Congo Ebola Surges as FDA Shortcuts Threaten Global Health
July 22, 2026
The rapid acceleration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the arrival of avian flu in New Zealand expose the severe strain on global biological monitoring. Meanwhile, political interference at the CDC and FDA, paired with corporate food lobby rollbacks surrounding Taylor Farms' outbreaks, demonstrate how institutional capture degrades public health infrastructure worldwide.
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Ebola spreading more quickly in DRC, while Uganda is close to being virus-free
Uganda discharges last-remaining patient, as WHO says Ebola has 'expanded faster than any previous outbreak' in DRC.
- geopolitics
- structural power
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Ebola death toll in DRC surges to at least 930 as outbreak continues spread
Ebola spreading faster than any previous outbreak in DRC, with 37 new deaths recorded over just 24 hours at the weekend.
- geopolitics
- structural power
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Why do some people who trust in science also believe in scientific conspiracy theories?
Pro-science protesters at the second annual Portland March for Science, Oregon 2018. Png Studio Photography/Shutterstock In a world where trust in institutions is mostly in decline, levels of trust in science remain relatively high. Yet at the same time, belief in scientific conspiracy theories, suc…
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Bird flu has reached New Zealand – what this means and what comes next
Manuel Romaris/Getty Images The first detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 in New Zealand marks an important milestone, but not an unexpected one. Since the virus reached Australia last month, and as it continued its global spread, scientists and government agencies have bee…
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FDA drug approval affects healthcare around the world, but political shortcuts could hurt the agency’s international reputation
At the beginning of July 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene therapy for young children with sickle cell disease. While this is good news for children in the U.S. born with this illness, the FDA’s approval may also benefit thousands of children beyond the U.S. border.…
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The Good & The Bad In Erica Schwartz’s Confirmation Hearings To Lead CDC
There’s a lot of health news going on in the country right now, in no small part to the absolutely pitiful and pathetic job RFK Jr. is doing heading up HHS. It is a near certainty that by the end of this week, the CDC will have published an updated case count for measles that […]
- media and technology
- AI governance
- structural power
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Taylor Farms Spent Big on MAGA and Anti-Regulatory Lobbying Before Diarrhea Outbreak
The company donated more than $3.6 million to conservative groups between 2020 and 2025, including $1 million to the MAGA Inc. super PAC.
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WHO: Ebola spreading faster than ever recorded in DR Congo
The World Health Organization warns the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is spreading faster than any previous outbreak.
- geopolitics
- structural power
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From smartphones to clinics: What Indonesia can learn from Thailand’s disease tracking
The COVID‑19 pandemic accelerated investment in health infrastructure across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Thailand. Indonesia built over 600 COVID-19 testing labs between 2020 and 2021, expanded telehealth services, and introduced digital platforms to monitor diseases. However, these impr…
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Taylor Farms pulls iceberg lettuce from the US market after cyclosporiasis outbreak
Agriculture - Harvested Iceberg lettuce / Santa Maria, California, USA. (Photo by: Tony Hertz /Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Food producer Taylor Farms released a statement on the Cyclospora outbreak Friday, confirming that it's "voluntarily removing all iceberg lett…