Women and girls pay high price in DR Congo Ebola outbreak
Global Health NOW: Fiji’s HIV Emergency; The Long Road for Syria’s Chemical Attack Survivors
September 17, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFA UN fact-finding mission on Iran said it had “reasonable grounds” to believe the U.S. was behind two military strikes in Iran in February that together killed 170+ people, including schoolchildren at a school in Minab, and that the attacks constituted war crimes; the mission also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during the crackdown on anti-government protests last year. CBS
U.S. researchers have filed a First Amendment challenge to the updated federal policy of NIH grant screening, with the lawsuit alleging the agency is acting illegally by barring grants on topics disapproved of by the Trump administration. Science
South Korea will allow abortion pills for the first time by the first quarter of 2027, with the government announcing the medication abortions will be allowed for women up to nine weeks pregnant, and will be directly prescribed and dispensed by doctors for the first two years of the new policy. AP
Women with the same medical conditions as men are less likely to be offered the medical treatments offered to men such as surgery, statins, or strong painkillers, finds a review of global research published in PLOS One, which found that across 38 studies, 33 showed women “were less likely to be offered active treatment” for conditions like cardiovascular conditions, kidney disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The Guardian
IN FOCUSA Medical Services Pacific Moonlight program team offers free HIV testing during an outreach visit to a suburb of Suva, Fiji, on March 19. AFP via Getty
Fiji’s HIV EmergencyAs spiraling new HIV infections strain the small Pacific island of Fiji, officials declared a national HIV emergency this week and scaled up their response, reports CNN.
Rapid rise: Cases rose 12X between 2010 and 2025, making it “one of the sharpest increases in new HIV infections globally,” per a UNAIDS statement.
~1 in 60 Fiji adults have been diagnosed with the virus, with 2,000+ new diagnoses in 2025 in a population of <1 million people.
HIV-related deaths have shot up: 117 recorded in 2025, compared with 25 in 2021.
59 infants were born with HIV last year; 18 died before age 1.
Driving the crisis: Infections have been fueled by a surge in injectable drug use, particularly methamphetamine, as the region becomes a hub for illicit drug trafficking, reports The New York Times (gift link).
While ~42% of new cases were attributed to drug use, sexual transmission and low condom use are also significant drivers.
Unknown status, untapped care: Limited testing and stigma mean just ~39% of people living with HIV know their status, and <22% are receiving treatment.
Ramping up response: Health officials are rapidly expanding testing, treatment, and PrEP access, while also introducing needle and syringe programs for people who inject drugs.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES CONFLICTThe Long Road for Syria’s Chemical Attack SurvivorsThirteen years after Syria’s deadliest chemical attack, survivors still suffer lasting physical and psychological injuries.
The attack: In August 2013, sarin rockets struck opposition-held Damascus districts, killing ~1,429 people, including 426 children.
The survivors’ struggle: Ongoing impacts include impaired breathing, physical exhaustion, vision problems, anxiety, and PTSD. Many children born at the time of the attacks have shown developmental disorders.
“We are living in a nightmare that has never ended,” says survivor Mohammed Suliaiman Abo Alkair.
A reckoning? Since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, Syria’s new authorities have detained 18 suspects related to chemical weapons.
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSIONThe 2026 Ig Nobel Prize winners were introduced at the 36th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, in Zurich, Switzerland, on September 3. Alexey Eliseev/Improbable Research
Scientific Advancement Smells Like Teen SpiritWhile Nobel Prizes celebrate humanity’s loftiest achievements, the Ig Nobels honor its nitty-grittiest: research that boldly goes into realms where most of us take a U-turn: teen body odor, urinal splash ratios, and the mere concept of “cockroach milk,” per Ars Technica.
Some notable winners from the 2026 prizes, which honor research with power to “make people laugh, then think,” per Smithsonian:
Next protein trend? Milk produced by one cockroach species carries 3X as much energy as cow milk protein, Chemistry Prize-winning researchers found.
Quest for a holy grail: Efforts to create a splash-free urinal were awarded the Design Prize (and maybe a future Nobel Peace Prize?).
Strategic sniffles: The Medicine Prize went to a 1977 study on optimum nostril-clearing aerodynamics.
Smell test: The enviable Olfaction Prize went to a study demonstrating that baby smells boost parent-child bonding; but teen smells may contribute to … greater independence.
In an opportunity yesterday for the Global Health Emerging Scholars (GHES) Fellowship, we pointed you to the wrong page. Here's the right link to learn more about how to apply to the 12-month, NIH-supported, mentored training in global health research designed to improve population health.
QUICK HITSHow Afghan Women Are Rebuilding Reproductive Health Care – Reasons to be Cheerful
Abortion bans make ‘evidence-based medicine’ impossible in some cases, new report says – The Guardian
The Maternal Mental Health Crisis—A Dangerous Blind Spot in US Medicine – JAMA (commentary)
Few people with the flu isolate for the recommended period – CIDRAP
Baltimore Expands the Conversation Around Infant Safety – Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs
Map of brain ‘microproteins’ could offer new clues to Alzheimer’s disease – Nature
This Is Your Brain on Short-Form Video – The Atlantic
A spoonful of sugar: how South Africa’s weigh-and-pay shops are tackling ‘poverty tax’ head on – The Guardian
Issue No. 2982
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Global Health NOW: Spotlight on Stopping Child Marriage; and The Growing Struggle to Inspect Imported Foods
September 16, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFExposure to air pollution may increase risk of suicide and suicidal behavior, finds a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, which found that exposure to small particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide were linked to a heightened risk of death by suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation. The Guardian
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has returned to the U.S. after being eliminated in the 1950s, posing a threat to livestock, wildlife, pets, and, in rare cases, people as it spreads; researchers are deploying new tracking tools to predict the parasites’ movement as eradication efforts are revived. University of California – San Diego via ScienceDaily
A fourth person in Pennsylvania has died from measles, state health officials said yesterday; the death of an unvaccinated 18-year-old from a rare measles-related neurological complication makes 2026 the deadliest year for measles in the U.S. since its elimination in 2000. The New York Times (gift link)
The Gates Foundation will put $1 billion toward AI access in low-income communities over two years, with an emphasis on integration in health care, agriculture, and education; the funding announcement came with a warning that AI acceleration risks deepening the gap between wealthy and poor nations without intervention from governments, philanthropies, and tech companies. Quartz
IN FOCUSAdvocates and child marriage survivors call for an end to child marriages, on the steps of the Massachusetts State House, in Boston, on September 22, 2021. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty
Spotlight on Stopping Child MarriageOver the last five years, several countries have passed legislation to end child marriage, with Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, England, the Philippines, and Sierra Leone all creating or strengthening laws to prevent the practice.
But it is still too pervasive, reports UNICEF, with dire consequences: Women married as girls are more likely to face harms including pregnancy complications, domestic violence, and HIV/AIDS infection, and to lose educational and economic opportunities.
Globally, 1 in 5 girls is married or in an informal union before 18, per UNFPA.
Day of observance: The UN General Assembly has just designated Nov. 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, per More to Her Story.
The resolution was championed by Sierra Leone, which banned child marriage in 2024.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., where 34 states allow marriage under age 18, 314,000+ minors were legally married from 2000 to 2021, per data cited by lawmakers who introduced a bill this year to set a nationwide minimum age of 18 for marriage, reports NPR.
Beyond laws: While India has a ban, ~1.5 million girls under 18 still marry there annually, UNICEF estimates—a gap blamed on weak enforcement and a need for further education and economic advocacy.
DATA POINT100,000+
——————
The number of centenarians living in Japan this year; nearly 88% of them are women. —AP
The U.S. Cyclospora outbreak linked to imported lettuce underscores a growing gap in U.S. food safety: a ~35% drop in FDA inspections of foreign food facilities since 2019.
Closer look: The FDA inspected 17% fewer foreign food facilities in 2025 compared with prior-year inspections.
In response to the July 2026 Cyclospora outbreak, FDA inspectors took a month to reach the Mexican farm tied to the outbreak.
“When these outbreaks happen in fresh produce, you have to respond quickly because these are very complex and changing ecosystems,” said Frank Yiannas, a former FDA food safety official.
Driving the downturn: Pandemic-era departures weakened the agency, but Trump administration cuts in 2025 further strained inspection capacity.
Related: ‘We Had It Coming’: Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Reveals Holes in Food Safety System – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSScores of children in Pakistan have tested positive for HIV – NPR
Peter Sands: Progress Against The World’s Deadliest Infectious Diseases Is On A Knife-Edge – Forbes (commentary)
‘We’re near a breaking point:’ firefighters say US government is failing them amid intense wildfire season – The Guardian
Leana S. Wen: This surgery can prevent a deadly cancer. Women need to know it’s an option. – The Washington Post (commentary/gift link)
Highway Expansion Linked to Dengue Surge in the Amazon – Think Global Health
A childhood rite moves indoors as kindergartners learn to ride bikes in school gyms – AP
High-flying superbugs: Bouncy castles tied to MRSA skin infections – CIDRAP
Issue No. 2981
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Global Health NOW: ‘Nothing to Lose’: High School Science Club’s Promising Lyme Diagnostic; and Mobilizing New Tools Against Mosquitoes
September 15, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFAfter the DRC’s health ministry said that Ebola transmission in the country’s outbreak is gradually slowing and may have peaked in mid-August, the UN confirmed some signs of progress but warned that it’s “too early to call peak”—emphasizing that the outbreak remains “massive,” and will take months to control, with cases rising fast in North Kivu in particular. Reuters
In the U.S., the Trump administration is scrapping greenhouse gas emission limits on fossil fuel-fired power plants; environmental groups, warning the move will increase health-endangering pollutants, are mounting legal challenges. NPR
A 40-year-old woman in Pennsylvania died from complications associated with measles, the third measles-related death in the U.S. state this year, following the deaths of two infants last month. AP (See also this Guardian article that details how the Trump administration is altering the way it counts measles deaths amid Pennsylvania’s outbreak.)
Chile has become the first South American country to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies to humans, the WHO said yesterday; Chile earned the validation through more than five decades of public health prevention and surveillance—including door-to-door dog vaccination campaigns, management of the dog population, and community awareness efforts. Toronto Star
IN FOCUS EXCLUSIVELeading Lyme disease researcher Nicole Baumgarth and members of Lambert High School’s 2025 iGEM team, Sean Lee, Avani Karthik, Sahasra Tatavarti, and school adviser, Catherine Sharer, at the 3rd Annual Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Symposium at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore, April 30.
‘They Had Nothing to Lose’: High School Science Club’s Promising Lyme DiagnosticEvery year, Lambert High School’s science program rallies behind an idea to present at iGEM, a prestigious synthetic biology competition.
Last year, teens at the Suwanee, Georgia high school tackled a real diagnostic gap. Lyme disease antibody tests often come back negative in the early stages of the disease, delaying treatment and raising risks of long-term illness. Over emails, Nicole Baumgarth, a renowned Bloomberg School immunologist, advised the students that their initial PCR-based test idea would be “impossible” because the antibodies that the test relies on are often undetectable early on in Lyme disease patients.
To her delight, they persevered and pivoted to a novel strategy—a test targeting CspZ, a bacterial surface protein that may linger in blood after the Lyme-causing bacterium retreats.
Using CRISPR-based amplification, they created a lateral-flow test (similar to a COVID home test).
They tested the assay in cow’s blood, detecting the protein for over 200 days.
The work won awards at the iGEM contest, held in Paris—and also impressed leading Lyme researchers, including Baumgarth, who want to see the concept tested in further trials.
Whatever the outcome, the young scientists learned a formative lesson. “Getting the opportunity to freely research when you’re young is very rewarding,” team member Claire Lee tells GHN.
Read the Exclusive by Annalies Winny Read the Exclusive by Annalies Winny GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES INFECTIOUS DISEASESMobilizing New Tools Against MosquitoesA new mosquito-control weapon is being added to the arsenal of the world’s toughest malaria hotspots, where mosquitoes are evolving to circumvent bed nets.
The tool: “Spatial emanators” are sheets of chemically treated plastic that release the insecticide transfluthrin into the air—repelling and killing mosquitoes for up to a year.
The products, endorsed by the WHO last year, are especially needed in areas where mosquitoes increasingly bite earlier in the evening—rendering bed nets ineffective.
Early results: A 2025 trial involving 6,000 Kenyan children found the technology cut first-time malaria infections by 33%; and a 2022 trial found mosquito-borne viral infections in Iquitos, Peru, fell 34% over two years.
The caveat: Researchers say emanators should supplement, not replace, bed nets and other interventions.
OPPORTUNITYThis two-day training for researchers and global health professionals, hosted by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) in partnership with Corus International, will bring together journalists including GHN’s founding editor-in-chief, Brian W. Simpson, along with Jon Cohen, Sean D. Hamill, Molly Knight Raskin, and Marc Sandalow.
They’ll explore effective communication across media platforms, countering disinformation, and increasing the reach and impact of scientific work.
Fee: $300; $150 for students; lunch will be provided.
'I've never seen anything like this' — A U.S. doctor treats Ebola's youngest victims – NPR Goats and Soda
A Teen Autopsy Marks the Arrival of a Deadly Drug in San Francisco – The New York Times (gift link)
Study: Autism shaves an average of 14 years from life expectancy, with flu the leading contributor – CIDRAP
Highly persistent toxic waste threatens ‘many, if not all, human rights’ – UN News
Alcohol-linked cancer deaths have doubled in recent decades. What to know about risk. - The Washington Post (gift link)
NSF memo implementing Trump’s ‘golden age’ of science unsettles researchers – Science
A Cancer Survivor Hoped To Work — Then She Lost Her Medicaid Disability Coverage – KFF Health News
Issue No. 2980
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Ebola responders grapple with widening outbreak in DR Congo
Global Health NOW: Warnings Mount Over AI Health Hazards; and The Steep Contraction of Global Aid
September 14, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFA growing number of pregnancies in Yemen are among malnourished girls who are receiving minimal health care; almost a third of Yemeni girls are married as children, and the UNFPA estimates that 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in the country are malnourished. UN News
A $15 million+ fund to end FGM globally has been launched in an effort to create “unstoppable momentum” to eliminate the practice, which has affected 230 million+ women worldwide; the Her Horizon Fund was seeded with $14 million from the Wallace Global Fund and $1.5 million from an anonymous donor. The Guardian
Climate change is linked to rising Legionella incidence, contributing to Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks in the U.S., finds a new study published in PLOS Global Public Health; the study found that warming temperatures and increased rainfall are correlated with rising legionellosis incidence rates. CIDRAP
England’s proposed assisted dying bill will not become law after MPs voted down the legislation Friday; the bill had proposed allowing terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval from doctors and an expert panel. The Independent
IN FOCUSSections of the Stargate Oracle AI data center, which will span roughly 4 million square feet upon completion, undergoes construction on August 26, in Abilene, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Warnings Mount Over AI Health HazardsAmid growing concern over the speed of AI development, climate scientists are warning about data centers’ toll on environmental and human health and the dismantling of safeguards as the industry expands, reports Inside Climate News.
A report from the Environmental Protection Network examined increased fossil fuel pollution from the power plants used to meet data centers’ soaring electricity demand and details resulting health impacts, including asthma, cancer, and neurological harm.
The report expands on modeling from academic researchers that projects that data center pollution could lead to ~1,300 premature deaths and $20 billion+ in annual public health costs by 2028.
Eroding safeguards: The report also lists 30 Trump administration actions that could increase pollution-related health risks, including the expansion of fossil fuel plants, fast-tracking permits for data centers, and weakened regulatory enforcement, reports The New York Times (gift link).
Bioweapons warnings: Meanwhile, last week AI company Anthropic detailed researchers’ attempts to use its software for potentially harmful pathogens research, per Science—setting off debate among scientists about AI’s use in biosecurity research.
One biosecurity researcher’s take: “This field is going to evolve and grow ... but I don’t think the models are quite as useful for nefarious use in biological weapons as people presume they are,” said Gigi Gronvall of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Related: Trump administration poised to repeal carbon standards for coal, gas power plants – Reuters via Straits Times
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HUMANITARIAN HEALTHThe Steep Contraction of Global AidGlobal humanitarian aid contributions plummeted 30% between 2022 and 2025, per the State of the Humanitarian System 2026 report, which warned that the aid system has “suffered one of its biggest contractions since being formed in the post-second world war era.”
Funding fell from $47.5 billion to $33.3 billion, and ~23% of humanitarian jobs disappeared.
Urgent care only: The cuts have forced agencies to prioritize immediate threats, cutting initiatives for long-term health and stability.
“Aggravating factor”: Governments not only failed to step into the gap, but were responsible for 64% of attacks on healthcare.
One portrait: In Yemen, the cuts exacerbated overlapping crises: Vaccination campaigns were suspended, diphtheria cases rose, and food insecurity worsened.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSCurse of the Nile’s gold: how Sudan is losing its fertile fields and ability to produce food – The Guardian
Why are Americans so tired? CDC report highlights who’s feeling it most – NBC News
Britain pioneers new dried blood products for the modern battlefield – The Telegraph
India court orders regulator to provide timeline for food warning labels – Reuters
Flushing a Toilet Can Blast Germs Up to Your Breathing Zone, Study Finds – ScienceAlert
Issue No. 2979
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Copyright 2026 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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Global Health NOW: Global Health Careers Special Issue
September 12, 2026
EDITOR’S NOTESpecial Issue: Global Health CareersWe know that so many talented people in the global health community have been affected by funding cuts to the scientific research and public health sectors—people we want to keep in this field. That’s why we’ve tailored this issue to global health job seekers—with resources to grow and thrive at any career stage. Or, maybe you’re in a position to provide an opportunity. In that spirit, please share this issue with students and job seekers in your circle.
We’d love to hear from you, too! Please drop me a line if you have any helpful resources to suggest for people on the hunt for jobs. (Be sure to mention which country you’re from.)
GHN has made some big changes recently that we’re excited to share, including replacing our monthly version with periodic special issues like this one. But we’d love to welcome you over to our weekday newsletter! It is now offered four days a week, Monday–Thursday. If you’d like to switch over to that list, just let me know. —Dayna
IN FOCUS EXCLUSIVEInonge Kaloustian outside the Seminole County Health Department in Sanford, FL. Inonge Kaloustian
Jobs in Global Health: How to Break In—and Stay InWhen Inonge Kaloustian received her MSPH (Master of Science in Public Health) from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she assumed she’d follow in her mother’s footsteps, working internationally for an organization like USAID. But when she started looking for jobs, it felt like her prospects had vanished: “It was overwhelming. It was not a very friendly job market,” she tells GHN.
She applied for 175 jobs before landing an epidemiology position at a Florida health department through a friend.
Her struggle isn’t unique. The global health jobs market has buckled under sweeping funding cuts from the U.S., Germany, and the U.K., the dismantling of USAID, and upheaval at the NIH, leaving a generation of public health professionals to rethink their career paths. Some postings now draw 4X their usual applicant pools.
But opportunities are out there for those willing to adapt, experienced practitioners and educators say.
Key tactics for landing a global health job:
Focus on the problem: Define the health challenge you want to solve, not a specific role.
Build “diagonal” skills: Pair subject expertise with project management, budgeting, and communication.
Rebrand your résumé: Translate experience into consulting, corporate, or government language.
Network relentlessly.
The good news for job seekers is that the work remains essential, says Keith Martin of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health: “The challenges of today and tomorrow cannot be met without global health.”
Read the Full Article by Annalies Winny Read the Full Article by Annalies Winny DATA POINT54%
—————
Dip in a single year in job postings in the international development sector after aid funding was slashed 30%–40%. —Devex
Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard
E-learning Resources for Global Health Researchers – NIH’s Fogarty International Center
Infodemiology Training Program: Free, Online, and Asynchronous – The DeBeaumont Foundation
Foundations of Global Health Specialization – Coursera, Johns Hopkins University
OpenWHO: Free, self-paced online courses on outbreak response, emergency protocols, and global health policy with downloadable certificates
News and advice for job seekers from Nature:
Plus: Check out this newly updated list of must-read global health books from Madhukar Pai, head of McGill University’s Department of Global & Public Health.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MINI POLLIf you’re employed in the global health space, how did you learn about your current position?
QUICK HITS: WHERE TO FIND JOBSReliefWeb: Lists international humanitarian and global health response positions, updates, and analysis.
ScienceCareers: Jobs in science and technology sectors
World Health Organization Careers: Global health technical and data positions
Devex: International development jobs
Comprehensive Job Boards and Resources for Public Health Professionals (from Johns Hopkins University)
PublicHealthJobs.org: Connects professionals with government, nonprofit, and academic public health opportunities.
Issue No. SI-26-1
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Global Health NOW: An Ever-Shifting Ebola Fight; Lasering In on Long-COVID Mechanics
September 10, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFA multi-dose maternal RSV vaccine has been prequalified by the WHO, “marking a major step” in global efforts to protect more infants from the virus; the new vaccine form is expected to make maternal RSV vaccination more affordable and easier to deliver, as more countries seek to adopt RSV protections and treatments in their public health programs. WHO
The deaths of two infants in Pennsylvania last month were both related to measles, with the virus itself listed as the cause of one of the deaths, the Lancaster County coroner confirmed in records released yesterday; however, CDC officials have not said whether they will list either death as measles-associated. NBC News
Babies born to mothers with anemia have smaller brains, particularly in key neurological regions linked to movement, learning, and regulation of emotion, finds a study published in Brain Communications; more than a third of pregnant women worldwide have anemia, with rates highest in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. The Guardian
A.I. use in UK medical settings must be better regulated and routinely updated, urges the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which regulates all medical devices in the UK, and has published a list of 44 policy recommendations with input from 12,000+ patients and clinicians. BBC
IN FOCUSA health worker takes a woman's temperature as part of Ebola screening efforts on June 24, in Goma, DRC. Daniel Buuma/Getty
An Ever-Shifting Ebola FightEbola is still gaining ground in the DRC, reaching new areas and intensifying in some regions even as transmission declines in others.
The latest: As of September 6, the WHO Africa office reported 6,686 cases and 3,226 deaths across 61 health zones in six provinces; Ituri remains “the principal focus,” reports Anadolu Agency.
Uneven spread: Epidemiologists report divergent transmission patterns across regions, underscoring both progress and setbacks, per Infection Control Today.
Cases are doubling more slowly, and daily incidence remains below July’s peak, but deaths outside of hospitals and limited surveillance signal that the outbreak “is continually slipping ahead of containment.”
Gaps in contact tracing, testing, safe burial coverage, and treatment capacity persist in some areas.
The hunger factor: Food insecurity is exacerbating the crisis, especially in remote areas, says the World Food Programme, which is calling for a “comprehensive approach” to aid response, per UN News.
“If you can’t feed your family, it’s pretty difficult to adhere to health protocols,” said WFP’s David Stevenson.
A picture of public alarm: A single death can trigger intensive public health interventions and major social disruption, as a New York Times (gift link) account of a truck driver’s sudden death in Marabo village illustrates.
Related: DRC’s Ebola outbreak has the potential to become a global pandemic. How to make sure it doesn’t – The Conversation (commentary)
INFECTIOUS DISEASESLasering In on Long-COVID MechanicsLong COVID’s emergence has transformed the study of postinfection illness, revealing a large family of chronic conditions that can follow infection, as research expands to pinpoint biomarkers to help advance treatments.
Tracing trends: Researchers are finding overlapping patterns across long COVID and other postinfection syndromes like myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome—including intertwined impacts like inflammation and damage to blood vessels and mitochondria.
Studying these illnesses together, scientists are exploring underlying biological mechanisms like immune dysfunction and viral persistence for clues.
Large scale, wide gaps: ~400 million people worldwide have long COVID, carrying an economic cost of ~$1 trillion annually—yet research funding remains low.
Related: Why Is No One Talking About Long COVID? – MedPage Today (commentary)
OPPORTUNITYAmerica’s Ebola Response: Travel Restrictions, Quarantines, and Citizen RightsIn a public health crisis, what is the balance between personal rights and public health authority? How do travel bans or overseas facilities like the one in Kenya redefine global health policies?
Join the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health for a dive into these questions and other elements of America’s Ebola response. The Center’s director, Jennifer Nuzzo, will moderate the discussion featuring Alexandra L. Phelan of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Allan Maleche of the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) and Georgetown University Law Center.
September 18, 2026, noon ET
2021 was a year when a lot of people were still looking for ways to entertain themselves at home. In Switzerland, one option was to bury some cotton underwear and see what happened.
In the name of science!
1,000 volunteers buried more than 2,000 pairs of knickers for Proof by Underpants (Beweisstück Unterhose), a project by Swiss researchers to investigate soil health.
They found that the healthier the soil, the faster the undergarments disintegrated. After two subterranean months, some undies were shells of their former selves while others had modest holes that, depending on one’s standards, wouldn’t even render them unwearable.
What’s the point of all this? ScienceAlert put it best: “to show us that some soils are hanging on by little more than a G-string”—and that matters.
Less holey underpants were a glaring sign of missing nutrients in the soil, a big concern given that the stuff—not to put too fine a point on it—“makes human life on Earth possible.”
And naturally, being as existentially concerning as it is hilarious, the project won an Ig Nobel.
QUICK HITSChildren of 9/11 to finally get a major health study – Reuters via AOL
Jeremy Farrar Joins Global Health Non-Profit PATH Following Unexpected Departure From WHO – Health Policy Watch
Kenya faces four active health emergencies as Mpox, Ebola, measles, and polio collide – Daily Nation
CDC merges its flu, COVID divisions to ‘strengthen operational efficiency’ – CIDRAP
'America's Nobel' prizes go to sleep and hemophilia researchers, and to Michael J. Fox for Parkinson's advocacy – LiveScience
Need Help! writing a paper title? All you need is the Beatles – Science
Issue No. 2978
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Copyright 2026 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.
Contributors to Global Health NOW include: Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder.
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Seven McGill scholars honoured by the Royal Society of Canada
McGill’s 2026 cohort includes President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini, recognized for his leadership in building stronger and more innovative Canadian universities, and championing their vital role.
Global Health NOW: Where Measles Finds Footholds; and How Climate Change Accelerates AMR
September 9, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEF35+ health clinics in Sudan will shutter this year amid global aid cuts, aid groups are warning; the closure of the clinics, which serve 400,000+ people, will worsen the country’s spiraling health crisis as the country’s ongoing war has led to the closure of 70%–80% of facilities in worst-hit areas. AP
A ProPublica analysis of CDC data found that nearly 200 women in the U.S. died after an ectopic pregnancy from 2020 to 2025, compared with ~100 in the previous six years; the analysis also revealed a steeper increase in states with strict abortion bans. ProPublica
Drinking “very hot” beverages, such as piping-hot coffee or tea, has been linked to a 3X increased risk of developing a form of esophageal cancer, finds a large study published in the International Journal of Cancer; the findings are based on analysis of the consumption of hot drinks by ~980,000 people in the U.K. over 14 years who reported their temperature preferences. The Guardian
Antivenom derived from rattlesnake blood can “powerfully neutralize” venom from a range of venomous snake species, finds a new study published in PNAS; researchers found that combinations of toxin-blocking proteins from the snake’s blood were ~10X times more potent than a current commercial antivenom. ScienceDaily
IN FOCUSSix-month-old Misika is held by her mother as she receives treatment for measles at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on September 8. Syed Mahamudur Rahman/NurPhoto via Getty
Where Measles Finds FootholdsAs the global measles resurgence continues, Bangladesh and the U.S. provide a picture of how vaccination gaps give the highly contagious virus a foothold.
In Bangladesh, the country’s devastating outbreak has led to 166,000+ suspected cases and 999 deaths this year, reports the AP.
Just a few years ago, the country had a solid vaccination program and saw a few hundred measles cases a year. But the pandemic and political upheaval over the last five years led to a dramatic drop in childhood vaccinations.
“We have been treating measles patients continuously, and we are exhausted,” said Atiqul Islam, a neonatal and child specialist at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute.
In the U.S., 3,100+ cases have been reported so far this year—significantly more than last year’s total of 2,289, per CDC data.
In Pennsylvania, the center of a large current outbreak, health workers are using community-tailored MMR vaccination strategies—including pop-up clinics in homes and places of worship, reports The Washington Post (gift link). Such efforts have led to dramatic uptake of the vaccine, including 600+ in Lancaster County–3X the number given last fall.
On the horizon: Ahead of potential further spread in the coming winter, U.S. physicians are urging training for health workers who have never encountered the virus. And in November, PAHO will evaluate the U.S. measles elimination status, reports NBC News.
Related: Coroner confirms US measles death while CDC count remains at zero amid row over the fatalities – The BMJ
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICESRelated: Peter Kilmarx: Why International Research Is Vital to the NIH’s Scientific Mission – Health Affairs (commentary)
PLANETARY HEALTHHow Climate Change Accelerates AMRWhile antimicrobial resistance is primarily driven by antibiotic misuse, the warming climate is helping create conditions that fuel the crisis, enabling microbes to “emerge, persist, move, and reach humans,” researchers say.
Extreme weather’s dual impact: Heat, floods, drought, and wildfires can lead to more need for medical care and thus antibiotic overuse—in addition to creating ecological and social conditions for harmful microorganisms to thrive and spread via wastewater, air, and soil.
A One Health approach: Reducing AMR will require a “much broader collaboration than we traditionally imagine,” said Lianping Yang, a public health scientist at Sun Yat-sen University. “We need a healthy environment, a healthy planet, a stronger health system, and better preparation for a changing climate.”
GOOD NEWS QUICK HITSNepal’s Flood Relief Workers Feel the Pain of Trump’s Cuts to U.S.A.I.D. – The New York Times (gift link)
A Louisiana case could upend telehealth abortion. What exactly is it? – NPR
Ozempic for addiction: How an elite rehab center is using GLP-1s to ‘obliterate’ all kinds of cravings – STAT
US To Phase Out HIV Support For Namibia After Data-Sharing Impasse – Health Policy Watch
A data leak shut a top research biobank: lessons from the recovery – Nature
Bats carry dangerous viruses without getting sick. This may be why – Tulane University via ScienceDaily
Why are human births so difficult? Male babies—not just upright walking—may be to blame – Science
Issue No. 2977
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Global Health NOW: Global Health Careers Special Issue
September 8, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEF50,000+ people in Indonesia have contracted respiratory infections amid wildfires raging across large portions of the country; the health ministry is equipping emergency outposts with oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders and beefing up supplies at public health centers, referral hospitals, and evacuation sites. The Telegraph
2.7 billion+ people were exposed to secondhand smoke globally in 2023—contributing to nearly 1.7 million deaths, per a Lancet Public Health study published today; the authors note that women and children are disproportionately exposed and call on governments to implement stronger tobacco controls in public places and homes to better protect non-smokers. Medical Xpress
The WHO has validated Bhutan’s elimination of dog-transmitted rabies as a public health problem in the country, following a decade of sustained investment in surveillance—making Bhutan the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone. WHO (news release)
Ebay has removed listings for gender-prediction testing kits that Reuters discovered were available for shipment to India, where use of the tests violates a law established in 1994 to combat female feticide; the shopping platform says it is also reviewing its safeguards meant to block restricted sales. The Independent
EDITOR’S NOTESpecial Issue: Global Health CareersOn the heels of Labor Day yesterday in the U.S., we’re thinking about all of the talented people in the global health community who have been affected by funding cuts to the scientific research and public health sectors. That’s why we’ve tailored the rest of this issue to global health job seekers—with resources to grow and thrive at any career stage. Or maybe you’re in a position to provide an opportunity. In that spirit, please share this issue with students and job seekers in your circle.
We’d love to hear from you, too! Please drop me a line if you have any helpful resources to suggest for people on the hunt for jobs. (Be sure to mention which country you’re from.) We’ll share the results next week. —Dayna
IN FOCUS EXCLUSIVEInonge Kaloustian outside the Seminole County Health Department in Sanford, FL. Inonge Kaloustian
Jobs in Global Health: How to Break In—and Stay InWhen Inonge Kaloustian received her MSPH (Master of Science in Public Health) from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she assumed she’d follow in her mother’s footsteps, working internationally for an organization like USAID. But when she started looking for jobs, it felt like her prospects had vanished: “It was overwhelming. It was not a very friendly job market,” she tells GHN.
She applied for 175 jobs before landing an epidemiology position at a Florida health department through a friend.
Her struggle isn’t unique. The global health jobs market has buckled under sweeping funding cuts from the U.S., Germany, and the U.K., the dismantling of USAID, and upheaval at the NIH, leaving a generation of public health professionals to rethink their career paths. Some postings now draw 4X their usual applicant pools.
But opportunities are out there for those willing to adapt, experienced practitioners and educators say.
Key tactics for landing a global health job:
Focus on the problem: Define the health challenge you want to solve, not a specific role.
Build “diagonal” skills: Pair subject expertise with project management, budgeting, and communication.
Rebrand your résumé: Translate experience into consulting, corporate, or government language.
Network relentlessly.
The good news for job seekers is that the work remains essential, says Keith Martin of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health: “The challenges of today and tomorrow cannot be met without global health.”
Read the Full Article by Annalies Winny Read the Full Article by Annalies Winny DATA POINT54%
—————
Dip in a single year in job postings in the international development sector after aid funding was slashed 30%–40%. —Devex
Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard
E-learning Resources for Global Health Researchers – NIH’s Fogarty International Center
Infodemiology Training Program: Free, Online, and Asynchronous – The DeBeaumont Foundation
Foundations of Global Health Specialization – Coursera, Johns Hopkins University
OpenWHO: Free, self-paced online courses on outbreak response, emergency protocols, and global health policy with downloadable certificates
News and advice for job seekers from Nature:
Plus: Check out this newly updated list of must-read global health books from Madhukar Pai, head of McGill University’s Department of Global & Public Health.
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MINI POLLIf you’re employed in the global health space, how did you learn about your current position?
QUICK HITS: WHERE TO FIND JOBSReliefWeb: Lists international humanitarian and global health response positions, updates, and analysis.
ScienceCareers: Jobs in science and technology sectors
World Health Organization Careers: Global health technical and data positions
Devex: International development jobs
Comprehensive Job Boards and Resources for Public Health Professionals (from Johns Hopkins University)
PublicHealthJobs.org: Connects professionals with government, nonprofit, and academic public health opportunities.
Issue No. 2976
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Copyright 2026 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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McGill Perspectives on Global Health: Join our 2026–2027 Editorial Board
Join our 2026–2027 Editorial Board
Are you passionate about global health and equity? Interested in writing or helping bring greater attention to stories that deserve to be heard? Looking forward to connecting with like-minded people? 💙✨
McGill Perspectives on Global Health is recruiting members for its 2026–2027 Editorial Board. We are looking for motivated students interested in contributing to accessible, engaging, and diverse conversations on global health.
Applications are open until September 27, 2026.
Estimated commitment: 2–3 hours/week. --> Available Positions Social Media Coordinator — 1 position
Manage Perspectives' social media accounts, promote new publications, and identify relevant initiatives to feature. Familiarity with Canva is an asset.
Graphic Designer — 1 position
Contribute to the visual identity of Perspectives across our website, newsletter, and social media platforms. Experience with Squarespace or Mailchimp is helpful but not required.
Editors — 2 positions
Review and edit submissions, communicate with authors, coordinate publication schedules, and contribute original editorial content.
Health Reporters — 2 positions
Identify compelling global health stories and develop original pieces, including interviews with students, researchers, faculty, community members, and other experts. --> Who Should Apply? We welcome applicants from different academic, professional, cultural, and disciplinary backgrounds. You do not need to be a global health expert to contribute.
If you are curious about global health, interested in storytelling and knowledge sharing, and want to contribute to “making the world a little less overwhelming,” we would be glad to hear from you.
APPLY NOW — DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 27
We look forward to welcoming a new team and continuing to build McGill Perspectives on Global Health as a safe space for engaging and diverse conversations on global health! --> Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest information and experiences in global health! Subscribe Follow us on social media --> Copyright © 2026 McGill Global Health Programs, All rights reserved.
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McGill Perspectives in Global Health Blog · McIntyre Medical Building, Room 633 · 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler · Montreal, Qc H3G 1Y6 · Canada
Transition to cleaner heating can lower blood pressure
An environmental policy designed to improve air quality also has benefits for cardiovascular health, finds a new McGill-led study.
Researchers found China's Clean Heating Policy – introduced to reduce smog by helping rural households switch from coal to electric or natural gas home heating – also lowered adults’ blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease worldwide.
Ebola response in eastern DR Congo must include food assistance, WFP says
Tobacco use can undermine fertility, UN health agency warns
Get Involved in the next McGill's Strategic Academic Plan!
By Neale McDevitt
Editor, McGill Reporter
September 4, 2026
Repeated attacks on humanitarian warehouses put vital medical aid at risk in Ukraine: WHO
Global Health NOW: Hunger and Obesity: A Double Threat to Children’s Health; and Widening Obstetric Care Gaps in Rural U.S.
September 3, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFOverdose deaths dropped significantly in several countries in 2024, led by the U.S. with a 27% decline, Canada (-9%) and Scotland (-13%), according to a new report attributing the gains to changes in the drug supply, access to naloxone and expanded treatment coverage, and improved data sharing; several countries also saw significant overdose increases. The Commonwealth Fund
Leading U.S. physicians’ groups have teamed up to recommend that people get the updated flu and COVID-19 shots this fall in an effort to clarify vaccine guidance; The CDC typically issues vaccine recommendations but last year with no new evidence it pulled back on traditional guidance for fall shots and standard child vaccines. PBS News
South Africa’s government is warning of a “public health emergency” driven by declining childhood vaccination rates; amid rising mistrust of vaccines in the country, the proportion of children under one who have not received any immunizations has tripled in the past decade. The Telegraph
Food officers raiding a Mumbai warehouse discovered an illegal operation producing fake expiration dates and nutritional information on popular food exports; officials were “shocked by the scale” of operation that “systematically” tainted items from brands including PepsiCo, Nestle, and Unilever. Reuters via Yahoo!
EDITORS’ NOTEWe’ll Be Back Tuesday!GHN will not be publishing Monday in observance of Labor Day in the U.S.
Also, we are aware that some people did not receive GHN yesterday; we apologize for the inconvenience. We are working to resolve the issue, but there may be additional delays while we fix the problem.
You can always visit our website to read past issues in our archive.
We’ll see you Tuesday with more news! —The Editors
IN FOCUSA child is measured during a child stunting prevention program at an integrated services post at Perum Panorama Asri, in Kalongan Village, Indonesia, on November 16, 2024. WF Sihardian/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hunger and Obesity: A Double Threat to Children’s HealthChildhood obesity is plateauing in wealthier nations but accelerating in many low- and middle-income countries—several already battling undernutrition and unable to afford treatments, Reuters reports.
Indonesia is a prime example.
Combined, undernutrition and obesity affect 20% of Indonesia's 60 million school-age children.
Undernutrition has halved in two decades, but diabetes among Indonesians over 15 has more than doubled since 2011, to 11.7%—likely an undercount.
“All the gains that we have had in health are going to be washed away by this absolute tsunami of noncommunicable disease,” says Zulfiqar Bhutta of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.
Behind the rise: cheap processed foods and low health-risk awareness.
Eye to solutions: Weight loss drugs are helping to tackle the problem, especially in wealthier countries, but the WHO estimates only 10% of eligible people will have access to them by 2030; plus, there’s limited guidance on their use and safety in children.
Meanwhile, the free school meals effort championed by President Prabowo Subianto has been plagued by corruption and food poisoning, including a fresh wave of cases just this week, per The Guardian.
800+ students and teachers fell ill with nausea, vomiting, and stomach aches—with dozens hospitalized—in three separate incidents.
~37,600 people have suffered food poisoning linked to the program as of August 8, according to the Network for Education Watch.
The closure of local labor and delivery services across parts of the rural U.S. is taking a compounding physical and mental toll on mothers, as critical access points become fewer and farther apart.
In places like Farmville, Va., which saw its hospital’s obstetric unit close last year, mothers described anxiety over finding providers, long travel times to care, and struggles managing high-risk pregnancies and postpartum depression amid a lack of follow-up care.
“There is a huge lack of concern and care for maternal, mental, and postpartum health in rural America,” said Sarah Calaway, a mother in Farmville.
And women in rural areas are 21% more likely than women in urban areas to experience perinatal depression, per Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.
Bigger picture: 140+ U.S. rural hospitals have closed or announced labor-and-delivery closures since 2020.
OPPORTUNITYStanford Global and Planetary Health Research Convening: Call for AbstractsThe 2027 Stanford Global and Planetary Health Research Convening will take place February 11, 2027, at Stanford University. Hosted by the Stanford Centers for Innovation in Global Health and Human and Planetary Health, the in-person only event will bring together students, faculty, staff, and researchers working in global and planetary health––from Stanford and beyond.
Thursday, February 11, 2027, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Arrillaga Alumni Center on Stanford University campus
When Daniel Blumstein sat down to watch the TV show Margo’s Got Money Troubles, he had one thought: So do marmots!
Enter OnlyMarms: Blumstein’s long-running marmot behavior research in Colorado was suffering under federal funding cuts. So he made like Margo and set up an OnlyFans account to help them through financial dire straits.
Turns out, people will tip—often around $10—for “uncensored marmot content” of the ground rodents hopping in and out of burrows, chasing each other, and squeaking.
It was “an act of desperation,” admits Blumstein. But a fun one, generating about $4,000 in tips for the research effort.
But there’s more. Proceeds from the inaugural Fat Marmot Week and $ONLYMARMS memecoin are raking in more funds, Nature reports.
The takeaway for funding-seekers: Maybe “do something a little risqué.”
QUICK HITSCongo continues struggling to pay the people fighting its Ebola outbreaks – Bloomberg via Japan Times
Fauci speaks out about the pandemic, global health—and his own record – Science
Patients and Doctors, Shaken by the Clancy Trial, Seek Extra Help – The New York Times (gift link)
Health insurance costs projected to spike next year by most in two decades – The Washington Post (gift link)
RSV vaccine effective against hospitalization, death in nursing home residents, study finds – CIDRAP
‘I love rats but we can’t live with them’: the headache of rising rodent populations around the world – The Guardian
Issue No. 2975
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Copyright 2026 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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Wildfires pose a growing threat to dialysis care
In the midst of another intense wildfire season, a new study sheds light on the risks they pose to life-sustaining dialysis care for thousands of Canadians.
In a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary project conducted by McGill researchers from the Departments of Medicine and Geography, the team led a national wildfire risk assessment focused on Canadian dialysis facilities. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the team integrated dialysis facility locations with historical wildfire records and current fire danger data to identify communities and patients at greatest risk.
Global Health NOW: A Radically Reshaped Global Health Funding Paradigm; and West Nile Surges Across Southern Europe
September 2, 2026
NEWS IN BRIEFNearly half of the world’s farmers suffer pesticide poisoning every year, with southern Asia, southeast Asia, and East Africa most affected, finds a study published yesterday in Frontiers in Public Health, which also estimated 11,000 annual deaths from pesticide poisoning; the authors say immediate action is required to reduce pesticide use, which doubled from 1990 to 2023. The Guardian
A U.S. federal judge has paused a lawsuit aiming to revoke FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone; the lawsuit, filed by Florida and Texas, seeks a rollback of the agency’s 2000 approval of mifepristone under safety and effectiveness grounds, but the judge has delayed the lawsuit until Dec. 1, or whenever the FDA finishes an ongoing safety review of the drug. The Hill
Almost one-third of U.S. women in their 20s surveyed for a study published in JAMA Network Open reported never been screened for cervical cancer; the rate of women who reported never having undergone cervical cancer screening when they were ages 21 to 29 increased from 12.5% (3.5 million) in 2005 to 31.9% (6.2 million) in 2023. CIDRAP
Antibodies that could combat alpha-gal syndrome have been discovered by NIH scientists, per new research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation; in lab tests, the monoclonal antibodies prevented allergic antibodies from binding to red meat allergens—the potential “first step” in developing drugs to prevent and treat AGS as cases rise. NIH
IN FOCUSA Ministry of Health agent conducts malaria screenings on children in a shelter in Toamasina, Madagascar, on February 15. Rijasolo/AFP via Getty
A Radically Reshaped Global Health Funding ParadigmThe U.S. is on track to cut global health funding to 18 low-income countries by 59% by 2030—a dramatic reduction of ~$2 billion from pre-2025 levels—finds a detailed new analysis of bilateral aid agreements under the Trump administration’s America First Health Strategy, reports Devex (free registration required).
Background: Following the dismantling of USAID, the State Department has been negotiating bilateral agreements on health aid, signing deals with 34 countries so far, reports The Washington Post (gift link).
The model is purportedly designed to shift countries away from U.S. aid and toward self-financing. But the analysis of documents acquired in a lawsuit by Public Citizen and Partners In Health finds that the transition significantly reduces overall health funding—despite congressional directives to keep global health spending largely intact.
And in 11 of the 18 countries reviewed, those co-financing commitments fail to cover the U.S. cuts, reports Health Policy Watch.
Facing steepest cuts: Rwanda (97% reduction), Liberia (84%), Burundi (78%), Madagascar (77%), and Sierra Leone (71%).
Additionally, some countries face penalties, including further U.S. funding reductions, if they miss their cofinancing targets—potentially compounding losses and increasing disparities.
Seven countries are projected to have fewer health workers by 2030, even as Africa already faces a major workforce shortage.
The quote: “Right now, it looks like a dramatic underspend by billions of dollars … leading to preventable suffering and death,” said Peter Maybarduk of Public Citizen.
Related:
Samaritan’s Purse turns down $300M from US State Department – Devex (free registration required)
UK commits more than £100m from aid budget to cutting-edge health research – The Independent
Sweden ends aid to Liberia in a hammer blow to women’s rights and healthcare – The Guardian
Nigeria: Foreign Aid Bill Endangers Civil Society – Human Rights Watch
GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASESWest Nile Surges Across Southern EuropeWest Nile virus cases are mounting across southern Europe, with Italy, Greece, and Spain reporting hundreds of cases, per the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In Italy, 400+ virus cases and 17 fatalities have been reported since the beginning of the year, reports Anadolu Agency, with “the virus … now circulating steadily throughout almost the entire country,” ISS Department of Infectious Diseases arbovirus experts told La Milano.
In Greece, 200+ cases have been reported—including 165 leading to neurological disease. The country’s 19 reported deaths were all among people over 65, reports Euronews.
In Spain, Andalusia has reported 50+ of the country’s ~80 cases, and two deaths, both people over 80, per another Euronews report.
Context: Most West Nile infections go unnoticed, but about 1% become neuroinvasive, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems face greater risk of severe illness—and with no approved human vaccine or antiviral treatment, mosquito control and surveillance remain critical tools for limiting transmission.
OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITSSchools resume classes in Congo's Ebola epicenter despite concerns from parents and teachers – AP
CDC Director Challenges Pennsylvania’s Report of Two Measles Deaths – The New York Times (gift link)
Annenberg poll: Americans trust their doctors when it comes to public health, but not FDA, CDC – CIDRAP
Judge rebukes HHS over AI use in cutting teen pregnancy prevention grants – The Washington Post (gift link)
Drinking among Gen Z adults has gone up, busting the sober myth – CBC
‘Superhuman’ AI tool spots heart disease in less than 2 seconds – The Guardian
These women's health nonprofits lost federal funding. Olivia Rodrigo's $20M donation 'will outlast any news cycle' – Good Good Good
Issue No. 2974
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Copyright 2026 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.
Contributors to Global Health NOW include: Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder.
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