Virginia's Measles Outbreak Has Expanded to a Second County as Cases Reach 129

• Emerging public health risks, including the spread of screwworm and flesh-eating bacteria, are increasing following deep budget cuts to federal health agencies under the Trump administration. • These funding reductions have targeted specific health programs, potentially limiting the ability of agencies to track and contain dangerous pathogens.

• A study published in Sage Journals used advanced imaging on 40 Long COVID patients to identify metabolic brain dysfunction in those experiencing post-exertional malaise (PEM). • Research highlights a severe economic impact, revealing that 46% of Long COVID patients are unable to work and are twice as likely to leave the workforce as those who never had the disease.

• The FDA approved the updated COVID-19 vaccine strain in May, but official guidance on who should receive it remains unavailable. • A critical lack of a quorum since March has stalled the committee responsible for determining eligibility and insurance coverage for the fall rollout.

• Frontline medics warn that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could take another six months to bring under control. • The WHO's Africa response lead has critically rated containment efforts as a 3-4 out of 10, highlighting significant lags in the response.

• A new review published in The Lancet on Tuesday confirms that mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are safe and effective. • Led by Manish Sadarangani of B.C. Children's Hospital, researchers analyzed laboratory data, clinical trials, and real-world surveillance from January 2020 through December 2025.

• AbbVie announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-4 trial testing the combination of epcoritamab and lenalidomide. • The study focused on adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had failed two or more previous treatments.

• The current Ebola outbreak in Bundibugyo shows a death rate of 26%, which is significantly lower than the 40-70% fatality rate recorded during the 2014–16 West Africa epidemic. • In other health news, the FDA approved Capvaxive on June 18, 2026, for children aged 2-17 with chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

• HCA Healthcare has announced a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) highlighting advancements in CRISPR-based therapies for children. • The research builds upon pioneering work at TriStar Centennial Medical Center and the Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Network, which performs over 1,600 cellular therapies and transplants annually.

• Paradigm Health formally submitted its response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Request for Information (RFI) regarding the Real-Time Clinical Trial (RTCT) Initiative on June 30, 2026. • As the sole technology provider currently operationalizing the FDA's RTCT proof-of-concept studies, Paradigm Health based its submission on insights from biopharma sponsors and healthcare providers.

• Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports on several Indian healthcare reforms, including the expansion of QR code-based traceability to vaccines, antimicrobials, and cancer medicines to improve drug security. • The government is introducing measures to simplify drug import procedures for testing, enhancing CGHS financial powers for faster cashless treatment, and launching the PM Family Care Tracker for maternal and child health.

• Public health experts warn that the U.S. has effectively lost its measles elimination status, as only 6% of 2026 cases are now linked to travel compared to a historical average of 40%. • In other health news, the FDA approved bulevirtide on May 22, 2026, marking the first-ever approved treatment for Hepatitis Delta.