Grace O’Connor — Health & Science Editor 
Firefighters in France are battling two forest fires in the historic Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, which have consumed nearly 2,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of 1,000 people. As of July 14, 2026, authorities have arrested two suspects in connection with the blazes, which have been fueled by a persistent summer heatwave. Emergency Response … Read more
A 2026 KFF tracking poll reveals that most adults express uncertainty rather than definitive belief regarding common vaccine myths. While consistent myth believers remain rare, roughly three in ten adults fall into a “mixed middle” category, a group that may be an important focus for those looking to counter vaccine misinformation. These findings are detailed … Read more
Ebola Outbreak in Eastern Congo Likely Four Times Larger Than Official Count The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is significantly larger than official statistics suggest, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Chikwe Ihekweazu, the WHO’s emergencies director, stated that the true scale of the epidemic is likely two … Read more
Clinical Trials for Experimental Bundibugyo Ebola Treatments Launch in DRC Medical researchers have officially launched clinical trials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to test experimental treatments and preventive therapies for the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. As of early July 2026, the outbreak has reached nearly 2,000 cases, with official figures … Read more
David Baker’s AI Protein Design Transforms Drug Discovery and Therapeutics The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has highlighted a pivotal shift in science: artificial intelligence is no longer restricted to computer science, but has become a transformative, multidisciplinary force capable of designing proteins from scratch. David Baker, PhD, director of the Institute for Protein Design … Read more
Public health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador have confirmed a case of rabies in a bat found in the Trinity Bay area. This is only the second such detection in the province’s history, prompting authorities to warn residents against handling wild animals and to ensure pets are vaccinated against the virus. Rare Rabies Detection in … Read more
Health workers battling the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the payment of overdue salaries and bonuses, threatening a full-scale strike if their demands are not met. The protest, which has already seen staff block access to treatment facilities and burn tires, comes as the World … Read more
A parasitic infection that causes “explosive,” watery diarrhea is spiking across the United States, with health authorities scrambling to identify the source of the widespread surge. As of July 14, approximately 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported across at least 31 states, according to data tracked by NBC News from state health departments. The … Read more
Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian defense contractor central to one of the U.S. Navy’s most significant bribery and fraud scandals, is seeking a pardon or sentence commutation from President Donald Trump. Currently serving a 15-year prison term in California, the 61-year-old cites a terminal health diagnosis and claims of prosecutorial misconduct as the basis for … Read more
Indicator 2025 Totals 2026 (Jan–July) Confirmed Cases thousands thousands Reported Deaths 21 3 Hospitalizations N/A 172 WHO Western Pacific Regional Office surveillance of endemic dengue Health authorities have issued alerts across the Pacific as of July 2026, due to ongoing dengue outbreaks. While dengue transmission is declining in New Caledonia, outbreaks persist in Vanuatu and … Read more