to boost contract tracing and surveillance. The Independent

Water contamination could be the cause of illness in northwestern Congo, which has caused the death of 60 people and sickened 1,000+ others, WHO officials say. PBS

As measles cases increase in Texas, U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged people to get vaccinated—while also emphasizing the “personal” nature of the choice, reports Axios; meanwhile, the case count grew to 146 people last week, per the AP.

States are easing licensing requirements for internationally trained physicians, meaning they may not have to repeat residencies in the U.S.; the shift could help alleviate physician shortages in rural areas. NPR Shots

FEBRUARY MUST-READS

Twice Bitten: Two Snakebite Deep Dives

The ‘Wild West’ of Antivenoms in Africa: In sub-Saharan Africa, a venomous snakebite is too often a death sentence: ~20,000 people in the region are killed each year, with rural populations especially impacted by severe antivenom shortages.

But even getting an antivenom is no guarantee of survival, as diluted and fraudulent antivenoms have flooded the poorly regulated market, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) reported.

U.S. foreign aid freeze imperils Eswatini’s hard-won success, according to another in-depth TBIJ report :

Eswatini reported zero snakebite deaths last summer—an important first, as snakebites caused, at one point, more than 60 deaths a year in the country.

But aid cuts forced the Luke Commission, a destination hospital for people with serious snakebites that led that progress, to close earlier this month to most patients.

Gun Violence: Tales From Two Countries

Sweden’s Influx of Firearms: On February 4, Sweden suffered its worst mass shooting in history, at an adult education campus in Orebro that killed 11—forcing the country to reckon with a growing gun violence scourge, The Times reports.

The shooting highlights Sweden’s shift from a “peaceful, high-trust society” to one struggling with gang-related crime, right-wing nationalism, and easier firearm access as illegal firearms are being trafficked in from the Balkans.

In the U.S., Profile of a Forever Teacher: It’s been seven years since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killed 17 people. The Parkland, Florida, school building was bulldozed last year. But former teacher Ivy Schamis remains deeply connected to her old classroom and the 30 surviving students who were with her on that day, reports The New York Times (gift link).

In a must-read profile of Schamis, reporter Emily Baumgaertner Nunn recounts the ongoing toll the trauma has taken on the teacher and her students, and how Schamis continues to be a lifeline for her students—all while struggling with her own grief.

FEBRUARY EXCLUSIVES

A nurse takes care of a dengue fever patient at the Sergio Bernales National Hospital, in the outskirts of Lima, Peru, on April 17, 2024. K Juan Carlos CISNEROS/AFP via Getty

Why Latin America Needs Its Own CDC—Now More Than Ever

When COVID-19 swept through Latin America, it exposed the region’s lack of coordinated public health response mechanisms—accounting for 10% of global COVID-19 cases and 25% of deaths, despite making up just 8.2% of the global population.

Today, Latin America remains structurally vulnerable to the next pandemic, write a trio of public health leaders from Mexico and Peru. Pointing to the Africa CDC Model, they argue that Latin America needs a similar regional agency that would work alongside PAHO to ensure faster, more efficient responses to health emergencies–-and detail what it would take to make the Latin America CDC a reality—a message they also brought to the Consortium of Universities for Global Health, February 20-23 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Patricia J. García, Jorge Saavedra, and Ariel García for Global Health NOW

Nota del editor: GHN ha publicado una versión en español del comentario.

CUGH exclusive coverage by Brian W. Simpson:

The Topic Everyone Was Talking About at CUGH 2025

The Macro Impacts of Microplastics

FEBRUARY'S BEST NEWS

How Guinea Stopped Sleeping Sickness

Twenty years ago, Guinea had the highest number of sleeping sickness cases in West Africa. But as of this year, the country managed to eliminate the NTD transmitted by the Trypanosoma parasite and spread by tsetse flies, the WHO announced.

What did it take? After elimination efforts including mass screening and treatment proved ineffective, the focus shifted to vector control.

Researchers discovered that tsetse flies are attracted to the color blue, so they developed tiny blue fabric screens coated with insecticide to attract and kill tsetse—a so-called “tiny targets” approach that has made a massive dent in cases.

El País

Related: Niger’s historic triumph over river blindness is a beacon of hope for Africa – The Telegraph

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

POPULATIONS

A Future With Fewer Children

Declining fertility is a “near-universal phenomenon”—affecting countries across a wide spectrum of incomes and cultural backgrounds.

2023 may have been the first year ever the world’s population dipped below the replacement threshold.

“Harbingers of potential futures”: Reporter Gideon Lewis-Kraus considers the real-world effects of population decline across South Korea—which has the lowest fertility rate in the world at 0.7—where dwindling numbers of children have already led to closed schools, redesigned public spaces, and economic uncertainty.

Still, long-term impacts remain a topic of debate, and government-led efforts to reverse the trend have proven elusive:

“A theory of fertility is necessarily a theory of everything—gender, money, politics, culture, evolution,” writes Lewis-Kraus.

The New Yorker

QUICK HITS

As measles cases mount in the US, what's the situation worldwide? – Al Arabiya

RFK Jr. moves to eliminate public comment on HHS decisions – STAT

CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel – HuffPost

Renowned geneticist Francis Collins retires from NIH, urging ‘respect’ for embattled workers – AP

Iowa has high cancer rates. Trump's cuts to CDC and NIH are already hitting the state - NPR Shots

A Study of Mint Plants. A Device to Stop Bleeding. This Is the Scientific Research Ted Cruz Calls “Woke.” – ProPublica

Scented products cause indoor air pollution on par with car exhaust – New Atlas Thanks for the tip, Xiaodong Cai!

Issue No. 2684

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 Facebook and follow us on Instagram @globalhealth.now and X @GHN_News.

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Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients; February Recap; and A Future With Fewer Children

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:00:49 -0500

Global Health NOW: A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients; February Recap; and A Future With Fewer Children

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March 3, 2025


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Client files are seen stacked on a table during an HIV clinic day at TASO Mulago service center. February 17, Kampala, Uganda. Hajarah Nalwadda/Getty

A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients

But last week the State Department terminated 90% of foreign aid contracts issued by USAID—a death knell for many programs.

At a press conference last week, clinicians and researchers in South Africa said programs were “being pushed off a cliff,” reports Science.

“This will be a bloodbath. Millions will suffer as a result of these actions, and global health—and the very notion of solidarity—will be unrecognizable,” said Jirair Ratevosian, former chief of staff at PEPFAR.

Other human costs include hundreds of thousands of deaths from malaria, malnutrition, and other diseases, per a new memo drawn up by departing USAID officials, per The New York Times (gift link).

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

FEBRUARY MUST-READS

Twice Bitten: Two Snakebite Deep Dives

Eswatini reported zero snakebite deaths last summer—an important first, as snakebites caused, at one point, more than 60 deaths a year in the country.

But aid cuts forced the Luke Commission, a destination hospital for people with serious snakebites that led that progress, to close earlier this month to most patients.

Gun Violence: Tales From Two Countries

The shooting highlights Sweden’s shift from a “peaceful, high-trust society” to one struggling with gang-related crime, right-wing nationalism, and easier firearm access as illegal firearms are being trafficked in from the Balkans.

In a must-read profile of Schamis, reporter Emily Baumgaertner Nunn recounts the ongoing toll the trauma has taken on the teacher and her students, and how Schamis continues to be a lifeline for her students—all while struggling with her own grief.

FEBRUARY EXCLUSIVES

A nurse takes care of a dengue fever patient at the Sergio Bernales National Hospital, in the outskirts of Lima, Peru, on April 17, 2024. K Juan Carlos CISNEROS/AFP via Getty

Why Latin America Needs Its Own CDC—Now More Than Ever

The Topic Everyone Was Talking About at CUGH 2025

The Macro Impacts of Microplastics

FEBRUARY'S BEST NEWS

How Guinea Stopped Sleeping Sickness

Researchers discovered that tsetse flies are attracted to the color blue, so they developed tiny blue fabric screens coated with insecticide to attract and kill tsetse—a so-called “tiny targets” approach that has made a massive dent in cases.

El País

Related: Niger’s historic triumph over river blindness is a beacon of hope for Africa – The Telegraph

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

POPULATIONS

A Future With Fewer Children

Declining fertility is a “near-universal phenomenon”—affecting countries across a wide spectrum of incomes and cultural backgrounds.

2023 may have been the first year ever the world’s population dipped below the replacement threshold.

“A theory of fertility is necessarily a theory of everything—gender, money, politics, culture, evolution,” writes Lewis-Kraus.

The New Yorker

QUICK HITS

Issue No. 2684

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Dr. Pai Forbes: John Green Tackles An Injustice Called Tuberculosis

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 20:42:12 -0500

With his new book 'Everything Is Tuberculosis,' celebrity author John Green is breathing new life into tuberculosis advocacy

��ϲ�� Perspectives Blog newsletter: ��ϲ�� Perspectives on Global Health: Feb 2025 Issue

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:05:46 -0500

��ϲ�� Perspectives on Global Health: Feb 2025 Issue

February 27, 2025

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NEWSLETTER

This February, we honor Black History Month—celebrating the resilience, contributions, and impact of Black leaders in global health. From groundbreaking research to advocacy for health equity, we highlight the voices and organizations driving change. Let’s recognize the past, engage with the present, and inspire a more inclusive future in healthcare.

Highlights of this Issue:

🔹Perspectives on Global Health Award - Stand a chance to win prizes!
🔹 Stories of Black pioneers in global health
🔹 Organizations advancing health equity
🔹 Research on racial disparities in healthcare

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

Selected Articles for this Month

Inspiring Hope for the Future: Youth as Catalysts for Vaccine Equity

“The youth remind the world that the future of vaccine equity lies in their hands. They are not just observers of systemic injustice; they are active participants in the fight for change.”
- Author: Abia Chowdhury is a Kinesiology major at ��ϲ�� University.

A Vision of Tomorrow: Vaccine Equity

""The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world."
- Author: Erica Prager and Andrew Sun are Canadian students at ��ϲ�� University in Tiohtià:ke, Québec, Canada studying Anatomy & Cell Biology, and Computer Science & Biology, respectively.

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 Black History Month. Let’s celebrate their dedication and commitment as we highlight their vital contributions to research, advocacy, and awareness.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

image: https://blackmamasmatter.org/

Black Mamas Matter Alliance: Black Mamas focuses on advancing maternal health equity by addressing systemic barriers that put Black mothers at risk. Through advocacy, community-led initiatives, and policy change, they work to ensure Black women receive respectful, quality, and culturally competent care. Their mission is to uplift Black maternal voices, fight medical racism, and create safer birthing experiences for Black mothers and their babies.

Black AIDS Institute

Image: https://blackaids.org/

Black AIDS Institute (BAI): Is a U.S.-based organization dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Black communities through advocacy, education, and direct services. Rooted in a commitment to Black health equity, BAI provides culturally relevant resources, policy analysis, and capacity-building programs to empower individuals and institutions in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In the News

Stay up to date with news and opinions on Global Health

Otis Boykin - The man who invented the Pacemaker

Image: https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/science-and-medicine/otis-bobby-boykin/

Otis Boykin was an African American inventor whose work revolutionized electronic technology. He developed a more reliable and cost-effective resistor, which became a key component in pacemakers, computers, and other electronic devices. His innovations have helped save lives and improve modern technology worldwide. Read or watch more about his story!

Charles Richard Drew - Father of the Blood Bank

Image: https://reporter.mcgill.ca/remembering-the-father-of-blood-banking/

Dr. Charles Drew was a pioneering Black surgeon and medical researcher who revolutionized blood banking. His innovations in blood storage and plasma preservation led to the development of large-scale blood banks, saving countless lives during World War II and beyond. Despite facing racial discrimination, his work laid the foundation for modern transfusion medicine. Read more about his story!

New in Global Health Academic Literature

Strengthening primary health care to tackle racial discrimination, promote intercultural services and reduce health inequitiess
By: World Health Organization

Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/7mxv7NUQpxyCeGE89

The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the importance of strengthening primary health care (PHC) systems to combat these disparities. In their research brief, WHO outlines 14 strategic and operational levers aimed at policymakers to enhance PHC, thereby addressing inequities faced by populations experiencing racial discrimination.

Read Now

Opportunities in Global Health

Perspectives on Global Health Spotlight Awards

Visit our website to learn more about the award

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

��ϲ�� 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 here 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!

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Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: The Macro Impacts of Microplastics; The Closure of a ‘Critical’ Global Health Data Resource; and Birkenstocks Arenʼt Art

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 09:28:31 -0500

Global Health NOW: The Macro Impacts of Microplastics; The Closure of a ‘Critical’ Global Health Data Resource; and Birkenstocks Arenʼt Art

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February 27, 2025


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Volunteers remove plastic and other debris from a beach in Kedonganan, Indonesia, on December 31, 2024. Keyza Widiatmika/NurPhoto via Getty

The Macro Impacts of Microplastics

ATLANTA—Inexpensive and convenient, plastics have become the building blocks of modern life, but they’re also a threat to human health.

About 75% of 8–10 billion tons of plastics produced since the mid-20th century are circulating in the environment, Philip Landrigan, director of Boston College’s Global Observatory on Planetary Health, told attendees at a Consortium of Universities for Global Health session last week.

“There are at least 16,000 chemicals in plastics. Nobody really knows,” Landrigan said. “And the real kicker is that more than 80% of the chemicals in plastic have never been tested for toxicity.”

Tiny threats: Microplastics—plastic bits less than 5 millimeters long—are found across the globe from the snows of the Himalayas to the interior of individual human cells.

Italian scientists discovered that heart disease patients who had microplastics in their carotid plaque had a 450% increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or death, according to a March 2024 New England Journal of Medicine article.

The Quote: “We’re literally becoming part plastic,” Amelia Meyer, a Stanford University research program manager, said in an interview with GHN. “We’re only just discovering what could happen to people who have been exposed to plastics their whole lives.”

Read the story for possible solutions.

Brian W. Simpson for Global Health NOW

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

Influencers are “fearmongering” on social media to promote health tests like genetic testing, MRIs, gut microbiome tests, and egg count tests, finds a study published in JAMA Network Open; such posts can be “overwhelmingly misleading” and carry a risk for overdiagnosis, researchers say. The Guardian

Satellite imagery of Sudan is providing researchers with clues about the scope of devastation in the Darfur region, as large parts of the country are inaccessible to humanitarian and data-gathering efforts amid intense conflict; data show “more people are dying of starvation and disease than bullets and bombs.” Science

The CDC is investigating the hospitalizations of five people who received the chikungunya virus vaccine IXCHIQ, per a notice posted Tuesday; the people are all aged 65+ and were hospitalized for cardiac or neurologic events following recent vaccination. CNN

Children with long COVID can experience “significant” lung injuries stemming from loss of blood flow in the lungs, per new findings published in Radiology; the condition can lead to severe chronic fatigue. CIDRAP

Trump Administration News

Musk claims DOGE ‘restored’ Ebola prevention effort. Officials disagree. – The Washington Post (gift article)

C.D.C. Suggests Terms Like ‘Race’ and ‘Health Equity’ Are Off-Limits, Then Backtracks – The New York Times (gift article)

U.S. will spend up to $1 billion to combat bird flu, USDA secretary says – NBC News

Trump Team Weighs Pulling Funds for Moderna Bird Flu Vaccine – Bloomberg via Yahoo! News

FDA cancels pivotal advisory meeting about next season's flu vaccine – ABC News

RFK Jr. Dismisses Measles Outbreak As ‘Not Unusual’ After Child's Death – HuffPost

Title 42 Isn’t About Public Health — It’s About Keeping Immigrants Out – The Intercept

FOREIGN AID FREEZE

The Closure of a ‘Critical’ Global Health Data Resource

A data collection program that provided “indispensable” public health information to about half of the world’s nations will be shuttered following the Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze.

The Demographic and Health Surveys have collected data in 90 low- and middle-income nations since 1984, and helped leaders to set health benchmarks at the local, national, and global levels—including the UN’s 2030 SDGs.

The surveys recorded “critical aspects” of household health—including mortality data, nutrition status, reproductive health and HIV status, as well as access to clean water.

They were the only sources of information many countries had about some health indicators.

On Tuesday, the program’s administrators were told it was being “terminated for the convenience of the U.S. Government.” It remains unclear what will happen with the research collected in ongoing surveys—or what will happen with what has already been collected.

The New York Times (gift link)

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

ORGAN DONATION

A Kidney Black Market Takes Hold in Burma

An illegal kidney market has a growing list of Burmese sellers, as the country’s civil war has forced half of the nation’s population into poverty, a BBC investigation has found.

One story: Reporters followed one Burmese man through the kidney sale process, which included using a broker to oversee medical testing, link him to a Burmese buyer, and forge documents that claimed the two were family members.

The seller explained he “chose this desperate way” as he was struggling with debt.

India a transplant hub: The “donor” and the “recipient” underwent the transplant in India—where concern around kidney sales has been rising. Last spring, a senior health ministry official wrote to Indian states warning of a surge in transplants among foreigners.

BBC

Related: How Much Is Your Kidney Worth? – Noēma

GUN VIOLENCE

A Forever Teacher

It’s been seven years since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killed 17 people. The Parkland, Florida, school building was bulldozed last year.

But former teacher Ivy Schamis remains deeply connected to her old classroom—Room 1214—and the 30 surviving students who were with her on that day.

In a must-read profile of Schamis, reporter Emily Baumgaertner Nunn recounts the ongoing toll the trauma has taken on the teacher and her students, and lengths to which Schamis continues to be a lifeline for her students: from connecting them with mental health resources to coaching them through life transitions.

All the while, she has struggled with her own grief.

“Everyone talks about how the students feel, but no one really pays attention to the teachers,” said former student Hannah Carbocci.

The New York Times (gift link)

EVENT

Join GHN in D.C. … Or Online

For those in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area, we hope youʼll join GHN in person for a special live storytelling event spotlighting the remarkable experiences of refugees working in global health. But if you canʼt attend in person, GHN will be livestreaming the event!

Bloomberg School graduates from Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria will share firsthand accounts of living and working amid humanitarian crises, fleeing conflict, and shaping impactful roles in public health.

All are welcome for this evening of inspiring stories, hosted by the Center for Humanitarian Health and Global Health NOW, at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.

Register here to attend the event or watch the livestream here.

ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION

Birk Is It Art?

No!

It took years of litigation—during which copycat Birkenstocks multiplied across the globe—but a German federal court has put its (probably cork-clad) foot down: Birkenstocks are not “copyright-protected works of applied art.”

The German shoemaker figured that if such status could be granted to Le Corbusier furniture and Bauhaus lighting, why not your Dadʼs favorite bunion-proof sandals cum fashion item?

But Birkenstockʼs loss is our win. The makers of the iconic yet divisive sandals sued three unnamed competitors and asked that knockoffs be recalled and destroyed—a request that, if enforced, would require an all-feet-on-deck, global seizure of counterfeit corkware. But fear not, your Target two-straps are safe!

Now that that matter is settled in court, we can return to the core question—not whether Birks should be displayed in a gallery, but whether they deserve to be placed on a human foot.

ArtNews

QUICK HITS

Life in the shadow of a toxic mountain of plastic waste – The Telegraph

Tricky to spot and cumbersome to treat, visceral leishmaniasis turns deadly in arid east Africa – Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance

You need to start taking airborne fungal outbreaks seriously – Vox

South Korea birthrate rises for first time in nine years amid surge in marriages – The Guardian

Epigenetic echoes: Violence can leave genetic marks on future generations – Medical Xpress

"Power of Joy": New Film on Childbirth During Ethiopia's Civil War – Think Global Health

Issue No. 2683

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World Health Organization: DR Congo: WHO tracks deadly mysterious illness

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are carrying out further investigations to determine the cause of another cluster of illness and deaths in Équateur province, UN officials reported on Thursday.

��ϲ�� Faculty of Medicine news: Prescribing anti-swelling drug reduces immune response weeks after last dose

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:05:58 -0500

Mapping immune cell diversity reveals dexamethasone’s impact on brain cancer immunotherapy

Swelling caused by brain cancer is a problem that can lead to serious side effects and even death. While controlling swelling is important, a new study shows that a commonly prescribed anti-swelling drug suppresses the immune system for weeks after dosage, inhibiting the body’s ability to fight the cancer.

��ϲ�� Faculty of Medicine news: Prescribing anti-swelling drug reduces immune response weeks after last dose

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:05:58 -0500

Mapping immune cell diversity reveals dexamethasone’s impact on brain cancer immunotherapy

Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: A Medical Ground Zero; As Sports Betting Grows, So Do Addiction Concerns; and Could Labels Curb Canada’s Drinking Risks?

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:16:15 -0500

Global Health NOW: A Medical Ground Zero; As Sports Betting Grows, So Do Addiction Concerns; and Could Labels Curb Canada’s Drinking Risks?

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February 26, 2025


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A composite image showing al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, Gaza, on December 27, 2023 (left), and January 19, 2025 (right). Abed Zagout, Hani Alshaer/Anadolu via Getty

A Medical Ground Zero

As Palestinians return to their homes amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel, they face a “decimated health system”—unable to find basic medical care or help for emergencies like heart attacks, per a new report by The BMJ.

Infectious diseases “continue to run rampant” in the overcrowded, malnourished communities, which have little access to water and hygiene and no waste disposal.

“We don’t count the people who have died as a result of the lack of medical services,” said Médecins Sans Frontières’ Mohammed Abu Mughaiseeb. “A lot of people who had cardiac problems died. A lot of people with renal failure died. A lot of people with cancer—children and adults—died because of a lack of treatment and services.”

But there is nowhere to turn for medical help—with nearly all hospitals and clinics destroyed, along with most medical equipment. 1,000+ health care workers have been killed, and remaining workers are “beyond burned out.”

Meanwhile, cold conditions in the enclave have led to hypothermia deaths of 15 children, including six infants, reports the AP.

The ceasefire’s first phase ends on Saturday. If fighting resumes, the flow of humanitarian aid is expected to drop.

Related: Israelis bid farewell to a mother and her two young sons killed in captivity in Gaza – AP

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

6,000+ people in Haiti have been displaced by “a wave of extreme brutality” by gangs over the course of a month, and the violence is also obstructing humanitarian efforts. UN News

Kids vaccinated against COVID-19 had a 57%–73% lower risk of long COVID symptoms, suggests a new CDC-led study published in JAMA Network Open. CIDRAP

A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to resume USAID payments by tomorrow; the funding was ordered to be reopened Feb. 13, but so far there is no evidence that the administration has complied, the judge said. NPR Goats and Soda

1.1 million people with HIV in South Africa will be put on treatment as a part of the country’s efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. UNAIDS (news release)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

As Sports Betting Grows, So Do Addiction Concerns

A growing number of people in the U.S. are seeking help for gambling addiction, a study published last week in JAMA Internal Medicine has found.

Background: Researchers sought to track the impact of the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that eliminated a prohibition on online sports betting, which in 2024 was legal in 38 states.

Sports wagers soared from $4.9 billion in 2017 to more than $121 billion in 2023.

Study details: Researchers looked at internet search terms that indicated people are struggling with gambling disorder—such as “help me find help with gambling addiction”—and found that such terms increased ~23% nationally since the 2018 ruling.

NPR Shots

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

ALCOHOL

Could Labels Curb Canada’s Drinking Risks?

Canadian health officials are watching the effect of the warnings about alcohol use and cancer risk voiced by the former U.S. surgeon general—and mulling the potential effect of stronger deterrents in their own country.

Only about half of adults in Canada are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer.

But a 2017 study showed that after two months of labeling, public knowledge of the link increased 10%—and that newly aware consumers were ~2X as likely to support alcohol taxation policies.

Legislative efforts: A bill to require warning labels on alcohol was introduced in 2022 but was paused in committee. The bill’s sponsor says “growing momentum” could lead to greater traction if it is reintroduced.

The Toronto Star (commentary)

OPPORTUNITY

Calling All Filmmakers and Reviewers!

The APHA 2025 Public Health Film Festival, which showcases local, national, and global public health films, is now accepting submissions and reviewers.

Criteria for films: Independent, community-created, or youth-created films from all disciplines of public health will be considered, but films related to the APHA 2025 theme “Making the Public’s Health a National Priority” are highly encouraged.

Reviewers: APHA is also seeking volunteers to serve as film reviewers. Become a reviewer for a chance to win one of 10 complimentary registrations to APHA 2025 (November 2–5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.).

Deadline to submit films: April 7, 2025
Submit a film
Become a reviewer

QUICK HITS

China eyes opportunities as US scales back humanitarian aid – The Christian Science Monitor

Can we unplug global health education from The Matrix? – PLOS Global Public Health (commentary)

South Africa faces HIV crisis as Trump’s aid freeze halts treatment and research – RFI

What RFK Jr. has said about the ongoing measles outbreak – Vox

CDC will no longer process transgender data – STAT

Flu vaccine this season may be poorly matched, early CDC data suggests – CBS

Researchers Study How Corporate Manipulation Impacts Health – Undark

New paper examines why COVID-19 mortality was higher in the U.S. than in some East Asian countries – Stanford Report

How Cairo’s “Garbage City” became the envy of the world – African Arguments

Issue No. 2682

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World Health Organization: New report flags severity of US funding cuts to global AIDS response

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Shuttered clinics and health workers laid off around the world reflect the widespread, negative toll the United States funding freeze is taking on the global AIDS response, according to a new situation report released on Wednesday by the UN agency charged with responding to the disease.

Global Health Programs aggregator

Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: February Recap

A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

FEBRUARY MUST-READS

Twice Bitten: Two Snakebite Deep Dives

Gun Violence: Tales From Two Countries

FEBRUARY EXCLUSIVES

Why Latin America Needs Its Own CDC—Now More Than Ever

FEBRUARY'S BEST NEWS

How Guinea Stopped Sleeping Sickness

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

POPULATIONS

A Future With Fewer Children

QUICK HITS

Issue No. 2684

Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients; February Recap; and A Future With Fewer Children

A ‘Death Sentence’ for AIDS Programs—and Patients

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

FEBRUARY MUST-READS

Twice Bitten: Two Snakebite Deep Dives

Gun Violence: Tales From Two Countries

FEBRUARY EXCLUSIVES

Why Latin America Needs Its Own CDC—Now More Than Ever

FEBRUARY'S BEST NEWS

How Guinea Stopped Sleeping Sickness

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

POPULATIONS

A Future With Fewer Children

QUICK HITS

Issue No. 2684

Dr. Pai Forbes: John Green Tackles An Injustice Called Tuberculosis

���ϲ����� Perspectives Blog newsletter: ���ϲ����� Perspectives on Global Health: Feb 2025 Issue

Highlights of this Issue:

Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: The Macro Impacts of Microplastics; The Closure of a ‘Critical’ Global Health Data Resource; and Birkenstocks Arenʼt Art

The Macro Impacts of Microplastics

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

Trump Administration News

FOREIGN AID FREEZE

The Closure of a ‘Critical’ Global Health Data Resource

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

ORGAN DONATION

A Kidney Black Market Takes Hold in Burma

GUN VIOLENCE

A Forever Teacher

EVENT

Join GHN in D.C. … Or Online

ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION

Birk Is It Art?

QUICK HITS

Issue No. 2683

World Health Organization: DR Congo: WHO tracks deadly mysterious illness

���ϲ����� Faculty of Medicine news: Prescribing anti-swelling drug reduces immune response weeks after last dose

Mapping immune cell diversity reveals dexamethasone’s impact on brain cancer immunotherapy

���ϲ����� Faculty of Medicine news: Prescribing anti-swelling drug reduces immune response weeks after last dose

Mapping immune cell diversity reveals dexamethasone’s impact on brain cancer immunotherapy

Global Health Now: Global Health NOW: A Medical Ground Zero; As Sports Betting Grows, So Do Addiction Concerns; and Could Labels Curb Canada’s Drinking Risks?

A Medical Ground Zero

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

The Latest

One-Liners

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

As Sports Betting Grows, So Do Addiction Concerns

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES

ALCOHOL

Could Labels Curb Canada’s Drinking Risks?

OPPORTUNITY

Calling All Filmmakers and Reviewers!

QUICK HITS

Issue No. 2682

World Health Organization: New report flags severity of US funding cuts to global AIDS response

��ϲ�� Perspectives Blog newsletter: ��ϲ�� Perspectives on Global Health: Feb 2025 Issue

��ϲ�� Faculty of Medicine news: Prescribing anti-swelling drug reduces immune response weeks after last dose

��ϲ�� Faculty of Medicine news: Prescribing anti-swelling drug reduces immune response weeks after last dose