Демократы в Конгрессе требуют отмены соглашения о перенаправлении миллиардов NIH на военные нужды

Lawmakers criticize deal that would send NIH funds to Department of Defense News brief Chris Dall, MA Topics Biosecurity Issues Public Health Democratic lawmakers in Congress are speaking out about an agreement that would allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to tap into billions of dollars in funding designated for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).The interagency agreement, which was discovered by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), would give the DoD access to funds that Congress provided to NIH for biomedical research into treatments or cures for infectious diseases such as Ebola, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and influenza. According to reporting by Nature, the yet-to-be finalized agreement would move funding from the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to military biodefense programs at the DoD and will last 10 years.“This secretive attempt to siphon research funds away from NIH is outrageous,” DeLauro said in a statement. “The interagency agreement needs to be terminated immediately.”Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said the agreement, which was not proactively shared with Congress, could mean that a “substantial proportion” of NIAID’s budget is not spent on NIAID programs.“We cannot allow this administration to shred patients’ hopes of new, lifesaving cures and treatments so that President Trump and Secretary Hegseth can secretively fund their own priorities in defiance of Congress,” Murray said in a news release. Bhattacharya defends dealDeLauro, who serves as ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, suggested the agreement is an effort to divert congressionally appropriated funding to DoD to help the department cover for the growing cost of the war with Iran.In a post on the social media site X, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, rejected the suggestion that the agreement is siphoning money away from research and said that the partnership will “focus on research projects that will drive discoveries to improve the health of American citizens and members of the military.”“Led by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, all work will be 100% aligned with our public health mission,” Bhattacharya said. Mom’s Tdap vaccination doesn’t affect baby’s growth, analysis finds News brief Sarah Boden Topics Diphtheria Pertussis Babies grow at the same rate regardless of whether their pregnant or breastfeeding mom gets the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, according to new research published this week in the journal Vaccine. The findings, which analyzed 42,758 electronic health records, are reassuring, write the authors, as they provide real-world evidence that maternal Tdap vaccination is safe for babies. The authors say the results can help parents decide whether to get a vaccine that protects against three potentially deadly bacterial infections. Additionally, the study found that maternal Tdap vaccination, either before or after birth, had no bearing on the frequency of emergency room visits for babies during their first 6 months of life. However, there was a 7% increase in outpatient visits (which include well-child appointments, video visits, and trips to urgent care clinics) among babies whose mothers were vaccinated. The researchers theorize this finding is because parents who opted to vaccinate are more likely to seek medical care. Last year 16 in US died of pertussis, including 6 babiesJust 55.4% of pregnant women in the United States receive the Tdap vaccine, according to a 2023 analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends the Tdap shot from 27 to 36 weeks of gestation, as this lowers the risk of pertussis, or whooping cough, for infants under two months of age by 78%. CDC data show that 16 people died of pertussis in 2025; six were under 1 year of age. There were also 28,783 hospitalizations. Bacteria in classroom dust may contribute to slightly lower lung function in kids News brief Mary Van Beusekom, MS Topics Misc Emerging Topics A new study underscores the importance of indoor air quality at schools, with the suggestion that children exposed to classroom dust with higher levels of two common bacterial pathogens have slightly impaired lung function.For the study, presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the researchers analyzed data from the Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe (SINPHONIE) project. The study measured levels of Streptomyces and Mycobacterium species in dust in nearly 300 classrooms in 22 European countries. The two kinds of bacteria are commonly found in soil, dust, and water systems.The team also used spirometry to test the lung function of children from each classroom to calculate the volume of air the lungs can hold and how quickly that volume of air can be exhaled. “We know that indoor air quality in schools can be affected by pollutants, humidity, ventilation, temperature, dampness, and biological agents like fungi and bacteria,” presenter Soutrik Banerjee, MS, of the University of Ferrara in Italy and French engineering firm Alten, said in an ERS news release. “However, much less is known about whether the types of bacteria growing in classroom dust are linked to children’s lung function.”Impairment was modestChildren in classrooms with higher concentrations of Streptomyces had a slightly lower forced vital capacity, a measure of how much air a person can blow out after taking a deep breath. Children are exposed to school indoor environments every weekday, and a mild to moderate reduction in lung function today may be a pre-cursor to preventable lung disease in later life. Soutrik Banerjee, MS Similarly, students in classrooms with higher levels of Mycobacterium had slightly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). FEV₁ measures how much air a person can exhale in one second, and PEF is the maximum flow a person can exhale as quickly as possible.“Although the reductions we found were modest for each child, they are statistically significant and could be important for the wider population,” Banerjee said. “Children are exposed to school indoor environments every weekday, and a mild to moderate reduction in lung function today may be a pre-cursor to preventable lung disease in later life.” Quick takes: Dengue rise in Florida, South Dakota anthrax detection, drop in foreign food inspections News brief Stephanie Soucheray, MA Topics Dengue Cyclospora Anthrax Foodborne Disease The Florida Department of Health is reporting increasing cases of locally acquired dengue. As of August 29, the state has 73 local cases of the mosquito-borne illness, of which 32 were reported last week. Of the 73 cases, 65 are in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. Before the Labor Day weekend, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, and Pinellas counties issued mosquito-borne illness alerts. State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, told Floridians last week, “Use insect repellent, cover up when possible, and remove standing water around your home. Individual prevention helps protect you and your community.” In addition to local cases, 136 travel-associated dengue cases have been reported in Florida this year.A South Dakota beef herd has the state’s first confirmed detection of anthrax since 2024. The herd was likely exposed in Butte County, where they were taken to graze. Cattle owners first reported symptoms in Meade County, and the state’s Animal Industry Board has quarantined the affected herd and notified herd owners in the area. All adult cattle in the herd have also been vaccinated.The Associated Press says that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) foreign food-site inspections are down 35% since 2019, a trend that was accelerated during the pandemic and may have played a role in the massive Cyclospora outbreak that occurred this summer, as lettuce grown in Mexico was implicated in the outbreak. The FDA has been plagued by retirements and departures, which have only increased since President Donald Trump began his second term in 2025. Foreign food inspections fell further behind last year, down 17% to 1,140, in fiscal year 2025 from the prior year. ALL BRIEFS In case you missed it Most Americans know mosquitoes cause disease, but few know how to use bug spray properly, survey finds DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak spreads to 7th province as cases, deaths mount Quick takes: Cyclospora outbreak over, possible dengue death in Florida, US rabies alert, new polio cases WHO approves multi-dose maternal RSV vaccine to protect more infants CDC warns of new Salmonella outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts Turkey farms in Dakotas, Minnesota hit with H5N1 avian flu Study: Candida auris often spreads from patients to gloves, gowns of healthcare workers Quick takes: Cyclosporiasis in Michigan, Aedes mosquitoes in the UK, new NYC Legionnaires measures This week's top reads Repeat COVID infections tied to higher odds of new health conditions Adults who reported 2 or more infections had 76% higher odds of receiving a new medical diagnosis. Laine Bergeson Some adult vaccines are linked to lower dementia risk. Can they promote brain health? Some studies suggest that flu, shingles, and tuberculosis vaccines could protect against neurologic diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Meghan Holohan Flushing the toilet may release germ plume at adult face height The resulting aerosols can create a potential pathway for inhalation of airborne pathogens. Mary Van Beusekom Lancaster County coroner says measles caused second infant death as US cases soar past 3,100 The US case total now stands at 3,134 as the Pennsylvania outbreak expands. Mary Van Beusekom Most Americans know mosquitoes cause disease, but few know how to use bug spray properly, survey finds Although 82% of adults surveyed know that avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to prevent West Nile and dengue, only one-third know how to apply insect repellent properly. Liz Szabo Think you have a penicillin allergy? You probably don’t Although 10% of Americans believe they have a penicillin allergy, less than 1% are truly allergic to the antibiotic. Being inaccurately labeled can be risky for your health. Liz Szabo CDC merges its flu, COVID divisions to ‘strengthen operational efficiency’ Also, the FDA appointed 4 men to senior leadership roles, including the newly created position of deputy commissioner for technology and AI. Sarah Boden Lingering respiratory virus symptoms aren’t limited to COVID, new review shows Symptoms that persist for three months or more are also common after other respiratory viral infections like the flu and RSV. Laine Bergeson Ebola outbreak in DR Congo tops 6,600 cases Frustrated workers are violating funeral protocols. Stephanie Soucheray Vaccine recommendations and access, plus measles deaths: 3 questions, zero consensus: The State of US Vaccine Policy Things no longer reliably provided by the CDC: What vaccines are recommended, whether you can walk in and get one, and what's happening with disease in the US. Izzy Brandstetter Figueroa, PhD, MPH, Riley Mulholland, MPH, Jess Steier, DrPH Our underwriters Unrestricted financial support provided by Principal Underwriter Leading Underwriter Supporting Underwriter Become an Underwriter Ebola outbreak in DR Congo tops 6,600 cases News brief Stephanie Soucheray, MA Topics Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Copied to clipboard A World Health Organization (WHO) officials says 5,000 more workers are needed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to control the ongoing Ebola outbreak as it spreads geographically and threatens to move into bigger cities outside of the affected provinces, including Kinshasa.In addition, the WHO said another 1,600 treatment beds are estimated to be needed to meet the demand of what remains the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in world history.Outbreak totals include 6,686 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,226 deaths as of yesterday. WHO officials told reporters today that 1,400 beds have already been established across 59 facilities, but the scale-up must continue to get people treated outside of the community where new transmission chains are being established.Health workers remain unpaidToday the Wall Street Journal reports that frustrated, unpaid healthcare workers in the DRC are allowing families to touch dead Ebola patients before they are buried, breaking the most basic tenet of outbreak control. Funerals are a major site of Ebola transmission, as handling a dead person’s body can spread the virus.Workers have reported stalled wages and lack of protective gear since the start of this outbreak in May.The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. No vaccines or treatments are approved for this strain, which has been the cause of only two other known outbreaks since it was discovered in 2007.