Global heat levels are climbing, jeopardizing public health and environmental agreements. In 2024, extreme temperatures set records, causing deadly climate events worldwide. Heat-related deaths in the United States also hit a 45-year high.
Some international efforts aim to combat climate change. But significant shifts are needed to address current global heat risks.
Sunita Bhaiji was 13 when a mosquito bite changed her life. The mosquito carried a parasite that caused lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis. Now in her 60s, Sunita suffers from severe leg swelling. She faces stigma and alienation from close family members and her local community.
Sadly, Sunita is far from alone. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impact hundreds of millions worldwide.
Climate change is worsening the spread of NTDs. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns fuel their spread. Global efforts to address NTDs have grown, but action remains urgent.
Seventeen-month-old Zamira fell ill after returning from the Philippines. Back in the United States, she had severe vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Her symptoms seemed completely out of place for her healthy lifestyle.
The onset was sudden. At first, doctors misdiagnosed her with meningitis. For two months, she stayed in the hospital while they treated her for the wrong condition.
Finally, they found the true cause: tuberculosis meningitis. This form of TB infects the tissue around the brain or spinal cord.
Fortunately, with the correct treatment, Zamira fully recovered. Her ordeal led her mother to urge the world to end tuberculosis. Still, the fight against TB is far from over.
Karen Terlach, a 64-year-old grandmother, has battled chronic back pain since her 30s. Initially, she tried prescription medications, but the side effects outweighed the benefits. Later, a doctor suggested stretching exercises, which offered some relief.
Karen’s curiosity about stretching soon led her to yoga. The practice transformed her experience with back pain. Now, Karen is training at the Cleveland Clinic School of Yoga to help others ease theirs.
Karen isn’t alone in finding relief through yoga. Many people with chronic back pain have found it both effective and empowering. A recent randomized clinical trial supports yoga’s effectiveness in treating back pain.
The owner of a Wahiawa duck rescue notice strange symptoms in her birds. Some showed lethargy, while others had unnatural twitching and twisting of their necks. Initially, she suspected poisoning. However, 20 of her rescued waterfowl and 13 wild zebra doves died.
State officials tested the deceased birds and confirmed avian flu infections. These are the first reported cases of avian flu in Hawaii, making it the last U.S. state to be affected.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Canada, a teenager with bird flu showed an alarming mutation. Tests revealed genetic changes that could make human-to-human transmission easier.
Both events have raised concerns among health officials. Experts, however, maintain that the risk of a large-scale pandemic is low.
In 2022, Jeffrey Todd became one of more than 30,000 U.S. adults to contract mpox. After noticing his first lesion, he found online images of mpox rashes resembling his blemish. He assumed the rash would disappear by morning.
Instead, over two days, more bumps appeared on his right arm and back. A lesion also emerged on his neck. The spots itched, and he experienced fatigue, backaches, and shooting leg pains.
Todd was eventually tested for mpox and started antiviral treatment. However, the process involved a long and frustrating journey of self-advocacy. After 28 days in quarantine, he resolved to raise awareness about mpox. Todd hoped to prevent others from enduring the same ordeal.
Since 2022, mpox cases in non-endemic countries have dropped. Yet, mpox still harms tens of thousands worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) will convene a meeting this month to evaluate whether mpox still constitutes a global emergency.
A California resident has tested positive for mpox clade I. This strain has spread rapidly in parts of Africa. The development marks the first recorded case of clade I mpox in the United States. The infected person recently returned from East Africa to Sonoma County.
So far, there is no evidence that clade I is spreading in the U.S. Experts say the risk to the general population remains low. Still, the presence of clade I in the U.S. shows how mpox is continuing to spread globally.
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global health emergency. It confirmed this status again during a meeting in November.
Sitting too much is dangerous for your health, especially in inactive jobs. Not moving enough raises your risk of death, heart problems, and mental health issues. It can also cause physical problems, like muscle pain and stiffness.
The good news is, small changes can make a big difference. A new study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that daily walking can add years to one’s life.
People in the least active group gained over six hours of life for every hour walked. Those who walked as much as the most active group gained over five years of life expectancy, up to 11 years.
In fall 2022, I developed a cough and shortness of breath. My symptoms worsened to fever, cold sweats, fatigue, and severe weakness. As a teacher, I missed weeks of work while seeking answers from medical professionals.
Two pulmonologists diagnosed allergic asthma, dismissing my hunch of valley fever. I was prescribed steroids and antibiotics, but neither treatment helped.
Months later, my condition left me barely able to move or breathe. Finally, Dr. Seth Assar, an Arizona pulmonologist, agreed valley fever was likely. Blood tests confirmed the presence of Coccidioides fungus in my system. Antifungal medication brought immediate relief, and I fully recovered in months.
A misdiagnosis of valley fever can be deadly. As cases rise nationwide, awareness and early diagnosis is essential to public health.
Claire McWilliams, Ph.D., a Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Arizona State University, came down with COVID-19 in June 2022. Along with common symptoms, she experienced “crushing fatigue, brain fog, stomach upset, and nerve pain,” she said.
Even after recovering from the initial infection, these symptoms persisted. New ones appeared, like dizziness, blurry vision, and sudden changes in body temperature.
For a year, McWilliams sought answers from many doctors. She was misdiagnosed with conditions like hemochromatosis and autoimmune disease. Incorrect treatments only worsened her health.
Eventually, McWilliams finally found help through Banner Health’s Long COVID Program, led by Dr. Harvey Hsu. With the right diagnosis, her quality of life improved.
Still, she describes herself as a “two-scooper of energy,” fighting daily to keep her spark. Rest and support from family and friends have been vital to her recovery.
Unfortunately, McWilliams’ story is far from unique. Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world continue to face the harmful effects of Long COVID.
