A promising investigational vaccine for Shigella bacteria has demonstrated high-level protection in a phase 2 clinical trial, as reported recently in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The challenge trial, conducted at two U.S. sites, involved 73 healthy adults aged 18 to 49. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either WRS2, an oral live-attenuated vaccine targeting Shigella … Read more
President Donald Trump’s recent financial disclosure for 2025 reveals a significant increase in his wealth, estimated at over $2 billion within a single year. When questioned on July 1 about accusations of profiting from his presidency, Trump attributed his financial gains to the booming stock market, stating, "Everybody’s profiting. Do you have a 401(k)? … … Read more
As individuals living with HIV increasingly reach retirement age, the financial burden of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for Medicare is set to significantly increase. Projections indicate that by 2035, Medicare’s annual spending on ART for beneficiaries aged 65 and older could nearly triple, rising from an estimated $6.4 billion in 2026 to $17.8 billion. A recent … Read more
Elaine Chao Faces Baseless Spy Allegations Recent online speculation has targeted former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, with accusations circulating that she is a "communist Chinese spy." These claims intensified after Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly suggested Chao might be a spy following her trip to Beijing. The conspiracy theory gained traction on social media, fueled … Read more
During the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a surge of online discussions about gastrointestinal issues in Seattle caught the attention of Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH. As CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE), she observed this trend, noting, "We’re like, ‘Oh, that’s weird. There’s an uptick of people chattering about this.’" This observation was … Read more
A political advertisement from Majority Forward, a pro-Democrat group, makes a false claim regarding Senator Susan Collins’ stance on insider trading. The ad asserts that Collins “doesn’t think” insider trading should be illegal and implies she benefits from it. This is inaccurate. In reality, Senator Collins was instrumental in the passage of the 2012 STOCK … Read more
A recent study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report revealed a significant finding: in five states known for high rates of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), almost a quarter of adults tested positive for antibodies linked to the condition. This suggests that the trigger for AGS might be far more widespread than previously understood. Alpha-gal syndrome … Read more
Following America’s 250th birthday festivities on July 4, 2026, images circulating widely on social media depicted significant trash and debris around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. These visuals quickly garnered attention on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Social media users shared numerous photos and videos after the July 4th events, purporting to … Read more
A photograph circulating online shows a Black woman seated on a Washington, D.C., metro train, surrounded by masked individuals identified as members of Patriot Front, a white nationalist group. This image was captured on July 4, 2026, during a march organized by the group in the nation’s capital. The photograph has been widely shared on … Read more
A social media claim suggesting that Katia Aveiro, sister of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, has passed away after a battle with stage 4 breast cancer has been circulating widely. The posts gained significant traction online, prompting many to question their veracity. The rumor appears to have originated from an X post that stated, “Cristiano Ronaldo’s … Read more