December 08, 2025
A small subset of patients endures a disproportionate burden of medical spending in India.
An analysis of national Indian health survey data co-authored by OHT’s Dr. Srikanth Reddy examined why medical spending varies widely across individuals. Using statistical methods to group patients into underlying “types,” the study identified a small group of older, socioeconomically disadvantaged healthcare users – including men, individuals from marginalized social groups, and those with lower education – who bear extremely high healthcare costs. They seek care less often, but when they do, they require longer hospital stays or more intensive treatment, resulting in consistently high financial burdens regardless of income. Spending differed by age, gender, education, and income, with women consistently receiving less care. The findings show that variation in health expenditures is driven not only by medical need but also by unobserved differences across patients, underscoring the importance of policies that better protect households facing the greatest financial burden. [BMC Medical Research Methodology]
Vaccination as a strategy to slow the global spread of antimicrobial resistance
In a World AMR Awareness Week article published in print in the Guardian, OHT’s Dr. Erta Kalanxhi highlights the importance of vaccinations in fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Decades of medical advancements are threatened by falling vaccination rates and a heightened reliance on ageing antibiotics which undermines their efficacy. Vaccines can prevent the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria by averting infections that would necessitate antibiotic use. They also reduce unnecessary antibiotic use linked to secondary bacterial infections and viral infections misdiagnosed as bacterial. [Global Cause]
People with disabilities experience increased vulnerability to drug-resistant infections.
Using observations from fieldwork in Brazil, Guatemala, and the United States and highlighting peer-reviewed research, OHT’s Dr. Samantha Serrano wrote a blog on how people with disabilities often face increased vulnerability to drug-resistant infections. Inaccessible healthcare centers, transportation barriers, and a lack of accessible information can delay care for infections and inhibit access to preventive measures. Some impairments put people at greater risk of infections such as urinary tract infections and pneumonia, which are major drivers of antibiotic use. Overcrowded and unhygienic institutions, stigma, and communication barriers also heighten exposure to infection and limit access to timely diagnosis and treatment. As antimicrobial resistance grows, ensuring that prevention efforts, healthcare services, and public health policies are disability-inclusive is essential to protect this often-overlooked population. [One Health Trust]
Faster detection and response are linked to markedly smaller outbreaks in Uganda.
An analysis of 84 outbreaks in Uganda between 2017 and 2022 assessed how quickly public health authorities detected, notified, and initiated response activities across a wide range of pathogens. The study found that shorter delays, particularly faster detection and earlier response, were consistently associated with smaller outbreak size, fewer deaths, and shorter outbreak duration. The mitigation efforts of many outbreaks, however, included substantial lags at one or more steps, often linked to limited surveillance capacity and delays in community-level recognition. The findings highlight the critical role of timely action in reducing outbreak impact and underscore the value of strengthening early warning and rapid response systems. [BMJ Global Health]
High particulate pollution is strongly linked to increased tuberculosis incidence in eastern Iran.
A new analysis from Zabol, a dust-storm-prone city in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, examined how high particulate matter (PM)₁₀ levels influence tuberculosis (TB) burden. Annual PM₁₀ concentrations reached 206 µg/m³, more than 9 times the permissible limit, and higher pollution periods were consistently followed by rises in TB cases. Using machine learning methods, the study achieved over 90 percent predictive accuracy in modeling TB occurrence. The findings highlight a strong association between elevated particulate pollution and TB incidence and underscore the need for improved air quality management and targeted TB prevention efforts in high-exposure regions. [Scientific Reports]
Mapping research gaps in rabies control and prevention in Uganda
Despite a governmental goal to eradicate dog-mediated transmission by 2030, rabies remains endemic in Uganda, causing avoidable deaths. Researchers conducted a scoping review and found that most of the country’s studies on rabies had been descriptive and cross-sectional, with very few studies using longitudinal or intervention-based approaches. A few studies incorporated One Health concepts across the human and animal health sectors, while the majority of studies focused on human populations. There were also gaps in coordinated surveillance systems, economic evaluation, and molecular characterization. To realize sustainable management and eventual elimination of rabies in Uganda, the researchers stressed that there is a need for increased financing and prioritization of studies on vaccine coverage, diagnostics, and intersectoral coordination. [One Health]
A new malaria drug is just as effective as the leading treatment in a major African trial.
A large clinical trial across 12 African countries found that a new malaria drug combination—pairing a newly developed compound with an older antimalarial—worked as well as today’s standard treatments, curing over 99 percent of patients. Current therapies rely on the fast-acting drug, artemisinin, but malaria parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to it. The new combination cleared resistant infections more quickly and may also help reduce transmission by killing the parasite forms that mosquitoes pick up. The new drug still requires regulatory approval, but the results are promising, and the developer aims to make it available within the next year and a half. [Science]
Avian influenza is linked to a sharp decline of southern elephant seals in South Georgia.
Widespread outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) have devastated wildlife populations worldwide, with the virus now reaching the sub-Antarctic. Following the arrival of HPAIV in South Georgia in 2023, scientists discovered that the southern elephant seal population had declined significantly. The number of breeding females on the 3 largest colony beaches decreased by 47 percent between 2022 and 2024. The loss of nearly half of the breeding population jeopardizes future reproduction and species stability. Researchers said ongoing surveillance and long-term ecological monitoring are essential for determining long-term impacts and guiding conservation efforts for marine mammals in the area. [Communications Biology]
Zoonotic disease research as a pathway to stronger biodiversity conservation
In an opinion piece, researchers emphasized that protection for biodiversity needs to be fully incorporated into the paradigm of One Health for balanced health outcomes to be achieved in humans, animals, and ecosystems. Based on contributions from 27 scientists and conservationists in Africa, the authors provided five major targets for integrating research on zoonotic diseases with conservation practices. These are: increasing ecological networks and legal protections, enhancing education and capacity building, accelerating the collection and dissemination of biodiversity data, opening up innovative funding sources, and incorporating the knowledge of indigenous people into conservation plans. Linking the monitoring of zoonotic diseases with the protection of biodiversity can prevent future outbreaks while maintaining ecological integrity, supporting both objectives of conservation and the resilience of global health. [One Health]
Expanding HIV screening through point-of-care testing in United Kingdom dental clinics
Researchers explored the feasibility and acceptability of offering point-of-care human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in United Kingdom dental practices. The study examined how dental settings could contribute to earlier diagnosis, since an estimated five percent of people living with HIV remain undiagnosed and approximately half are late diagnoses. Testing was well accepted by dental teams and patients, and the process was seamlessly integrated into standard dental workflows. Testing for HIV during dental visits could reach those individuals who are less likely to use regular healthcare services, according to research findings. The results encourage further expansion of dentistry offices as easily accessible, stigma-free locations for early HIV diagnosis and improved public health outcomes. [BDJ]
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