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.

Heart failure (HF) remains a major global health challenge, affecting more than 64 million adults worldwide.

To improve how the condition is prevented, diagnosed and managed, leading cardiovascular organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), have released the "Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure."

The updated definition addresses changes in disease manifestations, diagnostic strategies and the understanding of heart failure's underlying biology. It also aims to establish a unified framework for clinicians, researchers, health systems and policymakers worldwide.

Published on behalf of the ACC, AHA, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and World Heart Federation (WHF), in collaboration with the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC and the Japanese Heart Failure Society (JHFS), the document updates the First Universal Definition of Heart Failure, released in 2021. It has been published simultaneously in Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), European Heart Journal and Global Heart.

What Does The Updated Definition Include?

The prevalence of heart failure continues to rise due to ageing populations and increasing rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

To better address this growing burden, the new framework introduces several important changes.

• Universal classification of heart failure causes:

• Moving beyond rigid ejection fraction cut-offs:

• Greater emphasis on early detection:

• Recognition that heart failure is dynamic:

• Attention to social and global factors:

Why The New Definition Matters

The revised definition provides a common framework for clinicians, researchers, health systems and policymakers worldwide, helping standardize diagnosis, strengthen research and support more personalized care.

The consensus document will also serve as the foundation for the upcoming American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Heart Failure Guideline, expected to be published in late 2027.

"Heart failure remains a major challenge that continues to grow globally, and inconsistencies in how it is defined have limited progress in research and treatment. This updated definition provides a clearer, more consistent framework to help clinicians identify risk earlier and guide more personalized treatment approaches that can help improve patient outcomes worldwide," said Mary Norine Walsh, co-chair of the consensus document.

"The new framework recognizes that heart failure is not a static condition. By focusing on stages of disease, underlying causes and disease trajectories—including improvement, remission and recovery—we can better tailor care and advance prevention efforts," she added.

Amid concerns over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan has declared a new cholera outbreak, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced.

The outbreak has been reported in West Kordofan state.

As of June 20, Sudan's State Ministry of Health had reported 838 suspected cholera cases, seven confirmed cases and 117 deaths.

Conflict Hampering Response

"The outbreak is unfolding amid the continued disruption of health services caused by conflict. Population displacement is making access to essential health care even more difficult. At the same time, insecurity and access constraints continue to delay the deployment of response teams and delivery of medical supplies and humanitarian assistance," Tedros said.

He added that WHO is coordinating the response with partners by scaling up cholera treatment centers and oral rehydration points, delivering cholera kits, installing handwashing stations, training chlorinators, hygiene promoters and health workers, and supporting community health education.

Third Cholera Wave Since 2023

Also Read: Ebola Outbreak Spreads To Fourth Province In DR Congo As Cases Rise To 1,274

Since the conflict began in 2023, Sudan has declared three waves of cholera outbreaks, with the most recent before this one occurring in January 2025 in White Nile State.

The latest announcement comes less than four months after Sudan declared the end of a cholera outbreak that began in July 2024. That outbreak spread across all 18 states, infected more than 124,000 people and claimed 3,573 lives.

According to the health ministry, the outbreak was largely linked to contaminated drinking water after the city's water supply facility was damaged in an attack by paramilitary forces.

War Fueling Disease Spread

Read More: WHO Warns of 70% Risk of Ebola Spread to South Sudan

The combination of conflict, displacement, damaged infrastructure and recurring disease outbreaks has placed millions at risk, with children under five among the most vulnerable.

According to the UNICEF, Sudan's healthcare system is also on the verge of collapse, leaving millions of children at greater risk of infectious diseases. Continued displacement has forced families into overcrowded settlements with limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare, creating ideal conditions for cholera and other waterborne diseases to spread.

The outbreaks have been intensified by multiple factors. The war has displaced millions, forcing many into camps with poor sanitation. Health centers, schools and water facilities have been damaged or repurposed as shelters.

Seasonal rains and flooding have further contaminated water sources, accelerating disease transmission.

What Is Cholera?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. This can be transmitted through drinking water or eating food that contains the bacteria. While most people who get cholera don't get sick, it can cause life-threatening diarrhea and vomiting.

CDC notes that each year, 1.3 to 4 million people around the world get cholera. Among them, 21,000 to 143,000 people die.

What Are The Common Symptoms?

The common symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• vomiting
• leg cramps
• losing body fluids
• dehydration and shock
• Usually, people develop symptoms within 1 to 10 days of consuming the bacteria.

Who Is At More Risk?

People who live in areas with unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene are at the highest risk of getting cholera. The disease can spread quickly in areas where sewage and drinking water are not adequately treated. It can also live in brackish water, which is slightly salty, or in coastal water. Thus, eating raw shellfish can also cause cholera.

The deadly Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has spread to a fourth province, raising concerns about wider regional transmission.

Until now, the outbreak had been confined to North Kivu, South Kivu, and the conflict-hit Ituri province, the epicentre of the current outbreak. Cases have also been reported across the border in Uganda.

The virus has now reached Haut-Uele province, which borders South Sudan and the Central African Republic, according to AFP.

WHO Warns Of Regional Spread

Also read: Serena Williams Calls Anti-Doping Rules 'Unreasonable'; Experts Highlight Impact On Athletes' Mental Health

The development also increases the risk of the virus spreading to South Sudan. A new World Health Organization (WHO) modelling study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases estimates there is a 70 per cent chance the outbreak will reach South Sudan soon.

Haut-Uele province is home to around 15 million people. Health officials said the first case in Haut-Uele was detected after an infected person travelled from Bunia, the capital of Ituri. The patient later died, according to sources at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB).

Cases Climb To 1,274, With 360 Deaths

Confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 1,274, including 360 deaths, according to the WHO.

The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Clinical trials are expected to begin in the coming days, according to the WHO, which has issued an international alert over the outbreak.

The WHO projections estimate the outbreak could reach about 8,210 cases and 1,420 deaths by mid-September if transmission continues.

Drug Trials Set To Begin

Read More: Popular Biscuit Brand Under FSSAI Scrutiny For Misleading ‘100% Atta’ & ‘No Added Sugar’ Claims

The first clinical trial of drugs that may treat the Bundibugyo virus is expected to begin in the DRC next week. A separate trial testing an antiviral drug to prevent infection among close contacts is scheduled to start a week later.

Scientists say efforts to develop vaccines and treatments are being hampered by the lack of a viable sample of the Bundibugyo virus.

DRC Restricts Public Gatherings

Separately, Reuters reported on June 29 that the DRC has banned public gatherings in four provinces, including the capital, Kinshasa, as authorities attempt to contain the outbreak.

The ban comes ahead of a planned protest in Kinshasa on July 8 against proposed constitutional reforms. Opposition leaders have described the restriction as "politically motivated."

US CDC Raises Response To Highest Level

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised its emergency response to the outbreak to Level 1, its highest activation level. The designation, reserved for the most severe public health emergencies, allows the agency to deploy its maximum response capacity.

Despite the escalation, the CDC said the risk of Ebola spreading to the United States remains low.