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.

Sri Lanka has been battling dengue cases since the beginning of the year. According to the National Dengue Control Unit, the island nation reported a total of 47,530 cases and 29 dengue-related deaths as of June 22.

Health officials said cases jumped to 13,689 in June alone, up from 8,590 cases in May 2026. The deaths include five children.

Colombo district accounts for 21 per cent of the country's cases (9,983), while Gampaha district has reported 8,809 cases (18.53 per cent).

Dengue: What's Behind The Surge?

Sri Lanka has experienced large outbreaks in recent years, including in 2017, 2019 and 2023. In 2025, the country recorded a total of 51,000 cases. The 2026 outbreak is reportedly driven by the monsoons and the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which ravaged the island nation in December last year.

“We noticed this increase after the cyclone,” Dr. Prashila Samaraweera, consultant community physician at the National Dengue Control Unit, told Reuters.

“A lot of debris was in our environment, so we noticed a lot of mosquito breeding places, and our entomological indices were high from that time,” she added.

Also read: Dengue Serotypes Shifting In Young Adults: How India's Indigenous Vaccine Could Help Prevent Severe Disease

Measures to Contain Dengue

Schools, homes, construction sites and public buildings are being cleaned up during a special programme launched by Sri Lanka's health authorities and other public officials.

According to media reports, Sri Lanka is deploying the military to contain the spread of mosquito-borne dengue fever, as health authorities warned that hospitals are being overwhelmed with more than 1,000 admissions a day.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's office said army, navy and air force officers would join a special unit to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites.

What Is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes and is common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Mild dengue causes high fever and flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, it can progress to severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which may lead to serious bleeding, shock and death.

Dengue is considered the most prevalent viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. More than 3.9 billion people across over 132 countries are at risk, with an estimated 96 million symptomatic cases and around 40,000 deaths annually worldwide.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Symptoms usually appear 4–10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and may vary in severity. Common symptoms include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Joint and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes appearing a few days after fever onset

How to Prevent Dengue

Preventing dengue mainly involves reducing mosquito exposure and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Effective preventive measures include:

• Using insect repellents containing DEET
• Wearing long-sleeved clothing, especially during dawn and dusk
• Installing screens on windows and doors
• Using mosquito nets while sleeping in endemic areas
• Eliminating stagnant water in flower pots, gutters and containers
• Using mosquito traps or insecticide-treated materials in mosquito-prone areas.

The National Health Service (NHS) has approved teplizumab for people with early-stage type 1 diabetes in England and Wales.

Teplizumab (sold under the brand names Tzield and Teplizumab) is manufactured by French drug maker Sanofi and is the world's first immunotherapy to target the root cause of type 1 diabetes and slow its progression.

It will be made available on the NHS in England and Wales as clinical trial evidence reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) showed that teplizumab can delay the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes by an average of nearly three years.

“This is a genuinely exciting recommendation. For the first time, we have a treatment that can give people diagnosed at an early stage of type 1 diabetes precious extra time before they need to manage the full demands of the condition,” said Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE.

Who Is Eligible for Teplizumab?

Teplizumab is used to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in children aged 8 years and older, and adults, with stage 2 type 1 diabetes.

In stage 1 type 1 diabetes, there are no symptoms, and blood sugar levels are normal, but blood tests show the immune system has begun attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Also read: UK Met Office Warns of 'Pollen Bomb': What Hay Fever Patients Need to Know

At stage 2, the immune attack has progressed further. There are still no symptoms, but blood tests show early changes in blood sugar levels, indicating a high risk of developing symptomatic diabetes.

Because stage 2 type 1 diabetes has no symptoms, specific tests are needed to diagnose it. There is currently no national screening program. But people are most likely to be identified through:

• Research studies such as ELSA and T1DRA, which screen children and young people aged 2 to 17.

• Testing because of an increased risk, such as having a parent, sibling or child with type 1 diabetes.

• Testing for other medical reasons, including concerns about blood sugar levels.

“Around 1,100 people could be eligible for treatment in the first year, with approximately 555 expected to take it up. From year three, the eligible population is expected to stabilise at around 820 people annually, with approximately 490 expected to receive treatment,” as per NICE.

How Does Teplizumab Work?

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Teplizumab helps regulate the immune system by attaching to a protein called CD3 on the surface of immune cells responsible for attacking insulin-producing cells. This slows damage to the pancreas and delays the onset of the disease.

Evidence for teplizumab comes from the TN-10 clinical trial, which followed 76 children aged 8 years and older and adults with stage 2 type 1 diabetes who had a close family member with the condition. Of the participants, 44 received teplizumab and 32 received a placebo.

Teplizumab delayed the onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes by approximately 32 months.

How Is Teplizumab Administered?

Teplizumab is given through a drip into a vein once a day for 14 consecutive days. Each infusion takes at least 30 minutes, with the dose gradually increased during the first few days. It is a one-time treatment course.

Patients will need to attend hospital every day during the treatment period, including weekends. The NICE committee noted that daily travel may be difficult for some people because of cost or practical considerations.

Sanofi has agreed a commercial arrangement with NHS England, meaning teplizumab will be available to the NHS at a confidential discounted price.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is worsening, with confirmed cases rising to 1,048 and the death toll reaching 267, according to government data.

The country has also reported 112 recoveries, while contact tracing coverage has improved to 70.8%. However, significant gaps remain. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 95% of contacts must be traced to effectively contain an outbreak.

The outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain, with no vaccine or anti-viral, is spreading rapidly, even as response measures are being intensified.

"The outbreak remains serious and is evolving very fast. However, I have seen a response that is growing stronger every day," said Marie-Roseline Belizaire, WHO Regional Emergencies Director for Africa, speaking to reporters in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Suspected Cases In Israel Test Negative

Meanwhile, Israel's Health Ministry said test results for two men hospitalized on suspicion of Ebola infection were negative.

The ministry stressed that no confirmed Ebola case has been diagnosed in Israel and advised the public to avoid non-essential travel to areas experiencing active outbreaks.

In addition, it urged travelers returning from Ebola-affected regions who develop fever or unusual symptoms within 21 days of their return to stay home and avoid contact with others.

Nearly 3 Million Children at Risk

UNICEF has warned that nearly 3 million children and adolescents face growing risks in eastern DRC.

According to the UN agency, an estimated 2.95 million children and adolescents aged 18 and under — representing 54% of the population across 31 affected health zones — are at risk from both Ebola and the disruption of essential services.

In Ituri province alone, Ebola has left more than 130 children orphaned, creating an urgent need for protection and care.

“Our teams in Ituri have met children who have lost their mothers, and in some cases both parents, to Ebola," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Children are trying to make sense of the threat while surrounded by rumors and online misinformation.”

Although the situation remains fluid, children and adolescents account for approximately 15% of confirmed Ebola cases and more than 25% of confirmed deaths in eastern DRC as of June 19.

Children and adolescents with confirmed Ebola are almost twice as likely to die as adults, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on younger populations.

Children Affected In Uganda

In Uganda, 20 Ebola cases and two deaths have been confirmed among individuals who travelled from the DRC seeking testing and treatment.

Children have also been affected. One child has tested positive for Ebola, while 19 others are under quarantine monitoring, the UNICEF said.

“Children are especially vulnerable because they depend on caregivers and cannot distance themselves from a sick parent or sibling in the same way that an adult can. To better protect children, we need sustained access, and the resources needed to reach every affected community," Russell added.