Latest Health News
PAHO warns about simultaneous influenza and RSV surge across the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert on the **simultaneous circulation** of seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) across the Americas, warning of additional pressure on hospitals for the rest of the Northern Hemisphere winter. Influenza A(H3N2) is predominating, with test positivity above 10% in much of the region and approaching 20% in the Caribbean, while RSV activity is gradually increasing.
PAHO reports that current flu vaccines show 30–40% effectiveness against hospitalization in adults and 75% in children, and urges countries to prioritize vaccination and strengthen respiratory virus surveillance.
Global flu season intensifies, but new airflow study shows indoor transmission can be sharply reduced
A randomized trial reported by University of Maryland researchers found that in a carefully controlled room containing flu-positive patients, **no exposed volunteers became infected**, highlighting the power of optimized ventilation and protective measures. The study suggests that good airflow, reduced coughing, and appropriate protective equipment can dramatically limit airborne influenza transmission indoors, informing future infection-control guidelines.
Researchers emphasize that influenza still infects up to 1 billion people globally each year, with millions of cases and thousands of deaths already reported this season in the United States alone.
Infectious disease experts flag influenza A, H5N1, mpox and chikungunya as 2026 outbreak risks
An infectious-disease review highlights several **priority viral threats** for 2026, including rapidly evolving influenza A, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, mpox, chikungunya, measles, and HIV. Scientists are closely monitoring H5N1 after its spread into US dairy cattle and evidence of multiple cow‑to‑human transmissions, watching for any mutations that could enable sustained human‑to‑human spread and trigger a new pandemic.
The article also warns of ongoing mpox circulation worldwide, rising measles cases amid declining vaccination, continued chikungunya outbreaks affecting travelers, and a potential HIV resurgence due to disruptions in global prevention and treatment programs.
Conflict in Sudan triggers massive health and hunger crisis, with over 20 million needing health assistance
UN agencies report that the war in Sudan has created what they call the **largest humanitarian emergency** in the world, with 33.7 million people expected to need aid in 2026. More than 20 million people now require health assistance and 21 million face acute food insecurity, as violence, obstructed humanitarian access, and funding shortfalls undermine health services and nutrition.
The UN warns of escalating disease risks, malnutrition, and collapsing health infrastructure unless international support and safe access for humanitarian operations increase.
Global surveillance flags multiple animal and zoonotic disease events from anthrax to avian flu
Recent ProMED alerts document a series of **zoonotic and animal-disease incidents** with potential public-health relevance, including anthrax in cattle in Texas and avian influenza H5N1 outbreaks in poultry in Japan and dairy cattle in California. Other reports note foot‑and‑mouth disease in South African and Indian livestock, African swine fever detected in pork products in Viet Nam, and an epidemic of H3N2 influenza anticipated in Taiwan in late January.
These signals underscore the ongoing risk of pathogen spillover from animals to humans and the importance of veterinary surveillance for global health security.
Major advances reported in oncology: tafasitamab combo, sevabertinib breakthrough, and in vivo CAR‑T
New oncology updates highlight **practice‑changing trial data** and regulatory moves, including phase 3 results showing that adding tafasitamab and lenalidomide to standard R‑CHOP significantly improves progression‑free survival in high‑risk diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma. The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to sevabertinib for first‑line treatment of unresectable or metastatic HER2‑positive non–small cell lung cancer, after early trials showed a 59% overall response rate in treatment‑naive patients.
Separately, Evidence‑Based Oncology reports on an in vivo CAR T‑cell therapy for multiple myeloma that could speed and simplify treatment compared with traditional ex vivo CAR‑T approaches.
First U.S. over‑the‑counter birth control pill boosts contraceptive use and health equity
Analyses of the first **OTC oral contraceptive** in the United States, approved in 2023, show that its availability has driven a 31.8% increase in pill use between approval and August 2025. Experts argue that behind‑the‑counter access to daily contraception reduces barriers related to clinic visits and prescriptions, particularly benefiting younger people, those without regular healthcare, and marginalized groups.
Public-health advocates frame the product as a significant step toward reproductive health equity, while emphasizing the ongoing need for education and insurance coverage for other contraceptive options.
New genetic causes of inherited blindness identified, opening avenues for targeted therapies
Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center and the University of Basel have discovered **new genetic variants** responsible for forms of inherited blindness, adding to the catalog of genes linked to retinal dystrophies. The findings are expected to improve genetic diagnosis rates for patients with hereditary vision loss and may guide the development of gene‑specific therapies in the future.
Investigators note that expanding genetic understanding is crucial for selecting candidates for emerging gene and cell‑based treatments.
Global dementia research initiative pushes for equity and inclusion beyond high‑income countries
A new report from the Global Brain Health Institute stresses that dementia research remains heavily **skewed toward high‑income Western populations**, limiting generalizability and equity of findings. The initiative calls for more inclusive cohorts, better representation of low‑ and middle‑income countries, and community‑engaged approaches to ensure that prevention, diagnosis, and care strategies are relevant worldwide.
Authors argue that without such shifts, innovations in dementia care risk reinforcing global health disparities instead of reducing them.
Cancer immunotherapy and mRNA‑based cancer vaccines poised for further expansion in 2026
Clinical and expert commentary from late 2025 highlight **rapid progress in cancer immunotherapies**, including checkpoint inhibitors, cell therapies, and personalized cancer vaccines that harness mRNA platforms similar to COVID‑19 vaccines. Early‑phase trials suggest that these vaccines can stimulate robust anti‑tumor immune responses, and several candidates are expected to move into larger studies in 2026.
Physicians anticipate that combining vaccines with other immunotherapies could improve outcomes for hard‑to‑treat cancers, while ongoing trials will clarify safety and long‑term benefits.