US aid freeze alarms global health experts, and other top health stories

The US government's decision to freeze nearly all overseas aid funding, including for health services, has sparked widespread concern among global health experts, the BBC reports.

The suspension, which affects the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is part of a 90-day review initiated by President Donald Trump's administration.

One of his first acts after taking office was to exit the World Health Organization (WHO).

USAID funds vital programmes, such as those combating tuberculosis (TB) and HIV, as well as vaccine distribution. The freeze has disrupted services, including antiretroviral treatments for HIV patients and critical supplies like TB medications and HIV testing kits. One Ugandan organization reported that it could run out of these essential items in a month.

"People with controlled HIV, if they miss meds, the virus in their blood increases and there's a risk of onwards transmission," Dr Tom Wingfield, an expert in TB and social medicine at the UK's Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, told the BBC.

The freeze also threatens ongoing clinical trials for diseases like malaria and HIV, with experts warning that delays could hinder new treatments. Health organizations are concerned about a rise in preventable diseases due to the disruption of critical programmes.

While confusion remains over which services are affected, a government memo reviewed by Reuters said US-funded aid efforts addressing diseases like malaria, maternal and child mortality and severe malnutrition should resume during the 90-day pause on foreign assistance.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the WHO and key partners, has launched the first-ever clinical efficacy trial for a vaccine against the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus. It comes just four days after the outbreak was confirmed on 30 January 2025, demonstrating a rapid response to the health emergency.

“This is a critical achievement towards better pandemic preparedness and saving lives when outbreaks occur,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that it "was made possible by Uganda’s dedicated health workers, researchers, and our global partners”.

The trial, co-sponsored by WHO, will assess the effectiveness of a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) candidate vaccine, donated by IAVI (the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative), in a ring vaccination strategy targeting high-risk contacts. If successful, the vaccine could be a key tool in controlling future outbreaks of the Sudan Ebola virus, WHO says.

A study published in Nature finds rising concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in human tissues, including the brain, liver and kidneys. The particles, mainly polyethylene, show an increase over time, with higher levels found in the brains of individuals diagnosed with dementia.

Endometriosis UK calls for workplace support as national research for England shows the condition reduces women's earnings and employment, with a $70 (£56) monthly wage drop after diagnosis.

Short-term exposure to air pollution can impair focus and cognitive function, researchers have found. Participants exposed to high levels of particulate matter for just an hour showed reduced attention and emotion recognition, which can affect concentration and social behaviour, reports The Guardian.

Acarizax, a new daily tablet, has been recommended by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to treat severe dust mite allergies. Proven to reduce symptoms, it offers hope for the 13,000 individuals affected in England. This treatment is suitable for people aged 12 to 65.

India is facing a surge in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune, with around 160 reported and five suspected deaths since January. GBS is a rare condition where the immune system attacks the nerves, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and, in severe cases, respiratory failure. The rise in cases is linked to Campylobacter jejuni, a pathogen known to trigger GBS.

The WHO and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital have launched the first-of-its-kind Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines in Mongolia and Uzbekistan. The initiative aims to reach 5,000 children this year and expand to 50 countries in five to seven years, improving survival rates in low- and middle-income nations.

A study published in Nature Aging found that omega-3 and vitamin D supplements, combined with exercise, slowed biological ageing by three to four months over three years. The research, involving over 700 adults aged 70 and above, analyzed blood samples using biological clocks to measure ageing at a molecular level.

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