Timely and relevant global health security news curated by GCHS
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Featured Headlines
- US cases of COVID variant ‘Cicada’ up more than 15% and risingUSA Today A new, “highly mutated” COVID strain is quickly gaining ground in the United States, according to new data. Variant BA.3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” first drew the attention of health officials earlier this year when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization noted it had appeared in at least 23 countries and accounted for… Read more: US cases of COVID variant ‘Cicada’ up more than 15% and rising
- Two years after it emerged, ‘cow flu’ is still circulating—and baffling scientistsScience Researchers still aren’t sure how H5N1 influenza spreads between cows and from farm to farm. After 2 years, the U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 influenza virus in cattle appears to be waning, easing fears that the virus could cause long-lasting damage to the dairy industry or mutate into a form that could cause a… Read more: Two years after it emerged, ‘cow flu’ is still circulating—and baffling scientists
- U.S. facing largest outbreak of bird flu in its history, including backyard flocks in KentuckyNPR The U.S. is facing the largest outbreak of bird flu in its history. As birds migrate this spring, the virus can spread along major flyways through droppings, contaminated water, or direct contact, infecting backyard flocks, pet birds, and commercial poultry. Anyone who raises birds should understand the risks and how to protect their poultry. Dr. Chelsey Shivley, is a… Read more: U.S. facing largest outbreak of bird flu in its history, including backyard flocks in Kentucky
Updates on ongoing disease outbreaks
- Avian influenza and coronaviruses in live animal and wet markets in Laos: prevalence and public health considerationsFrontiers Background: Live animal and wet markets (LWM) serve as critical interfaces where humans closely interact with domestic and peri-domestic animals, facilitating the spillover of zoonotic pathogens. Previous outbreaks of avian influenza viruses (AIV) and coronaviruses (CoV) linked to these markets underscore their significant public health risks. Despite the high density of LWM and historical… Read more: Avian influenza and coronaviruses in live animal and wet markets in Laos: prevalence and public health considerations
- Novel antiviral fogging tech to be tested against bird fluFeedstuffs A research team led by Purdue University, along with partners Entomol and 1,4Group, has been awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service to evaluate a novel antiviral fogging technology to combat high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which remains a serious threat to poultry health and the… Read more: Novel antiviral fogging tech to be tested against bird flu
- Two years after it emerged, ‘cow flu’ is still circulating—and baffling scientistsScience Researchers still aren’t sure how H5N1 influenza spreads between cows and from farm to farm. After 2 years, the U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 influenza virus in cattle appears to be waning, easing fears that the virus could cause long-lasting damage to the dairy industry or mutate into a form that could cause a… Read more: Two years after it emerged, ‘cow flu’ is still circulating—and baffling scientists
- U.S. facing largest outbreak of bird flu in its history, including backyard flocks in KentuckyNPR The U.S. is facing the largest outbreak of bird flu in its history. As birds migrate this spring, the virus can spread along major flyways through droppings, contaminated water, or direct contact, infecting backyard flocks, pet birds, and commercial poultry. Anyone who raises birds should understand the risks and how to protect their poultry. Dr. Chelsey Shivley, is a… Read more: U.S. facing largest outbreak of bird flu in its history, including backyard flocks in Kentucky
- Studying How Bird Flu Spreads Through the AirRespiratory Therapy University of Michigan researchers are leading a project to discover how the bird flu virus degrades in the air and how engineering solutions can mitigate its spread. The $2 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service aims to answer fundamental questions about how long the virus remains… Read more: Studying How Bird Flu Spreads Through the Air
- The Hamptons Has a Bird Flu ProblemNYT This winter, hundreds of dead geese fell around Georgica Pond. No one knew how to dispose of the infected bodies, so a local landscaper just winged it. Georgica Pond is the brackish coastal pond in East Hampton, Long Island, around which sit the summer homes of the filmmaker Steven Spielberg and the hip-hop mogul… Read more: The Hamptons Has a Bird Flu Problem
- US cases of COVID variant ‘Cicada’ up more than 15% and risingUSA Today A new, “highly mutated” COVID strain is quickly gaining ground in the United States, according to new data. Variant BA.3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” first drew the attention of health officials earlier this year when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization noted it had… Read more: US cases of COVID variant ‘Cicada’ up more than 15% and rising
- Long COVID Linked to Higher Incidence of Mild Cognitive ImpairmentNeurology Advisor Over 4.4 years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of MCI was 27% (95% CI, 17%–40%) among patients with long COVID, 5% (95% CI, 2%–10%) among recovered COVID-positive patients, and 1% (95% CI, 0.2%–4%) among COVID-negative control individuals. Long COVID was associated with a higher… Read more: Long COVID Linked to Higher Incidence of Mild Cognitive Impairment
INFLUENZA
- Cancer drug protein target may also help fight influenzaMedical Express A protein already targeted by FDA-approved cancer drugs may also help the body fight influenza, according to new research from The Jackson Laboratory (JAX). Published in Cell Reports, the study found that Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1), a protein best known for helping tumors evade immune attack, instead helped immunocompromised mice clear flu-infected lung cells… Read more: Cancer drug protein target may also help fight influenza
- 8 children have now died from flu in Mass. this seasonBoston.com The child died between the week of Feb. 21 and Feb. 28, the state’s Department of Public Health reported. An eighth Massachusetts child has died from the flu this flu season, state data shows. As of Feb. 28, eight Massachusetts children have died from the influenza, as well as 298 adults, the state’s influenza data… Read more: 8 children have now died from flu in Mass. this season
- CDC Details Seasonal Trends for Respiratory Viruses in the United StatesInfectious Disease Advisor In the United States, seasonal respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2 continue to substantially impact younger children and older adults, according to study findings published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detailed respiratory virus activity between July 2024 and… Read more: CDC Details Seasonal Trends for Respiratory Viruses in the United States
- Missouri health department reports state’s first 2 cases of clade I mpoxKMBC News The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirmed two cases of clade I mpox in residents who recently traveled internationally. Clade I mpox, formerly referred to as “monkeypox,” has been spreading… Read more: Missouri health department reports state’s first 2 cases of clade I mpox
- More serious mpox strain detected in NYC for first timeCBS News The first case of mpox clade I has been detected in New York City, health officials said Friday. Of the two types of mpox, clade I is known to cause more severe… Read more: More serious mpox strain detected in NYC for first time
- Experts warn that communities underestimate measles’ dangerScientific American It feels increasingly difficult to go a day without hearing about yet another outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease. In 2024 pertussis, also known as whooping cough, suddenly seemed to be everywhere. Last year the nation recorded the most measles cases since the illness was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, and of course… Read more: Experts warn that communities underestimate measles’ danger
- Emergency jabs after 100 children die of suspected measles in a month in BangladeshBBC Bangladesh is battling its worse measles outbreak in years, with more than 100 children dead amid a rise in unvaccinated infants. The government, in partnership with the United Nations, has begun conducting an emergency measles-rubella vaccination drive for children across the country, after more than 900 cases were confirmed since March. Measles is a… Read more: Emergency jabs after 100 children die of suspected measles in a month in Bangladesh
- There’s a massive measles vaccine campaign in Mexico. Is the public on board?NPRIn Mexico, a sweeping measles outbreak has triggered a sweeping response — a campaign to vaccinate 2.5 million people a week. In the capital, posters are plastered with QR codes for people to look up the nearest spot for vaccination. Nurses go door-to-door, and there are pop-up vaccine stations in bakeries, bus stations, cinemas, shopping… Read more: There’s a massive measles vaccine campaign in Mexico. Is the public on board?
- Utah measles outbreak brings its biggest surge yetAxios Utah health officials have confirmed 142 new measles cases since March 10. Why it matters: The rolling, three-week case count reflects a surge of more than 30% compared to last week’s tally, and shows the biggest increase in cases since the state’s outbreak began last summer. Between the lines: Measles symptoms typically appear one to three weeks after exposure to the highly-contagious disease. Threat… Read more: Utah measles outbreak brings its biggest surge yet
Health Policy
- H.H.S. Takes a First Step Toward Restoring Vaccine Advisory CommitteeNYT A federal judge last month questioned the legitimacy of the panel and overturned its recent work. A notice suggests that it may be revived on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s terms. The Health Department is quietly laying the groundwork to revive a vaccine advisory committee whose membership and decisions were frozen last month by a federal judge.… Read more: H.H.S. Takes a First Step Toward Restoring Vaccine Advisory Committee
- The White House Delays CDC PickInfectious Disease Advisor The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remains without a permanent leader. It has had three different leaders during the current Trump administration and on Wednesday, the White House missed its deadline for nominating a candidate. Federal law limits someone to serve in an acting role for 210 days in… Read more: The White House Delays CDC Pick
- CDC temporarily pauses rabies, pox virus testing American Hospital Association The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has temporarily paused rabies and pox virus testing, according to an update on its website March 30. The pox virus family consists of several viruses, including smallpox and mpox. The CDC typically confirms infections for rabies and pox viruses, among several other infectious diseases. Continue reading
Emerging Infectious Disease Headlines
- Australia: Diphtheria cases in 2026Healthy Travel Diphtheria returns to the Northern Territory The NT Centre for Disease Control is investigating a diphtheria outbreak in the Northern Territory. Four cases of respiratory diphtheria have been… Read more: Australia: Diphtheria cases in 2026
- RSV Is Still Surging in These 9 States, Hitting Kids Under 4 the Hardest. When Will the Season End?NFID Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is surging later than usual in parts of the country. Here’s which states have the highest rates and symptoms to watch for. Although cold and… Read more: RSV Is Still Surging in These 9 States, Hitting Kids Under 4 the Hardest. When Will the Season End?
- Nigeria: Lassa fever death toll hits 146Daily Trust Nigeria’s ongoing Lassa fever outbreak is showing a worrying rise in deaths, with new figures from treatment centres and national surveillance pointing not just to wider transmission, but… Read more: Nigeria: Lassa fever death toll hits 146
- Yellow fever in Colombia has already resulted in 182 registered cases and 81 deathsLa Nacion (machine translated to English) The Ministry of Health reported a worrying increase in yellow fever cases and deaths in Colombia over the past two years. According to the… Read more: Yellow fever in Colombia has already resulted in 182 registered cases and 81 deaths
- California: Flea-borne typhus surges across LA County with 90% of cases requiring hospitalizationABC News Los Angeles County is experiencing a record number of flea-borne typhus cases, and nearly 90% of patients have had to be hospitalized. Typhus is a bacterial disease spread… Read more: California: Flea-borne typhus surges across LA County with 90% of cases requiring hospitalization
- Johns Hopkins Team Develops Therapeutic, Nasally Delivered DNA Vaccine for TuberculosisNewswise In a paper published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a research team at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports developing a… Read more: Johns Hopkins Team Develops Therapeutic, Nasally Delivered DNA Vaccine for Tuberculosis
Read more Emerging Infectious Diseases
- ‘Truly transformative’ new diagnostic tools can help end tuberculosisUN TB is caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. Every day, over 3,300 people die from the disease, with Southeast Asia accounting for nearly 40 per cent of deaths. Yet it is both preventable and treatable, including by using the antibiotic rifampicin. WHO has issued new guidelines on testing,… Read more: ‘Truly transformative’ new diagnostic tools can help end tuberculosis
- Digital early warning systems essential as old diseases like cholera resurge in global crisis zonesJMIR Publications JMIR Publications today released a critical analysis in its News and Perspectives section regarding the global resurgence of cholera and the vital role of digital surveillance in fragile settings. The article, “When Old Diseases Return: Cholera,… Read more: Digital early warning systems essential as old diseases like cholera resurge in global crisis zones
- Long-term brain effects of COVID-19 vs. flu: Study reveals key differencesMedical Express Even a mild case of COVID-19 or the flu can impact the body long after the fever and cough fade, according to new Tulane University research that may help explain why some people… Read more: Long-term brain effects of COVID-19 vs. flu: Study reveals key differences
- Johns Hopkins Scientists Develop Nasal DNA Vaccine for TuberculosisSci Tech Daily A new experimental vaccine takes aim at one of tuberculosis’s most stubborn defenses: the ability of bacteria to persist despite treatment. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers… Read more: Johns Hopkins Scientists Develop Nasal DNA Vaccine for Tuberculosis
- Johns Hopkins Team Develops Therapeutic, Nasally Delivered DNA Vaccine for TuberculosisNewswise In a paper published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, a research team at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports developing a therapeutic intranasal (nose-delivered) DNA… Read more: Johns Hopkins Team Develops Therapeutic, Nasally Delivered DNA Vaccine for Tuberculosis
- America’s Latest Unfounded Health Panic: ‘Vaccinated’ Blood DonationsGizmodo New research suggests people are increasingly requesting blood donations from people not vaccinated against covid-19, despite no evidence supporting the practice. In a sign of our ever idiotic times, recent research suggests that some people are increasingly refusing to… Read more: America’s Latest Unfounded Health Panic: ‘Vaccinated’ Blood Donations
- In Talking to Parents About Vaccines, Pediatricians Navigate a Sea of MisinformationNYT Practitioners nationwide are striving to do what’s best for children’s health, while staying supportive in the face of mistrust and confusion. As she examined 11-day-old Asher, her eighth patient of the day, Alissa Parker talked to his parents about… Read more: In Talking to Parents About Vaccines, Pediatricians Navigate a Sea of Misinformation
- New Zealand Covid response among world’s best but ‘scars’ remain, inquiry findsThe Guardian Royal commission says response led by Jacinda Ardern was broadly ‘appropriate’, in a wide-ranging report featuring recommendations for future pandemics. A royal commission into New Zealand’s Covid response has found it was one of the best in the… Read more: New Zealand Covid response among world’s best but ‘scars’ remain, inquiry finds
- The United States Leaves the WHO. Three Reforms Could Motivate Its ReturnThink Global Health A former special advisor to the WHO director general outlines arenas that could strengthen global health regardless of a U.S. withdrawal. On Thursday, the required one-year notice period will pass since the United States declared its intention to leave the World… Read more: The United States Leaves the WHO. Three Reforms Could Motivate Its Return
Interesting and Sometimes Funny
- Diagnostic dilemma: Woman’s ‘biologically implausible’ infection led her to sneeze ‘worms’ out of her nose
Live Science Doctors reported a highly unusual case of parasitic fly infection in a woman in Greece. The symptoms: The patient, who worked outdoors on a Greek island, developed pain around the center of her face that grew progressively worse. About two to three weeks after this pain began, she also developed a severe cough. Shortly… Read more: Diagnostic dilemma: Woman’s ‘biologically implausible’ infection led her to sneeze ‘worms’ out of her nose