Latest Health News
WHO warns Sudan conflict has created the world’s worst health and humanitarian crisis
WHO reports nearly three years of war have left **over 20 million people needing health assistance** and 21 million facing acute food insecurity in Sudan. About **37% of health facilities are non‑functional**, outbreaks of cholera, dengue, malaria and measles are ongoing in most states, and WHO has verified 201 attacks on health care causing 1,858 deaths and 490 injuries.
EU publishes Health Threat Prioritisation Assessment to bolster pandemic and emergency preparedness
The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority released a **Comprehensive Health Threat Prioritisation Assessment for Medical Countermeasures** identifying the most serious cross‑border threats. Four priority categories are highlighted: respiratory/contact viruses with pandemic potential, vector‑borne/animal‑reservoir viruses, antimicrobial resistance, and conflict‑related CBRN threats, with a focus on vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and stockpiles.
Global experts outline key 2026 health challenges: funding gaps, workforce crisis, climate and AMR
Global health leaders warn that **funding pauses for major health initiatives and rising child mortality** are jeopardising progress heading into 2026. They highlight an expected global shortfall of **11 million physicians**, climate‑driven spread of vector‑borne disease, unstable trade impacting medicines, and antimicrobial resistance that could cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 without urgent action.
Over 200 U.S. health organizations urge Congressional oversight of new childhood vaccine schedule
The Infectious Diseases Society of America and more than 200 organizations are calling on Congress to review recent federal changes that **downgrade several routine childhood vaccines** to “shared clinical decision making”. The groups warn that rotavirus, COVID‑19, influenza, meningococcal, hepatitis A and B vaccines are no longer universally recommended, risking higher hospitalizations and deaths from preventable infections, including flu in children.
New U.S. pediatric vaccine schedule cuts routine shots from 17 to 11
On January 5, federal authorities reduced the **number of routinely recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11**, shifting others to risk‑based or shared decision categories. Public health experts caution this may widen disparities, confuse parents, and reverse gains against diseases such as rotavirus and hepatitis, especially amid already lower vaccination rates.
Scientists probe whether evolving mpox clades could trigger renewed global outbreaks
A Nature report notes that the 2022 mpox outbreak caused **over 100,000 cases across 122 countries**, largely driven by clade IIb. Researchers are now tracking evolving clades and transmission patterns to assess risks of future global spread and inform vaccination and surveillance strategies for high‑risk populations.
Weight‑loss experts predict major shifts in obesity treatment as GLP‑1 drugs become multi‑system therapies
Clinicians expect GLP‑1 medicines like **semaglutide (Wegovy)** to be reframed as “multi‑system metabolic modulators” that lower overall cardiometabolic risk, not just weight. New oral pills, once‑weekly formulations, and drug combinations are in development, while less‑invasive endoscopic procedures are projected to expand as lower‑risk alternatives to bariatric surgery.
Stem‑cell eye implant enters trial to restore vision in advanced macular degeneration
USC scientists have launched a clinical trial of a **hair‑thin stem‑cell patch implanted under the retina** to treat advanced dry age‑related macular degeneration. The device aims to replace damaged retinal cells and could offer a new option for patients who currently have no effective therapy for this leading cause of blindness.
Largest immune cell atlas of bone marrow created for multiple myeloma patients
Researchers at Mount Sinai and collaborators have produced the **largest immune cell atlas of bone marrow in multiple myeloma**, using high‑dimensional profiling. The work shows that patterns in the immune response may predict patient outcomes and could eventually be translated into simpler tests that complement genetic risk assessment in this blood cancer.
New antiviral candidate shows promise against Lassa fever, a persistent West African threat
A University of Texas Medical Branch study reports that an **experimental antiviral drug** showed potential efficacy against Lassa fever in preclinical models. With an estimated 100,000–300,000 infections and thousands of deaths annually, and no approved specific treatment, the findings support further development toward human trials.
MD Anderson highlights advances in perioperative immunotherapy and tumor microbiome research in cancer
New data from MD Anderson show that **immunotherapy given before and after surgery** improves outcomes in lung cancer compared with standard approaches alone. Separate research indicates that higher levels of certain bacteria inside tumors can enhance immune responses and may predict which patients benefit most from immunotherapies.