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Good morning. Here’s the news you need to know after the long weekend.
Ebola outbreak continues to worsen
As of yesterday, 101 confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, though the actual number is likely much higher, with over 900 suspected cases, according to a post from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. There have been 10 confirmed deaths and 220 more suspected.
STAT’s Helen Branswell noted yesterday, “This outbreak is going to be a beast to contain. And the longer it goes before the world mounts an effective response, the harder it’s going to be.”
A new First Opinion essay by two public health professors highlights that outbreaks like this can also raise the risk of violence. They argue that the situation in eastern Congo is predictable because it has happened before. The essay discusses the particular risks faced by girls and women, and suggests preventive measures.
The outbreak has reached neighboring Uganda, with seven confirmed cases according to the AP. Rwanda, bordering both countries, has issued a travel ban on individuals who have been in the DRC in the past 30 days, similar to a U.S. measure. (Experts argue that travel bans do not effectively stop virus spread.)
Momentum stalls on a men’s health office
When assistant health secretary Admiral Brian Christine was sworn in last year, it was seen by many as a sign that men’s health would become a significant federal focus. There has been growing support for a dedicated office for men’s health, proposed by Trump administration leaders or through a bipartisan congressional bill as a counterpart to women’s health. However, as midterm elections near, political concerns are mounting.
Urologist Mark Edney expressed to STAT’s Annalisa Merelli, “There’s no expectation this is going to be done in just a few months, but we’re dedicated to seeing this through, however long it takes.” Read more from Nalis about the obstacles faced.
New acting FDA head is defying expectations
Over the past year, acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas has earned a reputation among food industry leaders, public health groups, and FDA staff as a serious and thoughtful leader. (A biotech executive once stated he “radiates normal.”) His demeanor is expected to serve him well in his new leadership role, assumed a few weeks ago after Marty Makary resigned and several of his deputies were removed. Diamantas has already achieved what many Trump officials could not: the backing of FDA staff.
Diamantas might lead the agency for some time, given the Trump administration’s challenges in appointing a new commissioner and securing confirmation. STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence spoke with 10 industry and public health stakeholders, as well as his former colleagues and FDA commissioners, to learn more about how a lesser-known Florida attorney rose to the top of the FDA and how he plans to navigate his new role.
1.17 billion
This is the estimated number of people living with a mental disorder worldwide in 2023, almost double the number in 1990, according to a study published in The Lancet. Disorders include anxiety, mild and major depression, autism, ADHD, eating disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and more.
Some of the rise can be attributed to changes in surveillance and self-reporting of mental health issues. Still, the increase is significant: Anxiety and major depressive disorder are most responsible for the global mental health burden, with rates rising by over 47% and 24%, respectively, since 2019.
This issue is particularly pressing for young people. A recent U.S. study found that the number of pediatric primary care visits involving mental health discussions increased steadily over the last decade.
Former CDC directors say save PEPFAR
Since 2003, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved over 26 million lives, supports 20 million people on HIV treatment, and has developed the laboratory and disease-surveillance systems that protect Americans daily from foreign outbreaks. However, in a new First Opinion essay, eight former CDC directors oppose an impending State Department plan they believe could disrupt PEPFAR and threaten lives.
“After more than two decades, it is reasonable to ask how PEPFAR should evolve,” they state. Both American and African leaders have shown interest in transferring PEPFAR programming to partner countries. “But how reform is sequenced matters.” Read more about the future path.
What we’re reading
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Our warming planet is a petri dish for new and deadly microbes, New Yorker
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U.S. researchers face new restrictions on publishing with foreign collaborators, Science
- Congress slashed Medicaid funding to providers. The Trump administration wants to cut even further, STAT
- Pap smears are designed to screen for cancer. Why are people afraid to get them? The 19th
- An AI biotech CEO sets the record straight on AI drug development hype, STAT
