In an age marked by conflicts, disease, dysfunction and mental health challenges, yoga offers a steady, time-trusted path to help find calm and harmony within 鈥 and without.
Categories: Global Health Feed
The world is facing a health financing emergency, according to Dr. Kalipso Chalkidou, Director for Health Financing and Economics for the World Health Organization (WHO).
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: UK Parliament Votes to Decriminalize Abortion; 鈥楪ardening始 in the Gut; Funding Disruptions Threaten Uganda鈥檚 HIV Fight
June 18, 2025
Pro-choice protestors gather near Parliament, where MPs were voting on the decriminalization of abortion. June 17. London, U.K. Alishia Abodunde/Getty
UK Parliament Votes to Decriminalize Abortion
The UK House of Commons voted 379鈥137 yesterday to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales鈥攖he most significant change to abortion law in ~60 years, .
Details: The amendment removes the threat of prosecution for women who seek to terminate pregnancies.
What鈥檚 next: The amendment is part of a broader crime bill expected to pass the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Related:
Ohio lawmakers to introduce bill banning abortion, criminalizing the procedure 鈥
A brain-dead Georgia woman is set to be taken off of life support after her baby was delivered 鈥
Abortion Bans Worsen Violence in Relationships, Study Finds 鈥 EDITORS鈥 NOTE No GHN Tomorrow, June 19 Please note that our office will be closed tomorrow in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. We鈥檒l be back with more news on Monday, June 23!
鈥擳he Editors GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Global conflict levels are the highest they鈥檝e been since the end of World War II, with 59 active conflicts in 35+ countries, according to the ; the report also shows declining geopolitical influence of the U.S., Russia, and China as smaller countries emerge as regional powers.
A group of bat viruses related to MERS could be one mutation away from being capable of spilling over into humans, that focuses on the virus group, known as HKU5.
U.S. alcohol guidance could be soon changed from recommending one or two drinks per day to a brief statement encouraging drinking in moderation, in what could be a major win for the alcohol industry; the updates to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are still under development by the HHS and USDA.
Microplastics in coastal waters could heighten cardiometabolic disease risk among nearby residents, , which found 鈥渟ignificantly鈥 higher rates of type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke among U.S. residents living near highly polluted waters compared with people who lived near less-polluted waters. GHN EXCLUSIVE Q&A 622A_cecum: Section through a healthy mouse cecum stained with Haematoxylin-eosin. Courtesy of Emma Slack 鈥楪ardening始 in the Gut
The pipeline for new drugs to fight antibiotic-resistant infections is rife with challenges, but one promising solution offers a workaround: tackling drug-resistant bacteria in the gut.
The method combines oral vaccinations with harmless bacteria that outcompete the bacteria for food and 鈥渟tarve them out,鈥 Emma Slack, a professor at ETH Zurich and the University of Oxford鈥檚 Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, told GHN.
It may be five to 10 years from clinical use, but the method could one day be applied to 鈥渁nything where immunosuppression is one of the side effects,鈥 says Slack. Patients could be treated before transplant surgery, or during high-risk pregnancies to head off the risk of infection in premature babies.
The most exciting prospect: reversing the 鈥渁ntimicrobial resistance crisis for gut-colonizing, opportunistic pathogens,鈥 says Slack. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Funding Disruptions Threaten Uganda鈥檚 HIV Fight
Since 1987, the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) in Uganda has achieved remarkable milestones. In areas it serves, the program has:
Related: 鈥楬IV-ending鈥 drug could be made for just $25 per patient a year, say researchers 鈥 OPPORTUNITY HUMAN RIGHTS The Oppressors at Home
In the Taliban鈥檚 Afghanistan, oppression against women has led to men being 鈥渇oot soldiers鈥 against their female relatives.
Vice and virtue laws, which include strict rules that women must cover themselves, not talk too loudly, or appear in public without a male escort, are meant to be enforced by 鈥渕orality police.鈥 But often, husbands and brothers take on this role.
Rising fear: Under the Taliban, male relatives could face fines or prison if women are caught breaking morality laws. This has led to a rise in domestic violence, isolation, and psychological damage to Afghan women.
Related: Over 400 health centers shut down in Afghanistan following US aid
suspension 鈥 ALMOST FRIDAY MINI DIVERSION QUICK HITS IOM Reports 60 Migrants Missing in Two Deadly Shipwrecks off Libya 鈥
How Trump's travel ban could disrupt the way knowledge about health is shared 鈥
Via the False Claims Act, NIH Puts Universities on Edge 鈥
Indonesia steps up efforts to eliminate malaria by 2030 鈥
Kraft Heinz to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products by end of 2027 鈥
Study: Early antibiotics tied to higher risk of childhood infections, antibiotic use, and asthma 鈥
Scientists uncover how ticks fight off and carry a virus deadly to humans 鈥
Threat in Your Medicine Cabinet: The FDA鈥檚 Gamble on America鈥檚 Drugs 鈥
Could the answer to the male fertility crisis be lurking in your cat鈥檚 litter tray? 鈥 Issue No. 2744
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 UK House of Commons voted 379鈥137 yesterday to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales鈥攖he most significant change to abortion law in ~60 years, .
Details: The amendment removes the threat of prosecution for women who seek to terminate pregnancies.
- However, the current legal framework for procuring an abortion remains, including requiring two doctors鈥 approval and a 24-week limit. Doctors who breach regulations can still face prosecution.
- UK medical groups and advocacy groups hailed the change as 鈥渁 victory for women,鈥 while anti-abortion groups argued it would open the door to abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
What鈥檚 next: The amendment is part of a broader crime bill expected to pass the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Related:
Ohio lawmakers to introduce bill banning abortion, criminalizing the procedure 鈥
A brain-dead Georgia woman is set to be taken off of life support after her baby was delivered 鈥
Abortion Bans Worsen Violence in Relationships, Study Finds 鈥 EDITORS鈥 NOTE No GHN Tomorrow, June 19 Please note that our office will be closed tomorrow in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. We鈥檒l be back with more news on Monday, June 23!
鈥擳he Editors GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners Global conflict levels are the highest they鈥檝e been since the end of World War II, with 59 active conflicts in 35+ countries, according to the ; the report also shows declining geopolitical influence of the U.S., Russia, and China as smaller countries emerge as regional powers.
A group of bat viruses related to MERS could be one mutation away from being capable of spilling over into humans, that focuses on the virus group, known as HKU5.
U.S. alcohol guidance could be soon changed from recommending one or two drinks per day to a brief statement encouraging drinking in moderation, in what could be a major win for the alcohol industry; the updates to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are still under development by the HHS and USDA.
Microplastics in coastal waters could heighten cardiometabolic disease risk among nearby residents, , which found 鈥渟ignificantly鈥 higher rates of type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, and stroke among U.S. residents living near highly polluted waters compared with people who lived near less-polluted waters. GHN EXCLUSIVE Q&A 622A_cecum: Section through a healthy mouse cecum stained with Haematoxylin-eosin. Courtesy of Emma Slack 鈥楪ardening始 in the Gut
The pipeline for new drugs to fight antibiotic-resistant infections is rife with challenges, but one promising solution offers a workaround: tackling drug-resistant bacteria in the gut.
The method combines oral vaccinations with harmless bacteria that outcompete the bacteria for food and 鈥渟tarve them out,鈥 Emma Slack, a professor at ETH Zurich and the University of Oxford鈥檚 Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, told GHN.
- The pairing was significantly more effective than using vaccines or harmless bacteria on their own, testing the method in mice.
It may be five to 10 years from clinical use, but the method could one day be applied to 鈥渁nything where immunosuppression is one of the side effects,鈥 says Slack. Patients could be treated before transplant surgery, or during high-risk pregnancies to head off the risk of infection in premature babies.
The most exciting prospect: reversing the 鈥渁ntimicrobial resistance crisis for gut-colonizing, opportunistic pathogens,鈥 says Slack. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HIV/AIDS Funding Disruptions Threaten Uganda鈥檚 HIV Fight
Since 1987, the Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) in Uganda has achieved remarkable milestones. In areas it serves, the program has:
- Reduced new HIV infections by 90%.
- Extended anti鈥憆etroviral (ARV) coverage to 90% of people living with HIV.
- Medication access interruptions and clinic closures in January prompted HIV rebound fears; though services were quickly restored, experts warn that sustained disruptions could reverse hard-won gains.
- Uganda鈥檚 plan to shift HIV treatment from specialized rural clinics to primary care clinics could also disrupt access and medication adherence, as some patients may face longer travel.
Related: 鈥楬IV-ending鈥 drug could be made for just $25 per patient a year, say researchers 鈥 OPPORTUNITY HUMAN RIGHTS The Oppressors at Home
In the Taliban鈥檚 Afghanistan, oppression against women has led to men being 鈥渇oot soldiers鈥 against their female relatives.
Vice and virtue laws, which include strict rules that women must cover themselves, not talk too loudly, or appear in public without a male escort, are meant to be enforced by 鈥渕orality police.鈥 But often, husbands and brothers take on this role.
Rising fear: Under the Taliban, male relatives could face fines or prison if women are caught breaking morality laws. This has led to a rise in domestic violence, isolation, and psychological damage to Afghan women.
Related: Over 400 health centers shut down in Afghanistan following US aid
suspension 鈥 ALMOST FRIDAY MINI DIVERSION QUICK HITS IOM Reports 60 Migrants Missing in Two Deadly Shipwrecks off Libya 鈥
How Trump's travel ban could disrupt the way knowledge about health is shared 鈥
Via the False Claims Act, NIH Puts Universities on Edge 鈥
Indonesia steps up efforts to eliminate malaria by 2030 鈥
Kraft Heinz to remove artificial dyes from U.S. products by end of 2027 鈥
Study: Early antibiotics tied to higher risk of childhood infections, antibiotic use, and asthma 鈥
Scientists uncover how ticks fight off and carry a virus deadly to humans 鈥
Threat in Your Medicine Cabinet: The FDA鈥檚 Gamble on America鈥檚 Drugs 鈥
Could the answer to the male fertility crisis be lurking in your cat鈥檚 litter tray? 鈥 Issue No. 2744
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
Almost 4.5 million maternal, stillborn and newborn deaths were recorded in 2023. What if there was a clear path to saving 83 percent of these people? To saving 3.7 million mothers, unborn children and babies annually?
Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: The Mystery of Chronic Mountain Sickness; Dogs as Weapons; and The Decline of Anti-Girl Bias
June 17, 2025
GHN EXCLUSIVE REPORT
The Andes mountain range between Lima and Cerro de Pasco east of Canta. DeAgostini/Getty
The Mystery of Chronic Mountain Sickness
HUAYLLAY, Peru鈥擜bout 5鈥10% of people who have lived their whole lives at high altitude eventually come down with the last illness they would expect: altitude sickness.
Research history: Scientists like Le贸n-Velarde have been trying to understand the cause of CMS since it was first described by Peruvian doctor Carlos Monge in 1925.
A U.S. judge ordered ~800 terminated NIH research projects, cited in a lawsuit by U.S. researchers and a coalition of 16 states, to be reinstated, calling the cuts discriminatory; the government will likely appeal the ruling.
Fewer than half of young men in the U.K.鈥46%鈥攂elieve that abortion should be legal, compared with 71% of the general population, per a new poll ahead of a parliamentary vote today on whether to decriminalize abortion.
Cornell University researchers have identified an antibiotic, rifampin, that is 99.9% effective against Salmonella Typhi, the bacterium that causes typhoid fever, ; drug-resistant strains of the bacterium claim 150,000+ lives a year. U.S. and Global Health Policy News South Africa Built a Medical Research Powerhouse. Trump Cuts Have Demolished It. 鈥
Rising Refugee Suicides in West Nile Linked to Food Shortages and Aid Cuts 鈥
Kenya's war on HIV, TB and malaria faces setback as funding drops sharply 鈥
Researchers warn U.S. is on the 鈥榩recipice鈥 of brain drain as Trump cuts federal grants 鈥 CONFLICT Dogs as Weapons
Military and police dogs are being utilized against civilians in Palestine, say human rights groups, who report the use of canines against Palestinians has led to injuries and deaths.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES POPULATIONS The Decline of Anti-Girl Bias
In 鈥渙ne of the most important social shifts of our time,鈥 the long-held sex preference for boys at birth has dramatically shifted worldwide.
Over the past 25 years, the number of annual excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to ~200,000, a biologically standard birth ratio, .
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Nigerian agriculture ministry workers 鈥榯old to fast and pray鈥 to end hunger crisis 鈥
Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us 鈥
The cost of staying alive could become a lot more expensive for millions of Americans 鈥
Too often, Black patients get late diagnoses of deadly skin cancer 鈥
Eight things you need to know about the new 鈥淣imbus鈥 and 鈥淪tratus鈥 COVID-19 variants 鈥
How the cholera bacterium can outsmart a virus 鈥
New opioid testing techniques could lead to better therapies 鈥
How technology is helping African countries fight malaria from the skies 鈥 Issue No. 2743
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 .
HUAYLLAY, Peru鈥擜bout 5鈥10% of people who have lived their whole lives at high altitude eventually come down with the last illness they would expect: altitude sickness.
- While there are no exact numbers, ~7 million people living above 2,500 meters (~8,200 feet) are at risk of chronic mountain sickness (CMS), in the journal High Altitude Medicine & Biology.
- Characterized by low levels of oxygen saturation (hypoxia) and excessive amounts of hemoglobin (polycythemia), CMS can start with blue-tinged fingertips or lips.
- But the illness can progress to life-threatening pulmonary or cerebral edema.
Research history: Scientists like Le贸n-Velarde have been trying to understand the cause of CMS since it was first described by Peruvian doctor Carlos Monge in 1925.
- But recent research that led to a 2019 Nobel Prize may offer new insights into the origins of CMS.
A U.S. judge ordered ~800 terminated NIH research projects, cited in a lawsuit by U.S. researchers and a coalition of 16 states, to be reinstated, calling the cuts discriminatory; the government will likely appeal the ruling.
Fewer than half of young men in the U.K.鈥46%鈥攂elieve that abortion should be legal, compared with 71% of the general population, per a new poll ahead of a parliamentary vote today on whether to decriminalize abortion.
Cornell University researchers have identified an antibiotic, rifampin, that is 99.9% effective against Salmonella Typhi, the bacterium that causes typhoid fever, ; drug-resistant strains of the bacterium claim 150,000+ lives a year. U.S. and Global Health Policy News South Africa Built a Medical Research Powerhouse. Trump Cuts Have Demolished It. 鈥
Rising Refugee Suicides in West Nile Linked to Food Shortages and Aid Cuts 鈥
Kenya's war on HIV, TB and malaria faces setback as funding drops sharply 鈥
Researchers warn U.S. is on the 鈥榩recipice鈥 of brain drain as Trump cuts federal grants 鈥 CONFLICT Dogs as Weapons
Military and police dogs are being utilized against civilians in Palestine, say human rights groups, who report the use of canines against Palestinians has led to injuries and deaths.
- Euro Med Human Rights Monitor has documented 146 cases of attack dogs being used against civilians since October 2023.
- The UN has also decried the use of military dogs against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, citing .
- Israel鈥檚 specialist canine unit, Oketz, has said that the dogs are only deployed in anti-terrorism campaigns.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES POPULATIONS The Decline of Anti-Girl Bias
In 鈥渙ne of the most important social shifts of our time,鈥 the long-held sex preference for boys at birth has dramatically shifted worldwide.
Over the past 25 years, the number of annual excess male births has fallen from a peak of 1.7 million in 2000 to ~200,000, a biologically standard birth ratio, .
- The reduction in female infanticide and sex-selective abortions has led to the survival of ~7 million girls, the analysis found.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Nigerian agriculture ministry workers 鈥榯old to fast and pray鈥 to end hunger crisis 鈥
Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us 鈥
The cost of staying alive could become a lot more expensive for millions of Americans 鈥
Too often, Black patients get late diagnoses of deadly skin cancer 鈥
Eight things you need to know about the new 鈥淣imbus鈥 and 鈥淪tratus鈥 COVID-19 variants 鈥
How the cholera bacterium can outsmart a virus 鈥
New opioid testing techniques could lead to better therapies 鈥
How technology is helping African countries fight malaria from the skies 鈥 Issue No. 2743
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
UN Aid Cuts Force 鈥楬yper-prioritized始 Plan; Deaths on the Street in Portland; and Memory Cafes Bridge a Gap
鈥淏rutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,鈥 said Tom Fletcher, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.
June 16, 2025
Tents serve as temporary shelters for displaced Palestinians along the coastline of Gaza City, on June 10. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty Images
UN Aid Cuts Force 鈥楬yper-prioritized始 Plan
The UN has slashed its 2025 humanitarian aid appeal from $44 billion to $29 billion, as the agency contends with to the aid sector, .
Only $5.6 billion (13%) has been raised so far after severely reduced contributions from the U.S. and others.
Existing aid under attack: Meanwhile, a UN expert is urging the General Assembly to authorize the deployment of armed peacekeepers to protect humanitarian transport and distribution, as aid workers continue to be targeted in areas including Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and Central African Republic, .
COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 could now make up more than 1 in 3 cases across the U.S., the ; the variant has been linked to a surge of hospitalizations in parts of Asia, and the CDC's airport surveillance program detected cases of it in arriving international travelers last month.
The U.S. health care workforce has recovered from widespread job losses of early 2020, with employment now matching pre-pandemic projections, ; but recovery is uneven, with doctors鈥 offices exceeding pre-pandemic employment growth while skilled nursing facilities contend with understaffing.
Dengue survivors face an elevated risk for post-infection multi-organ complications, hospitalization, and death, that analyzed 55,870 cases of adults infected between 2017 and 2023.
The FDA has expanded approval of Moderna鈥檚 RSV vaccine mResvia to include adults ages 18鈥59 who are at high risk of severe illness from the virus; previously the vaccine was licensed for use only in adults 60+. HOMELESSNESS Increased Deaths on the Street in Portland
As the homeless population in Portland grew during the pandemic, the city responded with a $1.3 million plan to 鈥渞eprioritize public health and safety among homeless Portlanders.鈥
Across the U.S., 600+ memory cafes offer low-cost social support for dementia patients and caregivers, helping alleviate isolation and stress through regular gatherings.
And with $11 billion in federal health funding for state and local health departments now on the chopping block, grassroots-led memory cafes may soon play a critical role for families needing help navigating the struggles of dementia care.
Growing need: U.S. Alzheimer鈥檚 cases are projected to double from 6.9 million now to 13.8 million by 2060, while the number of family caregivers is declining.
SUICIDE Curbing Pesticides to Save Lives
Suriname has one of the world's highest suicide rates, largely due to the pesticide paraquat鈥攚hich is lethal even in tiny doses and is widely available in homes across the country.
Global perspective: Pesticides are one of the leading means of suicide in agricultural areas of developing nations, leading to 100,000+ suicides annually.
Banning paraquat and other pesticides has led to dramatic drops in suicide rates in other countries including Sri Lanka (70%+), South Korea (~50%), and China (60%).
Ongoing efforts: The charity Open Philanthropy funded the launch in 2017 of the , and the was formed in 2023 to phase out use of the deadliest pesticides in agricultural areas where risks have not been managed.
QUICK HITS As mpox escalates in Sierra Leone, activity in other countries reflects mixed picture 鈥
An oral cholera vaccination campaign aims to reach more than 2.6 million people in Sudan鈥檚 Khartoum State 鈥
US pharma bets big on China to snap up potential blockbuster drugs 鈥
Small towns are growing fast across Ghana 鈥 but environmental planning isn鈥檛 keeping up 鈥 (commentary)
Ancient miasma theory may help explain Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine moves 鈥
How Covid-19 Changed Hideo Kojima鈥檚 Vision For Death Stranding 2 鈥 Issue No. 2742
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 UN has slashed its 2025 humanitarian aid appeal from $44 billion to $29 billion, as the agency contends with to the aid sector, .
Only $5.6 billion (13%) has been raised so far after severely reduced contributions from the U.S. and others.
- 鈥淏rutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,鈥 said Tom Fletcher, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.
Existing aid under attack: Meanwhile, a UN expert is urging the General Assembly to authorize the deployment of armed peacekeepers to protect humanitarian transport and distribution, as aid workers continue to be targeted in areas including Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and Central African Republic, .
- A record 360+ humanitarian workers were killed last year, as aid restrictions and starvation are increasingly used as weapons of war.
COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 could now make up more than 1 in 3 cases across the U.S., the ; the variant has been linked to a surge of hospitalizations in parts of Asia, and the CDC's airport surveillance program detected cases of it in arriving international travelers last month.
The U.S. health care workforce has recovered from widespread job losses of early 2020, with employment now matching pre-pandemic projections, ; but recovery is uneven, with doctors鈥 offices exceeding pre-pandemic employment growth while skilled nursing facilities contend with understaffing.
Dengue survivors face an elevated risk for post-infection multi-organ complications, hospitalization, and death, that analyzed 55,870 cases of adults infected between 2017 and 2023.
The FDA has expanded approval of Moderna鈥檚 RSV vaccine mResvia to include adults ages 18鈥59 who are at high risk of severe illness from the virus; previously the vaccine was licensed for use only in adults 60+. HOMELESSNESS Increased Deaths on the Street in Portland
As the homeless population in Portland grew during the pandemic, the city responded with a $1.3 million plan to 鈥渞eprioritize public health and safety among homeless Portlanders.鈥
- And yet: Deaths of homeless people quadrupled from 113 in 2019 to 450+ in 2023.
- One 2023 showed that such sweeps raise the risk of overdose by up to 22% for people who inject drugs.
Across the U.S., 600+ memory cafes offer low-cost social support for dementia patients and caregivers, helping alleviate isolation and stress through regular gatherings.
And with $11 billion in federal health funding for state and local health departments now on the chopping block, grassroots-led memory cafes may soon play a critical role for families needing help navigating the struggles of dementia care.
Growing need: U.S. Alzheimer鈥檚 cases are projected to double from 6.9 million now to 13.8 million by 2060, while the number of family caregivers is declining.
SUICIDE Curbing Pesticides to Save Lives
Suriname has one of the world's highest suicide rates, largely due to the pesticide paraquat鈥攚hich is lethal even in tiny doses and is widely available in homes across the country.
Global perspective: Pesticides are one of the leading means of suicide in agricultural areas of developing nations, leading to 100,000+ suicides annually.
Banning paraquat and other pesticides has led to dramatic drops in suicide rates in other countries including Sri Lanka (70%+), South Korea (~50%), and China (60%).
Ongoing efforts: The charity Open Philanthropy funded the launch in 2017 of the , and the was formed in 2023 to phase out use of the deadliest pesticides in agricultural areas where risks have not been managed.
QUICK HITS As mpox escalates in Sierra Leone, activity in other countries reflects mixed picture 鈥
An oral cholera vaccination campaign aims to reach more than 2.6 million people in Sudan鈥檚 Khartoum State 鈥
US pharma bets big on China to snap up potential blockbuster drugs 鈥
Small towns are growing fast across Ghana 鈥 but environmental planning isn鈥檛 keeping up 鈥 (commentary)
Ancient miasma theory may help explain Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine moves 鈥
How Covid-19 Changed Hideo Kojima鈥檚 Vision For Death Stranding 2 鈥 Issue No. 2742
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
Since conflict erupted in Sudan, more than a million people have fled to neighbouring South Sudan, seeking refuge from escalating violence that has displaced 12.4 million people and plunged over half the Sudanese population into food insecurity.
Categories: Global Health Feed
