Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s flu shot is seeing its first major change in over a decade. Since 2013, flu shots have included four viral strains. But global travel restrictions reduced spread and may have eliminated one of them. As travel resumes, influenza vaccines remain crucial for controlling spread and preventing illness.

Influenza shots provide the most effective prevention against severe forms of the flu. According to the CDC, everyone six months of age and older should receive the flu vaccine each year. Annual vaccination is a critical to protect vulnerable groups and limit spread.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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