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.

The developing El Niño event could intensify heatwaves, droughts and extreme rainfall into 2027, increasing health risks worldwide, including heat-related illnesses and infectious diseases such as dengue, malaria and cholera, according to a new World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report.

The State of the Climate in 2026 report, released during COP31 in Türkiye, warned that El Niño will amplify the health impacts of climate change.

In view of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, classified the anticipated health impacts as a health emergency.

The report warns of increased heat-related deaths, wildfire smoke exposure, poor air quality, malnutrition, injuries and changing risks of water- and vector-borne diseases.

"We have entered a new age of climate extremes. A supersized El Niño is colliding with a planet already superheated by manmade climate change," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.

How Could El Niño Affect Health?

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon involving warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. It influences weather patterns worldwide and can raise global temperatures. The current event is expected to continue into early 2027.

According to the WMO, its health impacts could include:

• Extreme heat: More intense heatwaves, heat-related illnesses and deaths.
• Poor air quality: Increased wildfire smoke and pollution exposure.
• Infectious diseases: Changing risks of dengue, malaria and cholera.
• Food insecurity: Disrupted agriculture, malnutrition and water shortages.
• Extreme weather injuries: Greater risks from floods, storms and other disasters.

Vulnerable communities with limited healthcare access and high dependence on rain-fed agriculture could face the greatest risks.

2026 Among Four Warmest Years On Record

Further, the report noted that the past 12 years have individually been the warmest on record, with 2023–2026 ranking as the four warmest.

Global average temperatures from January to September 2026 were 1.47°C above the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average. The figure could rise further by year-end as El Niño strengthens. The event has been intensifying since August and is forecast to continue into early 2027.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said El Niño was releasing heat from already warming oceans.

"El Niño doesn't add new heat to the planet. It releases heat from the ocean, which is the warmest ever measured. There is simply more heat available to release," she said.

Extreme Weather Is Already Taking A Toll

The report highlights the human cost of climate extremes across several regions.

• Europe: Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires contributed to more than 30,000 excess deaths, according to preliminary estimates.
• India: An estimated 146.5 million people were exposed to extreme heat during an April 2026 heatwave.
• Nepal: A glacier collapse and downstream flash floods in August killed more than 1,300 people and severely affected the country's economy.

Oceans Continue To Warm As Glaciers Melt

Earth's energy imbalance reached its highest level since monitoring began in 1960, as greenhouse gases trap more heat in the climate system.

The oceans absorb around 90% of this excess heat. Ocean heat content in the upper 2,000 metres reached a record high in 2025 and continued rising in 2026.

Global sea levels also reached a record high in 2026, driven by melting glaciers and ice sheets and the expansion of warming seawater.

Early Warning Systems Show Progress

The number of countries reporting multi-hazard early warning systems increased from 56 in 2015 to 136 in 2025.

These systems help communities prepare for extreme weather and reduce risks to lives and livelihoods.

The WMO stressed that sustained climate monitoring and reliable forecasts are increasingly important as extreme weather intensifies.

A new COVID-19 variant, PJ.2.1, is spreading across several countries, according to reports citing the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO said symptoms of the variant may resemble those of a common cold or flu.

"Symptoms of COVID-19, influenza and other respiratory infections can coincide. Thus, based on symptoms alone, it is impossible to determine with certainty which respiratory virus caused the infection," the WHO was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

The global health body said diagnostic testing may be important when identifying the virus could influence treatment decisions.

What Is The PJ.2.1 COVID-19 Variant?

PJ.2.1 belongs to the SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary lineage, the virus that causes COVID-19. It has a highly mutated spike protein, the structure the virus uses to attach to human cells.

According to an October preprint study, which has not yet undergone peer review, the first confirmed sample of PJ.2.1 was detected on May 2, 2026, in Ontario, Canada. The variant was subsequently identified in other parts of Canada and, on June 30, in New York. Cases were later reported in several US states.

Its spread has also been reported in other countries, including Spain, France, Israel, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

The researchers found that PJ.2.1 was less susceptible to inhibition by an antibody targeting the ACE2 receptor than other variants tested, suggesting increased ACE2 binding.

However, the variant did not show greater evasion of antibodies from people who had received an LP.8.1-adapted COVID-19 vaccine compared with most other variants analysed.

The findings suggest that increased ACE2 binding, rather than greater antibody evasion, could be contributing to PJ.2.1's rapid spread.

Older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those with underlying chronic conditions remain at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19.

What Are The Symptoms Of The PJ.2.1 Coronavirus?

According to the WHO, possible COVID-19 symptoms include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Blocked or runny nose
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Severe fatigue

Some people may also experience digestive problems, shortness of breath or changes in their sense of smell and taste. These symptoms are not unique to COVID-19. Seasonal influenza and other respiratory infections can cause similar symptoms.

The WHO emphasised that symptoms alone cannot reliably identify the virus responsible for an infection. Laboratory testing may be necessary when knowing the cause could affect treatment decisions.

Meanwhile, Russian infectious disease specialist and virologist Elena Malinnikova said PJ.2.1 may cause severe sore throat and more prolonged fatigue after recovery compared with some other variants.

Is PJ.2.1 More Dangerous Than Previous COVID-19 Variants?

A study published in the Journal of Infection examined the virological characteristics of PJ.2.1, including its ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor and evade antibodies.

Laboratory findings suggest that the variant may bind more effectively to ACE2, the receptor through which SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells. This could potentially contribute to its spread.

However, researchers did not find that PJ.2.1 was significantly better at evading antibodies from vaccinated individuals than most of the other variants tested.

Importantly, laboratory findings cannot establish whether a variant causes more severe disease in humans.

Currently, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that PJ.2.1 infections are more likely to result in hospitalisation, severe complications or death.

The WHO continues to monitor emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Although there is no vaccine specifically designed for PJ.2.1, COVID-19 vaccination remains an important measure for reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death. Older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those with chronic health conditions should consult their healthcare providers about recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.

Climate change is already driving illness, disrupting essential services and putting health at risk, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at COP31 in Türkiye on Monday. Calling the climate crisis a health crisis, he urged governments to strengthen health systems, implement existing climate plans and increase funding for proven interventions.

Speaking at a news briefing alongside Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, Tedros said the health impacts of climate change were no longer a distant threat.

"They are here and now," he said, pointing to heat, floods, droughts, wildfires and air pollution that are increasingly affecting healthcare services.

"Health is also the most compelling reason for climate action," he said.

COP31: WHO Chief Lists Three Priorities For Health

Also read: COP31 Begins On Health Day: How Will Countries Measure The Health Impact Of Climate Change?

Tedros outlined three priorities to address the health impacts of climate change, saying the newly launched Antalya Initiative for Health Resilience (AIR) could help countries put them into practice.

1. Build climate-resilient health systems

Hospitals and clinics must be able to operate through heatwaves, floods and storms. This requires reliable electricity and water, early warning systems, resilient supply chains and trained healthcare workers.

2. Move from plans to implementation

Countries already know many of the measures that work, but financing, capacity and coordination remain major barriers to implementing them at scale, Tedros said.

He stressed that climate-related health risks cannot be addressed by health ministries alone. Ministries overseeing finance, environment, energy, transport, housing and urban planning must work together and integrate health into national adaptation plans and climate commitments.

3. Increase funding for proven interventions

Tedros called for greater investment in measures that can save lives, reduce emissions and strengthen economies.

"Climate action is not simply a cost. It's an investment in healthier people, more resilient communities and stronger economies," he said.

A WHO technical analysis published on November 4 found that six priority climate-health actions could save 1.6 million lives annually and generate US$24 in benefits for every dollar invested.

What Is The Antalya Initiative For Health Resilience?

Read More: Climate Crisis Is A Health Crisis: Just 6 Actions Could Save 1.6 Million Lives, Says WHO

Launched by the COP31 Presidency, the Antalya Initiative for Health Resilience (AIR) is a voluntary, non-binding initiative to help countries share practical experience and strengthen health systems against climate-related risks.

It will support the documentation of successful interventions, peer learning and the exchange of approaches that countries can adapt to their own settings.

AIR complements the WHO-led Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), which brings countries and partners together to make, renew and report climate-health commitments. While

ATACH provides a platform for coordination, AIR focuses on sharing practical lessons from implementation.

The initiative will also build on the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), adopted at COP30, with lessons and resources carried forward through ATACH at future COPs.

"The focus now should be implementation, implementation and implementation," Tedros said, urging countries to learn from existing best practices rather than reinvent solutions. He called on governments to strengthen climate resilience across health systems and urged climate negotiators and funders to make health an explicit part of climate decisions and financing.

COP31 Health Day: What To Expect

Health Day, which opens COP31 on November 9, focuses on building dynamic and resilient health systems. It features four high-level panel discussions and a ministerial roundtable covering climate-resilient healthcare, digital health, climate-sensitive health technologies, humanitarian assistance and climate-health financing.

The scale of the health threat underscores the urgency. Around 3.5 billion people live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change.

More than 90% of deaths from climate-related disasters over the past two decades occurred in developing countries. Air pollution, including pollution from fossil fuel combustion, causes around seven million deaths globally each year, according to WHO.