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Controversy surrounding Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy

Whether or not those who are pregnant should take a Covid-19 vaccine to protect themselves and their infants became more controversial in May, when three top U.S. health officials – Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, and Food and Drug Administration director Marty Makary – announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedule will no longer recommend it "for healthy children and healthy pregnant women."

30 Sep 2025

Survey shows low public concern despite rising West Nile virus infections in the U.S.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental United States. As of Sept. 23, over 1,100 human cases of West Nile disease have been reported across 42 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including nearly 750 cases of the more serious neuroinvasive form which affects the brain.

26 Sep 2025

Climate change fuels spread of neurological virus in Europe

Growing numbers of West Nile virus infection cases, fueled by climate change, are sparking fears among citizens and healthcare providers in Europe. A Clinical Insight in the European Journal of Internal Medicine, published by Elsevier, aims to raise awareness and equip medical professionals with the knowledge needed to recognize and manage this emerging disease to avoid further spread and serious health consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals.

23 Sep 2025

Genomic studies reveal human influence on mosquito evolution and disease spread

Two of the world's deadliest mosquito vectors – Aedes aegypti and Anopheles funestus – have evolved, spread, and adapted in ways that complicate global disease control, two studies show.

18 Sep 2025

Climate change is already driving heat mortality and massive economic losses

Researchers systematically identified just 20 studies directly linking human-driven climate change to specific health impacts and deaths worldwide. They estimate tens of billions in annual economic losses and warn of inequities in research leadership and data coverage.

18 Sep 2025

Genetic study reveals how Anopheles funestus adapts to malaria control

New research into the genetics of Anopheles funestus (An. funestus), one of the most neglected but prolific malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in Africa, has revealed how this species is evolving in response to malaria control efforts.

18 Sep 2025

Florida chickens help scientists forecast West Nile virus outbreaks

A new study has significant bearing on the hackneyed joke about chickens and their numerous reasons for crossing roads.

17 Sep 2025

Rwanda confronts a surprising surge in malaria

After years of progress in reducing malaria cases, Rwanda is confronting a surprising resurgence and signs of treatment resistance that have forced officials to revisit vaccine intervention the country once declined.

15 Sep 2025

Waning Japanese encephalitis immunity linked to more severe dengue illness

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School, in collaboration with researchers in Nepal, have found that waning immunity to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) may increase the risk of more severe dengue disease in humans.

13 Sep 2025

Climate activists cite health hazards in bid to stop Trump from ‘unleashing’ fossil fuels

In 2023, a group of 16 young Montanans won a much-heralded climate change case that said the state had deprived them of a "clean and healthful environment," a right enshrined in Montana's constitution.

11 Sep 2025

Global climate warming fuels rising dengue burden across Asia and the Americas

Warmer weather across the globe is reshaping the landscape of human health. Case in point: dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease once confined largely to the tropics which often brings flu-like symptoms and without proper medical care can escalate to severe bleeding, organ failure, and even death.

9 Sep 2025

Dengue infection leaves lasting genetic imprint on immunity

Just as a computer's operating system can be rewritten after a major update, dengue infection can 're-programme' the body's immune system, leaving a long-lasting genetic imprint that influences how people respond to future infections-an effect not seen with vaccination.

9 Sep 2025

New class of insecticide offers yearlong protection against mosquito-borne diseases

A relatively new class of insecticide that can be disseminated on something the size of a sheet of paper offers protection for up to a year against mosquitoes that spread malaria, as well as dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika, UC San Francisco researchers have found.

26 Aug 2025

Climate variability may speed up the spread of vector-borne diseases

The study reveals that climate variability affects mosquito-borne disease risks, emphasizing the need for improved surveillance and public health strategies.

26 Aug 2025

Climate change expands mosquito habitat northward

Most people recover from Dengue fever, which is caused by a virus transmitted from the Asian tiger mosquito, but some infected individuals experience serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and even death.

21 Aug 2025

How a Réunion Island outbreak sparked France’s record chikungunya season

Mainland France recorded its earliest-ever local chikungunya outbreaks in May 2025, with 10 clusters (27 cases) across five regions, driven by travelers importing the virus from Réunion Island. The surge highlights growing vulnerability to mosquito-borne diseases in Europe as Aedes albopictus expands northward.

18 Aug 2025