Timely and relevant global health security news curated by GCHS
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Featured Headlines
- Stopping the next flu pandemicNature Avian influenza is devastating poultry operations, spreading in dairy cattle and infecting farm workers. Why isn’t the United States doing more to stop it? In spring, consumers in the United States found themselves having to hunt for something that had previously been exceedingly easy to find: eggs. Some supermarkets limited customers to a single… Read more: Stopping the next flu pandemic
- Could tracking animals’ health help to avert the next pandemic?Nature Avian influenza is sweeping the globe and infecting dozens of species. Advocates of an approach called One Health are calling for broad surveillance of wildlife, livestock and pets. In the southwestern United States in the early weeks of 2024, a large-animal veterinarian pulled up to a dairy farm on his usual rounds and was… Read more: Could tracking animals’ health help to avert the next pandemic?
- Stopping the next pandemicHarvard Gazette Disease surveillance network faced ‘existential cliff’ despite proven success. Then came the $100 million. It began with some intriguing scientific discoveries. A team of researchers from the Broad Institute and Harvard began to suspect nearly two decades ago that so-called “emerging diseases” such as Ebola and Lassa virus were not quite what they… Read more: Stopping the next pandemic
Health Policy Headlines
- HHS cuts millions in grants to the American Academy of PediatricsNBC News The move is an escalation in the agency’s clash with the medical group, which is suing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy. The Department of Health and Human Services has terminated seven grants totaling millions of dollars to the American Academy of Pediatrics, escalating its confrontation with the group, which is suing Health… Read more: HHS cuts millions in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics
Updates on ongoing disease outbreaks
- Bird flu found in Wisconsin dairy herd for first timeWPR Dodge County farm is first in state to have a positive test in cows for the highly contagious disease. Officials said they have found bird flu in a Wisconsin dairy herd for the first time. Tests of cow’s milk from a Dodge County farm were positive for the highly contagious virus, officials with the… Read more: Bird flu found in Wisconsin dairy herd for first time
- The quest to hatch a bird-flu vaccineNature Although development of a jab for the H5N1 strain of avian flu is well under way, other strains are receiving less attention — and political obstacles to research could hamper progress. During the summer of 2023, fur farms in Finland that raise mink, foxes and raccoon dogs were hit by an outbreak of H5N1… Read more: The quest to hatch a bird-flu vaccine
- Fever-Proof Bird Flu Variant Could Fuel the Next PandemicScience Daily Bird flu viruses present a significant risk to humans because they can continue replicating at temperatures higher than a typical fever. Fever is one of the body’s main tools for slowing or stopping viral infections, yet research led by the universities of Cambridge and Glasgow shows that avian flu strains can keep multiplying… Read more: Fever-Proof Bird Flu Variant Could Fuel the Next Pandemic
- S. Korea reports 2 new bird flu cases at chicken farms in Chungcheong ProvinceKorea Herald South Korea reported two new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at layer farms in its central region Wednesday, bringing the total to 14 cases since the cold season began. The H5N1 bird flu was detected at a farm in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province, about 130 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and at… Read more: S. Korea reports 2 new bird flu cases at chicken farms in Chungcheong Province
- Wisconsin confirms first avian flu case in dairy cattleAg Daily This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported the first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy cattle herd in Wisconsin. Detections of avian influenza in dairy cattle have been limited this year, in contrast to 2024, when an outbreak that began in March spread nationwide… Read more: Wisconsin confirms first avian flu case in dairy cattle
- Pennsylvania: Avian flu suspected in deaths of hundreds of snow geese at Northampton County quarry6 Action News Avian influenza is believed to be the cause of death for hundreds of snow geese discovered at a quarry in Northampton County, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Officials are working to safely remove the birds and conduct testing. The U.S. outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza began in January 2022 and… Read more: Pennsylvania: Avian flu suspected in deaths of hundreds of snow geese at Northampton County quarry
- New clues about long covid’s cause could unlock treatmentsWashington Post The latest research signals progress in understanding a condition that is afflicting millions of people. Why some people experience long-lasting physical and mental effects from covid-19 could be linked to chronic inflammation, according to new research that experts say could help develop new treatments… Read more: New clues about long covid’s cause could unlock treatments
- Getting a COVID Vaccine while Pregnant Slashes Risk of Premature Birth, Major New Study FindsAmerican Scientific Pregnant people who receive a COVID vaccine are 60 percent less likely to experience severe disease and around 30 percent less likely to give birth prematurely, according to new research. Pregnant people who get a COVID vaccine are dramatically less likely to experience severe… Read more: Getting a COVID Vaccine while Pregnant Slashes Risk of Premature Birth, Major New Study Finds
INFLUENZA
- New flu strain putting severe pressure on healthcare across Europe, says WHOGuardian At least 27 of 38 countries in WHO’s European region are reporting high or very high influenza activity, body says. An intense surge in flu cases driven by a newly dominant virus strain is sweeping across Europe, placing healthcare systems in several countries under severe pressure, the World Health Organization has said. The WHO said on… Read more: New flu strain putting severe pressure on healthcare across Europe, says WHO
- Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s whyNational Geographic Every year, flu season in North America starts to peak around the holiday season. But this year, doctors and researchers are especially worried. “We will have a significant flu season this year, and we have a lot of concern that it’s going to be more severe than typical,” says Richard Martinello, an infectious diseases… Read more: Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s why
- Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s whyNational Geographic Every year, flu season in North America starts to peak around the holiday season. But this year, doctors and researchers are especially worried. “We will have a significant flu season this year, and we have a lot of concern that it’s going to be more severe than typical,” says Richard Martinello, an infectious diseases… Read more: Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s why
- Warning issued after new mpox strain identified in EnglandThe Independant Symptoms include skin rash with blisters, spots or ulcers that can appear anywhere on the body, as well as fever, headache, backache and muscle aches. A new strain of mpox – the virus formerly known… Read more: Warning issued after new mpox strain identified in England
- El Paso reports first Mpox case of 2025, health officials launch contact tracing effortsKfox14 The City of El Paso Public Health Department is reporting the first Mpox case of 2025. A male in his 50’s is currently recovering at home. Public Health officials have initiated contact tracing… Read more: El Paso reports first Mpox case of 2025, health officials launch contact tracing efforts
- South Carolina: Nearly 30 new cases reported in Upstate measles outbreakFox Carolina The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting 27 new cases of measles in the state since Friday. The new cases bring the total number of cases related to the Upstate outbreak to 111 and the total number reported to DPH this year to 114. Officials said that 16 of the new cases… Read more: South Carolina: Nearly 30 new cases reported in Upstate measles outbreak
- Here’s why the measles outbreak just took a dangerous new turnAxios Scientists are warning that the ongoing measles outbreak might force the United States to lose its elimination status for the first time in decades. The big picture: For 25 years, the U.S. has been free of yearly measles outbreaks. But this year’s spike in cases and sustained outbreaks could change that. Driving the news: The U.S. is on track to… Read more: Here’s why the measles outbreak just took a dangerous new turn
- Utah has a 115 confirmed cases of measles, with latest infection at Bingham HighKSL.com Utah continues to see the number of measles cases across the state rise, with the current count at 115 infections, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services dashboard on Monday. The latest case has been confirmed at the Bingham Kopper Kids child care facility, located within Bingham High School in South… Read more: Utah has a 115 confirmed cases of measles, with latest infection at Bingham High
- South Carolina: DPH reports 27 new measles cases in Upstate, bringing outbreak to 111WYFF News On Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported 27 new cases of measles across the state since Friday. That brings the total number of cases related to the Upstate outbreak to 111 and the total number reported to DPH to 114 this year. DPH said that 16 of the new cases… Read more: South Carolina: DPH reports 27 new measles cases in Upstate, bringing outbreak to 111
Emerging Infectious Disease Headlines
- Recent Florida Cases of Chikungunya Linked to Cuba Travelers, Reminder Vector-Borne Illness is Still CirculatingContagion Live During this time of year, much of the US becomes too cold for mosquitos to transmit vector-borne diseases. However, Chikungunya is still be transmitted in tropical environments. For… Read more: Recent Florida Cases of Chikungunya Linked to Cuba Travelers, Reminder Vector-Borne Illness is Still Circulating
- Stopping the next pandemicHarvard Gazette Disease surveillance network faced ‘existential cliff’ despite proven success. Then came the $100 million. It began with some intriguing scientific discoveries. A team of researchers from the Broad… Read more: Stopping the next pandemic
- New flu strain putting severe pressure on healthcare across Europe, says WHOGuardian At least 27 of 38 countries in WHO’s European region are reporting high or very high influenza activity, body says. An intense surge in flu cases driven by a… Read more: New flu strain putting severe pressure on healthcare across Europe, says WHO
- Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s whyNational Geographic Every year, flu season in North America starts to peak around the holiday season. But this year, doctors and researchers are especially worried. “We will have a significant… Read more: Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s why
- World’s first Phase II Nipah virus vaccine trial launchOxford Vaccine Group The trial, conducted in Bangladesh in partnership with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), and funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI),… Read more: World’s first Phase II Nipah virus vaccine trial launch
- A Deadly Coronavirus Resurfaces in France for First Time in 12 YearsScientific American French health officials are trying to trace all the contacts of two men who contracted MERS, a potentially lethal disease that is typically confined to the Middle East.… Read more: A Deadly Coronavirus Resurfaces in France for First Time in 12 Years
Read more Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Empathetic, Available, Cheap: When A.I. Offers What Doctors Don’tNYT Frustrated by the medical system, some patients are turning to chatbots for help. At what cost? Wendy Goldberg thought her question was straightforward enough. A 79-year-old retired lawyer in Los Angeles, Ms. Goldberg wanted… Read more: Empathetic, Available, Cheap: When A.I. Offers What Doctors Don’t
- First scientific evidence of Black Death in Edinburgh found on skeletonBBC The first scientific evidence of the Black Death in Edinburgh has been discovered on the remains of a teenage boy who died in the 14th Century. Plaque on the child’s teeth has been found… Read more: First scientific evidence of Black Death in Edinburgh found on skeleton
- Long COVID Linked to Development of Cardiovascular DiseaseInfectious Disease Advisor The presence of long COVID symptoms after infection with SARS-CoV-2 is strongly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in United States adults, according to study results presented at IDWeek 2025, held from… Read more: Long COVID Linked to Development of Cardiovascular Disease
- CDC Adopts Contentious Hepatitis B Vaccine RecommendationMedPage Universal birth dose dropped, despite warnings from physicians, medical groups. The CDC has formally adopted a recommendation from its vaccine advisory panel to stop recommending hepatitis B vaccination for every newborn at birth.… Read more: CDC Adopts Contentious Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation
- World’s first Phase II Nipah virus vaccine trial launchOxford Vaccine Group The trial, conducted in Bangladesh in partnership with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), and funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), will assess the safety… Read more: World’s first Phase II Nipah virus vaccine trial launch
- Rise of anti-science rhetoric has fundamentally changed the relationship between doctors and patientsSTAT I have spent my career caring for people facing some of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases — Ebola, mpox, Covid-19. I have worked in outbreak zones, in understaffed hospitals, in field units built out of necessity. I’ve seen… Read more: Rise of anti-science rhetoric has fundamentally changed the relationship between doctors and patients
- South Carolina’s Measles Outbreak Shows Chilling Effect of Vaccine MisinformationKaiser Health News Near the back corner of the local library’s parking lot, largely out of view from the main road, the South Carolina Department of Public Health opened a pop-up clinic in early November, offering free measles vaccines to… Read more: South Carolina’s Measles Outbreak Shows Chilling Effect of Vaccine Misinformation
- New York’s Diminished Population Shows Lasting Damage from Covid-19Empire Center Most parts of New York remained less populated in 2024 than in 2020 as the state struggled to bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an Empire Center report published today. The report, based on analysis of… Read more: New York’s Diminished Population Shows Lasting Damage from Covid-19
- Covid lockdown linked to rise in child developmental issuesBBC The number of toddlers in Scotland showing developmental issues increased during the Covid lockdown, according to a new report. The University of Edinburgh-led study examined health visitor reports on 258,000 children between March 2020 and August 2021. And it… Read more: Covid lockdown linked to rise in child developmental issues
Interesting and Sometimes Funny
- How the Pandemic Lockdowns Changed a Songbird’s Beak
NYT For ecologists, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented a remarkable natural experiment in what can happen to wild animals when humans stay home. About two decades ago, the dark-eyed junco, a forest-dwelling sparrow, began to colonize urban Los Angeles. The birds proved to be remarkably successful in the city, making themselves at home on the… Read more: How the Pandemic Lockdowns Changed a Songbird’s Beak