缅北强奸

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday launched a $56.4 million flash appeal to address urgent health needs in Syria, where years of conflict have cripped the healthcare system.

Yemen has reported the highest global burden of cholera, with nearly 250,000 suspected cases and 861 associated deaths as of 1 December, accounting for 35 per cent of worldwide cholera cases and 18 per cent of related deaths this year, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

96 CNNTD Holiday Message 2024/Message de No毛l du RCMTN 2024 An update from CNNTD | Une mise 脿 jour du RCMTN December 20, 2024 / D茅cembre 20, 2024 Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Update /
Mise 脿 jour du R茅seau Canadien pour les
Maladies Tropicales N茅glig茅es Dear Friends, Members and Colleagues,

2024 has been a busy year for the Canadian Network for NTDs! To find out what we鈥檝e been up to, please check out our. As we reflect on this year, we remain grateful for our members鈥� steadfast interest and commitment to advancing NTD prevention and treatment in Canada and globally. We are grateful to all the members of our Steering Committee who meet regularly to guide our direction and we thank Uniting to Combat NTDs for their continued support.

As we look to 2025, we count on your continued engagement and enthusiasm as we join Canada in welcoming other G7 and observer countries to come together to address critical challenges affecting the world today. Throughout next year, we will be working in partnership to advocate for sustained commitments, contributions, and collaboration for neglected tropical diseases, ensuring that these remain strong and unified within Canada and across the G7. We will continue to engage our leaders here in Canada in meaningful dialogue on financing NTD elimination strategies, measuring impact and celebrating the outcomes of NTD investments. At a time when so much is in flux, we need to stay the course and ensure we deliver on the WHO NTD Roadmap goals to improve health and wellbeing for millions of people around the world.

In January, keep your eye out for updates from the Canadian Network to find out more about how you can advance NTD prevention and treatment in 2025. On behalf of the Canadian Network for NTDs team, I wish you and your family a safe, restful and healthy holiday season, and a very happy New Year!

Alison Krentel, PhD
Chair of the Canadian Network for NTDs
.........................

Chers amis, membres et coll猫gues,

2024 a 茅t茅 une ann茅e bien remplie pour le R茅seau canadien pour les MTN! Pour savoir ce que nous avons fait, veuillez regarder notre . Alors que nous r茅fl茅chissons 脿 cette ann茅e, nous restons reconnaissants de l'int茅r锚t et de l'engagement constants de nos membres pour faire progresser la pr茅vention et le traitement des MTN au Canada et dans le monde. Nous sommes reconnaissants 脿 tous les membres de notre comit茅 directeur qui se r茅unissent r茅guli猫rement pour guider notre orientation et nous remercions Uniting to Combat NTDs pour son soutien continu.

脌 l'horizon 2025, nous comptons sur votre engagement et votre enthousiasme continus pour rejoindre le Canada et accueillir les autres pays du G7 et les pays observateurs afin qu'ils s'unissent pour relever les d茅fis cruciaux qui affectent le monde d'aujourd'hui. Tout au long de l'ann茅e prochaine, nous travaillerons en partenariat pour plaider en faveur d'engagements, de contributions et de collaborations durables en faveur des maladies tropicales n茅glig茅es, en veillant 脿 ce qu'elles restent fortes et unifi茅es au sein du Canada et dans l'ensemble du G7. Nous continuerons 脿 engager nos dirigeants, ici au Canada, dans un dialogue constructif sur le financement des strat茅gies d'茅limination des MTN, la mesure de l'impact et la c茅l茅bration des r茅sultats des investissements dans les MTN. 脌 une 茅poque o霉 tant de choses changent, nous devons maintenir le cap et veiller 脿 atteindre les objectifs de la feuille de route de l'OMS pour les MTN afin d'am茅liorer la sant茅 et le bien-锚tre de millions de personnes dans le monde.

En janvier, surveillez les mises 脿 jour du R茅seau canadien pour en savoir plus sur la fa莽on dont vous pouvez faire progresser la pr茅vention et le traitement des MTN en 2025. Au nom de l'茅quipe du R茅seau canadien pour les MTN, je vous souhaite, 脿 vous et 脿 votre famille, des f锚tes de fin d'ann茅e sereines, reposantes et saines, ainsi qu'une tr猫s bonne ann茅e!

Alison Krentel, PhD
Pr茅sidente du R茅seau canadien pour les MTN --> Sustaining Momentum: Canadian Partnerships for Global NTD Integration Webinar Recording / Maintenir le Momentum: Enregistrement du webinaire sur les partenariats canadiens pour l'int茅gration des MTN 脿 l'茅chelle mondiale In case you missed it, of our all-members webinar earlier this month on Canadian Partnerships for Global NTD Integration.  ........... Au cas o霉 vous l'auriez manqu茅, de notre webinaire destin茅 脿 tous les membres, qui s'est tenu au d茅but du mois sur le th猫me des partenariats canadiens pour l'int茅gration des MTN 脿 l'茅chelle mondiale. --> African and European research partnership on infectious diseases Call for Proposals / Partenariat de recherche africain et europ茅en sur les maladies infectieuses Appel 脿 propositions

The Global Health EDCTP3 Work Programme 2025 has been published, and includes new calls for proposals on research and innovations for NTDs among other infectious diseases. To learn more and to apply, please visit this link: 

......

Le programme de travail EDCTP3 2025 pour la sant茅 mondiale a 茅t茅 publi茅 et comprend de nouveaux appels 脿 propositions sur la recherche et les innovations pour les MTN et d'autres maladies infectieuses. Pour en savoir plus et poser votre candidature, veuillez consulter ce lien: 

Copyright 漏 2024 Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, All rights reserved.


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96 缅北强奸 Perspectives on Global Health: November-December Issue Dec 19, 2024  
NEWSLETTER Welcome to Our November-December Newsletter!

In honor of World AIDS Day (Dec 1), this edition focuses on critical issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

Highlights of this Issue:

• Article from a medical student in Gaza
• Organizations Working on HIV/AIDS
• Academic Research on HIV/AIDS
• A call on submissions

Thank you for being part of our community. Enjoy the read!

-->  Selected Articles from this Month  "Despite everything, I have not given up and I will never give up. There is a dream waiting for me; there are people who need help; there are lives that need to be saved. I am walking towards my dream, while trying to do good everywhere."
- Author: Nermeen Ziyad, a third year medical student currently located in Khan Yunis, Gaza. -->  鈥淭his experience dispelled any assumptions I鈥檇 held about what 鈥榞ood surgery鈥� required 鈥撯�� it wasn鈥檛 about having fancy technology and resources, but about skilled hands, teamwork, and humanity in the most challenging circumstances.鈥�
 - Author: Kacylia Roy Proulx, a third-year medical student at 缅北强奸 and a Global Health Programs Travel Award Recipient. --> 鈥淪imply put, abortion bans are bans on healthcare. It is not a procedure that should be politicized, criminalized, or demonized.鈥�
 - Author: Liliana Sisto, a Bachelor of Science in Ecological Determinants of Health at 缅北强奸. --> "Reflecting on my year in the Global Health program at McMaster University, I grapple with how the field of academic global health often undermines its goals of equity and justice by prioritizing the interests of global North institutions over the needs of the global South communities it seeks to serve."
 - Author: Jordyn Burnett, a Global Health master鈥檚 student. -->  Mission in Motion
  Get ready to be inspired! In this dynamic section, we spotlight global health organizations that are making waves and driving real change around the world. Each month, we showcase their innovative strategies and impactful initiatives as they tackle pressing health challenges and champion equity. 

We shine a spotlight on organizations spreading awareness about the status of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and encourage progress in prevention, treatment and care around the world.  Let鈥檚 celebrate their dedication and commitment as we highlight their vital contributions to research, advocacy, and awareness. --> https://arasa.info/ : Operating in southern Africa, ARASA mobilizes civil society to promote a human rights-based response to HIV, ensuring that affected individuals receive equitable treatment and support. --> Image: https://allianceindia.org/ : India HIV/AIDS Alliance works with grassroots groups across the country to support marginalized populations, including sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people. Their focus is on HIV prevention, treatment, and human rights advocacy. -->  In the News
  Stay up to date with news and opinions on Global Health Image: https://x.com/OGreat6/status/1863124702748631495 Check out this to understand popular HIV myths and fact! Here is one:

• Myth #1: HIV is the same as AIDS.
• Fact #1: HIV is not the same with AIDs, but the virus that can lead to AIDS Not everyone with HIV will develop AIDS; with proper treatment, many people live long, healthy lives.

--> Image: https://www.aidshealth.org/ "This World AIDS Day, we call on countries to . Marginalization, criminalization and discrimination against key populations has fuelled HIV transmission and cost lives. By protecting everyone鈥檚 right to health, we can prevent new infections and achieve an AIDS-free generation." - Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -->  New in Global Health Academic Literature
 
By: Olatosi B, Patel RC, Li X. Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/hqLsYJ1MSizPDe537 This explores the compounded challenges of managing HIV in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how the global health response to COVID-19 disrupted HIV prevention, treatment, and care services, particularly in low-resource settings. The authors highlight lessons learned from these intersecting health crises and propose actionable strategies to strengthen the resilience of HIV programs amidst future pandemics. -->
By: Tan BXH, Chong SY, Ho DWS, Wee YX, Jamal MH, Tan RKJ. et al Image: https://images.app.goo.gl/NQ5Aai8wDuXsriz66 This  discusses the importance of involving citizens in HIV implementation science to enhance the effectiveness of interventions. The authors argue that citizen engagement can improve the design, delivery, and evaluation of HIV programs by ensuring they are more community-centered and responsive to local needs. The study calls for a shift towards more inclusive, participatory research approaches to strengthen HIV care and prevention efforts.   --> Opportunities in Global Health
  PEGASUS Institute is a registered charity that works on Peace, Global Health, And Sustainability. PEGASUS is an acronym built from the first letters of our main themes:  PEace, Global health and SUStainability. Formed as a successor to the PEGASUS conference held in 2020, Emerging Leaders Network as part of the PEGASUS Institute intends to provide a platform to the next generation of leaders in the field of Peace, Global Health and Sustainability. 

Come be a part of this amazing network of people, and increase your visibility as well as get the platform to cultivate ideas and work on projects.  -->  Share your Perspective on Global Health
  We are excited to announce a Call for Papers in the following areas! 

• Indigenous Health
• Mental Health
• Refugee Health
• Immigrant Health
• Climate Change 

缅北强奸 Global Health Perspectives welcomes contributions relevant to global health. Contributions to Global Health Perspectives should pertain to its mission and can include perspectives from your latest research, research experience, key issues in health policy governance, equity related challenges and strengths in global health to name a few. We want to represent a wide range of voices representing global health research, commentaries and opinions on current global health challenges and ideas on future direction of global health. Click  for submission guidelines.

You can submit your article, photo essay or article pitch to us by emailing us at: globalhealthblog@mcgill.ca. --> Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest information and experiences in global health! Follow us on social media  --> Copyright 漏 2017 缅北强奸 Global Health Programs, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
globalhealthblog@mcgill.ca


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96 Global Health NOW: Measles鈥� Enduring Grip in the DRC; Persistent Threats to Pakistan鈥檚 Vaccination Efforts; and a We Are What Diverts Us DRC parents find themselves powerless to protect their children from measles. December 19, 2024 Measles鈥� Enduring Grip in the DRC 
In the DRC, many parents worry about their children contracting measles鈥攂ut find themselves powerless to protect them, with vaccines and treatment options all too often out of reach. 

Relentless threat: 311,000+ cases and 6,000 deaths were reported in the DRC last year. This year, ~97,000 cases have been logged; but the disease has become more lethal, killing 2,100+. 

• For ~4.5 million malnourished Congolese children, measles can be even more dangerous.

And vaccine coverage is low: Only 52% of children in the DRC are vaccinated, with as little as 13% coverage in some remote regions. 

Key obstacles: Logistics and infrastructure. Vaccines are difficult to distribute in the DRC due to the country鈥檚 vast size, poor roads, and unreliable refrigeration. 

Future solutions: Rapid diagnostic tests and vaccine patches may improve prevention efforts in the future.

Bigger picture: Measles cases globally rose by 20% in 2023, reaching 10.3 million cases and 107,000+ deaths, according to .

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE See You Next Year! 
This is the last GHN of 2024.

Thanks to all our readers who support our work in so many ways鈥攆rom opening the newsletter each morning to reading our exclusive reporting, sending tips and feedback, and contributing to our crowdfunding campaign. We appreciate you! 

We鈥檒l be back on Monday, January 6, with more news! 鈥� Annalies The Latest One-Liners
A viral illness dubbed "Dinga Dinga" is affecting women and girls in Uganda's Bundibugyo district; there have been reports of ~300 cases of the mysterious illness, which causes shaking, fever, and weakness. 

Microplastics in the air could be linked to colon and lung cancer, and may be contributing to infertility, finds a of published research in Environmental Science & Technology.

U.S. life expectancy has risen closer to pre-pandemic levels as deaths from COVID-19 and drug overdoses decline, per new from the CDC; life expectancy increased ~1 year to 78.4 years in 2023.

A state of emergency for bird flu has been by California Governor Gavin Newsom, as 300+ herds in the state have tested positive for the virus in the last 30 days alone; meanwhile, the first severe case of human bird flu has been reported in Louisiana. GHN鈥檚 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS A man takes rest from selling water bottles on a hot afternoon near India Gate in Delhi. Cheena Kapoor Jackie's Picks
I鈥檓 a contributing editor with GHN, reviewing stories and summaries in the morning production process to include in the newsletter. I wrote some of the very first summaries for GHN way back in 2014. What a difference ten years鈥攁nd 50,000+ subscribers鈥攎akes! 鈥�Jackie Powder, contributing editor
Best GHN Exclusive India roasted in spring and summer as record-breaking temperatures soared to 126掳F, forcing impoverished residents into heat poverty. Independent journalist Cheena Kapoor describes a Delhi family of five who took on debt to buy an air conditioner so the children wouldn鈥檛 miss school because of heat-related sicknesses. Meanwhile, outside, air conditioners expelled hot air, exacerbating the 鈥渦rban heat island鈥� effect in Delhi, which is dominated by concrete, steel, and asphalt. 
Best News Article ProPublica reporters Annie Waldman, Maya Miller, Duaa Eldeib, and Max Blau interviewed more than 500 therapists to explore an aspect of the U.S. mental health crisis: therapists opting out of health insurance networks in droves. The providers described insurers urging them to reduce treatment for high-risk鈥攁nd more costly鈥攑atients, and withholding reimbursements. The result is a severe shortage of therapists who accept insurance and a lack of access to care for people with mental illness鈥攅ven if they are insured. 
Best Commentary POLIO Persistent Threats to Pakistan鈥檚 Vaccination Efforts
The bombing attack in northwest Pakistan that killed three police officers assigned to protect polio vaccine workers was just the latest in a long history of violence seeking to undermine the country鈥檚 vaccination efforts, . 

• The bombing came a day after gunmen opened fire on police escorting polio workers in the city of Karak, killing one police officer and injuring a health worker.

The violence has escalated as Pakistan launches its final nationwide polio vaccination campaign for 2024 in an effort to reach ~45 million children. 

Adding to obstacles: Health officials have postponed the vaccination drive in the country鈥檚 southwest Balochistan province after health workers there boycotted participation to oppose hospital privatization, .

Ongoing hostility: 200+ polio workers and police assigned to protect them have been killed since the 1990s, as militants claim the campaigns are a Western conspiracy.

• Other subversion tactics include falsifying vaccination records, explained WHO epidemiologist Zubair Mufti Wadood in a . 

Bigger picture: Pakistan has reported 63 polio cases this year. It and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio has not been eradicated. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HEALTH SYSTEMS Sierra Leone鈥檚 Surgical Advance  
People who need surgery in Sierra Leone, which has one of the world鈥檚 least developed health care systems, often must seek treatment abroad, with NGOs helping to cover costs.
 
But now, a new state-of-the art hospital has opened in Freetown, with support from Japan, offering surgical procedures and specialty care.

• The hospital is also training local medical personnel. 鈥淓very operation that takes place is another chance to train and maintain surgical knowledge within Sierra Leone,鈥� writes Jody Ray.

An ongoing challenge: The country still has only one pediatric surgeon and fewer than 10 anesthesiologists鈥攆or a population of 8.6 million. 
 
ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Norbert, the beloved cat of GHN staffer Morgan Coulson, representing his species well.  Driven to Distraction 
Some say you are what you eat, but at GHN, we are what diverts us.
 
Weekly diversions are perhaps the clearest lens onto what makes us click, other than global health news. And after an audit of the year, it鈥檚 clear: We can鈥檛 resist an animal story.
 
So much so that at one point, it was suggested that we鈥攇asp!鈥攑ut a moratorium on cat content. Norbert (pictured) has thoughts. Readers: What do you all think?
 
Our animal instinct led us to:

• A prize-winning bear 鈥溾�濃�攁nd also robbing cars.

• This champion poodle styled as a came to much acclaim (鈥減erfection!鈥�)鈥攁nd this dog that had his record-breaking age (We blame the owners.)

• Moo Deng (duh) and the nemesis that came for her crown.

• Our favorite cat-egory: Felines. We learned about the , were horrified by , and had FOMO on a parade that tore through Minneapolis .

QUICK HITS Europe says flu, RSV on the rise and affecting health systems 鈥�

Syphilis microbe circulated in the Americas thousands of years before European contact 鈥�

Unified approach could improve nature, climate and health all at once 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner!

Cheap, smart and efficient: how giant rats are transforming the fight against TB 鈥� Issue No. 2833
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:

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  Copyright 2024 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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Governor General recognizes 缅北强奸 community members for exceptional accomplishments and service

Fourteen members of the 缅北强奸 community have been appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 highest civilian honours.聽聽

Among the honourees are the University鈥檚 Chancellor and three professors:聽

Academic and industry scientists collaborate on a new method to characterize research antibodies

96 Global Health NOW: 鈥楳ystery Disease鈥� Solved鈥擝ut More Help Needed; Optum Takes Aim at ABA; and Dearth of Care for Gazans with Disabilities December 18, 2024 A mother holds her child while sitting on a bed at the Tudikolela hospital, on the outskirts of Mbuji-Mayi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 1, 2021. Arsene Mpiana/AFP via Getty 鈥楳ystery Disease鈥� Solved鈥擝ut More Help Needed 
An alarming illness circulating in a remote area of the DRC has been confirmed to be an acute form of malaria, exacerbated by malnutrition, .

• ~600 people have been sickened in the outbreak, and 143 have died鈥攎ostly children under 5. 

Background: The outbreak, which began in late October in the remote Panzi health zone of Kwango province, sparked widespread concern because of the illness鈥檚 flu-like symptoms.

• Difficult terrain and communication problems further hampered efforts to manage the outbreak.

The impact of malnutrition: ~40% of the population in the region is malnourished, 鈥攚hich health officials say contributed to the 6.2% case fatality rate.

What鈥檚 next: WHO-provided antimalarial drugs and health kits are being distributed throughout the region. New malaria vaccines have been rolled out in some African countries, but they have not reached the Panzi region, . 

Big picture: Malaria still kills ~600,000 people a year globally鈥攁nd 12% of those deaths occur in the DRC, where it is a leading cause of death. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE Small Contributions Make a Big Difference    While big-ticket donations are always welcome, it is our readers鈥� strength in numbers that has gotten us where we are today. Thank you to all of you who have donated so far! 

Your donations have powered GHN鈥檚 Local Reporting Initiative. Knowing that stories are better told by people who know their communities, we鈥檝e published dozens of articles by journalists around the world who鈥檝e illuminated topics including tiger attacks in the Sundarbans, barriers to health care for Amsterdam鈥檚 sex workers, and climate change鈥檚 threat to Pakistan鈥檚 transgender community.  

We鈥檙e excited to bring you more unique global health stories like these鈥攂ut we need your help to do it. . 

Thank you for joining us! 鈥�Morgan The Latest One-Liners   The notorious 2020 paper that popularized hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment due to ethical concerns and methodological problems; the move follows years of campaigning by scientists who said the study contained major flaws.

As U.S. pertussis cases surge 6X from last year, public knowledge of the contagious disease remains low, finds a new from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to increased risks of hospitalization for mental health conditions as well as physical ailments, per from the University of St Andrews published in BMJ Open.

Most U.S. teens are not drinking, smoking tobacco, or using marijuana, per the annual Monitoring the Future of 24,000 students released yesterday; it is the largest proportion abstaining from those substances since the survey started in 2017. GHN鈥檚 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS Eliud Wekesa speaks to visitors at his home and church compound in Tongaren, Bungoma County, Kenya, on February 29. Dominic Kirui Annalies鈥� Picks
Since starting as a freelancer in 2017 to becoming GHN鈥檚 associate editor鈥攚ith two children in between鈥攖ime with GHN has flown by. I鈥檓 up at dawn most Thursdays serving as GHN鈥檚 lead editor鈥攁 gigantic mug of English breakfast tea in one hand, the other scrolling for the top global health stories so our readers don鈥檛 have to. When I鈥檓 not doing that, I am researching GHN stories on everything from to . And most weeks, I get to cross over to the light side, bringing you our weekly diversions and, hopefully, a smile! 鈥�Annalies Winny, GHN associate editor
Best GHN Exclusive Eliud Wekesa is just one of many religious and cult leaders across Kenya blamed for encouraging followers to shun medicine, undermining health efforts. Journalist Dominic Kirui shows how health officials are involving religious leaders in government health strategies to help dispel these messages. Wekesa has publicly modeled acceptance of medical care, participating in a mass drug administration campaign to combat bilharzia and intestinal parasitic worms.
Best News Article Reporters Nick Thieme, Alissa Zhu, and Jessica Gallagher unveiled a tragic trend among Black men born from 1951 to 1970: The group makes up 7% of Baltimore鈥檚 population, but accounts for ~30% of drug fatalities. It鈥檚 a generation whose lives have been 鈥渟haped by forces that have animated the city鈥檚 drug crisis for decades.鈥�
Best Commentary HEALTH SYSTEMS Optum Takes Aim at ABA
Leaked internal documents reveal that Optum, a UnitedHealth subsidiary, is aggressively targeting applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy鈥攚hich the company acknowledges is the 鈥渆vidence-based gold standard treatment for those with medically necessary needs鈥濃�攖o cut costs.

• Optum is scrutinizing providers who exceed certain cost thresholds, questioning the necessity of treatments, and denying coverage even for medically recommended ABA.

The approach violates autism treatment guidelines and the federal mental health parity law, which mandates equal access to mental health and physical care, autism advocates told ProPublica. 

• Inadequate early intervention may result in more severe challenges and long-term harm for children with autism, ultimately costing insurers more. 

Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe! CONFLICT Dearth of Care for Gazans with Disabilities
Thousands of people in Gaza are facing devastating disabilities, with few resources or care to navigate their new reality.

• 106,000+ people have been injured since the war began, and ~25% of those injured require long-term rehabilitation, per the WHO.

But rehabilitation services are scarce. Gaza鈥檚 fragile health system is overwhelmed, and shortages of wheelchairs, prostheses, and essential medications make even basic rehabilitation nearly impossible. 

Psychological scars: Those injured are also coping with trauma, an inability to work, and societal rejection.

DROWNING Who is Most at Risk? 
The global drowning death rate has dropped 38% since 2000鈥斺�渁 significant health achievement,鈥� per the on drowning prevention.

• 300,000+ people drowned in 2021, and 7.2 million+ may die due to drowning by 2050.


• People under age 29 account for nearly half of all drowning deaths; a quarter involve children under 5鈥攁nd 9 in 10 drowning deaths take place in LMICs.

Recommendations: Installing barriers, teaching water safety and rescue skills, and improving regulations around boating and flood risks. 
 


Related: How to prevent drowning: a ground-breaking report that's startling yet hopeful 鈥� QUICK HITS 鈥業 want help鈥�: Behind bars, pleas for addiction medications often go nowhere 鈥�

Tracing fentanyl鈥檚 path into the US starts at this port. It doesn鈥檛 end there. 鈥�

Cheap, smart and efficient: how giant rats are transforming the fight against TB 鈥�

Health workers think COVID, flu vaccines safe and effective, but many remain hesitant, global survey shows 鈥�

'Cancer ghosting' can be more painful than treatment, survivors say 鈥�

Why cats are the new pigs 鈥� and could spark the next pandemic 鈥�

鈥楽illy and pompous鈥�: Official new names for viruses rile up researchers 鈥� Issue No. 2832
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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  Copyright 2024 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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Nearly one million Gazans risk spending winter without adequate shelter as UN agencies struggle to provide cold weather assistance, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment, repeated evacuation orders and restrictions on aid deliveries, they warned on Wednesday.

96 Global Health NOW: Silence Ends for Syrian Victims; Michelle Morse: Protecting 8 Million New Yorkers' Health; and Screening for Pakistan鈥檚 Miners December 17, 2024 A Syrian child receives first aid after a chlorine gas attack on the town Hamuriya, outside Damascus, Syria, March 7, 2018. Anas Alkharboutli/picture alliance via Getty For Syrian Chlorine Victims, the Silence Ends  
In 2018, the Syrian air force dropped two yellow cylinders on the town of Douma, releasing a deadly chlorine gas that suffocated at least 43 people to death, reports.
 
鈥� 鈥�Their bodies turned to black, their clothes went green and were burnt, they crumbled and stuck to their bodies,鈥� reports survivor Abdulhadi Sariel. 鈥淲e threw out all of our clothes but [you can still see the effect] on the curtains.

• Syrian police later warned survivors to tell international investigators that smoke and dust inhalation, not chemicals, caused the deaths.

鈥淏ut I always kept the curtains [as evidence] for this moment,鈥� Sariel says. And now, just over a week after the fall of Syria鈥檚 former government, Syrians are finally free to talk.
 
鈥楧ire Conditions鈥� for Syria鈥檚 Displaced: 100,000+ people have been displaced from northern Aleppo to areas in northeast Syria, a region already facing an 鈥渁cute and longstanding鈥� humanitarian crisis. Many face wintry conditions without shelter, water, and basic health care, . 
 
Related: Former Syrian prisoners detail horrific conditions 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   The vaccination gap is widening for children in England, per a that shows waning uptake of five key childhood vaccines among low-income children, leaving children in the poorest areas 20X more vulnerable to measles.
 
More than one-third of the world鈥檚 countries fail to monitor air quality, per an Open AQ assessment that found significant gaps in government tracking and sharing of air quality data, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.

The Italian government decided to scrap fines for refusing compulsory COVID-19 vaccines, drawing criticism from the medical community and opposition parties that accused the government of 鈥渞ewarding lawbreakers鈥� and ignoring health system needs.
 
After the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in the U.S., the number of uninsured Latinos fell from 33% to 18%鈥攂ut more than half (55%) of Hispanic/Latino adults in the U.S. are inadequately insured, , compared with ~ 42% of the non-Hispanic/Latino population. GHN EXCLUSIVE Michelle Morse鈥檚 global health experience has strongly influenced her work as NYC鈥檚 acting health commissioner. Courtesy: New York City Health Dept. Michelle Morse: How to Protect the Health of 8 Million New Yorkers  
After arriving in Haiti in 2009 to work with Partners in Health, Michelle Morse went on home visits with community health workers (CHWs) as they distributed medications, food, and other essentials.

• 鈥淪eeing that model in action鈥攏ot waiting in our Ivory Tower for people to come in and see us, but actually bringing the lifesaving health interventions that people needed to where they were through community health workers鈥攚as a massive frame shift for me,鈥� says Morse, the acting health commissioner for New York City.

In NYC: When she joined the city鈥檚 health department in 2021 as its first chief medical officer, she began working with CHWs providing COVID-19 test kits, masks, treatment, and reliable information on vaccines. 鈥淚 still see community health workers as one of the most critical public health foundations,鈥� she says.
 
In an interview with GHN earlier this month in the department鈥檚 Long Island City office, Morse shared insights on:

• The city鈥檚 efforts to recover from the nearly five-year drop in life expectancy during COVID-19.

• The department鈥檚 work to reduce Black maternal mortality.

• Her preparations for changes coming from the new presidential administration.

• The data she looks at daily.

GHN鈥檚 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS Tablets of the antidepressant Prozac. Paul S. Howell/Liaison Agency Rin鈥檚 Picks
In my role, I read and break down key points of articles for story summaries. I鈥檓 fascinated by how things work鈥攚hether it鈥檚 a policy, a health care system, or the components of a vaccine. I have a special interest in women鈥檚 and reproductive health, and as the articles below show, I have a soft spot for stories that explain the 鈥渨hys鈥� behind health actions. 鈥�-Rin Swann
Best GHN Exclusive  Have you ever wondered why prescription drugs have baffling names? In this story, GHN's associate editor Annalies Winny explains why brand-name drugs need to meet strict naming requirements for patient safety.
Best News Article Despite multiple lawsuits and protests from therapists, the biggest insurance conglomerate in the U.S., UnitedHealth Group, has utilized algorithms to identify and revoke coverage to increase profits. Those most at risk include patients seeking mental health resources, Annie Waldman鈥檚 investigation reveals.
Best Commentary  TUBERCULOSIS Seeking Screening for Pakistan鈥檚 Miners
Pakistan already has a high tuberculosis burden, but the disease is especially prevalent among the ~100,000 miners who labor in the country's coal pits.

• Prevalence of tuberculosis is 10.3% higher among miners than the general population.

High risks: Damage the coal dust inflicts on their lungs makes them more vulnerable to TB bacteria鈥攚hich spread more easily in the miners鈥� overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions. 

Adding to the strain: Miners have limited access to health care, so often TB isn鈥檛 detected until the disease has progressed. 

Improving awareness: New battery-powered, AI-driven x-ray technology is being used to improve TB diagnosis in remote mining areas, allowing miners to seek treatment earlier than what has been typical. 

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES QUICK HITS

Positive avian flu bulk-tank tests prompt another raw-milk recall in California 鈥�

Trump says there are 'problems' with vaccines, rejects mandates 鈥�

Trump's pick for health secretary, RFK Jr, supports polio vaccination, US senator says 鈥�

Missing and dismissing the impact of periods: Outcomes of focus groups of teens with period concerns 鈥�

Doctors seethe over insurance companies' 鈥榦ut of control鈥� tactics 鈥�

Should pharmacists be moral gatekeepers? 鈥�

A strange alliance: Oxygen companies and their Medicare patients want Congress to pay the companies more 鈥�

New insights into the vast diversity of nature's most abundant viruses 鈥�

Issue No. 2831
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, Aliza Rosen, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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Avian influenza has caused the deaths of more than 300 million birds worldwide and the virus 鈥渋s increasingly crossing species barriers鈥�, according to UN health officers.

缅北强奸-led projects in genomics, imaging, and manufacturing serve businesses across Quebec聽

96 Global Health NOW: Does the Polio Vaccine Face Political Peril?; Mysteries at the Mpox Epicenter; and Portugal鈥檚 Practical Health Priorities December 16, 2024 Polio survivor Larry Montoya at the airport for the arrival of vaccines distributed as part of the KO Polio campaign. September 5, 1962. John McBride/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Does the Polio Vaccine Face Political Peril?
Public health experts are increasingly worried about the threat to vaccination programs under a second Trump administration, as Department of Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. surrounds himself with anti-vaccine advocates鈥攊ncluding one who has fought the polio vaccine, . 

To help vet candidates for key jobs in the department, Kennedy has turned to attorney Aaron Siri鈥攚ho petitioned the FDA in 2022 to revoke approval of the polio vaccine, .

• Siri, known for challenging COVID vaccine mandates and questioning vaccine safety, works with the Informed Consent Action Network, a group critical of vaccines.

A preview? Public health experts fear that this alignment could be a signal of broader anti-vaccine efforts down the line, .

• 鈥淭here is much more behind this than just rhetoric,鈥� said Michael Osterholm, director of CIDRAP. 

McConnell鈥檚 warning: U.S. Senate minority leader and polio survivor Mitch McConnell condemned any attempts to undermine the polio vaccine as 鈥渄angerous鈥濃�攁nd warned that anyone seeking Senate confirmation 鈥渨ould do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts,鈥� . GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   An attack on a hospital in the Sudanese town of Al Fasher on Friday killed nine people and wounded 20, according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who called attacks on health care across Sudan 鈥渄eplorable.鈥�

A parvovirus B19 outbreak is spreading in Japan, bringing heightened risk to pregnant women, who face increased risk of miscarriage or complications in newborns from the respiratory disease.

RSV vaccine trials for children have been halted after two experimental RSV vaccines for babies failed to protect them鈥攁nd actually made some of the babies sicker, per researchers鈥� findings.

Expanding Canada鈥檚 needle exchange programs to cover 50% of people who inject drugs in the country鈥檚 prisons would prevent 15% of new hepatitis C cases and 8% of injection-related infections, per in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. GHN鈥檚 BEST of 2024: STAFF PICKS View of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Blessed Sheriff Dayna鈥檚 Picks 
As GHN鈥檚 resident morning lark, my main responsibilities include curating the news, planning production and matching assignments to writers, and editing exclusives. My favorite part of the job is getting to know our writers and readers and seeing how engaged and passionate they are about various global health priorities, which helps shape our coverage鈥攖hough there is never enough space to highlight everything that deserves a spotlight. 鈥�Dayna Kerecman Myers, GHN Managing Editor
Best Exclusive Sierra Leone鈥檚 only psychiatric hospital has just 10 psychiatrists tasked with the daunting challenge of providing mental health care for a country of 8 million people. Blessed Sheriff, a Johns Hopkins-Pulitzer Global Health Reporting Fellow, traveled to Freetown to report on efforts to transform mental health care in the country, interviewing the first class of psychiatry residents trained there and learning how they are helping to melt societal stigma and change the narrative around mental health.
Best News Article Dakar-based reporter Elian Peltier exposed how Kremlin-paid African influencers, news outlets, and Russian state-controlled media amplify each other in efforts to undermine Western-funded health care programs in Africa, spreading disinformation about scientists fighting malaria and other infectious diseases on the continent. It鈥檚 a chilling example of how pro-Russian propaganda capitalizes on weakened trust in the West while silencing independent journalists. 鈥� The New York Times (gift article)
  Best Commentary GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MPOX Mysteries at the Epicenter
It has been 15 months since a new strain of mpox surfaced in the mining town of Kamituga in Eastern DRC. 

While the response now includes intensive interventions including vaccines, much remains unknown about the strain, clade Ib, and its origin, reports Stephanie Nolen in a deep dive from Kamituga.

Unanswered questions include:

• How is clade Ib transmitted? Is it truly sexually transmissible, or can it spread through close physical contact?


• Why are children disproportionately affected? Is it because the virus has already infected so many adults, or because children are so malnourished鈥攐r another reason? 


• And how did the virus come to Kamituga? Has a precursor been circulating in animals for years?  

HEALTH SYSTEMS Portugal鈥檚 Practical Health Priorities 
Portugal has a life expectancy nearly four years longer than the U.S.鈥攄espite spending just 20% of what the U.S. spends on health care per person. And the small country ranks third of 195 countries for access to affordable health care鈥攚hile the U.S. ranks 183rd.

The focus of its national health system? Not cutting-edge technology or expensive medical facilities but rather 鈥渙ld fashioned primary care and public health.鈥� 

Some key features:

• Free or low-cost health care for every resident 


• A network of 鈥渇amily health units,鈥� or clinics embedded in neighborhoods


• Robust electronic health records that allow doctors to track individual and population health in real time.

QUICK HITS This drug is the 'breakthrough of the year' 鈥� and it could mean the end of the HIV epidemic 鈥�

Texas鈥� abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine 鈥�

Outgoing CDC director girds against an overhaul, and tries to calm staff nerves 鈥�

Fired Baltimore health commissioner speaks out 鈥�

Will the FDA finally ban Red No. 3? A decision could come soon 鈥�

Egypt鈥檚 Hepatitis Programme Becomes a Model for African Countries 鈥�

Migrant children struggle to express themselves in words. Enter art and play. 鈥� Issue No. 2830
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, Aliza Rosen, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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96 Global Health NOW: Living Longer, but Not Healthier; Afghanistan to Ban Women From Nursing, Midwifery; and Decrypt the Halls The gap between lifespan and healthspan has widened across the globe December 12, 2024 Joynal, 70, sits outside a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, while taking in oxygen for the breathing difficulties, on January 31. Syed Mahamudur Rahman/NurPhoto via Getty Living Longer, but Not Healthier 
Lifespans are increasing worldwide, but those extra years are not necessarily healthier, finds a large new study published in .

The health span-lifespan gap鈥攖he difference between how long people live and how long they live in good health鈥攈as widened over the past two decades among 183 WHO member states, . 

• On average, people live 9.6 fewer healthy years than their total lifespan, with a larger gap for women. In the U.S., the gap is 12+ years. 

• The health span deficit is linked to the cumulative effects of aging itself, researchers say鈥攂ut also the uptick in chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, and mental health issues. 

A tale of two countries: Meanwhile, a new from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative finds that the U.S. trails England and Wales in life expectancy by 2.7 years鈥攁nd that four preventable causes of death drive the disparity: cardiovascular disease, overdoses, motor vehicle crashes, and gun violence, .  EDITOR'S NOTE Would You Give Up One Coffee for GHN?   
We hear all the time from readers who say they love reading GHN with their morning coffee.
 
Today, we present a challenge: ? Whether it鈥檚 an at-home filter coffee, a classic cuppa, a pricey pumpkin spice caramel latte ... we鈥檒l take it! 

And here鈥檚 your sweetener: Donations of any amount will help us unlock a special $2,000 challenge gift from longtime GHN supporter Ana Rita Gonzalez.  
 
So far, 72 readers have contributed. 28 more are needed to unlock the gift. Any amount is welcome!

Your contributions remind us of the global mission at the heart of our work, and our responsibility to use your donations wisely鈥攖o strengthen GHN and expand our global coverage. 鈥擜苍苍补濒颈别蝉 GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Colorectal cancer is on the rise among people under 50 worldwide, published in the Lancet Oncology finds, with the greatest annual increases being seen in New Zealand, Chile, Puerto Rico, and England.

Health investigators in California have sent samples to the CDC to try to determine whether a toddler who鈥檇 consumed raw milk was infected with H5N1, but much about the case remains unclear.

Gender-affirming care in Montana will remain legal for minors after the state鈥檚 supreme court upheld a lower court ruling that blocked a new law banning care.

17 children in Mexico have died from bacterial infections related to contaminated IV feeding bags; 16 of the children were infants, and one was 14 years old. GHN'S BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS Zhou Pengcheng provides music therapy for a child with autism in Tianjin, north China, March 23, 2021. Zhao Zishuo/Xinhua via Getty Melissa鈥檚 Picks
As a morning editor on GHN, I review our summaries and analyses, trying to correct any ambiguities, errors, or typos before they land in your inbox. It鈥檚 intense work鈥攔acing against the clock while our small team smooths out the day鈥檚 edition鈥攂ut energizing, too. And, like our readers, I reap the benefit of GHN鈥檚 content as I start my workday, which for me includes editing and writing for our School鈥檚 magazine and website. 鈥擬elissa Hartman, GHN contributing editor
  Best GHN Exclusive Researchers were stunned by the results of a survey they conducted to learn about suicidal thoughts among young people with autism: Of nearly 400 autistic children who reported wanting to die over their lifetime, 35% experienced onset at 8 years old or younger. GHN鈥檚 Kate Harrison Belz spoke to the study鈥檚 lead author about the findings and what caregivers can do to help children at risk.   Best News Article Native Americans have the highest rate of death from liver disease in the U.S.鈥攂ut are less likely than other racial groups to secure a spot on the national liver transplant list. Journalist Annie Gilbertson and data scientist Ben Tanen shed light on causes that range from scarce IHS funding to federal agencies鈥� delays in collecting data on who receives transplants.    Best Commentary GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES HUMAN RIGHTS Afghanistan to Ban Women From Nursing, Midwifery
The Taliban is poised to ban women from training as nurses and midwives in a move that 鈥渨ill have a devastating long-term impact on the lives of millions of Afghans, especially women and girls,鈥� said Afghan activist Samira Hamidi. 

• The order was announced at a meeting of the Taliban public health ministry on Monday and relayed to training institutes soon after.

Maternal mortality was already high in Afghanistan even before the Taliban seized control鈥攚ith 620 women dying for every 100,000 live births in 2020, .

• Afghanistan needs an additional 18,000 skilled midwives for Afghan women to get adequate care, . 

ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Decrypt the Halls 
Forget The Nutcracker. In the U.K., 鈥檛is the season for code crackers. 

Each year, Britain鈥檚 cyber-intelligence agency gift wraps 鈥渁 riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a mystery鈥� for the nation鈥檚 puzzle-hungry public, . 

Hark! The Herald Agents Sing: The annual Christmas Challenge was introduced by the 鈥渋n-house puzzlers鈥� at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in 2015 and has since become a beloved, brain-boggling tradition.

O Come, All Ye Playful: The festive quest is designed for young people ages 11鈥�18, with the subversive hope they will discover a passion for puzzles鈥攁nd potentially 鈥渃onsider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer,鈥� said GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler. 

• A third of British secondary schools had downloaded the puzzle the morning of its release, . 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Cryptograph: , released yesterday, spotlights historical GCHQ bases in the U.K. and is designed 鈥渢o test a range of problem-solving skills and to encourage the use of teamwork.鈥� QUICK HITS Trial stops enrollment after Tpoxx fails to speed clade 2 mpox healing or pain relief 鈥�

Data shows global conflict surged in 2024 鈥�

An opioid settlement ruling could have far-reaching implications for other lawsuits 鈥�

Poliovirus keeps popping up in European wastewater, perplexing and worrying scientists 鈥� Issue No. 2829
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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Coinciding with Universal Health Coverage Day on Thursday the World Health Organization (WHO) released its 2024 Global Health Expenditure Report, revealing troubling declines in government health spending.

96 Global Health NOW: Fighting Cholera Shame to Save Lives in Zambia; New Threats Hamper Game-Changing Malaria Gains; and Fieldwork and the Family December 11, 2024 Mary Kapaipi鈥檚 husband concealed his symptoms before dying the next day. Lusaka, Zambia, November 6. Freddie Clayton Fighting Cholera Shame to Save Lives in Zambia
LUSAKA鈥擬ary Kapaipi suspected that her husband might be suffering from cholera last January, amid a deadly outbreak in their neighborhood outside Zambia鈥檚 capital. But he insisted it was just a sore throat. By the time his symptoms worsened and she sent for help, it was too late to save his life.
 
Kapaipi later discovered signs of his illness鈥攕oiled underwear and patches of white vomit鈥攈idden around their house. If he hadn鈥檛 concealed his symptoms, he might have lived, she says.

This pattern of secrecy and shame is common among cholera patients, Kennedy Phiri and Freddie Clayton learned while reporting for this exclusive series that spotlights not only the need to improve water and sanitation infrastructure in the area, but the equally urgent need to address the stigma surrounding the disease.
 
Read their story to learn who is most affected by stigma and why鈥攁nd why some community members feel better prepared to face another potential outbreak as this year鈥檚 rainy season gets underway (hint: they are not relying on government interventions).


 
Ed. Note: This article is the second in a two-part series; read Part I,. The series is part of , made possible through the generous support of loyal GHN readers. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   Dengue fever cases have tripled to a record high in Central and South America this year, with 12.6 million+ cases and 7,700 deaths; Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico were hit especially hard.

Women in Iran could face execution, long jail times, or flogging for defying new morality laws effective this week that seek to penalize women for 鈥減romoting nudity, indecency, unveiling or improper dressing.鈥�

Human trafficking cases spiked 25% between 2019 and 2022, from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime; more children are being exploited, and forced labor cases have surged amidst conflict, poverty, and effects of the climate crisis.

Ultraprocessed foods account for more than half of calories consumed at home by U.S. adults, per a published in the Journal of Nutrition; the report highlights the 鈥減roliferation and ubiquity of ultraprocessed foods on grocery store shelves,鈥� said lead author Julia Wolfson. GHN鈥橲 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS A sex worker waits for clients behind her window in the red-light district of Amsterdam, on December 8, 2008. Anoek De Groot/AFP via Getty Morgan鈥檚 Picks
You might call me GHN鈥檚 鈥渏ack of all trades.鈥� I write summaries for our newsletter and articles for our website, create our social media content, build web pages, collect metrics鈥攜ou name it. I am lucky enough to get to work on a publication that includes news as diverse as my skill set, and, in the face of a very uncertain future, I鈥檓 glad I鈥檓 helping get the health news that matters out there, to those who need it. 鈥�Morgan Coulson, GHN Editorial Associate 
Best GHN Exclusive Amsterdam is famous for its red-light districts, but many of the city鈥檚 thousands of sex workers lack access to health care. In this exclusive, journalist Gabriela Galvin investigates the web of immigration and labor policies, logistical hurdles, and stigma that obstructs workers鈥� pathway to care.
Best News Article Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are making many foods鈥攊ncluding global staples like rice and wheat鈥攍ess nutritious by reducing protein, vitamins, and critical micronutrients like zinc and iron. Writer Kellie Schmitt shows how these eroding nutritional values threaten millions with hidden hunger.
  Best Commentary GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES MALARIA New Threats Hamper Game-Changing Gains
The global fight against malaria remains stalled as new threats emerge and under-resourced regions fall behind, per the new .

• Progress is being undermined by severe funding shortfalls, rising drug and insecticide resistance, and humanitarian disasters鈥攍eading to cases rising for the fifth consecutive year, .

The bad news: 597,000 malaria deaths were reported in 2023, and there were ~263 million malaria cases鈥�11 million more than in 2022.

• The overwhelming majority of fatalities occurred among children under age 5 in Africa, . Overall, ~95% of deaths occurred in the WHO African Region.


• 鈥淣o one should die of malaria; yet the disease continues to disproportionately harm people living in the African region, especially young children and pregnant women,鈥� said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The good news: 44 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free, and 鈥渕any more鈥� are nearing the goal.

• 17 countries have introduced malaria vaccines, and new-generation nets are more widely available. 

Meanwhile: Initial samples from a mystery outbreak in the DRC tested positive for malaria鈥攖hough more than one disease may be involved, . INFECTIOUS DISEASES Fieldwork and the Family
When epidemiologist Kristen Aiemjoy鈥檚 son came down with a strange illness that turned out to be scrub typhus, she identified it before doctors did.

How? Scrub typhus happens to be Aiemjoy鈥檚 research focus, and she recognized the scab where the infected insect had bitten her son.

• That scab, or eschar, appears on only 40%鈥�60% of those infected, so many are not diagnosed.

Her son鈥檚 blood tests revealed why early diagnosis is so difficult: Tests don鈥檛 detect antibodies until 9鈥�11 days after fever onset, according to Aiemjoy鈥檚 published in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 

Aiemjoy hopes her research will help to develop a low-cost test to improve early diagnosis and care. 

OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Africa: Decade-Long Study Reveals Key Drivers of Global Health Success 鈥�

Medical misogyny leaves women in pain for years, say MPs 鈥�

Genetic analysis finds H5N1 in California child most similar to cattle genotype 鈥�

The Ten Americas: How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy 鈥�

U.S. health panel draft recommendations would allow a self-testing option for cervical cancer 鈥�

Coronavirus FAQ: I didn't get the latest COVID vaccine. Should I? And if so ... when? 鈥�

A public health game plan grounded in the Golden Rule 鈥�

Tokyo government gives workers 4-day workweek to boost fertility, family time 鈥� Issue No. 2828
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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96 Reminder about our All Members Event | Rappel de notre 茅v茅nement pour tous les membres An update from CNNTD | Une mise 脿 jour du RCMTN December 10, 2024 / D茅cembre 10, 2024 Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Update /
Mise 脿 jour du R茅seau Canadien pour les
Maladies Tropicales N茅glig茅es --> Join us on Thursday, December 12 at 12:00pm EST This event is open to all friends and members of the Canadian Network for NTDs. Please find the , and the link to register here: .  
We look forward to seeing you there! ------ Rejoignez-nous le jeudi 12 诲茅肠别尘产谤别 脿 12h00 HNE Cet 茅v茅nement est ouvert 脿 tous les amis et membres du R茅seau canadien pour les MTN. Vous trouverez , et le lien pour s'inscrire ici:
Nous nous r茅jouissons de vous y voir! --> Copyright 漏 2024 Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, All rights reserved.


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96 Support GHN鈥檚 Second Decade Help us celebrate our 10th anniversary by supporting our future. December 10, 2024 Girls in India gather around an illuminated globe, hoping for a better world.
Pranab Basak, Courtesy of Photoshare Dear GHN Reader, 
Thank you for the many ways you support us every day鈥攊nspiring us, sharing stories and new perspectives, and spreading the word about GHN. 
  Over the last few years, many of you have also supported our mission in a new way鈥攂y making a gift. And this week, we鈥檙e asking you to consider .  
  Donations of any amount are welcome and will help us unlock a special $2,000 challenge gift from longtime GHN reader and supporter Ana Rita Gonzalez, ScD, CPA.
  You can also help us by advocating for the campaign:  

• within your social networks. 

• Inspire others with a or gift. 

If you value our newsletter and original reporting, we hope you鈥檒l consider . Your support makes a real difference and will help sustain our work into the future.  
With sincere thanks, 
Dayna Kerecman Myers  Managing Editor  Global Health NOW HELP US MEET THE CHALLENGE
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, Aliza Rosen, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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96 Global Health NOW: Shaken by Cholera Outbreak, Zambians Fear the Coming Rains; American 鈥楻age鈥� over Health Insurance; and 鈥淲itch Hunts鈥� in Kenya December 10, 2024 A makeshift latrine built from wood and rags in the Garden House Compound in Lusaka. November 6. Freddie Clayton Shaken by Cholera Outbreak, Zambians Fear the Coming Rains   LUSAKA鈥擜 visit to Garden House Compound, a sprawling maze of makeshift shelters on the outskirts of Zambia鈥檚 capital, reveals clues to for the cholera outbreak that killed at least 740 people earlier this year.

• Some 50,000 people live without clean water or toilets鈥攆orcing many to share makeshift latrines overflowing with human waste or defecate in the open.


• When the water levels rise, human feces pour into the neighborhood, contaminating the shallow wells people depend on for water.

And now, the rains are starting up again鈥攁nd residents like Natasha Bwalya, whose 15-year-old son died of cholera last January, fear that heavy rains will once again create conditions ripe for the spread of disease.
 
Lessons learned from the last cholera outbreak have led to some improvements by the government and NGOs鈥攂ut it鈥檚 hard to see that progress on the ground; massive water tanks haven鈥檛 been filled and few public toilets have been built. 

Meanwhile, many of the largest investments focus on cholera treatment and research, rather than prevention. In the first part of a 2-part series, Phiri and Clayton delve into the reasons why鈥攍anding on the key missing ingredient that could determine whether this year鈥檚 rainy season will bring another outbreak.
 

 
Ed. Note: This article is part of , made possible through the generous support of loyal GHN readers. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   The EPA banned two known carcinogens yesterday: trichloroethylene (TCE), used in degreasing agents, furniture care, and auto repair products, and tetrachloroethylene (PERC), used in dry cleaning and auto repair, following decades of advocacy.
 
Alcohol-related e-scooter and e-bike injuries among U.S. adolescents tripled between 2019 and 2022, from ~23,000 to ~66,000, according to that points to a need for better enforcement of underage drinking laws.

Pediatricians in Pakistan report high knowledge related to antibiotic usage, but limited training in antibiotic stewardship, ; only 15% reported receiving training on antibiotic usage and AMR, and only 25.3% confirmed awareness of antimicrobial stewardship.

Few adults without biological children who underwent permanent contraception procedures reported regret in a ; additionally, 47% of respondents reported difficulty finding a physician willing to perform the procedure. GHN鈥檚 Best of 2024: Staff Picks A woman molds bricks for a kiln in Rajasthan鈥檚 Ajmer district on March 26, 2023. Shreya Raman Brian鈥檚 Picks   My name may come first in the newsletter鈥檚 staff list, but in truth it鈥檚 my colleagues who take on the impossible daily task of finding and distilling global health鈥檚 essential news. They succeed because of their smarts, their commitment, and the help of loyal GHN readers like you.鈥擝rian Simpson, GHN Editor-in-Chief   Best GHN Exclusive The thousands of women who work in India鈥檚 brick kilns migrate from state to state to find work and often face massive barriers to health care. A lack of state health documents and paid sick time make it difficult for them to get care they need. Journalist Shreya Raman introduces us to kiln workers like Nirmala, who was forced to return to work 15 days after giving birth by cesarean section.
Best News Article The U.S. FDA has a tough challenge: Regulate nicotine products while facing nearly two dozen former FDA lawyers now working for Big Tobacco. Their inside knowledge gives the industry a big advantage. Reporter Kathryn Kranhold illuminates this dark corner of regulation.
  Best Commentary HEALTH SYSTEMS American 鈥楻age鈥� over Health Insurance
The man arrested in the killing of UnitedHealthcare鈥檚 chief executive was found carrying a manifesto 鈥渄ecrying the health care industry,鈥� . 

The killing has sparked a swell of public anger鈥攏ot at the shooting, but at the American health insurance industry.

• The reaction reflects 鈥渂oth the coarsening of public discourse and the degree of rage many Americans feel over the deficiencies of the U.S. health care system,鈥� writes Nicholas Florko for . 


• Gallup polling shows that just 31% of Americans have a positive view of the health care industry. 


• Costs, delays, payment denials, and prior authorization usage have all continued to rise, 鈥攍eading to delayed care and patients abandoning treatment, per the American Medical Association. 

Blame game: While the health industry鈥檚 executives 鈥渉ave become popular villains,鈥� the structure of America鈥檚 for-profit system means no one bears full responsibility for the problems, 鈥攍eading to endless finger pointing between insurers, providers, and drugmakers and 鈥渓eaving patients angry and confused鈥攁nd looking for someone, anyone, to blame, fairly or not.鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES AGING 鈥淲itch Hunts鈥� in Kenya
More than 250 murders of elderly women in Kenya between 2020 and 2022 have been linked to the increased use of 鈥渁nti-witchcraft鈥� laws. 

The laws, which allow murder in 鈥渟elf-defense鈥� from witchcraft, primarily affect elderly widows, who are frequently accused by their late husbands鈥� families of trying to gain property. The women are then shunned and lynched. 

However, behavior attributed to witchcraft may actually be symptoms of dementia鈥攁nd increased life expectancy has led to a rise in female-headed households and dementia cases.

Compounding factors: Kenya鈥檚 booming population and high unemployment rates often make elderly women targets for those seeking resources. Cultural beliefs about the evils of witchcraft mean that violators are rarely prosecuted.

QUICK HITS UN refugee chief urges patience as Syrian refugees weigh options 鈥�

Lonely graves, scattered bones: the stark reality of one of the most overlooked and fastest-growing migration routes 鈥�

Arizona confirms 2 avian flu infections as California probes second potential case in a child 鈥�

Can Congo contain its exploding mpox epidemic鈥攁nd curtail its international spread? 鈥�

Spying on Student Devices, Schools Aim to Intercept Self-Harm Before It Happens 鈥�

Why India Must Keep Covid-Era Oxygen Plants Running 鈥�

Safety Concerns Plague Humanitarian Aid Work 鈥�

On the Frontline with Lebanese Midwives 鈥� Issue No. 2827
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, Aliza Rosen, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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  Copyright 2024 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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96 Global Health NOW: Outbreak Investigation Launched in the DRC; Women on the Front Lines of Lymphatic Filariasis; and GHN鈥檚 Best of 2024: Staff Picks December 9, 2024 Outbreak Investigation Launched in the DRC
The WHO has dispatched rapid response teams to the DRC鈥檚 remote Panzi region to investigate and respond to an undiagnosed illness with a worryingly high mortality rate, as epidemiologists worldwide eye the outbreak with concern.

Despite fears of a novel illness, suggests that the culprit is likely an 鈥渦nknown known鈥� like pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, malaria, or measles鈥攐r some combination of illnesses鈥攅xacerbated by severe malnutrition, .

Outbreak details: 406 cases of an undiagnosed illness with 31 deaths鈥攁 7.6% fatality rate鈥攚ere reported between Oct. 24 and Dec. 5.

• The illness primarily affects children under age 5, and symptoms include fever, headache, cough, runny nose, and body aches.

Unreachable region: The Panzi zone is extremely difficult to access, with unpaved roads nearly impassable during the rainy season, and threats from local militia groups further complicating travel, .

• The WHO convoy includes doctors, epidemiologists, lab technicians, and infection control experts to treat patients and collect data.

Related: How worried should we be about Disease X? 鈥� EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE We鈥檙e Asking for Your Support Today
Hey Readers,

Last week, we quietly launched our third crowdfunding campaign in our 10-year history.

Today, we have an exciting announcement:

• Longtime GHN reader and supporter Ana Rita Gonzalez, ScD, CPA, is challenging us all: When another 100 subscribers make a gift, she will give $2,000 to support GHN! 

We鈥檙e so grateful to Dr. Gonzalez, president and CEO of Policy Wisdom LLC, for her investment in GHN and this amazing challenge gift.

.

I hope you鈥檒l join me in contributing to GHN so we can continue to deliver essential global health news.
 
All best,
Brian GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   U.S. agriculture officials have issued a federal order requiring the testing of the nation's milk supply in an effort to increase surveillance of bird flu.

A single mutation in the protein found on the surface of the H5N1 influenza strain circulating in U.S. dairy cows could enable 鈥渆asier transmission among humans,鈥� per published in Science.

Morocco is producing mpox tests for the first time鈥攁nother step in Africa鈥檚 quest for independence when it comes to sourcing medical supplies.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has reversed a policy that would have tied reimbursements for anesthesia to time limits, after widespread outcry from anesthesiologists. GHN鈥橲 BEST OF 2024: STAFF PICKS For our annual 鈥淏est of鈥� series running daily for the next couple weeks, GHN team members share their picks for 2024's most memorable work. GHN鈥檚 ace morning writer and trusted news adviser Kate Harrison Belz kicks off our series.       A child at Nduru camp, Kisumu City, Kenya. August 16, 2024. Scovian Lillian Kate鈥檚 Picks   I distill articles for GHN's newsletter summaries, which involves a lot of caffeine and curiosity. I have long been intrigued by the ways public health, environment, and infrastructure intersect鈥攁n interest that has intensified after living through the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., where I live. As we begin recovery here, I find myself often mulling over articles like the ones below. How can we better steward our natural and built environments to strengthen our shared health? 鈥�Kate Harrison Belz, GHN writer   Best GHN Exclusive: Deadly floods in Kenya this spring left behind a wake of cholera and other infectious diseases. In this exclusive, reporter Scovian Lillian explores how weather surveillance and disease surveillance can be more closely linked鈥攁nd potentially save lives.   Best Must-Read: Planting trees in urban areas has well-established climate benefits: cooling, pollution control, and stormwater absorption. But trees鈥� impact on human health is becoming more clear, thanks to the University of Louisville鈥檚 Green Heart Louisville project: 鈥渁 clinical trial where trees are the medicine.鈥� 鈥�Bloomberg CityLab   Best Commentary: NEGLECTED DISEASES Women on the Front Lines of Lymphatic Filariasis
The mosquito-borne disease lymphatic filariasis鈥攃ommonly known as elephantiasis for the severe swelling it causes鈥攖akes an especially heavy toll on women in India, where the disease is endemic. 

More vulnerable: Women, especially in poor, rural regions, are more vulnerable due to daily outdoor chores. 

Bigger barriers: Women have less access to health care, with 15.5% of rural women in India reporting that they struggle to get permission for medical treatment, and 24.7% struggling to obtain money for treatment.

• While annual mass drug administration campaigns aim to reduce transmission, mistrust and lack of awareness keep the preventive medicines out of women鈥檚 reach.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Deadly Inaction on Formaldehyde 
  Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous chemical in the U.S.鈥攁 鈥渨orkhorse鈥� of commercial enterprises ranging from making furniture to sterilizing food. 

But it is incredibly toxic:

• Formaldehyde causes more cancer than any other chemical air pollutant, and can increase risk of miscarriages, fertility problems, and asthma. 


• It pollutes air even inside homes as it leaks from household products. 

Despite decades of awareness of the dangers, companies that rely on formaldehyde have 鈥渞epeatedly thwarted government efforts鈥� to curb its usage.

• The EPA was poised to make some initial reforms this year鈥攂ut those efforts will likely be suspended under the new presidential administration. 

Thanks for the tip, Cecilia Meisner! QUICK HITS Amnesty International accuses Israel of genocide; Israeli official calls claim "entirely false and based on lies" 鈥�

Hundreds more migrants have died in Rio Grande crossings than U.S., Mexico reported 鈥�

鈥楳y right side was paralysed, I was so sick鈥�: the pesticide poisonings in Brazil that lead back to the UK 鈥�

Increases in U.S. life expectancy forecasted to stall by 2050, poorer health expected to cause nation鈥檚 global ranking to drop鈥�

CTE Evident in Brains of Deceased Ice Hockey Players 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe

How the Messy Process of Milking Cows Can Spread Bird Flu 鈥�

Latin American journals are open-access pioneers. Now, they need an audience 鈥� Issue No. 2826
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

Please send the Global Health NOW free sign-up link to friends and colleagues:

Want to change how you receive these emails? You can or . -->



 
  Copyright 2024 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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You can or .