MEASLES DEATH IN WEST TEXAS MARKS FIRST SINCE 2015

A school-age child in west Texas has died from measles, marking the first U.S. death from the disease since 2015. The child, unvaccinated, was part of a growing outbreak across Texas and New Mexico that has affected over 130 people, mostly children under 18. The outbreak, which started in Gaines County, Texas, is the largest since 2019. Measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease, was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread vaccination, but vaccination rates have recently fallen below the recommended 95%, contributing to the outbreak. In Gaines County, the vaccination rate is just 82%. Experts emphasize that measles deaths are preventable through vaccination. The CDC has reported three outbreaks this year, with 285 cases in total, compared to 16 outbreaks and 285 cases in 2023. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. erroneously stated two deaths, though officials confirmed one. (NPR)

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UNIDENTIFIED ILLNESS KILLS 50 IN REMOTE CONGO VILLAGES

Over the past five weeks, unidentified illnesses have killed more than 50 people in two remote villages in Equateur province, northwestern Congo. The outbreaks, which began on January 21, have affected 419 people, with victims experiencing rapid deterioration, including some dying within hours of feeling sick. Health officials have not identified the cause, nor whether the outbreaks in the two villages, over 120 miles apart, are connected. The initial deaths occurred in Boloko after three children ate a bat, and subsequent cases were found in Bomate, where some patients have malaria. The symptoms, including fever, chills, body aches, and diarrhea, could indicate various infections, including viral hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, though tests have ruled those out. The WHO is investigating several possible causes, including malaria and food poisoning. Response efforts are hampered by the villages’ remote locations and weak healthcare infrastructure. Experts are urging quicker investigations and better surveillance. (AP)

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TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS MASS LAYOFFS AT EPA AGENCY

President Trump recently mentioned that Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator, intended to cut 65% of the agency’s employees, which would lead to the loss of nearly 10,000 jobs. This announcement came after a White House memo instructed agencies to prepare for mass layoffs due to government inefficiency and debt. While the memo did not specify the 65% figure, it signaled the administration’s goal to reduce the workforce. The cuts, particularly in environmental roles, could severely affect the EPA’s ability to respond to natural disasters, hazardous cleanups, and pollution monitoring. The agency, which had 15,123 employees at the end of 2020, has already faced significant staff reductions under the Trump administration. Critics, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, argue that these cuts align with the interests of the fossil fuel industry, which has supported Trump’s campaign. The Biden administration, in contrast, has focused on rebuilding the EPA to address climate change and pollution. (New York Times)

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SUPERBUGS AND AMR RISING IN UK WITH DEADLY IMPACT

Superbugs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are increasing in the UK, contributing to over 35,000 deaths annually. The World Health Organization has called AMR one of the top global health threats. A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) warns that the UK government is failing to meet its AMR targets, with only one of five domestic goals met, namely reducing antibiotic use in food animals. Drug-resistant infections in humans have risen by 13% since 2018, contrary to the goal of reducing them by 10%. The government’s response has been deemed insufficient, and experts are concerned that without urgent action, AMR will significantly impact health, life expectancy, the NHS, and the economy. The NAO report also highlights challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing pre-existing conditions in patients, and deteriorating NHS infrastructure. By 2050, AMR is expected to cause nearly 2 million deaths annually worldwide, with serious implications for global public health. (The Guardian)

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CARB-X ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR GRAM-NEGATIVE INFECTIONS AND TYPHOID DIAGNOSTICS

CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator) has announced new funding to support therapeutics targeting gram-negative bacterial infections and diagnostics for typhoid fever. The focus for gram-negative therapeutics is on small-molecule drugs effective against both susceptible and multidrug-resistant strains, with preference for those offering both intravenous and oral options. CARB-X has prioritized these antibiotics since its inception, as gram-negative pathogens are a leading cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related deaths. For typhoid fever diagnostics, CARB-X seeks affordable, user-friendly tests for diagnosing Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, particularly in low-resource settings, where most cases occur. The funding round invites global applicants, especially from countries with high AMR burdens, with proposals due from April 16 to 30. Since 2016, CARB-X has supported 113 projects, with 19 advancing to clinical trials, 12 still in development, and 2 products now on the market. (CIDRAP)

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TRAUMA EXPOSURE MAY CAUSE GENERATIONAL GENETIC CHANGES IN SYRIAN WOMEN

A study published in Scientific Reports suggests that trauma, such as exposure to conflict, can have lasting genetic effects that may be passed down through generations. The research focused on three generations of women from Syria, including those who were pregnant or in utero during the Syrian civil war, and their descendants. The team found DNA methylation changes in 21 spots in the genomes of women directly exposed to trauma and in 14 additional sites in their grandchildren, indicating that the impacts of trauma may be inherited. These changes were linked to the severity of wartime experiences. The study’s findings are consistent with similar research in animal models, but experts caution that more studies with larger samples are needed to confirm whether these epigenetic changes are truly passed down through the germline. The study also explored whether trauma accelerates cellular aging, though results were mixed, highlighting the complexity of epigenetic changes. (Science)

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INTUITIVE MACHINES LAUNCHES ATHENA MOON LANDER WITH NASA DRILL

Intuitive Machines launched its second moon lander, Athena, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Athena is set to land on March 6 in Mons Mouton, near the moon’s south pole, a location previously unvisited by other spacecraft. Athena’s main payload is a NASA drill that will collect lunar soil to search for compounds like frozen water. It also carries three rovers, including the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP), which is testing a moon-based cellphone network. Athena’s design is similar to the previous lander, Odysseus, which failed to land upright last year due to a software error and miscalibrated laser measurements. Athena has undergone thorough testing to avoid similar issues. Alongside Athena, three other spacecraft are aboard the Falcon 9: Lunar Trailblazer, Odin, and CHIMERA GEO 1, each with different missions. Athena’s mission will last about 10 Earth days, with challenges such as surviving an eclipse on March 14. (New York Times)

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EARTH’S CARBON ABSORPTION DECLINE COMPLICATES CLIMATE GOALS

Earth’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide through plants and soils peaked in 2008 and has been declining since then, according to analysis of atmospheric CO2 measurements. While rising CO2 levels and warmer temperatures initially boosted plant growth and extended growing seasons, the negative impacts of climate change—such as wildfires, drought, extreme weather, pests, and plant heat stress—are now reducing the amount of CO2 absorbed. James and Sam Curran’s research shows that the rate of carbon sequestration has decreased by 0.25% annually since 2008. This decline increases the difficulty of meeting the necessary emissions reductions to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown. Emissions currently rise by about 1.2% annually, making it increasingly challenging to maintain a balance where CO2 levels do not continue to rise. (The Guardian)

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STUDY TRACKS POLAR BEAR CUBS TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE IMPACTS

Tracking polar bears in the wild presents unique challenges due to subzero temperatures, remote locations, and a changing environment. To better understand the early life stages of polar bears, researchers used GPS collars and remote cameras to study the emergence of cubs and their mothers from dens. Over six years, they monitored 13 denning females in the Svalbard archipelago, collecting thousands of time-lapse images to observe bear behavior. The study revealed significant behavioral variation between families, such as differing lengths of time spent near the den and some families moving to new dens. Cubs typically left the den only with their mothers and tended to emerge when the weather was warmer, suggesting this period is crucial for acclimatizing. The study also found that families departed their dens earlier than previously observed, potentially indicating the effects of climate change. While the findings offer valuable insights, the small sample size limits broader applicability. (Science)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

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