Infectious

• The 2026 World Cup is projected to be the largest in history, creating a high-risk environment for the transmission of infectious diseases due to massive global crowds. • Health experts warn that pathogens such as measles and norovirus could spread rapidly among fans and athletes traveling across host cities. • This risk is significant because large-scale international gatherings facilitate the movement of viruses across borders, potentially leading to localized outbreaks.

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) appointed Dr. John Powers III as the acting director of its infectious disease institute, as announced on the agency's website this Tuesday. • In this leadership capacity, Dr. Powers III will advise senior officials on strategic initiatives regarding infectious disease research and the management of clinical trials. • His responsibilities include overseeing efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance and evaluating medical interventions designed to improve overall patient health outcomes.

• A retrospective of 2025's top infectious disease reports highlights critical events including a tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City and a significant FDA drug approval. • The Trump administration's termination of NIH grants severely disrupted clinical trials, with infectious disease research identified as the most heavily impacted sector. • The Kansas City TB outbreak underscores persistent public health vulnerabilities and the urgent need for improved treatment strategies and vigilance.

• Medical specialty societies are increasing their outreach and evidence-based guidance to fill communication gaps left by federal public health officials. • The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is collaborating with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and over a dozen other organizations to address public health needs. • This partnership is specifically focused on developing a comprehensive toolkit for clinicians and local health authorities to manage measles prevention and outbreak responses.

Pandemic report warns of growing global threat as health teams in Africa move to contain Ebola outbreak The world is becoming less resilient to outbreaks of infectious diseases, experts have warned, as health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda scramble to contain an outbreak of Ebola.The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) said in a report published on Monday that “as infectious disease outbreaks become more frequent they are also becoming more damaging”, warning that pandemic risk is outpacing investments in preparedness and “the world is not yet meaningfully safer”. Continue reading...

Federal agency, which normally supports state and local public health labs, has been hobbled by staff departuresSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US federal agency responsible for monitoring diseases has temporarily halted certain diagnostic testing, including those for rabies, human herpesvirus and several other infectious illnesses.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a list on Monday showing that more than two dozen types of testing are now unavailable. Continue reading...

• UC Davis researchers created a new blood test to quickly detect the active, infectious form of tuberculosis, aiming to accelerate diagnosis and curb spread. • TB killed 1.23 million globally in 2024, with over 10,000 U.S. cases including 2,000 in California; the test targets high-burden areas like India. • Professor Imran H. Khan submitted trial data to India's ICMR for approval and co-founded AppGenex Diagnostics to commercialize it.