96
Global Health NOW: A Sharp Climb in Kidney Disease; and The Possibilities and Predicaments of Artificial Wombs
November 10, 2025
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Seven Democratic senators agreed to advance an agreement to end the U.S. government shutdown, accepting a Republican promise to vote on 鈥渆xtending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.鈥�
Nigeria鈥檚 Lassa fever death toll has reached 176 so far this year, with 955 confirmed cases, ; meanwhile, a candidate Lassa fever vaccine has been found safe and created a strong immune response in adults, per . Indonesian mothers are leading mass protests after thousands of students suffered food poisoning from the country鈥檚 new free meals program meant to stem malnutrition and stunted growth. The U.S. is demanding that countries agree to share information on 鈥減athogens with epidemic potential鈥� in exchange for restoring some health aid鈥攚ithout assurances of fair access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics developed from shared information; the bilateral deals could 鈥減otentially torpedo鈥� a WHO-led system under negotiation. IN FOCUS A nurse cares for a hemodialysis patient at the Yuping Dong Autonomous County People's Hospital, in Tongren, Guizhou province, China, on February 26. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty A Sharp Climb in Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now the ninth leading cause of death globally, up from the 27th in 1990, . By the numbers: In 2023, CKD affected ~788 million people ages 20+ worldwide, or ~14% of the global population鈥攗p from ~12% in 1990.
250 million
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People forced to flee their homes by weather-related disasters over the past decade, coinciding with today鈥檚 launch of the 30th annual UN Climate Change conference (COP) in Bel茅m, Brazil. 鈥�
INFANT MORTALITY The Possibilities and Predicaments of Artificial Wombs Scientists have made significant strides in efforts to develop an 鈥渁rtificial womb鈥� that can help extremely premature babies survive outside of the human body. A delicate process: One prototype created by Dutch startup AquaWomb is a fluid-filled, temperature-controlled vessel where a baby鈥檚 umbilical cord connects to a mechanical placenta that delivers oxygen and nutrients until the infant鈥檚 lungs mature. And an ethical debate: Bioethicists warn that artificial wombs could raise new moral and legal questions around viability, and reframe reproductive policy. Where development stands: The technology has already been used with fetal lambs.
Doctor in Sudan wins $1 million prize for his extraordinary courage: 'It is my duty' 鈥�
Pressure to publish is rising as research time shrinks, finds survey of scientists 鈥�
Disease of 1,000 faces shows how science is tackling immunity鈥檚 dark side 鈥�
Hospital CEO Pay Is Too Damn High 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe! Issue No. 2819
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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Nigeria鈥檚 Lassa fever death toll has reached 176 so far this year, with 955 confirmed cases, ; meanwhile, a candidate Lassa fever vaccine has been found safe and created a strong immune response in adults, per . Indonesian mothers are leading mass protests after thousands of students suffered food poisoning from the country鈥檚 new free meals program meant to stem malnutrition and stunted growth. The U.S. is demanding that countries agree to share information on 鈥減athogens with epidemic potential鈥� in exchange for restoring some health aid鈥攚ithout assurances of fair access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics developed from shared information; the bilateral deals could 鈥減otentially torpedo鈥� a WHO-led system under negotiation. IN FOCUS A nurse cares for a hemodialysis patient at the Yuping Dong Autonomous County People's Hospital, in Tongren, Guizhou province, China, on February 26. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty A Sharp Climb in Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now the ninth leading cause of death globally, up from the 27th in 1990, . By the numbers: In 2023, CKD affected ~788 million people ages 20+ worldwide, or ~14% of the global population鈥攗p from ~12% in 1990.
- The disease also claimed 1.48 million lives.
- Prevalence is highest in North Africa and the Middle East.
- A range of recently developed drugs and interventions can slow kidney damage鈥攂ut early diagnosis is critical.
250 million
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
People forced to flee their homes by weather-related disasters over the past decade, coinciding with today鈥檚 launch of the 30th annual UN Climate Change conference (COP) in Bel茅m, Brazil. 鈥�
INFANT MORTALITY The Possibilities and Predicaments of Artificial Wombs Scientists have made significant strides in efforts to develop an 鈥渁rtificial womb鈥� that can help extremely premature babies survive outside of the human body. A delicate process: One prototype created by Dutch startup AquaWomb is a fluid-filled, temperature-controlled vessel where a baby鈥檚 umbilical cord connects to a mechanical placenta that delivers oxygen and nutrients until the infant鈥檚 lungs mature. And an ethical debate: Bioethicists warn that artificial wombs could raise new moral and legal questions around viability, and reframe reproductive policy. Where development stands: The technology has already been used with fetal lambs.
- In 2023, the U.S. FDA convened experts to consider allowing the first human trials; however, the agency has not signaled if or when such trials could be greenlighted.
Doctor in Sudan wins $1 million prize for his extraordinary courage: 'It is my duty' 鈥�
Pressure to publish is rising as research time shrinks, finds survey of scientists 鈥�
Disease of 1,000 faces shows how science is tackling immunity鈥檚 dark side 鈥�
Hospital CEO Pay Is Too Damn High 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe! Issue No. 2819
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 2025 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 .
Categories: Global Health Feed
As health emergencies multiply linked to the climate crisis, governments are joining forces with the UN to protect access to clean water, while data indicates that 118 million people in Europe alone live near healthcare facilities lacking basic sanitation.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Comme projet de soci茅t茅, notre syst猫me de sant茅 public ne doit laisser personne pour compte.
Categories: Global Health Feed
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96
Global Health NOW: Dispatches from Bogot脿; and No Crocodile Tears Here
November 6, 2025
TOP STORIES
Stories of Chinese women severely beaten and even killed by their husbands have rocketed across social media, exposing authorities鈥� preference for treating domestic violence as a family issue.
A shocking, night-vision video of a rat grabbing and killing a flying bat provides first-ever evidence of how pathogens can move from bats to rats鈥攁nd then potentially spill over to humans.
Rates of drug-resistant bacterial blood infections will surge 22% to 62% among some European populations through 2030, per estimates in a new based on the aging population and infection trends. Just 23% of Americans got a Covid jab during the 2024-25 virus season, and that coverage will likely tumble further this year amid confusing access rules after the U.S. government narrowed its Covid vaccine recommendations. ICFP EXCLUSIVE Illustration courtesy of Rutgers 鈥楾he Law Alone Is Not Protection鈥�
Victim-survivors of sexual violence in West and Central Africa face a maze of barriers to obtain abortion care鈥攅ven when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest and when safe abortion is legally permitted, released yesterday at the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogot脿, Colombia.
At an ICFP briefing yesterday, leaders from MSI Reproductive Choices and Jacaranda Health joined the Rutgers researchers to discuss the global nature of the threat, especially as the U.S. budget cuts and policy changes under the Trump administration could lead to more restrictions on access for countries around the world.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Defending Against Dust Storms As dust storms in the western U.S grow more frequent and severe due to climate change, researchers are seeking new strategies to protect soil health鈥攁nd human health. A 鈥渄usty inferno鈥�: Earlier this year, New Mexico experienced a record 50 dust storms, with winds surpassing 70 mph. Researchers say decades of drought have created 鈥渢he perfect recipe鈥� for such events. Sweeping health impacts: Beyond causing widespread environmental damage, the storms also spread diseases like Valley Fever and cause lasting damage to respiratory health. Seeding solutions: In over-grazed places like Lordsburg Playa, New Mexico, officials are using regenerative soil-building practices to restore protective native plants and cover crops that curb dust. ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION No Crocodile Tears Here It has been said that trying to explain a joke is like dissecting a frog: the frog always dies in the process. It seems better then to keep the frogs alive and instead contemplate humor through photos of them being goofy: ; or These snapshots are just a few among the "cracking collection鈥� of finalists for this year鈥檚 , the annual global competition for witty wildlife photography, .
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 2025 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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Rates of drug-resistant bacterial blood infections will surge 22% to 62% among some European populations through 2030, per estimates in a new based on the aging population and infection trends. Just 23% of Americans got a Covid jab during the 2024-25 virus season, and that coverage will likely tumble further this year amid confusing access rules after the U.S. government narrowed its Covid vaccine recommendations. ICFP EXCLUSIVE Illustration courtesy of Rutgers 鈥楾he Law Alone Is Not Protection鈥�
Victim-survivors of sexual violence in West and Central Africa face a maze of barriers to obtain abortion care鈥攅ven when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest and when safe abortion is legally permitted, released yesterday at the International Conference on Family Planning in Bogot脿, Colombia.
- Every nine seconds in West and Central Africa, an unsafe abortion puts a woman鈥檚 life at risk.
- The study collected testimonies from women and girls who, after being raped, tried to end their pregnancies on their own, in five countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, C么te d鈥橧voire, Togo, and Cameroon.
- Barriers include requirements to prove they were assaulted that retraumatize, health workers who are uncertain on the law, procedural delays, and deep-rooted stigma.
At an ICFP briefing yesterday, leaders from MSI Reproductive Choices and Jacaranda Health joined the Rutgers researchers to discuss the global nature of the threat, especially as the U.S. budget cuts and policy changes under the Trump administration could lead to more restrictions on access for countries around the world.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Defending Against Dust Storms As dust storms in the western U.S grow more frequent and severe due to climate change, researchers are seeking new strategies to protect soil health鈥攁nd human health. A 鈥渄usty inferno鈥�: Earlier this year, New Mexico experienced a record 50 dust storms, with winds surpassing 70 mph. Researchers say decades of drought have created 鈥渢he perfect recipe鈥� for such events. Sweeping health impacts: Beyond causing widespread environmental damage, the storms also spread diseases like Valley Fever and cause lasting damage to respiratory health. Seeding solutions: In over-grazed places like Lordsburg Playa, New Mexico, officials are using regenerative soil-building practices to restore protective native plants and cover crops that curb dust. ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION No Crocodile Tears Here It has been said that trying to explain a joke is like dissecting a frog: the frog always dies in the process. It seems better then to keep the frogs alive and instead contemplate humor through photos of them being goofy: ; or These snapshots are just a few among the "cracking collection鈥� of finalists for this year鈥檚 , the annual global competition for witty wildlife photography, .
- Photographers submitted ~10,000 images from 108 countries this year.
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 2025 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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Categories: Global Health Feed
96
Global Health NOW: Gold Mining, Mercury, and the Amazon鈥檚 Mothers; and Dispatches from Bogot脿: ICFP 2025
November 5, 2025
TOP STORIES
Nearly two-thirds of European parents with children who are overweight or obese think their kids are underweight or normal weight, .
Flu samples sent to the U.S. CDC by other countries have fallen by 60% this year, making it harder for the U.S. to target vaccines against flu viruses with the most pandemic potential.
Influenza can increase stroke risk by 5X within a month of infection, .
The White House is closing in on a deal with pharma companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to drop the cost of their top obesity drugs to $149 per month in some cases, in return for limited Medicare coverage for the drugs. IN FOCUS Aerial view of an illegal mining camp during an operation by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources against Amazon deforestation in Roraima State, Brazil, on February 24, 2023. Alan Chaves/AFP via Getty Images Gold Mining, Mercury, and the Amazon鈥檚 Mothers Brazilian researchers are finding mounting proof that mercury from illegal Amazon gold mining is linked to neurological disorders and disabilities among Indigenous children. Background: As illegal mining has proliferated in the region, rivers鈥攌ey to the livelihoods of Indigenous people鈥攈ave become contaminated with mercury, as have the fish eaten as staple food. Emerging evidence: In recent years, health officials have reported dozens of patients in the region鈥攎ostly children鈥攚ith neurological disorders.
Here鈥檚 a snapshot of takeaways so far, starting with a startling stat:
States make progress in removing barriers to opioid use disorder medications 鈥�
Women must be warned of home birth risks and have access to skilled midwives, experts say 鈥� The Road to Secure Biological Sample Transportation in Central Africa 鈥� Issue No. 2817
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 2025 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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Flu samples sent to the U.S. CDC by other countries have fallen by 60% this year, making it harder for the U.S. to target vaccines against flu viruses with the most pandemic potential.
Influenza can increase stroke risk by 5X within a month of infection, .
The White House is closing in on a deal with pharma companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to drop the cost of their top obesity drugs to $149 per month in some cases, in return for limited Medicare coverage for the drugs. IN FOCUS Aerial view of an illegal mining camp during an operation by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources against Amazon deforestation in Roraima State, Brazil, on February 24, 2023. Alan Chaves/AFP via Getty Images Gold Mining, Mercury, and the Amazon鈥檚 Mothers Brazilian researchers are finding mounting proof that mercury from illegal Amazon gold mining is linked to neurological disorders and disabilities among Indigenous children. Background: As illegal mining has proliferated in the region, rivers鈥攌ey to the livelihoods of Indigenous people鈥攈ave become contaminated with mercury, as have the fish eaten as staple food. Emerging evidence: In recent years, health officials have reported dozens of patients in the region鈥攎ostly children鈥攚ith neurological disorders.
- While scientists have long suspected mercury as the culprit, a groundbreaking study tracking 176 pregnant women and their babies aims to find more definitive answers.
- Already, preliminary findings show that the mothers have mercury levels 5X higher than considered safe.
Here鈥檚 a snapshot of takeaways so far, starting with a startling stat:
- For the cost of a cappuccino in many countries鈥�$8 per person per year鈥攚e could cover the $54 billion gap in unmet demand for contraception. That鈥檚 just one eye-opening figure from the released as ICFP got underway earlier this week.
- Expanding the tent: A session highlighting an effort to incorporate Islamic values into a sexual education program in Indonesia is one of several exploring ways to engage religious leaders, male allies, and other partners to boost sexual and reproductive health rights for all.
- Fails for the win: A Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs session on normalizing failure featured panelists brave enough to share a work 鈥渇ail,鈥� and how they channeled it for growth, sharing pro tips, ideas, and resources鈥攆rom hosting a 鈥淔ail Fest鈥� to a CCP Learning from Failure module.
States make progress in removing barriers to opioid use disorder medications 鈥�
Women must be warned of home birth risks and have access to skilled midwives, experts say 鈥� The Road to Secure Biological Sample Transportation in Central Africa 鈥� Issue No. 2817
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 2025 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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A campaign for routine immunisation, nutrition, and growth monitoring will be launched in the Gaza Strip this week with the goal of reaching 44,000 children cut off from essential life-saving services due to the devastating conflict.
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Nerve injuries can affect the entire immune system, study finds
Nerve injuries can have long-lasting effects on the immune system that appear to differ between males and females, according to preclinical research from 麻豆传媒网站.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Nerve injuries can affect the entire immune system, study finds
Nerve injuries can have long-lasting effects on the immune system that appear to differ between males and females, according to preclinical research from 麻豆传媒网站.
Categories: Global Health Feed
Nerve injuries can affect the entire immune system, study finds
Nerve injuries can have long-lasting effects on the immune system that appear to differ between males and females, according to preclinical research from 麻豆传媒网站.
Categories: Global Health Feed
