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U.S. Representatives Bera and Salazar Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Tuberculosis Globally

U.S. Representatives Bera and Salazar Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Tuberculosis Globally

U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), co-chairs of the House Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus, have reintroduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2026. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance U.S. efforts in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and ultimately eradicating tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. The bill has garnered support from seven other bipartisan representatives as original cosponsors. Representative Bera, a medical doctor, has consistently advocated for global health investments, emphasizing that stopping infectious diseases abroad safeguards Americans at home. The legislation seeks to modernize U.S. global TB programs by focusing resources on high-burden countries and communities. Key provisions include expanding access to TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, accelerating research and development for new tools, and setting clear goals for U.S. programs, such as an 80% reduction in TB incidence and a 90% reduction in TB deaths from 2015 levels by 2030. It...

Doctors Without Borders Calls for Inclusion of Children in Ebola Treatment Research

Doctors Without Borders Calls for Inclusion of Children in Ebola Treatment Research

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières - MSF) has issued a call for the urgent inclusion of children in research and development for Ebola treatment and prevention. Specifically, MSF advocates for timely access to pediatric formulations of oral post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in ongoing trials, including the oral antiviral pill obeldesivir manufactured by US-based Gilead Sciences. The current EBO-PEP study, which commenced on July 14, is evaluating obeldesivir for preventing infection after high-risk exposure to the Bundibugyo virus, a cause of Ebola disease. While a planned protocol amendment is expected to include children over 44 pounds, those under 44 pounds (approximately age 6 or younger) remain excluded due to the lack of an available pediatric formulation and insufficient data on tablet crushing or dissolution. Dr. Neal Russell, MSF pediatric advisor, emphasized that children are at a disproportionately high risk of dying if infected with Ebola in the current outbreak in the Democratic R...

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Florida leprosy cases rise to 22, ancient disease spreading

Florida leprosy cases rise to 22, ancient disease spreading

Three new leprosy cases were confirmed in Florida, keeping the state among the nation's leading hotspots.

Dr. Richard J. Hatchett Advocates for Reimagined Vaccine Development and Pandemic Preparedness

Dr. Richard J. Hatchett Advocates for Reimagined Vaccine Development and Pandemic Preparedness

Dr. Richard J. Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and recipient of the 2026 NFID Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award, emphasized the need to reimagine vaccine development and pandemic preparedness. In a discussion with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), Dr. Hatchett highlighted the '100 Days Mission,' an initiative aiming to compress vaccine development timelines to within 100 days of identifying a new pathogen. He stressed that epidemic and pandemic diseases are not 'black swans' but rather a product of the environment and world humans have created, viewing them as a fundamental security problem. Dr. Hatchett also underscored the critical importance of robust disease surveillance capabilities, noting that underinvestment in these areas can lead to delayed detection and larger outbreaks, as seen with the Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He advocates for systemic institutional commitments and sustained p...

U.S. Live Mammal Import Records Show Significant Data Discrepancies, Raising Zoonotic Disease Concerns

U.S. Live Mammal Import Records Show Significant Data Discrepancies, Raising Zoonotic Disease Concerns

A study analyzing U.S. live mammal import records from the CITES Trade Database between 2000 and 2024 revealed significant data discrepancies, indicating limitations in current reporting systems. Of 3,842 total records, 77.0% were missing at least one reported quantity from either the importer or exporter. Among the 884 complete records where both quantities were present, only 53.3% matched exactly. The remaining 46.7% showed discrepancies, with a mean absolute difference of 244.73 animals per trade event. Exporters reported higher quantities more often than importers, a statistically significant pattern. The study identified that these reporting gaps were concentrated in specific subgroups, particularly involving Macaca fascicularis (long-tailed macaques) exported from China for scientific purposes. These findings suggest that current systems lack the reliability needed to effectively regulate international wildlife conservation and prevent zoonotic diseases.

From hunger to obesity: Developing world faces growing threat to child health

From hunger to obesity: Developing world faces growing threat to child health

By Jennifer Rigby, Ajeng Ulfiana, Stanley Widianto and Heru Asprihanto BOGOR, Indonesia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Intan Permatasari's mother simply couldn't refuse her daughter's pleas for food.

Cross-Institutional Study to Personalize Diabetes Prevention for U.S. Hispanic/Latino Population

Cross-Institutional Study to Personalize Diabetes Prevention for U.S. Hispanic/Latino Population

A new cross-institutional research study, funded by a Lone Star Collaborative Research Acceleration Pilot grant, is underway between The University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas State University. The study aims to understand the interplay of diet, genetics, and physical activity in influencing diabetes risk, particularly within the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population. Co-principal investigators Christiane Meireles, PhD, RD, LD, associate clinical professor at the School of Nursing, and Jie Zhu, MD, PhD, associate professor at Texas State University, are leading teams to examine how dietary patterns, genetic risk, physical activity, and other health factors contribute to Type 2 diabetes development and prevention. The research will utilize data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, which includes 13,000 participants from various Hispanic and Latino ethnic groups with 15 years of follow-up data. This initiative seeks to move beyond general prevention messages to more personalized nutriti...

Carnivore Diet Lacks Long-Term Research, Poses Health Risks Despite Reported Benefits

Carnivore Diet Lacks Long-Term Research, Poses Health Risks Despite Reported Benefits

Carnivore Diet Lacks Long-Term Research, Poses Health Risks Despite Reported Benefits

Global Study Reveals Rising Antimicrobial Resistance in Children, Threatening Life-Saving Antibiotics

Global Study Reveals Rising Antimicrobial Resistance in Children, Threatening Life-Saving Antibiotics

A new global study published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates a concerning rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among children worldwide. This increase threatens the effectiveness of crucial antibiotics used to treat severe infections like sepsis and pneumonia. The research, conducted by the University of Sydney in collaboration with institutions such as the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, analyzed over 106,000 pediatric bacterial isolates from 82 countries between 2004 and 2022. The findings show that while resistance to 'Access' antibiotics (first-line, narrow-spectrum drugs) declined in most inpatient settings, resistance to 'Watch' and 'Reserve' antibiotics (broader-spectrum drugs for more serious infections) significantly increased. Specifically, in intensive care units (ICUs), resistance to Watch antibiotics rose from 15% to 33%, and Reserve antibiotics from 9% to 32%. Children aged 0 to 2 years, those with sepsis, and respiratory infections exhibited the highest resistance to Watch and Reserve ...

Infectious Disease Experts Re-evaluate Long-Held Antibiotic Advice, Emphasizing Shorter Courses

Infectious Disease Experts Re-evaluate Long-Held Antibiotic Advice, Emphasizing Shorter Courses

Infectious disease experts are challenging the long-standing advice for patients to always 'finish the course' of antibiotics. This traditional guidance, promoted by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), was based on the misconception that stopping antibiotics early would lead to resistant bacteria. However, current research indicates that this is not the primary driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Instead, antibiotic exposure itself creates selective pressure for resistant bacteria to emerge. The focus is now shifting towards prescribing the shortest effective course of antibiotics to treat an infection successfully, while minimizing unnecessary exposure. This approach aims to reduce the disruption to the body's microbiome, which can give resistant bacteria a survival advantage. Studies have shown that for various infections, including bladder infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections, shorter courses can be as effect...

North Carolina State University Professor Christopher Hayes Researches Bedbug Infestations and Potential MRSA Link

North Carolina State University Professor Christopher Hayes Researches Bedbug Infestations and Potential MRSA Link

Christopher Hayes, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, has been actively involved in bedbug research, enduring over 50 bites as part of his studies. His work highlights the increasing prevalence of bedbug infestations, which are particularly problematic during certain times of the year. Hayes notes that these pests, often referred to as 'vampires of the insect world,' hide during the day and feed on human blood at night. While traditionally not considered disease vectors, recent experiments, including one by University of South Dakota researchers, suggest bedbugs might be capable of acquiring and transmitting antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA. This raises new public health concerns regarding these resilient insects. Bedbugs are also becoming more resistant to pesticides, including DDT, which was widely used post-WWII before its ban in 1972. This resistance contributes to their resurgence and makes eradication more challenging.

U.S. Experiences Record Tick-Bite Emergency Room Visits Amid Expanding Tick Activity

U.S. Experiences Record Tick-Bite Emergency Room Visits Amid Expanding Tick Activity

The United States has seen a significant increase in tick-bite-related emergency department visits this year, with August recording the highest rate since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking data in 2017. As of August 23, there were 34 tick-bite visits for every 100,000 emergency department visits nationwide, following a record-setting April. This trend is particularly pronounced in Pennsylvania, where blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are present in all 67 counties, and health officials have noted an increase in tick-bite-related emergency department visits across nearly all regions. Ticks are most active from April through August and again in October and November, remaining active during winter whenever temperatures rise above freezing. The geographic risk of tick-borne diseases is also expanding, with a recent CDC report identifying blacklegged ticks and disease-causing pathogens in western North Carolina, indicating the establishment of Lyme disease in parts o...