Ebola threat escalates in Congo
At least 30 people have died since the start of May in one camp for displaced civilians in northeastern Congo, a death rate that camp officials called unprecedented. Some deaths have been confirmed as Ebola, suggesting the disease could be spreading rapidly in crowded conditions. The CDC announced it would tap $107 million in emergency funding to support response efforts in both DRC and Uganda.
New Alzheimer's and Parkinson's approach
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine may have uncovered a promising new way to combat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Instead of targeting protein clumps directly, the approach focuses on cellular mechanisms that could prevent damage before it starts, offering a paradigm shift in neurodegenerative disease treatment.
GLP-1 pill and vaccine advances
A new GLP-1 pill for diabetes combining semaglutide with amylin was presented at the ADA 2026 conference, alongside promising data from China. Separately, an FDA advisory committee unanimously voted to recommend Moderna's new mRNA influenza vaccine for adults 50 and over, signaling potential expansion of mRNA technology beyond COVID-19.