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Study investigates spotted fever group rickettsioses in Laotian pets and owners

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Serological evidence of spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGRs) and interactions between pets and their owners in Laos have rarely been reported.

13 Aug 2026

Liver’s internal clock coordinates daily metabolic communication, study finds

What if one of the keys to a healthier metabolism is understanding how and when the liver communicates with the rest of the body?

12 Aug 2026

Pregnant women use Reddit to seek Tdap vaccine reassurance

An analysis of Reddit posts about the maternal Tdap vaccine made by pregnant women reveals expectant mothers turning to Reddit to seek advice and reassurance-with fewer outright instances of vaccine hesitation/refusal than has generally been observed for other types of vaccines, according to a study published on August 12, 2026 in the open access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Soojung Jo from Purdue University, United States, and colleagues.

12 Aug 2026

New program receives CDC grant to expand access to breast and cervical cancer screening

The Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program (LBCHP), a program of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center and housed at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health, has received more than $3 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand access to breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic services and patient navigation across Louisiana.

12 Aug 2026

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk in men

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) account for nearly 60% of adults' and 70% of children's energy intake in the United States.

12 Aug 2026

Childhood screen time may support cognitive processing in teenagers

In a recent Finnish study, more screen time since childhood was associated with better cognitive processing in adolescence.

12 Aug 2026

Healthy lifestyle cuts hearing impairment risk by 14%, metabolism is key driver

Hearing impairment ranks as the third largest contributor to global disability among sensory disorders, with prevalence rising across younger and middle-aged populations alongside older adults.

12 Aug 2026

Cannabis compounds may weaken glioblastoma response to chemotherapy and radiation

Several cannabinoids reduced chemotherapy- and radiation-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma cell models, with effects linked to reduced apoptotic priming, increased pro-survival signaling, and G1 cell-cycle arrest. The findings raise concern that cannabinoid exposure could interfere with some cancer treatments, although the results are limited to laboratory models and require in vivo and clinical validation.

12 Aug 2026

The screen-time story gets more complicated as children grow up

Higher screen use was not consistently associated with poorer psychosocial development across childhood and adolescence in a large Scottish cohort. Very high gaming at age 15 was linked to greater difficulties, while some social media use was associated with lower difficulties scores, although causality cannot be established.

12 Aug 2026

Innovative youth mental health service model cuts costs and improves care

An innovative youth mental health service model can improve care and ease pressure on Canada's health-care system, a new study led by researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre demonstrates.

11 Aug 2026

Contaminated soil can bring hazardous lead dust into homes

Lead contamination in soil tracked inside homes can cause dangerous indoor lead dust levels even in residences with no interior lead-based paint, according to researchers with the Rutgers Environmental, Occupational and Health Sciences Institute in collaboration with community scientists from the East Trenton Collaborative.

11 Aug 2026

$Bone loss alone fails to explain diabetes-related fracture risk$

Bone loss alone fails to explain diabetes-related fracture risk

A new study published in Diabetes Care finds that bone loss alone does not explain the increased fracture risk observed in some older adults with type 2 diabetes.

11 Aug 2026

New computational tool identifies hidden genes driving asthma

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, in collaboration with investigators at the University of Chicago, have developed a new computational framework that helps scientists identify genes that play central roles in diseases such as asthma but are often overlooked by existing genetic analysis methods.

11 Aug 2026

New dashboard tracks flesh-eating screwworm threat across the United States

In the 1950s, the New World screwworm cost U.S. livestock producers tens of millions of dollars a year, as much as $50 to $100 million annually in the hardest-hit Southwest, before it was eradicated from the United States and pushed south to Panama.

11 Aug 2026

What 38,000 trauma and incident records reveal about e-scooter safety

E-scooter riders admitted with moderate-to-severe trauma showed a distinct injury profile, with proportionally more traumatic brain, vascular, and internal organ injuries than motorcyclists and fewer fractures. Rental-scooter data also linked greater reported injury severity with younger age and female sex, while collision rates varied with area-level deprivation.

10 Aug 2026

Heavy rainfall and flooding raise infectious disease risks across Europe

A rapid review of 14 studies found that heavy rainfall and flooding were associated with outbreaks and increased incidence of several infectious diseases across Europe, particularly campylobacteriosis and leptospirosis. The authors highlighted major evidence gaps and called for stronger One Health surveillance, public health communication, sanitation, and flood-response planning.

10 Aug 2026

Rising marine heatwaves create growing challenges for human health

The devastating impacts of marine heatwaves extend far beyond dying coral reefs and declining fisheries, with new research warning these extreme ocean warming events are posing a growing threat to humans' physical and mental health.

10 Aug 2026

H5N1 infections remain rare among workers exposed to infected birds

A two-year cohort study of 428 people exposed to H5N1-infected birds in England found fewer than 1% met criteria for infection, with no severe disease or secondary human transmission. The findings support continued PPE use, biosecurity, and targeted surveillance while highlighting challenges around occupational exposure, mucosal contamination, and pandemic preparedness.

10 Aug 2026

Phthalates may contribute to high blood pressure in pregnant women

Phthalates, which are chemicals found in plastics, personal care products and hundreds of other consumer goods, may contribute to high blood pressure in pregnant women, according to a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

10 Aug 2026

Rare cruise ship virus outbreak highlights public messaging lessons and disease preparedness

A small outbreak of a rare hantavirus on a cruise ship earlier this year captured worldwide attention and sparked concerns about a possible new pandemic.

10 Aug 2026