Health

Rare South American Diseases Offer Clues on the Next Pandemic

"Ebola virus, hantavirus and the pathogen that causes Covid-19 likely jumped from animals to humans. So do these viruses — and scientists say climate change is speeding their spread." "By the time colleagues called Dr. Matías Lahitte, an Argentine infectious disease specialist, it was too late."

Source: New York Times, 08/24/2026

NIH Plan To Keep Peer-Review Scores For Grants Secret Draws Concern

"The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) wants to change a key step in the review process determining which research it funds, raising concerns about transparency and political interference."

Source: Science, 08/24/2026

Trump Selects Dr. Heidi Overton, White House Aide, To Lead FDA

"President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will nominate Heidi Overton, a top aide at the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, to serve as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration."

Source: Washington Post, 08/21/2026

US To Send Hospital Ship To Peru As El Nino Threat Looms

"The United States will send a military hospital ship to Peru’s Pacific coast next year to help Peru cope with the effects of the El Nino climate phenomenon as part of a broader collaboration with the South American country, U.S. Ambassador to Peru Bernie Navarro announced Wednesday."

Source: AP, 08/20/2026

4 In 10 Americans Say Extreme Weather Damaged Their Towns In Past Year

"Nearly 4 in 10 Americans say their communities were damaged by extreme weather events over the past year, according to a new survey released Tuesday."

Source: The Hill, 08/20/2026

Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic?

If you’ve been pondering what recent Cyclospora, Legionella and Ebola outbreaks tell us about the state of preparedness for future pandemics, Backgrounder has some sobering insights. A reminder of the uneven response to COVID-19 and a look forward at how current Trump administration policy has weakened public health structures and likely left us unready for what’s ahead. 

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Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire

As wildfires rage in the U.S. West, Canada and other hot spots around the globe, reporters covering this environmental hazard in the United States can access high-quality data of exceptional timeliness via the Watch Duty app, finds the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. The tool offers everything from emergency notifications to data deep dives, all smartly integrated in its mapping interface.

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