Think Global Health

1 week ago | thinkglobalhealth.org | Priti Patnaik

A decisive World Health Assembly (WHA) saw the adoption of a new agreement to govern pandemics at a time of grave financial uncertainty not only for the institution but also for the wider field of global health.  Countries came together overcoming political divides and mistrust, but much more will be needed to preserve multilateralism in global health as the sector undergoes potentially irreversible transformation with fundamental shifts in financing and governance.

3 weeks ago | thinkglobalhealth.org | Alejandra Martinez |Alejandra Martínez

Humans share the earth with millions of known species and millions more yet to be discovered. As numerous as these creatures are, so are the viruses, bacteria, and parasites afflicting them.  In a new book, The Elephant in the Room: How to Stop Making Ourselves and Other Animals Sick, science writer Liz Kalaugher combs history to expose how humans have been major contributors to the rise and spread of pathogens among nonhuman animals.

1 month ago | thinkglobalhealth.org | Alejandra Martinez |Alejandra Martínez

by Alejandra Martinez May 1, 2025 This year's measles outbreak in the United States has, , led to 884 cases and three deaths, 30% cases affecting children under the age of 5. The emergency is related to a concerning trend of falling vaccination rates and vaccine doubt: 97% of cases have been unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. The outbreak started in the Southwest United States, a region home to some of the largest populations of American Indian people.

1 month ago | thinkglobalhealth.org | Allison Krugman

Six weeks after the United States announced massive cuts to foreign aid programs, no clear alternative has emerged, leaving global health programs with massive shortfalls in funding. Among the many programs affected, the World Health Organization (WHO)–led Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is facing uncertainty because 21% of its budget has been historically funded by the United States.

1 month ago | thinkglobalhealth.org | Allison Krugman

Among the many programs affected, the World Health Organization (WHO)–led Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is facing uncertainty because 21% of its budget has been historically funded by the United States. The partnership already needed an additional $2.1 billion to meet its goal of eradicating polio by 2029—and must now plan for an additional $133 million no longer arriving this year from the United States.