Two counties in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan are sliding into famine, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned in a new report released Thursday.
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Declining 鈥楻eproductive Agency鈥� and Fertility Rates; Rescripting Traumatic Memories; Meth Smuggling in the Golden Triangle
June 11, 2025
A doll on a stroller is pictured on a playground in Bicentennial Park, in the commune of Vitacura. Santiago, Chile, September 5, 2024. Raul Bravo/AFP via Getty
A Lack of 鈥楻eproductive Agency鈥� as Global Fertility Declines
The 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� drop in global fertility stems from social and economic barriers鈥攏ot a rejection of parenthood鈥�.
Key finding: 1 in 5 adults say they expect to have fewer children than they want due to financial barriers and insecurity about the future.
Key factors preventing people from starting families, :
Related:
China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivise childbirth 鈥�
Advocates, Clinics Anxiously Ask: When Will Trump Release IVF Recommendations? 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill targeting out-of-state doctors and activists who prescribe, mail, or 鈥渃oordinate the sale of鈥� abortion pills to residents within the state, where abortion is banned with few exceptions.
Childhood trauma has been linked to a 20% increased risk of developing endometriosis later in life, , which included hundreds of thousands of women in Sweden.
Dementia risk can be tied to vascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, or smoking, , which suggests that up to 44% of dementia cases could be attributed to such preventable factors in mid- and late life.
The FDA will use AI to 鈥渞adically increase efficiency鈥� in approving new drugs and devices, per a ; the adoption of the technology comes after the agency cut nearly 2,000 employees. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Vaccine board purge stokes talk of CDC alternatives 鈥�
White House says it will spare some AIDS programs that were on the chopping block 鈥�
Big changes are being proposed for a US food aid program 鈥�
Science鈥檚 reform movement should have seen Trump鈥檚 call for 鈥榞old standard science鈥� coming, critics say 鈥�
NIH chief stands by funding cuts to 鈥榩oliticized science鈥� at tense hearing 鈥�
The Bleach Community Is Ready for RFK Jr. to Make Their Dreams Come True 鈥� DATA POINT
1 in 5
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Afghans live in areas littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance. 鈥� MENTAL HEALTH Rescripting Memories to Treat PTSD
Finding effective treatments for PTSD in veterans is an ongoing quest for psychologists and one with high stakes, as veterans with the condition .
One therapy getting more attention: Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM), a structured process that aims to reduce PTSD symptoms by visualizing trauma as a movie, 鈥渞ewinding鈥� and adjusting elements to lessen emotional impact over time.
The process differs from the dominant treatment, prolonged exposure therapy, by approaching memories less directly, thereby lessening distress and leading to a higher completion rate.
Further study needed: Initial data are promising, with ~70% of those receiving RTM therapy no longer meeting PTSD criteria. But critics say the studies are limited and need more rigor.
Related: Mental healthcare reform 2.0: learning from the global south 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES DRUG TRAFFICKING Meth Smuggling Crisis in the Golden Triangle
Thai authorities are struggling to stem a flood of synthetic illicit drugs coming into the country from neighboring war-torn Burma, where drug production is surging.
Meth on the rise: Thailand intercepted 130 tons of meth in 2024, 鈥攏early half of the 236 tons seized in East and Southeast Asia.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Motsoaledi鈥檚 big HIV treatment jump: Is it true? 鈥�
Arizona confirms first measles cases as totals rise in other states 鈥�
Why Texas is spending millions to research an illegal psychedelic 鈥�
Vi峄噒 Nam confirms global family planning commitment through 2030 鈥�
How to speak to a vaccine sceptic: research reveals what works 鈥�
How Composting Protects Public Health and Our Planet 鈥�
Music festivals have become more open to harm reduction initiatives. How far will it go? 鈥�
Word of the Week: how a bacteria unrelated to fish got its name 鈥渟almonella鈥� 鈥� Issue No. 2739
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
The 鈥渦nprecedented鈥� drop in global fertility stems from social and economic barriers鈥攏ot a rejection of parenthood鈥�.
Key finding: 1 in 5 adults say they expect to have fewer children than they want due to financial barriers and insecurity about the future.
- 鈥淭he issue is lack of choice, not desire,鈥� UNFPA head Natalia Kanem .
Key factors preventing people from starting families, :
- Economic insecurity: 39% of respondents cited financial limitations including high housing and childcare costs as the main reason for having fewer children.
- Fear for the future: 19% cited worries around climate change and conflict.
- Gender and labor dynamics: 13% of women cited unequal division of labor as a barrier to having children.
Related:
China to make all hospitals offer epidurals to incentivise childbirth 鈥�
Advocates, Clinics Anxiously Ask: When Will Trump Release IVF Recommendations? 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill targeting out-of-state doctors and activists who prescribe, mail, or 鈥渃oordinate the sale of鈥� abortion pills to residents within the state, where abortion is banned with few exceptions.
Childhood trauma has been linked to a 20% increased risk of developing endometriosis later in life, , which included hundreds of thousands of women in Sweden.
Dementia risk can be tied to vascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, or smoking, , which suggests that up to 44% of dementia cases could be attributed to such preventable factors in mid- and late life.
The FDA will use AI to 鈥渞adically increase efficiency鈥� in approving new drugs and devices, per a ; the adoption of the technology comes after the agency cut nearly 2,000 employees. U.S. and Global Health Policy News Vaccine board purge stokes talk of CDC alternatives 鈥�
White House says it will spare some AIDS programs that were on the chopping block 鈥�
Big changes are being proposed for a US food aid program 鈥�
Science鈥檚 reform movement should have seen Trump鈥檚 call for 鈥榞old standard science鈥� coming, critics say 鈥�
NIH chief stands by funding cuts to 鈥榩oliticized science鈥� at tense hearing 鈥�
The Bleach Community Is Ready for RFK Jr. to Make Their Dreams Come True 鈥� DATA POINT
1 in 5
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Afghans live in areas littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance. 鈥� MENTAL HEALTH Rescripting Memories to Treat PTSD
Finding effective treatments for PTSD in veterans is an ongoing quest for psychologists and one with high stakes, as veterans with the condition .
One therapy getting more attention: Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM), a structured process that aims to reduce PTSD symptoms by visualizing trauma as a movie, 鈥渞ewinding鈥� and adjusting elements to lessen emotional impact over time.
The process differs from the dominant treatment, prolonged exposure therapy, by approaching memories less directly, thereby lessening distress and leading to a higher completion rate.
Further study needed: Initial data are promising, with ~70% of those receiving RTM therapy no longer meeting PTSD criteria. But critics say the studies are limited and need more rigor.
Related: Mental healthcare reform 2.0: learning from the global south 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES DRUG TRAFFICKING Meth Smuggling Crisis in the Golden Triangle
Thai authorities are struggling to stem a flood of synthetic illicit drugs coming into the country from neighboring war-torn Burma, where drug production is surging.
Meth on the rise: Thailand intercepted 130 tons of meth in 2024, 鈥攏early half of the 236 tons seized in East and Southeast Asia.
- 鈥淚n the past, to catch like 100,000 methamphetamine tablets was a big deal. Now we catch more than a million pills, and it鈥檚 just a normal day,鈥� said one Thai military official.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Motsoaledi鈥檚 big HIV treatment jump: Is it true? 鈥�
Arizona confirms first measles cases as totals rise in other states 鈥�
Why Texas is spending millions to research an illegal psychedelic 鈥�
Vi峄噒 Nam confirms global family planning commitment through 2030 鈥�
How to speak to a vaccine sceptic: research reveals what works 鈥�
How Composting Protects Public Health and Our Planet 鈥�
Music festivals have become more open to harm reduction initiatives. How far will it go? 鈥�
Word of the Week: how a bacteria unrelated to fish got its name 鈥渟almonella鈥� 鈥� Issue No. 2739
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
With 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning: the climate crisis is also a health crisis 鈥� and it鈥檚 already claiming lives.
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: RFK Jr. Clears Out Vaccine Experts; Argentina鈥檚 Scientists Struggle; and Lesotho Mothers on the Front Lines
June 10, 2025
A paramedic administers a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center. Lubbock, Texas. February 27. Ronald Schemidt/AFP via Getty
RFK Jr. Clears Out Vaccine Experts
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yesterday removed all experts on a vaccine advisory committee that guides the CDC鈥攁nd will replace them with members he selects.
We have 鈥榩ost-vaccination syndrome.鈥� We are tired of being used to score anti-vax points 鈥�
FDA Review of Novavax鈥檚 COVID-19 Vaccine鈥擱egulatory Integrity and Deviations From Standard Practice 鈥�
Widespread Decline Seen in MMR Vaccination Rates After COVID-19 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners The WHO has extended its designation of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern amid a recent surge of cases in West Africa; the emergency, first confirmed in August 2024, now affects 25 countries in Africa.
Youth firearm deaths rose considerably in U.S. states that passed more lenient gun laws after a 2010 Supreme Court ruling limited local governments鈥� capacity to limit gun ownership, ; in states with stricter laws, gun deaths held steady or even fell鈥攁nd dipped significantly in four: California, Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island.
Canadian wildfires have forced 27,000+ Canadians in three provinces to evacuate, while smoke from the fires is causing 鈥榲ery unhealthy鈥� conditions in the American Midwest and even reaching Europe; in Minnesota, hospitals are reporting more patients with respiratory symptoms.
A new celiac disease blood test could be a game-changer, that found the test highly accurate鈥攚hile sparing people from weeks of potentially painful and debilitating tests that require them to consume gluten. U.S. and Global Health Policy News NIH walks back ban on new grants for universities with DEI programs or Israel boycotts 鈥�
Trump budget proposes killing nursing research institute 鈥�
鈥楾he cartels and clans are ecstatic鈥�: How USAID cuts have emboldened Colombia鈥檚 narcos 鈥�
Domestic abusers could have easier path to getting gun rights back under Trump proposal 鈥�
Trump Bill鈥檚 Caps on Grad School Loans Could Worsen Doctor Shortage 鈥� POLICY Argentina鈥檚 Scientists Struggle
After decades of cyclical crises, extreme currency fluctuations, and sky-high inflation, Argentine scientists have had to learn to be creative with limited funds: They bargain with suppliers, recycle materials, and look for cheaper alternatives when the equipment they want is too expensive.
But even their ingenuity is becoming insufficient after a year and a half of aggressive government cuts to public spending.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS How Misoprostol Transformed Abortion in Latin America
In the 1990s, abortion activism in Latin America was revolutionized by the word-of-mouth spread of a safe, new self-managed abortion method: the drug misoprostol.
Strict anti-abortion laws were in place throughout the region, but underground networks of activists soon found ways to get misoprostol in the hands of women, and to instruct them how to use it.
Related: A Day With One Abortion Pill Prescriber 鈥� SUBSTANCE USE Lesotho Mothers on the Front Lines
In Lesotho, alarming trends in youth drug use are spurring mothers to push for greater interventions.
鈥楬otspotting鈥� takes hold: As crystal meth usage has grown, more young people are participating in 鈥渉otspotting鈥� or 鈥渂luetoothing鈥濃�攖he practice of drawing blood from a drug-intoxicated person, then injecting it in others in order to spread the high.
Related: Drug deaths plummet among young Americans as fentanyl carnage eases 鈥� OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Measles holiday warning as cases rise in Europe 鈥�
A Palestinian doctor in Israel helps people on both sides 鈥�
These Gazan families came to Quebec for safety. Now, they face life without health coverage 鈥�
Two Women Faced Chemo. The One Who Survived Demanded a Test to See if It Was Safe. 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!
Suicidal ideation across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark 鈥� identifying vulnerable subgroups using COH-FIT data 鈥�
Eliminating malaria in Nigeria: insights from Egypt's success and pathways to sustainable eradication 鈥�
Open-access revolution is squeezing scientific societies鈥� budgets, survey shows 鈥�
What does it mean for workplaces to treat COVID-19 like the common flu 鈥� Issue No. 2738
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 .
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yesterday removed all experts on a vaccine advisory committee that guides the CDC鈥攁nd will replace them with members he selects.
- Kennedy argued in that the 17-member committee 鈥渉as been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine.鈥�
- The next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will be held June 25-27, though it鈥檚 not clear when new members will be announced, .
- 鈥淭his is one of the darkest days in modern public health history," said Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), . 鈥淪cience does not matter to Mr. Kennedy.鈥�
- 鈥淲e鈥檒l look back at this as a grave mistake that sacrificed decades of scientific rigor, undermined public trust, and opened the door for fringe theories rather than facts,鈥� said Tom Frieden, Resolve to Save Lives president and CEO, and former CDC director, per AP.
- 鈥淲ith a refigured committee of like-minded individuals to the secretary, doctors, nurses, pharmacists who provide advice are going to be in big trouble,鈥� Richard Besser, former CDC acting director, .
We have 鈥榩ost-vaccination syndrome.鈥� We are tired of being used to score anti-vax points 鈥�
FDA Review of Novavax鈥檚 COVID-19 Vaccine鈥擱egulatory Integrity and Deviations From Standard Practice 鈥�
Widespread Decline Seen in MMR Vaccination Rates After COVID-19 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners The WHO has extended its designation of mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern amid a recent surge of cases in West Africa; the emergency, first confirmed in August 2024, now affects 25 countries in Africa.
Youth firearm deaths rose considerably in U.S. states that passed more lenient gun laws after a 2010 Supreme Court ruling limited local governments鈥� capacity to limit gun ownership, ; in states with stricter laws, gun deaths held steady or even fell鈥攁nd dipped significantly in four: California, Maryland, New York, and Rhode Island.
Canadian wildfires have forced 27,000+ Canadians in three provinces to evacuate, while smoke from the fires is causing 鈥榲ery unhealthy鈥� conditions in the American Midwest and even reaching Europe; in Minnesota, hospitals are reporting more patients with respiratory symptoms.
A new celiac disease blood test could be a game-changer, that found the test highly accurate鈥攚hile sparing people from weeks of potentially painful and debilitating tests that require them to consume gluten. U.S. and Global Health Policy News NIH walks back ban on new grants for universities with DEI programs or Israel boycotts 鈥�
Trump budget proposes killing nursing research institute 鈥�
鈥楾he cartels and clans are ecstatic鈥�: How USAID cuts have emboldened Colombia鈥檚 narcos 鈥�
Domestic abusers could have easier path to getting gun rights back under Trump proposal 鈥�
Trump Bill鈥檚 Caps on Grad School Loans Could Worsen Doctor Shortage 鈥� POLICY Argentina鈥檚 Scientists Struggle
After decades of cyclical crises, extreme currency fluctuations, and sky-high inflation, Argentine scientists have had to learn to be creative with limited funds: They bargain with suppliers, recycle materials, and look for cheaper alternatives when the equipment they want is too expensive.
But even their ingenuity is becoming insufficient after a year and a half of aggressive government cuts to public spending.
- Projects studying rare diseases and RNA-based therapeutics are stalled or dramatically scaled back, while scientists face dwindling supplies and collapsing purchasing power due to inflation exceeding 300% since late 2023.
- International collaborations, once a safety net, are also at risk as U.S. science budgets tighten. Argentine scientists are used to 鈥渂rain drain鈥濃�攕eeing their colleagues emigrate when funding gets scarce鈥攁 possibility that is now raising alarms in the U.S.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS How Misoprostol Transformed Abortion in Latin America
In the 1990s, abortion activism in Latin America was revolutionized by the word-of-mouth spread of a safe, new self-managed abortion method: the drug misoprostol.
Strict anti-abortion laws were in place throughout the region, but underground networks of activists soon found ways to get misoprostol in the hands of women, and to instruct them how to use it.
- Groups like Las Libres in Mexico and Socorristas en Red in Argentina offered free pills, guidance, and support. Activists in Ecuador and Argentina started hotlines and published widely read manuals.
Related: A Day With One Abortion Pill Prescriber 鈥� SUBSTANCE USE Lesotho Mothers on the Front Lines
In Lesotho, alarming trends in youth drug use are spurring mothers to push for greater interventions.
鈥楬otspotting鈥� takes hold: As crystal meth usage has grown, more young people are participating in 鈥渉otspotting鈥� or 鈥渂luetoothing鈥濃�攖he practice of drawing blood from a drug-intoxicated person, then injecting it in others in order to spread the high.
- The practice increases the risk of HIV and other infections in a country already facing one of the world鈥檚 highest HIV rates.
Related: Drug deaths plummet among young Americans as fentanyl carnage eases 鈥� OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Measles holiday warning as cases rise in Europe 鈥�
A Palestinian doctor in Israel helps people on both sides 鈥�
These Gazan families came to Quebec for safety. Now, they face life without health coverage 鈥�
Two Women Faced Chemo. The One Who Survived Demanded a Test to See if It Was Safe. 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe!
Suicidal ideation across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark 鈥� identifying vulnerable subgroups using COH-FIT data 鈥�
Eliminating malaria in Nigeria: insights from Egypt's success and pathways to sustainable eradication 鈥�
Open-access revolution is squeezing scientific societies鈥� budgets, survey shows 鈥�
What does it mean for workplaces to treat COVID-19 like the common flu 鈥� Issue No. 2738
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
The global fertility slump isn鈥檛 down to young people turning their backs on parenthood 鈥� it鈥檚 due to social and economic pressures stopping them from having the children they want, says a new UN report.
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Sierra Leone鈥檚 Mpox Surge; Climate and Kidney Disease; and Standing Up to Stigma
June 9, 2025
A crowd of people at Dove Cot Market. Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 1.
Patrick Meinhardt/AFP via Getty
Sierra Leone鈥檚 Mpox Surge
Mpox infections are rapidly rising in Sierra Leone, overwhelming the nation鈥檚 health systems and raising fears of a wider spread in densely populated West Africa, .
Outbreak overview: In the past month, Sierra Leone has reported 15 deaths and 3,000+ mpox infections鈥攎ore than half of Africa鈥檚 new cases.
Viral skincare routines aimed at teenagers on TikTok carry both dermatological and psychological risks and 鈥渙ffer little to no benefit,鈥� , which also found that content creators ages 7鈥�18 apply an average of six skincare products daily.
U.S. mothers鈥� mental health worsened between 2016 and 2023 across all socioeconomic groups, finds a that analyzed self-reported mental health ratings from some 198,000 mothers.
As global measles surveillance is threatened by U.S. funding cuts, philanthropies are trying to keep the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, known as Gremlin, afloat. U.S. and Global Health Policy News In Axing mRNA Contract, Trump Delivers Another Blow to US Biosecurity, Former Officials Say 鈥�
He led George W. Bush's PEPFAR program to stop AIDS. Now he fears for its future 鈥�
How Trump Administration Can Tackle America's Addiction Problems: Experts 鈥�
Who鈥檚 in charge? CDC鈥檚 leadership 鈥榗risis鈥� apparent amid new COVID-19 vaccine guidance 鈥�
NIH asks for proposals for $50M autism data project 鈥�
Palantir鈥檚 Collection of Disease Data at C.D.C. Stirs Privacy Concerns 鈥� CLIMATE Climate and Kidney Disease
Since the late 1990s, researchers have been studying an epidemic of young, otherwise healthy workers suddenly struck with kidney failure鈥攁 condition dubbed chronic kidney disease of unknown cause, or CKDu.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Standing Up to Stigma
In Rwanda, where approximately 300,000 people live with HIV, stigma can lead to social isolation, especially in school-age children. But new protective measures are supporting students living with HIV.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Gaza health system 鈥榚xtremely fragile鈥� as aid point killings increase: ICRC 鈥�
Monthly prescription rule blocks ADHD treatment for SA kids 鈥�
World must 鈥榮tart screening for prostate cancer to stop men being left behind鈥� 鈥�
Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs sickens dozens across 7 states 鈥�
Stigmatised for being deaf: Z茅nabou's story 鈥�
Local, organic, and bipartisan: How Vermont is challenging Big Food 鈥�
How a dog aging project can help pets and humans live healthier lives 鈥� Issue No. 2737
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 .
Mpox infections are rapidly rising in Sierra Leone, overwhelming the nation鈥檚 health systems and raising fears of a wider spread in densely populated West Africa, .
Outbreak overview: In the past month, Sierra Leone has reported 15 deaths and 3,000+ mpox infections鈥攎ore than half of Africa鈥檚 new cases.
- The actual number of infections may be 4X higher than reported, genomic analysis suggests.
- The outbreak is driven by clade IIb鈥攖he same strain behind the global outbreak that began in 2022, and separate from the clade Ib strain driving the outbreak in the DRC.
- The country has received limited vaccine doses, and global funding cuts are further hampering research and response.
- 40 cases have now been reported, and one infant has died.
Viral skincare routines aimed at teenagers on TikTok carry both dermatological and psychological risks and 鈥渙ffer little to no benefit,鈥� , which also found that content creators ages 7鈥�18 apply an average of six skincare products daily.
U.S. mothers鈥� mental health worsened between 2016 and 2023 across all socioeconomic groups, finds a that analyzed self-reported mental health ratings from some 198,000 mothers.
As global measles surveillance is threatened by U.S. funding cuts, philanthropies are trying to keep the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, known as Gremlin, afloat. U.S. and Global Health Policy News In Axing mRNA Contract, Trump Delivers Another Blow to US Biosecurity, Former Officials Say 鈥�
He led George W. Bush's PEPFAR program to stop AIDS. Now he fears for its future 鈥�
How Trump Administration Can Tackle America's Addiction Problems: Experts 鈥�
Who鈥檚 in charge? CDC鈥檚 leadership 鈥榗risis鈥� apparent amid new COVID-19 vaccine guidance 鈥�
NIH asks for proposals for $50M autism data project 鈥�
Palantir鈥檚 Collection of Disease Data at C.D.C. Stirs Privacy Concerns 鈥� CLIMATE Climate and Kidney Disease
Since the late 1990s, researchers have been studying an epidemic of young, otherwise healthy workers suddenly struck with kidney failure鈥攁 condition dubbed chronic kidney disease of unknown cause, or CKDu.
- First seen in El Salvador, CKDu is now known to affect laborers worldwide, especially in hot, humid regions.
- Tens of thousands have likely died from the disease, say researchers.
- 鈥淵ou鈥檙e having this acute kidney injury day after day,鈥� said Catharina Giudice, an emergency medicine physician at Harvard University.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Standing Up to Stigma
In Rwanda, where approximately 300,000 people live with HIV, stigma can lead to social isolation, especially in school-age children. But new protective measures are supporting students living with HIV.
- The Rwanda Biomedical Centre has trained 383 school officials on supporting students who are HIV-positive. 139 officials will receive similar training in June.
- Youth-driven anti-AIDS clubs that provide awareness and support, which have stalled in the past, are being revived.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Gaza health system 鈥榚xtremely fragile鈥� as aid point killings increase: ICRC 鈥�
Monthly prescription rule blocks ADHD treatment for SA kids 鈥�
World must 鈥榮tart screening for prostate cancer to stop men being left behind鈥� 鈥�
Salmonella outbreak tied to eggs sickens dozens across 7 states 鈥�
Stigmatised for being deaf: Z茅nabou's story 鈥�
Local, organic, and bipartisan: How Vermont is challenging Big Food 鈥�
How a dog aging project can help pets and humans live healthier lives 鈥� Issue No. 2737
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
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Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Europe鈥檚 Surge of Synthetic Drugs; Scotland始s Mission to Banish Cervical Cancer; and This Sausage Roll Tastes Like Wax
New drugs report reveals 鈥渃onstantly evolving鈥� challenges, and a rise in synthetic drugs and cocaine
June 5, 2025
The head of Section III of UDYCO Central, Alejandro Martin-Blass, explains the details of the operation to dismantle the largest cocaine base paste processing laboratory in Europe, at the Canillas Police Complex, on April 13, 2023, in Madrid, Spain. Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty
Europe鈥檚 Surge of Synthetic Drugs
A widespread influx of synthetic opioids and recreational designer drugs are putting European health care systems 鈥渦nder strain,鈥� finds 鈥攁s a 鈥渃onstantly evolving" European drug market forces officials to overhaul response strategies, .
The health risks of many synthetic drugs remain poorly understood due to their novelty and shifting composition, . Key synthetic drug trends include:
Polysubstance use鈥攖aking multiple drugs at once鈥攔emains the main cause of drug deaths.
10.9 million
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
The number of Americans who would lose health insurance under Trump鈥檚 tax cut bill, per the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. 鈥� The Latest One-Liners
Haiti has been elected to the WHO Executive Board for the first time, with the nation鈥檚 health minister saying the country would be a 鈥渃ommitted voice鈥� in shaping global health policy even as the country grapples with its own public health crises, including gang-related violence and undermined health infrastructure.
Women using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are being after 40 women have reported becoming pregnant while taking the medications, a U.K. regulatory agency warns.
Extended marriage and maternity leave will be offered in China's southwestern Sichuan province, as officials hope to create a 鈥渇ertility-friendly society鈥� in the face of flagging birth rates in China.
Childhood measles vaccination rates fell in ~80% of U.S. counties after the COVID-19 pandemic, ; the findings reflect trends seen at both state and national levels. GHN EXCLUSIVE All school pupils in Scotland are offered the HPV vaccine in their first year of secondary school. Courtesy of Public Health Scotland Scotland始s Mission to Banish Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally鈥攂ut in Scotland, an of a national, school-based HPV vaccination program launched in 2008 detected zero cases of the disease among women fully immunized against HPV at age 12 or 13.
The school-based program has consistently achieved HPV vaccination coverage of over 80% of Scottish pupils鈥攚ell above the European average.
How do they do it?
Prioritize communication: 鈥淲e try to make sure that everybody has the same information 鈥� that will allow parents to make an informed decision鈥� about having their child vaccinated, Kirsty Roy, the study始s lead author, told GHN in an exclusive Q&A.
Tackle vaccine inequalities: Roy says that the program is constantly trying to better understand gaps in vaccine coverage between the most and least deprived areas, from the 鈥渕isperception that the vaccine only benefits girls鈥� to school absenteeism that prevents some pupils from accessing the vaccine.
Play the long game: While the program has seen successes, it still aims to go further: 鈥淲e are working towards eliminating cervical cancer in Scotland, ,鈥� says Roy.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES SUBSTANCE USE Why Alcohol Needs a Cancer Warning Label
More than . But know that they鈥檙e while they鈥檙e doing it.
Updating the U.S. alcohol health warning label鈥攚hich hasn鈥檛 changed since 1989鈥攃ould help to raise awareness, experts say.
Other countries have been more aggressive about their warnings: Beginning in 2026, Ireland will require prominent labels with red capital letters on all containers of beer, wine, and liquor sold in the country.
Alcohol consumption is the in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity, and leads to a higher risk of .
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION This Sausage Roll Tastes Like Wax
Everyone knows there始s only one true sign of celebrity: Being cast in wax.
Think David Attenborough, Beyonc茅, William Shakespeare 鈥� and now, some sausage wrapped up in pastry, .
Ahead of 鈥攁 holiday that apparently exists鈥攁n iconic snack from the British bakery chain Greggs claimed a top spot at Madame Tussauds wax museum in London, where it is now lounging atop a blue velvet pillow.
How the sausage is made: The 鈥渙ne-of-a-kind replica Sausage Roll鈥� was handcrafted by studio artists who studied 鈥渄ozens鈥� of real-life rolls to capture its flaky layers and 鈥渦nmistakable golden glaze,鈥� .
Following the science: 鈥淣ew research鈥濃�攚hich we couldn始t find a link to鈥攁pparently ranked the Greggs Sausage Roll among the country始s most beloved cultural icons. It even outranked the affable cast of Gavin & Stacey () and the .
But even a wax sausage roll has a limited shelf life. The exhibit expires at the end of June. OPPORTUNITY
Researchers warn of bird flu survival in raw milk 鈥�
US valley fever cases may be 18 times higher than reported 鈥�
Call for experts to develop a WHO guideline on consumption of ultra-processed foods 鈥�
Measles Is Scary, Says Lubbock鈥檚 Top Health Official. So Is Government Upheaval. 鈥�
Baby saved by gene-editing therapy 'graduates' from hospital, goes home 鈥� Issue No. 2736
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
A widespread influx of synthetic opioids and recreational designer drugs are putting European health care systems 鈥渦nder strain,鈥� finds 鈥攁s a 鈥渃onstantly evolving" European drug market forces officials to overhaul response strategies, .
The health risks of many synthetic drugs remain poorly understood due to their novelty and shifting composition, . Key synthetic drug trends include:
- Nitazenes, synthetic opioids that can be stronger than heroin or fentanyl, have been linked to increasing overdose deaths.
- Cathinones, stimulants also known as 鈥渂ath salts,鈥� are increasingly being manufactured on the continent, with Poland emerging as a key hub.
- Semi-synthetic cannabinoids: ~18 new semi-synthetic cannabinoids were detected in 2024; most are sold legally as their molecules are not explicitly banned.
Polysubstance use鈥攖aking multiple drugs at once鈥攔emains the main cause of drug deaths.
- 7,500 drug-induced deaths occurred in 2023, mostly from opioids.
10.9 million
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
The number of Americans who would lose health insurance under Trump鈥檚 tax cut bill, per the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. 鈥� The Latest One-Liners
Haiti has been elected to the WHO Executive Board for the first time, with the nation鈥檚 health minister saying the country would be a 鈥渃ommitted voice鈥� in shaping global health policy even as the country grapples with its own public health crises, including gang-related violence and undermined health infrastructure.
Women using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are being after 40 women have reported becoming pregnant while taking the medications, a U.K. regulatory agency warns.
Extended marriage and maternity leave will be offered in China's southwestern Sichuan province, as officials hope to create a 鈥渇ertility-friendly society鈥� in the face of flagging birth rates in China.
Childhood measles vaccination rates fell in ~80% of U.S. counties after the COVID-19 pandemic, ; the findings reflect trends seen at both state and national levels. GHN EXCLUSIVE All school pupils in Scotland are offered the HPV vaccine in their first year of secondary school. Courtesy of Public Health Scotland Scotland始s Mission to Banish Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally鈥攂ut in Scotland, an of a national, school-based HPV vaccination program launched in 2008 detected zero cases of the disease among women fully immunized against HPV at age 12 or 13.
The school-based program has consistently achieved HPV vaccination coverage of over 80% of Scottish pupils鈥攚ell above the European average.
How do they do it?
Prioritize communication: 鈥淲e try to make sure that everybody has the same information 鈥� that will allow parents to make an informed decision鈥� about having their child vaccinated, Kirsty Roy, the study始s lead author, told GHN in an exclusive Q&A.
Tackle vaccine inequalities: Roy says that the program is constantly trying to better understand gaps in vaccine coverage between the most and least deprived areas, from the 鈥渕isperception that the vaccine only benefits girls鈥� to school absenteeism that prevents some pupils from accessing the vaccine.
Play the long game: While the program has seen successes, it still aims to go further: 鈥淲e are working towards eliminating cervical cancer in Scotland, ,鈥� says Roy.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES SUBSTANCE USE Why Alcohol Needs a Cancer Warning Label
More than . But know that they鈥檙e while they鈥檙e doing it.
Updating the U.S. alcohol health warning label鈥攚hich hasn鈥檛 changed since 1989鈥攃ould help to raise awareness, experts say.
- On January 3, then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued and recommended that the warning label on alcohol containers be changed to reflect the connection.
- In February, the WHO issued a .
Other countries have been more aggressive about their warnings: Beginning in 2026, Ireland will require prominent labels with red capital letters on all containers of beer, wine, and liquor sold in the country.
Alcohol consumption is the in the U.S., after tobacco and obesity, and leads to a higher risk of .
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION This Sausage Roll Tastes Like Wax
Everyone knows there始s only one true sign of celebrity: Being cast in wax.
Think David Attenborough, Beyonc茅, William Shakespeare 鈥� and now, some sausage wrapped up in pastry, .
Ahead of 鈥攁 holiday that apparently exists鈥攁n iconic snack from the British bakery chain Greggs claimed a top spot at Madame Tussauds wax museum in London, where it is now lounging atop a blue velvet pillow.
How the sausage is made: The 鈥渙ne-of-a-kind replica Sausage Roll鈥� was handcrafted by studio artists who studied 鈥渄ozens鈥� of real-life rolls to capture its flaky layers and 鈥渦nmistakable golden glaze,鈥� .
Following the science: 鈥淣ew research鈥濃�攚hich we couldn始t find a link to鈥攁pparently ranked the Greggs Sausage Roll among the country始s most beloved cultural icons. It even outranked the affable cast of Gavin & Stacey () and the .
But even a wax sausage roll has a limited shelf life. The exhibit expires at the end of June. OPPORTUNITY
The Spring Issue of HBPH Is Available
The new special issue of documents the broad and emerging impacts of U.S. government funding cuts on a wide range of research and projects in the U.S. and abroad, the scientists who conduct that work, and the people who benefit from it. It also highlights public health in action, and shares stories with lessons that can help us navigate the current moment.
.
QUICK HITS Neglected tropical diseases further neglected due to ODA cuts 鈥�Researchers warn of bird flu survival in raw milk 鈥�
US valley fever cases may be 18 times higher than reported 鈥�
Call for experts to develop a WHO guideline on consumption of ultra-processed foods 鈥�
Measles Is Scary, Says Lubbock鈥檚 Top Health Official. So Is Government Upheaval. 鈥�
Baby saved by gene-editing therapy 'graduates' from hospital, goes home 鈥� Issue No. 2736
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
AIDS-related deaths have dropped to their lowest level since 2004, but progress remains precarious, with the disease still claiming one life every minute. The impact of funding cuts is severe, causing widespread disruption to HIV services and threatening hard-won gains.
Categories: Global Health Feed
As hostilities rage in Sudan, access constraints and devastating funding cuts are isolating rape survivors and pregnant women from essential health services, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA said on Thursday.
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Assaults on Aid as Sudan鈥檚 Hunger Crisis Deepens; Scientific Journals Navigate New Challenges; and The Clay Floor Advantage
June 4, 2025
Displaced people queue for food rations in a makeshift encampment near the town of Tawila, in Sudan's Darfur region. April 13. AFP via Getty
Assaults on Aid as Sudan鈥檚 Hunger Crisis Deepens
A 15-truck convoy delivering lifesaving supplies to famine-stricken North Darfur was attacked in a 鈥渉orrendous鈥� ambush Monday night, killing five humanitarian workers, injuring others, and blocking desperately needed humanitarian supplies, .
Details: The convoy, led by World Food Programme and UNICEF contractors, would have been the first to reach El Fasher in over a year, as hundreds of thousands of people in the region face malnutrition and starvation amid Sudan鈥檚 ongoing conflict, .
Rise of refugees in Chad: The number of Sudanese refugees in Chad has risen 3X+ in just over two years, , with 1.2 million people fleeing to the country.
1.6 million
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺��
People fall ill daily from unsafe food globally, warns the WHO. 鈥�
The Latest One-Liners
Guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions for women needing medical stabilization has been revoked by the Trump administration; the Biden administration had issued the guidance to preserve emergency abortion care, even in states with near-total bans.
The CDC official overseeing updates to the agency鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has resigned, saying she could no longer 鈥渉elp the most vulnerable members of our population鈥� after HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥檚 order to change the agency鈥檚 vaccine guidance.
Vietnam will end its longstanding policy limiting families to two children as the country aims to reverse a declining birth that has dropped below the replacement level for three consecutive years.
Misinformation around cancer care is leading to a rise in alternative treatments like coffee enemas, raw juice diets, and other potentially dangerous social media鈥揹riven trends, said doctors at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, warning that such misinformation has 鈥渁cutely worsened in the past decade.鈥� U.S. and Global Health Policy News Trump asks Congress to repeal $9 billion from NPR, PBS and global aid 鈥�
Research cuts conflict with MAHA's stated goals 鈥�
Kennedy has ordered a review of baby formula. Here鈥檚 what you should know 鈥�
Dismantling CDC鈥檚 chronic disease center 鈥榣ooks pretty devastating鈥� to public health experts 鈥� HUMAN RIGHTS Peru鈥檚 Forced Sterilization Victims Seek Justice
Peruvian women sterilized decades ago under the government鈥檚 forced sterilization campaign are finally having their day in court, as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held its first public hearing on the abuses in the case Celia Ramos v. Peru. Ramos died 19 days after receiving an unwanted tubal ligation.
Background: Between 1996 and 2001, ~270,000 Peruvian women were sterilized under then-President Alberto Fujimori鈥檚 reproductive policy.
Researchers and editors of federally funded scientific journals say they are facing new challenges of interference, fear, self-censorship, and dissent due to the U.S. government鈥檚 crackdown on DEI language.
Confusion and cuts: Federal directives to remove specific words and data, followed by major research funding cuts, have created upheaval in standard procedures around publishing.
Related: US veterans agency orders scientists not to publish in journals without clearance 鈥� ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The Clay Floor Advantage
In Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, the nonprofit EarthEnable is reducing dust and parasites in homes by installing clay-based flooring鈥攚hich delivers health and environmental benefits over dirt floors at less than half the price of concrete.
Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff! OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS UK 鈥榥ot ready鈥� for major animal disease outbreak 鈥�
COVID vaccine changes confuse and upset some parents and families 鈥�
Moderna will test new COVID shot against placebo, RFK Jr. says 鈥�
New mRNA vaccine is more effective and less costly to develop, study finds 鈥�
Abortion laws are Victorian era, says grieving mum 鈥�
Anorexia in Middle Age and Beyond 鈥�
How extreme heat affects America's most vulnerable 鈥�
Annual cost of insuring a family tops $35,000 鈥� Issue No. 2736
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
A 15-truck convoy delivering lifesaving supplies to famine-stricken North Darfur was attacked in a 鈥渉orrendous鈥� ambush Monday night, killing five humanitarian workers, injuring others, and blocking desperately needed humanitarian supplies, .
Details: The convoy, led by World Food Programme and UNICEF contractors, would have been the first to reach El Fasher in over a year, as hundreds of thousands of people in the region face malnutrition and starvation amid Sudan鈥檚 ongoing conflict, .
- It remains unclear who is behind the attack, with agencies calling for an investigation.
- Meanwhile, damage to civilian infrastructure has worsened a cholera outbreak.
Rise of refugees in Chad: The number of Sudanese refugees in Chad has risen 3X+ in just over two years, , with 1.2 million people fleeing to the country.
- Over 9 million people have been displaced in the conflict.
1.6 million
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺��
People fall ill daily from unsafe food globally, warns the WHO. 鈥�
The Latest One-Liners
Guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions for women needing medical stabilization has been revoked by the Trump administration; the Biden administration had issued the guidance to preserve emergency abortion care, even in states with near-total bans.
The CDC official overseeing updates to the agency鈥檚 COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has resigned, saying she could no longer 鈥渉elp the most vulnerable members of our population鈥� after HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥檚 order to change the agency鈥檚 vaccine guidance.
Vietnam will end its longstanding policy limiting families to two children as the country aims to reverse a declining birth that has dropped below the replacement level for three consecutive years.
Misinformation around cancer care is leading to a rise in alternative treatments like coffee enemas, raw juice diets, and other potentially dangerous social media鈥揹riven trends, said doctors at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, warning that such misinformation has 鈥渁cutely worsened in the past decade.鈥� U.S. and Global Health Policy News Trump asks Congress to repeal $9 billion from NPR, PBS and global aid 鈥�
Research cuts conflict with MAHA's stated goals 鈥�
Kennedy has ordered a review of baby formula. Here鈥檚 what you should know 鈥�
Dismantling CDC鈥檚 chronic disease center 鈥榣ooks pretty devastating鈥� to public health experts 鈥� HUMAN RIGHTS Peru鈥檚 Forced Sterilization Victims Seek Justice
Peruvian women sterilized decades ago under the government鈥檚 forced sterilization campaign are finally having their day in court, as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held its first public hearing on the abuses in the case Celia Ramos v. Peru. Ramos died 19 days after receiving an unwanted tubal ligation.
Background: Between 1996 and 2001, ~270,000 Peruvian women were sterilized under then-President Alberto Fujimori鈥檚 reproductive policy.
- The women, who were mostly poor and Indigenous, faced coercion, threats, and physical violence when they resisted.
- 鈥淚t鈥檚 been over 28 years of uncommitted and unaccountable governments,鈥� said survivor Mar铆a Elena Carbajal.
Researchers and editors of federally funded scientific journals say they are facing new challenges of interference, fear, self-censorship, and dissent due to the U.S. government鈥檚 crackdown on DEI language.
Confusion and cuts: Federal directives to remove specific words and data, followed by major research funding cuts, have created upheaval in standard procedures around publishing.
- Journals overseen by federal agencies now face additional vetting, and federal researchers who publish in outside journals say they have received inconsistent guidance on what they are able to submit.
Related: US veterans agency orders scientists not to publish in journals without clearance 鈥� ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The Clay Floor Advantage
In Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, the nonprofit EarthEnable is reducing dust and parasites in homes by installing clay-based flooring鈥攚hich delivers health and environmental benefits over dirt floors at less than half the price of concrete.
- Dirt floors are associated with poor hygiene, breathing irritations, pathogens, and the spread of parasitic fleas called jiggers.
- The clay floors, which are durable and sealed, also emit less carbon in production than concrete; the cement industry accounts for a large proportion of Uganda鈥檚 carbon emissions.
Thanks for the tip, Dave Cundiff! OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS UK 鈥榥ot ready鈥� for major animal disease outbreak 鈥�
COVID vaccine changes confuse and upset some parents and families 鈥�
Moderna will test new COVID shot against placebo, RFK Jr. says 鈥�
New mRNA vaccine is more effective and less costly to develop, study finds 鈥�
Abortion laws are Victorian era, says grieving mum 鈥�
Anorexia in Middle Age and Beyond 鈥�
How extreme heat affects America's most vulnerable 鈥�
Annual cost of insuring a family tops $35,000 鈥� Issue No. 2736
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .
Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->
Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Zambia Drags Heels on Mercury Amalgam Ban; May Recap; and Cigarettes in France: From Romanticized to Restricted
June 3, 2025
Zambia celebrated World Oral Health Day with a parade through Bauleni Compound, Lusaka, Zambia. March 20. Kennedy Phiri
Zambia Drags Heels on Mercury Amalgam Ban
LUSAKA, Zambia鈥擲ome nations have already taken decisive steps to ban mercury amalgam in dental fillings鈥攂ut in Zambia, despite the dangers, progress has stalled.
Health risks: Mercury amalgam, a common material used to fill cavities, consists of liquid mercury mixed with silver, tin, and copper, and emits low levels of mercury vapor, which, when inhaled, can be absorbed in the lungs and cause harm among some groups, including young children.
Environmental risks: Just 0.6 grams of mercury鈥攖he average amount 鈥攃an pollute 100,000 liters of water, about the size of a swimming pool, and .
Zambia is especially vulnerable to harmful impacts of mercury on its limited resources due to inadequate mitigation processes such as improper disposal systems.
Ed. Note: Thanks to Michael Musenga, of the Children鈥檚 Environmental Health Foundation in Livingstone, Zambia, for the idea for this story, which won an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by GHN and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
In Starr County, Texas, dementia affects about 1 in 5 adults on Medicare鈥攎ore than 2X the national rate.
Why? Researchers say dementia risk factors鈥攇enetics, environment, and chronic health conditions鈥攈ave accumulated in Starr County.
The High Cost of Vietnam鈥檚 Cheap Cigarettes
Vietnam鈥檚 tobacco products remain cheap and widely accessible compared to other countries, leading to high usage and health impacts.
South Africa鈥檚 Backstreet Abortion Problem
Although abortion is legal in South Africa, unsafe abortion clinics are thriving because of scammers, social media misinformation, and a lack of knowledge about legal options. 16% of deaths from miscarriages were attributed to unsafe abortion, . But that鈥檚 likely an undercount.
鈥淢agic鈥� solutions: Scammers and unlicensed clinics advertise 鈥渨omb cleaning鈥� and 鈥渟onar pills鈥� that endanger pregnant people.
Real information: Science-based efforts on social media seek to flip the script.
by Elna Sch眉tz JOHANNESBURG鈥擴.S. government research funding cuts stopped a seminal mRNA HIV vaccine study, part of the BRILLIANT consortium, mere days before its planned start in March 2025. Instead, vaccine doses sit unused. Such a vaccine could fundamentally change the HIV burden for South Africa and the world.
by Cheena Kapoor DELHI, India鈥�, in the country鈥檚 south, supported a 鈥淭B buddy鈥� system of guides who help tuberculosis patients with documentation, offer emotional support, and ensure patients complete their treatment. Continuing support for the TB buddy project ended with USAID funding cuts.
by Paul Adepoju IBADAN, Nigeria鈥擭igeria bears the world鈥檚 highest malaria burden, accounting for a quarter of all cases globally. A steady flow of donor鈥慺unded supplies meant that Nigerians could receive free rapid tests and artemisinin鈥慴ased combination therapy (ACT) malaria medications. Those supplies were made possible by a finely tuned supply chain. But withdrawal of U.S. funding could endanger the country鈥檚 successes against the disease, including a 13% reduction in mortality rates since 2017.
by Lucien Chauvin LIMA, Peru鈥擲oaring gold prices and plunging U.S. government funds have set off a gold rush in Peru that has led to destroyed forests, mercury poisoning, and fast-spreading infectious diseases. U.S.-supported efforts had sought to limit illegal mining and its impacts on the environment and human health. Projects also reduced illicit activities intertwined with illegal mining, such as drug and wildlife trafficking. MAY鈥橲 BEST NEWS Scaling Up Desalination
Millions of people in the Arabian Gulf now have access to a stable source of safe drinking water, as innovations in desalination lower barriers.
Solar-powered reverse osmosis and other technologies have lowered costs from $5 to under $0.50 per cubic meter over a decade.
SMOKING Cigarettes in France: From Romanticized to Restricted
France, long the home of glamorized smoking, will soon usher in a sweeping smoking ban as cultural attitudes shift around tobacco use.
New rules: Starting July 1, France will ban smoking in most outdoor public areas where children may gather, including parks, beaches, bus stops, and sports venues. Fines may reach 鈧�135 ($153).
WHO resolution helps reframe skin diseases as a 'global public health priority,' not a 'cosmetic issue' 鈥�
At least 20 Planned Parenthood clinics shutter amid political turbulence 鈥�
Gates To Direct Majority Of $200 Billion Pledge To Africa 鈥�
Investigating generics: They say their ADHD meds aren't working. They're not imagining it 鈥�
Ending the HIV epidemic among adolescents in southern Africa 鈥�
Virus Hunter Peter Piot: How a Chance Encounter Sparked His Life Mission 鈥� Issue No. 2735
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 .
LUSAKA, Zambia鈥擲ome nations have already taken decisive steps to ban mercury amalgam in dental fillings鈥攂ut in Zambia, despite the dangers, progress has stalled.
Health risks: Mercury amalgam, a common material used to fill cavities, consists of liquid mercury mixed with silver, tin, and copper, and emits low levels of mercury vapor, which, when inhaled, can be absorbed in the lungs and cause harm among some groups, including young children.
Environmental risks: Just 0.6 grams of mercury鈥攖he average amount 鈥攃an pollute 100,000 liters of water, about the size of a swimming pool, and .
Zambia is especially vulnerable to harmful impacts of mercury on its limited resources due to inadequate mitigation processes such as improper disposal systems.
- ~10% of Zambia鈥檚 dentists still offer mercury fillings, though the real figure may be higher.
- Zambia signed the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury, which encourages replacement of mercury in dental amalgam with environmentally friendly alternatives, but has failed to implement an official ban.
Ed. Note: Thanks to Michael Musenga, of the Children鈥檚 Environmental Health Foundation in Livingstone, Zambia, for the idea for this story, which won an honorable mention in the , co-sponsored by GHN and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Cancer death rates in the UK have fallen by about a fifth since the early 1970s鈥攆rom 326 per 100,000 people in 1971 to 254 per 100,000 in 2021鈥� that also found diagnoses are on the rise.
Younger generations are less likely to have dementia鈥攁t any age鈥攖han earlier groups, suggests a study in JAMA Network Open that compared eight birth cohorts; University of Queensland researchers also found that the trend is more pronounced in women.
COVID-19 vaccination prevented the deaths of 12,800 Belgians ages 65 and older from January 2021 to January 2023, and reduced mortality by 54%, .
University of Warwick researchers have demonstrated a proof of concept for a new diagnostic assay to detect snake venom, ; the glycopolymer-based ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) test could be an inexpensive, quick alternative to current antibody assays.
In Starr County, Texas, dementia affects about 1 in 5 adults on Medicare鈥攎ore than 2X the national rate.
Why? Researchers say dementia risk factors鈥攇enetics, environment, and chronic health conditions鈥攈ave accumulated in Starr County.
- ~1 in 3 people live in poverty.
- The county is almost entirely Hispanic鈥攁 population that faces a significantly higher dementia risk.
The High Cost of Vietnam鈥檚 Cheap Cigarettes
Vietnam鈥檚 tobacco products remain cheap and widely accessible compared to other countries, leading to high usage and health impacts.
Low tax, high usage: Vietnam鈥檚 tobacco retail tax rate is just 36%, half WHO鈥檚 recommended rate of 70鈥�75%.
- Affordability means cigarettes are easily accessible to first-time users and even children.
Health burden: Tobacco use causes ~104,000 deaths annually there.
Reform needed: Vietnam鈥檚 health leaders are urging regular tax hikes to align with international standards.
South Africa鈥檚 Backstreet Abortion Problem
Although abortion is legal in South Africa, unsafe abortion clinics are thriving because of scammers, social media misinformation, and a lack of knowledge about legal options. 16% of deaths from miscarriages were attributed to unsafe abortion, . But that鈥檚 likely an undercount.
鈥淢agic鈥� solutions: Scammers and unlicensed clinics advertise 鈥渨omb cleaning鈥� and 鈥渟onar pills鈥� that endanger pregnant people.
Real information: Science-based efforts on social media seek to flip the script.
- On TikTok, posts videos like 鈥渉ow to put on a condom鈥� and 鈥渉ow to avoid getting scammed鈥� by illegal abortion providers.
by Elna Sch眉tz JOHANNESBURG鈥擴.S. government research funding cuts stopped a seminal mRNA HIV vaccine study, part of the BRILLIANT consortium, mere days before its planned start in March 2025. Instead, vaccine doses sit unused. Such a vaccine could fundamentally change the HIV burden for South Africa and the world.
by Cheena Kapoor DELHI, India鈥�, in the country鈥檚 south, supported a 鈥淭B buddy鈥� system of guides who help tuberculosis patients with documentation, offer emotional support, and ensure patients complete their treatment. Continuing support for the TB buddy project ended with USAID funding cuts.
by Paul Adepoju IBADAN, Nigeria鈥擭igeria bears the world鈥檚 highest malaria burden, accounting for a quarter of all cases globally. A steady flow of donor鈥慺unded supplies meant that Nigerians could receive free rapid tests and artemisinin鈥慴ased combination therapy (ACT) malaria medications. Those supplies were made possible by a finely tuned supply chain. But withdrawal of U.S. funding could endanger the country鈥檚 successes against the disease, including a 13% reduction in mortality rates since 2017.
by Lucien Chauvin LIMA, Peru鈥擲oaring gold prices and plunging U.S. government funds have set off a gold rush in Peru that has led to destroyed forests, mercury poisoning, and fast-spreading infectious diseases. U.S.-supported efforts had sought to limit illegal mining and its impacts on the environment and human health. Projects also reduced illicit activities intertwined with illegal mining, such as drug and wildlife trafficking. MAY鈥橲 BEST NEWS Scaling Up Desalination
Millions of people in the Arabian Gulf now have access to a stable source of safe drinking water, as innovations in desalination lower barriers.
Solar-powered reverse osmosis and other technologies have lowered costs from $5 to under $0.50 per cubic meter over a decade.
- Some Gulf nations now rely on desalination for up to 90% of their drinking water.
SMOKING Cigarettes in France: From Romanticized to Restricted
France, long the home of glamorized smoking, will soon usher in a sweeping smoking ban as cultural attitudes shift around tobacco use.
New rules: Starting July 1, France will ban smoking in most outdoor public areas where children may gather, including parks, beaches, bus stops, and sports venues. Fines may reach 鈧�135 ($153).
- Freedom to smoke 鈥渟tops where children鈥檚 right to breathe clean air starts,鈥� said health minister Catherine Vautrin.
- ~75,000 people die from tobacco-related illnesses in France each year.
WHO resolution helps reframe skin diseases as a 'global public health priority,' not a 'cosmetic issue' 鈥�
At least 20 Planned Parenthood clinics shutter amid political turbulence 鈥�
Gates To Direct Majority Of $200 Billion Pledge To Africa 鈥�
Investigating generics: They say their ADHD meds aren't working. They're not imagining it 鈥�
Ending the HIV epidemic among adolescents in southern Africa 鈥�
Virus Hunter Peter Piot: How a Chance Encounter Sparked His Life Mission 鈥� Issue No. 2735
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