Whooping cough (pertussis) cases surged in 2024, showing a sharp rise over last year. By late October, cases were over five times higher than the same period in 2023. Numbers have even surpassed pre-pandemic levels from 2019.
Doctors recommend that infants, children, adolescents, and adults all receive the pertussis vaccine.
The Avian H5N1 influenza virus was recently found in a pig on an Oregon farm. This marks the first recorded instance of swine carrying bird flu in the United States. Pigs serve as “mixing vessels” where viruses can mutate, leading to human-to-human transmission.
Such a development could spark the next global pandemic—a scenario the U.S. and world are not prepared for. Gaps in vaccine readiness and stockpiling are vast. Medical and government officials must consider the possibility of a major H1N1-like outbreak.
Global heat levels are climbing, jeopardizing public health and environmental agreements. In 2024, extreme temperatures set records, causing deadly climate events worldwide. Heat-related deaths in the United States also hit a 45-year high.
Some international efforts aim to combat climate change. But significant shifts are needed to address current global heat risks.
Sunita Bhaiji was 13 when a mosquito bite changed her life. The mosquito carried a parasite that caused lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis. Now in her 60s, Sunita suffers from severe leg swelling. She faces stigma and alienation from close family members and her local community.
Sadly, Sunita is far from alone. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impact hundreds of millions worldwide.
Climate change is worsening the spread of NTDs. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns fuel their spread. Global efforts to address NTDs have grown, but action remains urgent.
Seventeen-month-old Zamira fell ill after returning from the Philippines. Back in the United States, she had severe vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Her symptoms seemed completely out of place for her healthy lifestyle.
The onset was sudden. At first, doctors misdiagnosed her with meningitis. For two months, she stayed in the hospital while they treated her for the wrong condition.
Finally, they found the true cause: tuberculosis meningitis. This form of TB infects the tissue around the brain or spinal cord.
Fortunately, with the correct treatment, Zamira fully recovered. Her ordeal led her mother to urge the world to end tuberculosis. Still, the fight against TB is far from over.
