Latest Health News
PAHO warns about simultaneous influenza and RSV circulation in the Americas
The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert on the **simultaneous circulation of seasonal influenza and RSV**, warning of added strain on health systems across the Americas. Influenza activity has been rising globally since October 2025, with A(H3N2) predominant and positivity rates above 10% in the Northern Hemisphere and near 20% in the Caribbean.
PAHO reports early and rapid influenza seasons in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain, and urges strengthened surveillance and vaccination of highârisk groups.
Experiment finds flu patients in a room did not infect close contacts
A controlled study reported that **healthy volunteers sharing indoor space with flu patients for days did not get infected**, suggesting wellâmixed indoor air and limited coughing kept viral levels low. Researchers emphasize that influenza still infects up to 1 billion people globally each year and causes substantial hospitalizations and deaths, so improved ventilation and other control strategies remain critical.
The findings may influence how hospitals, schools, and workplaces design measures to reduce respiratory virus spread.
Global cancer cases have doubled since 1990, with 18.5 million new diagnoses in 2023
New data show that **global cancer incidence has roughly doubled since 1990**, reaching about 18.5 million new cases in 2023 and over 10 million deaths annually. The steepest increases are occurring in lowâ and middleâincome countries, where health systems are less able to cope with rising cancer burdens.
Researchers warn that without stronger prevention, early detection, and treatment capacity, cancer will place growing pressure on health and economic systems worldwide.
Long COVID increasingly linked to inflammation, viral persistence, and tiny blood clots
Recent research suggests **long COVID may be driven by lingering virus, chronic inflammation, microâclots, and disrupted cellular energy production**, helping explain multiâsystem symptoms. Scientists report that long COVID affects an estimated 65 million people globally and can damage the brain, heart, blood vessels, and immune system long after acute infection.
These mechanistic insights are guiding trials of antiâinflammatory, anticoagulant, and antiviral strategies for long COVID patients.
FDA outlines more flexible requirements to speed cell and gene therapy development
The U.S. FDA announced details of its **flexible regulatory approach to chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) for cell and gene therapies**, aiming to support innovation while maintaining safety. The agency describes how it can tailor data requirements and allow certain manufacturing information to be provided postâapproval, particularly for products addressing serious or lifeâthreatening conditions.
This policy is expected to facilitate faster development and patient access to cuttingâedge genetic treatments.
REGENXBIO reports positive longâterm outcomes in Duchenne gene therapy and advances eye programs
REGENXBIO announced **positive 18âmonth functional data for its RGXâ202 Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy**, showing a durable treatment effect at a pivotal dose in a Phase I/II trial. The company plans a confirmatory trial with most patients dosed before a planned biologics license application filing midâyear, positioning the therapy as a potential oneâtime treatment option.
REGENXBIO also highlighted progress on suraâvec (ABBVâRGXâ314) for wet ageârelated macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, including pivotal trials and an upcoming Phase IIb/III study that will trigger a $100 million milestone from AbbVie.
Oncology roundup: new antibody regimens and targeted drugs show major promise
A recent oncology update highlights **phase 3 data showing that adding tafasitamab and lenalidomide to standard RâCHOP significantly improves progressionâfree survival in highârisk diffuse large Bâcell lymphoma**. The same report notes that sevabertinib, a targeted therapy for HER2âpositive nonâsmall cell lung cancer, received FDA breakthrough therapy designation after demonstrating a 59% response rate and favorable safety in treatmentânaive patients.
These advances suggest imminent shifts in firstâline standards of care for several aggressive cancers.
Expert flags influenza A, mpox, and chikungunya as key viral threats for 2026
An infectiousâdisease specialist identified **influenza A (especially H5N1), mpox, and chikungunya** as viruses that could pose serious publicâhealth threats in 2026. The article notes ongoing concern that highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenzaâalready detected in U.S. dairy cattle with multiple cowâtoâhuman transmissionsâcould evolve to sustain humanâtoâhuman spread, potentially triggering a new pandemic.
It also warns of continued mpox circulation, expanding chikungunya outbreaks that may affect travelers, and rising measles cases amid declining vaccination rates.
Research advances âsuperchargedâ cancer immunotherapies and tumorâreprogramming drugs
Reports from 2025 summarized by clinicians describe **rapid progress in cancer immunotherapy**, including mRNAâbased cancer vaccines and novel strategies expected to expand in 2026. Scientists have developed antibodies that cluster immune receptors to amplify antiâtumor responses, and separate work from KAIST shows a drug that reprograms tumorâresident macrophages into cancerâkilling cells when injected directly into tumors.
These approaches could enhance the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies and offer new options for hardâtoâtreat cancers.
Wildfire air pollution found to be far more harmful than previously recognized
New atmospheric research reveals that **wildfires emit far more healthâdamaging gases than earlier estimates suggested**, many of which transform into fine particulate matter. These fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, and respiratory illness, especially among vulnerable populations.
The findings underscore the need to factor wildfire smoke more prominently into airâquality regulation and publicâhealth preparedness.
World Hearing Day 2026 to spotlight hearing care for every child
The World Health Organization announced that **World Hearing Day 2026 will focus on âhearing care for every child,â** emphasizing pediatric hearing as a global publicâhealth priority. The campaign aims to raise awareness of early detection, timely intervention, and equitable access to hearing services to prevent longâterm developmental and educational impacts.
WHO is encouraging countries to integrate childhood hearing screening and care into primary health systems.