As of late August 2026, the SW.2 variant accounted for 21% of COVID-19 cases nationwide, followed by XFG.1.1 at 16% and RW.1.1 at 9%. The CDC reported a 4.6% test positivity rate for the week ending August 22, with COVID…
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SW.2 Leads COVID Variant Mix in Late August; Test Positivity Remains Low
DRC Ebola Outbreak Surpasses 5,000 Cases; US Global Health Leadership Under Scrutiny
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has now exceeded 5,000 cases and 2,000 deaths, marking the country's largest recorded outbreak. The Bush Institute highlights the implications for U.S. global he…
Funding shortfall threatens accelerated Ebola vaccine development amid African outbreak
A rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in Africa has spurred urgent efforts to create new vaccines, but the key organization leading this work is running out of money. The financial constraints could delay or derail the resp…
Falling Childhood Vaccination Rates Linked to Measles Resurgence and First Deaths
Childhood immunization rates continue to decline, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Measles cases have climbed to 2,777 across 47 U.S. jurisdictions, with the first associated deaths reported …
FDA Expands Vaccine Approvals for RSV, Flu, and Pneumococcal Disease
The FDA issued new vaccine approvals and expanded indications covering RSV, influenza, pneumococcal disease, and COVID-19. GSK's Arexvy was cleared for younger at-risk adults, Moderna received approval for its first mRNA…
CDC Confirms Over 18,000 Domestic Cyclospora Cases Since May
Since May 1, 2026, 18,445 laboratory-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases acquired in the U.S. have been reported. The CDC is investigating multiple clusters, including a large multistate outbreak linked to processed iceberg l…
Cyclospora Cases Rise to 17,180 with Additional Deaths and Hospitalizations
The CDC added 3,285 new cyclospora infections this week, bringing the summer total to 17,180. Another 11,844 cases are under investigation, with at least two deaths and 922 hospitalizations reported. Separately, four bab…
WHO issues emergency guidance on Ebola vaccine for Bundibugyo virus outbreak in DRC
The World Health Organization has released emergency guidance on the use of the licensed Ervebo vaccine to combat Bundibugyo virus disease outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The guidance, issued on August…
Toddler receives rabies shots after contact with infected petting zoo goats
A 4-year-old boy who visited a petting zoo in North Carolina on August 15 has begun rabies post-exposure treatment after three baby goats tested positive for the virus. Health officials are working to trace all visitors …
Rabies risk from petting zoo goats prompts health advisory in North Carolina
Health officials in North Carolina are warning that several baby goats at a mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies. The animals, from Farm Adventures Mobile Petting Zoo, were likely exposed by a skunk that entered…
Cuts to Public Health Staffing Delayed Cyclospora Outbreak Investigation
Reduced budgets and workforce shortages across federal, state, and local agencies hindered the response to a nationwide cyclospora outbreak. Internal emails from Michigan revealed a 12-day wait for Taco Bell supply chain…
GSK advances mRNA flu shot to late-stage trial after positive Phase 2 data
GSK is progressing its mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine into a Phase 3 study following a Phase 2 trial that indicated stronger immune responses compared with conventional vaccines. The UK-based pharmaceutical company disc…
FDA Clears Four Updated COVID Vaccines for 2026-27 Season
The FDA approved four COVID-19 vaccines formulated against the XFG variant for the upcoming season, with products from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax-Sanofi-Takeda. Each vaccine is authorized for specific age grou…
FDA Clears Once-Daily Two-Drug HIV Pill for Virologically Suppressed Adults
Gilead Sciences announced FDA approval of Bixlenvo, a single tablet combining bictegravir and lenacapavir, for adults with HIV-1 RNA below 50 copies/mL who are switching from a stable regimen. The approval is based on ph…
FDA approves new Gilead HIV therapy, reinforcing lenacapavir franchise
Gilead Sciences secured a new FDA approval for an HIV treatment on Thursday, strengthening its already dominant position in the market. The approval builds on the success of lenacapavir, the company's key HIV drug. The n…
Ebola Survivor and Treating Physician Reflect on 2014 Outbreak
In an interview, Dr. Kent Brantly, who contracted Ebola in 2014, and Dr. Linda Mobula, who treated him, discuss the challenges of the outbreak and the decision to use the experimental drug ZMapp. They reflect on the dang…
FDA Approves HIV Drug for Newborns Under Four Weeks
The FDA has expanded approval of dolutegravir oral suspension to treat HIV in newborns younger than 4 weeks old who weigh at least 2 kg. The decision was supported by a phase I study and pharmacokinetic modeling showing …
Shingles Vaccine Tied to Reduced Heart Disease Risk
A study from Oxford University suggests that the newer shingles vaccine is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Researchers describe it as the first vaccine to protect both heart and brain, following earlier fi…
Unvaccinated Pennsylvanians die from measles, marking first U.S. fatalities of 2026
Pennsylvania health officials reported two measles deaths, both in unvaccinated residents, on Tuesday. These are the first measles-related deaths in the United States this year. The cases highlight ongoing risks from low…
Blood Transfusion Reactions More Likely in Alpha-Gal Syndrome Hotspots
A retrospective cohort study found that in U.S. regions with high prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome, type O blood recipients who received B or AB platelet or plasma units had nearly four times the risk of allergic transfu…
Louisiana Child Dies From Naegleria Fowleri Infection
An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana died from an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater. It was the state's first confirmed case since 2013, and the infection was likely co…
Ongoing Ebola Outbreak in Congo Spurs Emergency Response Efforts
Health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to treat patients and train caregivers as the country faces its second-deadliest Ebola outbreak on record. The response includes both direct medical care and co…
Measles Betting Markets Ignore the Human Toll
An opinion piece argues that betting markets on measles case counts fail to capture the severe health consequences of infection, including encephalitis, pneumonia, and immune damage. The author details the long-term sequ…
Statins Linked to Fewer Pneumonia Hospitalizations but More Flu-Like Illness in Primary Care
A U.K. cohort study of unvaccinated adults aged 65 and older found that statin initiators had a lower risk of hospitalization for pneumonia and acute respiratory infections, but not for influenza. However, in primary car…
HIV cure efforts must protect long-term survivors' well-being
The opinion piece stresses that while an HIV cure would be a major milestone, it should not come at the cost of harming those who have lived with the virus for decades. It calls for careful consideration of how cure rese…
Multi-State Outbreak of Salmonella and E. coli Traced to Alfalfa Sprouts
U.S. health officials report 55 cases of food poisoning across 15 states linked to alfalfa sprouts, with both Salmonella and E. coli infections. The CDC says 26 of 34 interviewed patients reported eating the sprouts, and…
Ebola vaccine rollout begins in Democratic Republic of Congo
Scientists have begun deploying Merck's Ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat an outbreak. The effort is part of a broader health news update that also covers prostate cancer therapy and the use of …
Ebola Vaccine Doses Headed to Congo Amid Fast-Spreading Outbreak
The WHO and partners will ship 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to Congo, though it is licensed for the Zaire virus, not the Bundibugyo virus behind the current outbreak. Early lab and animal data suggest it may …
Nurse-Led Protocol Slashes C. Diff Infections in Nephrology Unit
A nephrology unit at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital reduced hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infections by 90% after implementing nurse-driven protocols. The unit's infection rate fell from 34 per 10,000 patient…
Hepatitis A and B Immunity Gaps Persist in U.S. Adults
A cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample estimated that only 40% of U.S. adults have immunity to hepatitis A and 27% to hepatitis B, with suboptimal levels across high-risk groups. The researchers…
Congo's Ebola Outbreak Surpasses Previous Records as Death Toll Climbs
Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak has become the deadliest in the country's history, with over 2,300 deaths and nearly 5,000 cases. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is spreading at an exceptional pace, wit…
Rotavirus Vaccine Shows Strong Protection Against Related Gastroenteritis Deaths
An international retrospective study found that at least one dose of rotavirus vaccine was 75.8% effective at preventing death from rotavirus-positive acute gastroenteritis in children aged 3 months to 4 years. However, …
Prompt Antiviral Treatment Cuts Pediatric Flu Hospitalization Risk in Study
A retrospective case-control study from Taiwan found that children with influenza who received antiviral therapy within 48 hours of symptom onset had an 81% lower risk of hospitalization. The protective effect was simila…
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Tied to Taco Bell Lettuce Hits Michigan Hard
Michigan reports 13,909 cyclosporiasis cases, with 314 hospitalizations and 2 deaths as of August 13. The outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell across multiple states. Health officials are in…
Ebola Outbreak in Congo Accelerates Toward Record Death Toll
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now surpassed 4,600 confirmed cases and at least 2,100 deaths. The death toll has climbed nearly three times faster than the major outbreak a decade ago. This tr…
Respiratory Illness Activity Remains Low, but Parainfluenza and Adenovirus Rise
As of August 14, 2026, acute respiratory illness leading to healthcare visits is very low nationwide. Seasonal flu activity is also low, while parainfluenza and respiratory adenovirus are elevated. CDC monitoring indicat…
Weekly Quiz: Identify the Pet Associated with Neurological Illness
This week's medical quiz challenges readers to identify which pet has been linked to a brain disorder. The question tests knowledge of zoonotic diseases and their neurological effects. Participants are invited to see if …
California Officials Warn Against Social Media Breast Milk After HIV Exposure
Health officials in California warned about the risks of obtaining breast milk from unvetted sources after multiple infants were potentially exposed to HIV. The milk was donated via social media. It remains unclear if th…
Physician warns of vaccine-preventable disease dangers amid policy changes
An infectious disease doctor shares firsthand experiences of life without vaccines, emphasizing the privilege of prevention. The opinion piece argues that Americans must recognize the protection vaccines provide. It come…
Unpaid Wages Spark Protest, Disrupt Ebola Care in Congo
Dozens of health workers at the heart of Congo's Ebola outbreak walked off the job demanding overdue salaries. Their protest forced the abandonment of several treatment facilities, interrupting care in what is now the wo…
Tetanus Risk Persists; Experts Urge Routine Booster Shots
Tetanus remains a threat because the bacteria live in soil and dust, not through person-to-person spread. A commentary stresses that maintaining up-to-date vaccinations is the most effective prevention. The article remin…
DRC and WHO Move Forward on Plans for Phase 3 Ebola Vaccine Trial
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the World Health Organization are negotiating to accelerate the launch of a multi-armed Phase 3 clinical trial for Ebola vaccines. The trial aims to evaluate multiple vaccine cand…
Industry experts dismiss feasibility of splitting MMR vaccine as ordered by Trump
Although splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into separate shots is theoretically possible, vaccine manufacturers and clinical development veterans say it is impractical. The recent presidential order to se…
Historical Data Shows Risks of Separating MMR Vaccine Components
Historical evidence demonstrates that splitting the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine into separate shots, as proposed by President Trump's executive order, could pose significant health dangers. Past experiences indic…
CDC Alert: B-Cell Depleting Therapies Raise Risk of Severe Arboviral Neuroinvasive Disease
The CDC issued a warning about the risk of severe arboviral neuroinvasive disease in patients receiving B cell-depleting or modulating agents, particularly anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. The advisory was based on publi…
Retraction of COVID-19 Excess Mortality Study Cites Misinformation Concerns
BMJ Public Health has retracted a study on excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic after an investigation found it suggested vaccination and other countermeasures as a possible cause. The retraction follows concern…
Jalapeño Peppers from Mexico Tied to Multistate Salmonella Outbreak
The CDC is investigating a Salmonella Javiana outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. Taylor Fresh Foods issued a recall on August 8 after epidemiological evide…
RSV Antibody Nirsevimab Lacks Second-Year Protection
Nirsevimab effectively reduced RSV-related hospitalizations in infants during their first year after administration, but the protection did not carry over to the second year. No benefit was seen for other hospitalization…
Hamster Ownership Linked to Increased Risk of Autoimmune Brain Condition
A study in China found that patients with autoimmune cerebellar ataxia were more likely to have owned pet hamsters compared to matched controls. The findings suggest a possible link between hamster exposure and the devel…
Current Ebola outbreak reveals gaps in preparedness for evolving viral threats
The authors argue that preparedness efforts must adapt to new strains, not just past epidemics. The current Ebola outbreak, caused by Zaire ebolavirus in Bundiugyo, highlights deficiencies in diagnostics and therapeutics…
Eli Lilly Invests $3.83 Billion in Vaccine Firms; FDA Panel Backs Updated COVID Shot for XFG Variant
AJMC reported on August 9 that Eli Lilly has acquired three vaccine development companies for $3.83 billion, signaling major investment in the sector. An FDA advisory panel voted to recommend updated COVID-19 vaccines ta…
Italy Reports 139 Locally Acquired West Nile Virus Cases Across 50 Provinces
As of August 5, 2026, Italy has recorded 139 locally acquired West Nile virus infections in 50 provinces, according to a UK travel health surveillance update. The outbreak is being monitored by national and international…
Experts Warn H5N1 Outbreak Exposes Gaps in U.S. Surveillance and Pandemic Readiness
A report from Contagion Live on August 1 warns that the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in birds, cattle, and humans reveals critical deficiencies in surveillance, worker protections, and pandemic preparedness. The…
U.S. Measles Cases Reach 2,465 in 2026, CDC Dashboard Shows
As of August 6, the CDC reported 2,465 confirmed measles cases across the United States for 2026. The data highlights ongoing transmission and varying vaccination coverage at local levels. Health officials continue to mo…
Measles Surge in Americas Prompts PAHO Alert for Boosting Immunization and Monitoring
The Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert on August 8, urging nations to enhance vaccination and surveillance efforts. The region has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths so fa…
Three Cases of Rare 'Rabbit Fever' Confirmed on Long Island
Suffolk County has confirmed three cases of tularemia, a rare tick-borne disease also known as rabbit fever. Symptoms include high fever and extreme fatigue, and can be more severe than Lyme disease.
House Democrats Demand VA Secretary Address Declining Mental Health Services
Over 60 House Democrats have sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins seeking clarification on the state of mental healthcare for veterans. The request follows a ProPublica investigation from spring 2026 that found the…
China holds key to COVID-19 origin mystery, not Fauci
The article argues that blaming Dr. Fauci for not solving COVID-19's origins is misguided, as the key information lies with China. It compares the situation to a detective unable to solve a murder in a different jurisdic…
Vedanta Biosciences secures $60 million to complete Phase 3 trial of microbiome therapy for C. difficile
Vedanta Biosciences has raised $60 million from investors to fund the completion of a Phase 3 study for its microbiome-based treatment targeting C. difficile infection. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech aims to read out re…
Moderna's mRNA-Based Influenza Shot Receives FDA Approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to Moderna's influenza vaccine, marking the first licensed flu shot built on messenger RNA technology. This milestone expands the use of mRNA platforms beyond CO…