Public Health News and Research

RSS

Lifetime estrogen exposure linked to improved brain health in women

Researchers from the University of Kansas have shown a link between reproductive hormone exposure throughout life and brain health in 459 women aged 65 to 80.

23 Jun 2026

Researchers trace soaring poison control calls to semaglutide approval for weight loss

When semaglutide's popularity exploded following FDA approval for weight management in 2021, so too did a wave of calls to poison control centers.

23 Jun 2026

NIH funding supports development of AI tools to prevent HIV, hepatitis C and overdose

Natasha Martin, DPhil, professor and vice chief of Global Public Health in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at UC San Diego School of Medicine, has been awarded a five-year, $5.6 million Avant-Garde Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), one of the most prestigious and competitive NIH research awards.

23 Jun 2026

50-year review shows global Ebola spread remains rare despite outbreak fears

Researchers reviewed Ebola disease cases outside Africa from 1976 to May 2026 and found only 28 confirmed epidemic-linked cases, most involving medical evacuation or occupational exposure. Only four latent travelers were diagnosed after border screening, suggesting that undetected intercontinental spread remains rare when outbreaks are controlled at source.

23 Jun 2026

Andes virus cases on MV Hondius highlight hidden risks of confined travel

A Eurosurveillance report describes a multi-country response to an Andes virus outbreak linked to the Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship MV Hondius, with 13 cases and three deaths reported as of June 18, 2026. Investigators found evidence consistent with an initial zoonotic infection before embarkation, followed by likely person-to-person transmission among passengers and crew in a confined ship setting.

23 Jun 2026

Study identifies risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer

A recent study found that factors such as a person's birthweight, sex, ethnicity, and father's age may affect the risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a young age.

22 Jun 2026

Early screen time may impact subsequent academic performance and working memory

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend no screen time before 18-24 months and less than one hour per day for children ages 2 to 5.

22 Jun 2026

Sugary drinks from childhood linked to adult hypertension risk

Drinking fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages from childhood through adulthood may be linked to an increased risk of developing high blood pressure as an adult, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

22 Jun 2026

How clinicians can identify and manage Ebola, hantavirus

Two deadly infectious diseases, Ebola https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260834 and hantavirus https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260789, have made headlines in recent weeks as they pose serious threats to public health.

22 Jun 2026

Scientists find mechanism behind bird flu infections in dairy cattle

When H5N1 bird flu first began infecting U.S. cattle in early 2024, diagnosis was elusive, because in cows, the disease looked completely different.

19 Jun 2026

Prolonged Instagram use may change how the brain perceives our bodies

Instagram use could influence not only how we see our bodies, but also how our brain perceives as "ours" the bodies we inhabit.

19 Jun 2026

Video games build emotional resilience and alleviate adult loneliness

A new study published in JMIR Serious Games suggests that some video games may do more than entertain-they may also help adults cope with loneliness and build emotional resilience.

19 Jun 2026

Poll reveals gaps in brain health awareness among older adults

Nearly all Michiganders age 50 and over say it's very important to keep their brains healthy as they grow older, a new poll finds.

18 Jun 2026

HPV vaccination linked to sharp decline in cervical cancer deaths

High-income countries that initiated widespread administration of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in the mid-2000s have experienced substantial declines in cervical cancer cases, marking a significant achievement in medicine.

18 Jun 2026

Paid paternity leave supports new fathers' mental health, study finds

A new study from Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago highlights the critical role paid paternal leave plays in supporting new dads' mental health following the birth of their baby.

18 Jun 2026

Study finds low risk of international Ebola virus transmission

In previous Ebola disease outbreaks in Africa as well as the current outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, immediate neighbouring countries are most affected when it comes to cross-border spread.

18 Jun 2026

Oropouche virus infected millions more than official data shows

The recent Oropouche virus outbreak in 2023 drew attention in Brazil and other Latin American countries not only because of its scale – with more than 30,000 cases recorded nationwide – but also because of the first confirmed death in the country caused by the disease and its rapid spread to all states, extending beyond the Amazon region.

18 Jun 2026

Reductions in syringe service program funding could increase overdose deaths

A new study published today in JAMA Network Open projects that reductions in federal funding for syringe service programs (SSPs) could lead to substantial increases in mortality among people who inject drugs in the United States.

18 Jun 2026

Quest Diagnostics study uncovers widespread community reservoirs of deadly gut bacterium

A common bacterial strain that lives naturally in people's guts can cause a dangerous or deadly infection for some, especially when it becomes multidrug-resistant and causes chronic urinary-tract infections (UTIs) in elderly women.

18 Jun 2026

Teen sleep quality associated with mental health, BMI, and screen time

A teen's mental health, as well as their body mass index (BMI) and screen time, are significantly associated with their sleep quality, according to a new paper published June 10, 2026 in the open access journal PLOS One by Jianying Li of Shanxi University, China, and colleagues.

18 Jun 2026