Japan could become one of the first countries in the world to end the HIV epidemic, says the president of Gilead Sciences Japan, Kennet Brysting. The idea for now could seem a little too ambitious, but it is not entirely unrealistic, given that the availability of medicines that can prevent transmission of HIV. Drugs are not the cure, but control over the spread of virus to the point where the disease is no longer a major public health threat.

What Is The Role Of Preventative HIV Medicines?

Gilead's have two key drugs, Truvada and lenacapavir. These two are playing a crucial role in prevention. Truvada is taken as a daily pill, while lenacapavir requires two injections per year. It can make the virus undetectable in infected individuals and prevent transmission to those who are not infected yet. In trials, lenacapavir showed 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infections. This is why it is describe as "almost a vaccine".

In 2024, Japan also approved Truvada for HIV prevention, but the country has yet to approve lenacapavir for the same. Until now, people in Japan had been importing generic versions of Truvada or purchasing it from clinics that source it from overseas.

HIV In Japan

Up until now, Japan reported around 25,000 HIV infections, whereas 669 new cases were reported in 2023. For seven consecutive years, the number of new infections remained under 1,000. The downward trend thus shows that the virus has been controlled, however, getting to zero new infections remains the ultimate goal.

Brysting too acknowledged that simply having effective drug is not enough. What is important is to have a proper implementation, access and healthcare support to make sure that these treatments are widely available and effective.

What Are The Challenges In Implementation?

The biggest challenges is testing rates. There is a need to increase testing rates. At this very moment, around 86% people infective with Japan have been tested, but the goal is to increase it up to 95%, with an ideal goal of 100%. Without widespread testing, many infected people may not even know that they are infected and it could transmit the virus.

Another measure issue is the cost of preventative medication. While Japan's health insurance covers treatments for diseases, it does not cover preventative drugs. Those who purchase Truvada for prevention, pay around $470 per month. Some clinics in Tokyo offer generic alternatives too, which is cheaper, but they are not ideal.

Better Healthcare Support

Brysting expressed concern that individuals importing medications might not be consulting doctors regularly, which is essential for monitoring HIV status and overall health. Truvada users need to be tested for HIV initially and every three months, along with screenings for other infections and kidney function checks. Without proper medical supervision, there is a risk of misuse and inadequate protection.

Gilead is in discussions with Japanese authorities to improve access and insurance coverage for Truvada, and progress is being made. Japan has shown efficiency in approving critical medicines, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gilead’s remdesivir was approved in just three days.

What Is The Way Ahead?

Gilead at this moment is not only focused on HIV and hepatitis C, but also expanding into oncology with innovative treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, which strengthens a patient's immune system to fight cancer.

However, Japan’s strict approval processes can slow down drug availability. Phase 3 clinical trials often need to be conducted within the country, and Japan tends to approve medicines much later than other regions. For instance, Truvada was approved for prevention in Japan 12 years after the U.S. and nearly 20 years after its approval for treatment. inancial factors also play a role. The Japanese government adjusts drug prices annually, often reducing them, which can make long-term investment challenging for pharmaceutical companies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius luxury cruise ship over after the last person being monitored completed quarantine without developing the disease.

Speaking at a media briefing on July 2, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the final person under observation tested negative after completing the recommended 42-day quarantine period for hantavirus exposure.

The individual has since returned home, and no additional infections have been detected since May 25.

"Today, the final contact of a person exposed to #hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home. No further cases have been reported since the 25th of May. Therefore, the WHO considers the hantavirus outbreak over," the WHO chief wrote on social media platform X.

The rat-borne virus outbreak infected 13 people and claimed three lives. It was caused by the Andes strain of hantavirus, which carries a risk of human-to-human transmission. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for the virus.

The Dutch-flagged ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, visiting remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, including Tristan da Cunha, before heading to Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands, where the remaining passengers were evacuated.

Also read: Can Hantavirus Spread Through Semen And Breast Milk? What Experts Say

Over 650 Contacts Traced Across 33 Countries

In an earlier post on X, Dr. Tedros said more than 650 contacts were identified and monitored by health authorities across 33 countries and territories.

"All but 54 contacts have completed their period of quarantine, and the remaining contacts are scheduled to complete their quarantine period by July 2," he told a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

"If no further cases are reported by then, WHO will consider the outbreak to be over," he added.

The WHO chief said the agency will continue efforts to better understand both the outbreak and the virus.

The UN health agency is working with partners who collected environmental samples from the ship and is coordinating a study among those exposed to better understand how the disease develops.

"We are also working on having a sample of the virus shared with the WHO BioHub in Switzerland," he said.

"This will be important for developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for future outbreaks."

CDC Ends US Response

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially ended its hantavirus outbreak response on June 24.

The agency said none of the 18 Americans who were aboard the cruise ship became ill during the outbreak or the subsequent 42-day incubation period.

"The successful conclusion of this response demonstrates the strength of a coordinated response to infectious disease threats that occur outside of our borders," said CDC Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya in a statement.

"I am grateful for the world-class team at CDC, whose dedication and swift action helped identify potential exposures, provide clear guidance, and protect the American people. As a result, we prevented any new cases from arising in the US."

What Is Hantavirus?

According to the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year, with the majority reported in Asia, particularly China. Most cases are sporadic or occur in small clusters linked to contact with infected rodents.

In humans, hantavirus infection can cause severe disease and may be fatal, although the clinical presentation varies depending on the virus strain and geographic region.

How Does Hantavirus Spread?

Hantavirus is primarily spread through contact with infected rodents, including exposure to:

• Urine
• Droppings
• Saliva
• Less commonly, scratches or bites from infected rodents.

Long COVID is a group of debilitating conditions that can persist for months or even years after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

While scientists are still working to fully define the condition, one of the most common and disabling symptoms is brain fog—a cognitive impairment that can significantly affect people's personal and professional lives.

People with brain fog often report difficulty concentrating, multitasking, reading, remembering information, and speaking in full sentences. Fatigue frequently worsens these symptoms. Despite its widespread impact, there are currently no established diagnostic tests or approved treatments for long COVID-related cognitive impairment.

First Treatment For Brain Fog

A new clinical trial led by researchers at UCL now offers promising evidence that cognitive rehabilitation may provide lasting relief for these symptoms.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that a 10-week cognitive rehabilitation program helped people with long COVID-related brain fog achieve meaningful improvements in returning to work, hobbies, and everyday activities.

The treatment consisted of weekly one-hour, one-to-one video sessions with a therapist who helped participants develop practical strategies to meet their personal rehabilitation goals. Most participants continued to benefit from the program for at least six months after treatment.

Also read: Natural Origin or Lab Leak? Gabbard Reignites COVID Origins Debate, Claims Fauci Funded Wuhan Lab Research

"As many as one in three people with COVID go on to develop long COVID, and cognitive difficulties are among the most common symptoms that can persist for months, disrupting day-to-day functioning and quality of life. People might find it hard to focus or hold on to their thoughts as they struggle with memory, attention and planning, often compounded by fatigue," said lead author Dr Martina Vanova, who completed the research at UCL before moving to Kingston University.

"In our study, we used well-established strategies of goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation to help people develop ways to tackle the challenges that are most meaningful to them," Vanova added.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Read More: 1 in 6 Americans May Be Suffering From Long COVID, Study Finds

The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), included 78 participants in England who had experienced cognitive symptoms of long COVID for at least three months.

Half of the participants received the cognitive rehabilitation program, while the other half continued with standard NHS care, which varied by region.

Before treatment began, each participant completed an online goal-setting interview to identify three personal goals they wanted to achieve. Most goals focused on returning to work and improving job performance, while others involved everyday activities such as staying focused long enough to watch a full film or read a book.

Therapists then worked with participants to develop personalized strategies to help them achieve those goals.

What Did the Study Find?

Read: COVID-19 Vaccination Reduced Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes in Elderly by 40%: Study

Three months after completing treatment, 84% of participants who received cognitive rehabilitation reported a significant improvement in goal attainment on a 10-point scale, compared with 53% of those receiving standard care.

The benefits were sustained over time. After six months, 53% of participants in the rehabilitation group reported a substantial improvement—defined as an increase of four or more points on the 10-point goal scale—compared with just 15% of those in the control group.

Researchers also observed measurable improvements in executive function, including better cognitive flexibility and faster processing speed.

Researchers also noted that early findings from a separate analysis suggest the program is cost-effective.

"We have found a treatment that provides clinically meaningful and sustained benefit for people with cognitive long COVID symptoms," said Joint senior author Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez of the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.

"As this program is based on established cognitive rehabilitation techniques that have been used for other conditions, we hope that it can be easily rolled out as a treatment option for people currently living with long COVID."

For nearly eight decades, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been regarded as one of the world's leading public health institutions.

Established in 1946 to combat malaria, the public health agency has since evolved into a global authority and standard on infectious diseases, vaccinations, chronic illnesses, epidemics, emergency preparedness, health surveillance and much more.

However, the institute has undergone significant changes President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

80 Years Of CDC

Since its inception in 1946, the CDC has led the response to numerous public health threats, including polio, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, H1N1 influenza, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDC scientists have spent decades shaping its long-standing vaccination programs and policies, disease tracking systems, and emergency responses during epidemics that have influenced public health policies and practices globally.

CDC Under Donald Trump’s Regime

As the institution completes eight decades, we take a look at how it has changed over time under Donald Trump’s administration. From changes in vaccination policies, reduction in workforce to a shuffle in leadership, CDC has undergone a tectonic shift.

While planning and preparedness for infectious disease has been a huge part of CDC's legacy, the current administration has increasingly focused on chronic diseases, nutrition, and environmental exposures.

Appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary

One of the earliest and most controversial consequential decisions of the administration was the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Kennedy, who is a renowned anti-vaxxer, introduced different goals for federal public health, particularly on chronic disease prevention, environmental health, and greater scrutiny of long-standing vaccine policies.

Also read: Illinois Governor Claims Trump Continues To Suffer From Dementia

Soon after the administration took office, HHS was significantly restructured, with plans to consolidate many public health functions under a newly created Administration for a Healthy America.

Largest Staff Reduction In The History Of CDC

In February 2025, more than 1,300 employees of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lost their jobs. Workforce restructuring was carried out in multiple departments in the following months.

Departments like outbreak surveillance, violence prevention, antibiotic resistance surveillance, Freedom of Information Act requests, and laboratory leadership programs were either downsized or eliminated.

Public health experts widely critcised the move, warning that the reductions could hamper the country’s ability to detect and respond quickly to future outbreaks.

Changes In Vaccine Policy

One of the healthcare sections that saw perhaps the biggest change under Trump’s administration was vaccination.

In June 2025, HHS dismissed all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the independent panel tasked for recommending how vaccines are used in the country.

Also read: New Book Examines Donald Trump's Health, Age Concerns; White House Responds

The committee was later recreated with new members. The move that drew criticism from several medical and scientific organisations. The administration revised several vaccine recommendations, particularly those relating to COVID-19, vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women.

The U.S. additionally withdrew its financial support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It also stopped hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for mRNA vaccine research, including projects involving COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccines.

Changes In Gender-Related Healthcare Policies

Major changes were made in reproductive and gender-related healthcare policies. One of the most talked about was the Mexico City Policy, also known as the ‘global gag rule’. The move restricted U.S. funding for non-government organisations that provide abortion services.

Insurance coverage and funding for gender-affirming healthcare was withdrawn. Several LGBTQ+ references were removed from many federally supported health programs, which sparked widespread outrage.

Changes In Leadership

Susan Monarez was appointed as CDC Director in 2025. But her stint was short-lived after she was dismissed later that year. Reports stated that disagreements over vaccine recommendations led to the leadership dispute. Several senior CDC officials also resigned after Monarez’s exit.

Trump supporters support these changes as they believe they are a part of a long-overdue overhaul of an institution they believe had grown too bureaucratic and too reliant on established scientific principles.

However, many public health experts argue that the changes have affected scientific independence, disrupted long-standing public health programs, and altered the CDC's traditional role as a reliable evidence-driven body.