Until law, GLP-1 drugs were used to treat diabetes, obesity and even the recent evidences suggest that it could as well be used to treat chronic kidney problems. There is yet another research, published in JAMA Psychiatry on February 25, titled Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial that explores if GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduce alcohol consumption and cravings in adults with alcohol use disorder.

What Do Studies Say?

The research was conducted over a period of 9 weeks, where in the randomized clinical trial, the participants who were administered semaglutide, it led to reductions in some but not all measures of weekly consumptions. It also reduced weekly alcohol and craving related to placebo, and also led to a greater relative reduction in cigarettes per day.

The research also found that weekly injections of semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in weight loss drugs like Wegovy also helped reduce cravings in people with alcohol use disorder.

The lead author Christian Hendershot said that these findings will help in developing new approaches to treat alcoholism. "Two drugs currently approved to reduce alcohol consumption aren't widely used. The popularity of Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists increases the chances of broad adoption of these treatments for alcohol use disorder," said Hendershot in news release by the University of Southern California's Institute for Addiction Research, where he is the director.

The study is government-funded research and was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health.

How Was The Study Conducted?

The study was small, and took in account for only 48 adults over two months, thus experts say that it is not yet clear how safe these drugs are for people who do not need to lose weight. Though the results do add up with the evidence form animal studies on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy on how it helps manage cravings, not just for food, but also for tobacco and alcohol. Scientists are also studying these drugs on smokers, people with opioid addiction and cocaine users.

Co-author Dr Klara Klein of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who treats people with obesity and diabetes said, "This is such promising data. And we need more of it. We frequently will hear that once people start these medications that their desire to drink is very reduced, if not completely abolished."

Why Does It Work So Well Against Alcoholism?

The GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking hormones GLP-1 in the gut and brain that regulates appetite and feelings of fullness. This response is what helps one lose weight, and what helps one curb their craving for alcohol. These drugs that mimic the functioning of your brain, which is responsible to tell your body when to stop consuming, are the same hormones that tell your body about other kinds of consumptions, including alcohol. Therefore by consuming the weight loss drugs one can treat alcohol use disorder.

However, the researchers have pointed out on the limited data on the research and have suggested to continue using the three approved drugs by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, namely, Disulfiram, Naltrexone, and Acamprosate to treat alcohol use disorder until large studies confirm these findings.

Women diagnosed with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should receive an annual NHS health review and be diagnosed earlier to reduce their long-term health risks, according to draft guidance released by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The guidance, now open for public consultation, recommends yearly reviews to monitor symptoms, treatment and the risk of developing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Earlier diagnosis, NICE says, could help people access timely care and make lifestyle changes before complications develop.

PMOS, until recently known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), was renamed following an international consensus published in The Lancet. The new name better reflects the condition's endocrine, metabolic and ovarian features.

What Does The Draft Guideline Recommend?

Also read: PCOS Is Now PMOS: What The Name Change Means For Millions Of Women

NICE recommends that everyone diagnosed with PMOS should be offered an annual review covering:

• Menstrual irregularities
• Symptoms such as excess hair growth (hirsutism)
• Medication use
• Screening for long-term health risks, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease

The guideline also includes recommendations on fertility treatment, stating that eligible patients should be offered IVF in line with existing NHS fertility guidance. It also addresses the management of common PMOS-related conditions, including acne, hirsutism and obstructive sleep apnea.

Given the increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease in people with PMOS, the guidance directs healthcare professionals to relevant NICE recommendations for managing these conditions.

Earlier Diagnosis A Key Priority

Read More: Teplizumab: UK NHS To Roll Out World-First Drug To Delay Onset Of Type 1 Diabetes

The draft guideline highlights that PMOS remains underdiagnosed despite affecting an estimated one in eight women.

It recommends investigating PMOS in anyone with irregular or absent menstrual cycles alongside signs of excess male hormones, as these are common indicators of the condition.

The guidance covers girls aged over 10, as well as adult women, trans men and non-binary people who are not receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgery.

People with suspected PMOS should be offered blood tests to measure hormone levels and, where appropriate, pelvic ultrasound scans. The guideline also states that PMOS should not be ruled out after menopause and notes that the condition may be more prevalent among women of Black, Asian and mixed ethnic backgrounds.

Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical adviser for women's and reproductive health at NICE, said the guidance is intended to improve consistency of care and ensure people receive appropriate long-term monitoring.

"PMOS is a common but often overlooked condition that can have a major impact on health and well-being. Recommending a simple annual review is an important step towards ensuring people get the ongoing care and monitoring they need," Ledingham said, in a statement.

Mental Health And Fertility Addressed

The draft guidance recognizes that PMOS affects far more than reproductive health. It is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, pregnancy complications and fertility problems.

For people planning a pregnancy, NICE recommends advice on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep and mental wellbeing to improve reproductive outcomes.

The guidance also stresses that eating disorders should not be overlooked or dismissed based solely on a person's weight.

Laser Hair Removal Not Recommended

While the draft guideline includes recommendations to manage hirsutism, it does not support routine NHS funding for laser and light-based hair removal therapies. NICE concluded that these treatments are not cost-effective, estimating they could cost the NHS "up to £100 million annually" in England if routinely funded.

The draft guideline is open for consultation until August 11, 2026, with the final NICE guidance on PMOS expected to be published in December 2026.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a prevention advisory against West Nile virus as the transmission season has begun early and more intensely. As of June 30, the virus has been detected in at least 23 states, with most in Arizona, making this season the widest geographic spread this early in the season in a decade.

West Nile Virus: CDC Issues Warning Against Mosquito Bites

At least 48 confirmed cases of West Nile virus were reported in the US. 38 of them are neuroinvasive (severe) cases, making it the strongest season in two decades.

Arizona has recorded the highest number of infections, particularly in Maricopa County, where 32 cases and four deaths have been reported. The first case of 2026 emerged in California’s Long Beach.

Authorities have warned, saying that senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems remain at the highest risk.

The CDC has issued a prevention advisory to control West Nile virus. It includes:

• Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

• Wear long sleeves and long pants.

• Remove stagnant water around the house to remove mosquito breeding sites.

• Repair damaged window and door screens.

• Seek medical care if you have a high fever, severe headache, confusion, neck stiffness, or muscle weakness, especially if it develops after mosquito exposure.

Also read: Scientific Breakthrough: US Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell That Eats and Reproduces

About West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that belongs to the flavivirus family, the same group that includes the viruses causing Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, Yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.

It is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on infected birds, which are the virus's first host. About 80% infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. About 20% develop West Nile fever.

Its common symptoms include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Body and muscle aches

• Fatigue or weakness

• Joint pain

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Skin rash on the trunk or back

• Swollen lymph nodes

The disease could become serious in a few infected people who may develop its neuroinvasive disease. In this situation, the virus affects the brain, spinal cord, or surrounding tissues. Severe complications include encephalitis (brain inflammation), meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis.

Also read: The Lancet: Young Adults With Obesity Face Higher Heart Risk; Statins Benefit Older Adults

The symptoms of severe West Nile virus include most of the commons ones as well as:

• Neck stiffness

• Confusion or disorientation

• Tremors

• Loss of coordination

• Vision problems

• Seizures

• Paralysis

• Coma (rare cases)

Why The West Nile Virus Season Is Early This Year?

Prolonged Warmer Climate

Mosquito populations usually do not thrive in cold weather. A warmer winter in several parts of the U.S. meant more mosquito populations survived into spring, leading to early breeding and virus transmission.

Warm Temperatures Accelerate Mosquito Breeding

Warm spring weather speeds up mosquito breeding. The virus becomes active enough to reach infectious levels in warmer mosquitoes, shortening the time between when a mosquito becomes infected and when it can spread the virus to humans.

Stagnant Water

In most regions, warm weather is followed by periods of rain, creating ideal habitats for mosquitoes to breed.

Climate Change Extend Mosquito Seasons

Longer mosquito seasons are usually due to a milder-than-average warm climate. Warm temperatures also help the mosquito population to expand in newer regions. This leads to faster viral development and more cases of infection.

Ugandan health authorities have confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in a young child who died from the highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever.

The case comes as Uganda is already battling an outbreak of Ebola virus disease, another viral hemorrhagic fever.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Marburg infection was detected during surveillance for the ongoing Ebola outbreak, Reuters reported.

Health officials said no contacts of the child have developed symptoms, and there are currently no active Marburg cases in the East African nation.

While a spokesperson for Uganda's Ministry of Health said they were unaware of a Marburg outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed it was notified of the case on June 30.

"WHO has requested further information and is supporting the local response, including case investigation, active case finding, contact tracing and community engagement," a WHO spokesperson said.

Child Death Raises Questions

Also read: Scientific Breakthrough: US Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell That Eats and Reproduces

According to Africa CDC, the case was identified in Kyegegwa district in western Uganda in a 1½-year-old child who later died.

"Africa CDC is engaging the Government of Uganda through official public health channels on reports concerning Marburg virus disease. At this stage, we cannot confirm reports of any additional case," Africa CDC spokesperson Saran Koly said.

"Africa CDC stands ready to support verification, risk assessment and response readiness as needed."

Uganda last reported a Marburg outbreak in 2017 and has experience of managing three previous outbreaks. However, responding to a potential Marburg outbreak while simultaneously battling Ebola could complicate public health efforts.

So far, Uganda has reported a total of 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, including two deaths. Of these, 15 cases were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Marburg Infection In Child 'Unusual'

The child's age has prompted questions about how the infection occurred. Abraar Karan, a global health physician and researcher at Stanford University, said infection in a toddler is unusual.

"Quite unusual -- I would suspect transmission from someone else, but there are some less-likely scenarios in which spillover could still have happened directly to a toddler," he wrote in a post on X.

Read More: WHO Issues First Clinical Care Guidelines On Ebola And Marburg Disease

What Is Marburg Virus Disease?

Marburg virus disease belongs to the same virus family as Ebola and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever. It was first recognized in 1967. MVD has a high case fatality rate ranging from 32 per cent to 88 per cent. It is transmitted to humans after a spill-over event from a wildlife reservoir such as Rousettus aegyptiacus fruit bats or their feces or contact with infected primates

Once a person is infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of an infected person.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms usually begin suddenly and include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Extreme weakness

In severe cases, patients may develop internal and external bleeding, organ failure and shock, which can be fatal.

How Can Marburg Virus Be Prevented?

There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg virus disease, although several vaccines and therapies are under development. Early supportive care can improve survival.

Health authorities recommend:

• Avoid direct contact with the blood and bodily fluids of infected people.
• Avoid handling the bodies of people who died from Marburg virus disease.
• Avoid close contact with bats and wild animals, and do not handle bushmeat.