Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health

08/31/2026

“Discussions of migration and infectious disease often get the causal relationship backward,” Paul B. Spiegel said. “Human mobility of every kind — tourism, business travel, migration — can move a virus from one place to another, but movement does not by itself create an outbreak; susceptibility does."

Author: Byron Donalds
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U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida’s Republican gubernatorial nominee, said U.S. measles outbreaks were caused by “rampant illegal immigration” during President Joe Biden’s administration. There’s no evidence to support that.

08/31/2026

“Any given chain begins with someone who traveled,” said Dr. Paul B. Spiegel, distinguished professor of the practice and director at Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health. “An introduction becomes an outbreak only when the virus reaches enough susceptible, unvaccinated people, and the importation data do not point to migrants in any case.”

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U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida’s Republican gubernatorial nominee, said U.S. measles outbreaks were caused by “rampant illegal immigration” during President Joe Biden’s administration. There’s no evidence to support that.

08/31/2026

Which countries are most at risk of disruptions to infant and young child feeding after an earthquake? Our study identifies 24 priority countries and highlights critical preparedness gaps.

Importantly, some gaps, such as missing translations of the Operational Guidance on Infant Feeding in Emergencies into key national languages, can be addressed before the next earthquake strikes.

Authors: Aly Dramé, MD MPH MBA, Andrés Abarca, Jodine Chase, Mija Ververs

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This study aims to prioritize earthquake-prone countries where infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is most likely to be disrupted after an earthquake and t...

08/24/2026

A new case report from DRC highlights how a ruptured ectopic pregnancy became life-threatening emergency in an Ebola Treatment Unit with limited diagnostic and surgical capacity.

ETUs need the capacity to rapidly diagnose and manage obstetric and other life-threatening emergencies.

Authors: Prince Imani-Musimwa, Emilie Grant, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Rigobert Fraterne Muhayangabo, Alfred Ombeni, PhD, Zacharie Tsongo Kibendelwa, Olivier Nyakio-Ngeleza, Richard Kitenge-Omasumbu, Théophile Barhwamire-Kabesha, Dieudonné Sengey-Mushengezi-Amani, PLACIDE MBALA, Richard Bitwe-Mihanda, Juakali Sihali-Kyolov, Mija Ververs

BackgroundEctopic pregnancy (EP) is an obstetric emergency; early diagnosis is critical for maternal survival. In resource-limited settings, such as Ebola tr...

08/19/2026

Since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan again in 2021, women have been prevented from studying and therefore from training to provide services to mothers, newborns, and children. Dr. Shatha El Nakib and colleagues model the impact of the ban on midwives and nurses on the workforce, the acceptability of predominantly-male led MNCH services to service users, and the subsequent effects on maternal and child mortality from a lack of care-seeking.

Listen here:

Medicine Podcast · Gavin Cleaver, Senior Editor at The Lancet Global Health, is joined in conversation by authors of new publications in the journal to explore their latest research and its impact on healthcare, people'…

08/19/2026

Afghanistan's ban on women training as nurses and midwives could cut the country's health workforce by more than half by 2035 — even after accounting for men stepping in to fill some of these roles. That's what our new study finds. The hardest-hit service? Skilled birth attendance, which could fall to just a third of current levels, meaning most Afghan women could soon be giving birth without a trained provider present. The human cost is staggering: up to 41% more maternal deaths, plus significant rises in newborn and child mortality. Translated into absolute numbers: that's roughly 4,500 additional maternal deaths, 10,800 additional newborn deaths, and 16,500 additional child deaths by 2035. This ban will have devastating impacts on women and children's health — and it is entirely manufactured and can be avoided if the ban is reversed.

Authors: Shatha El Nakib, Timothy Roberton, Husnia Sadat, Supriya Madhavan, Hadia Samaha, Mohammad Mahdi Frough, Marion Cros, Anju Malhotra

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08/19/2026

📚 What is humanitarian health?

When conflict, displacement, disasters, or other crises disrupt communities, health systems can be among the first things affected.

Humanitarian health brings together public health, medicine, epidemiology, social science, policy, and community knowledge to address urgent health needs in these settings.

This includes:
• Preventing and responding to disease outbreaks
• Supporting maternal and child health
• Protecting mental health and psychosocial well-being
• Strengthening health systems
• Responding to injuries and trauma
• Addressing the health needs of displaced populations
• Training the next generation of humanitarian health professionals

At the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, we believe rigorous evidence and locally informed practice can help make humanitarian responses more effective, equitable, and accountable.

Visit our website to learn more: https://hopkinshumanitarianhealth.org
Paul B. Spiegel, Shatha El Nakib

07/27/2026

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a warning about what happens when health threats are ignored until they become emergencies.

Gilbert Burnham, a physician and professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health/ Hopkins Department of International Health highlights the deeper challenge: diseases remain “neglected” not because they lack impact, but because they lack sustained investment and attention.

Global health security requires preparing for outbreaks before they become crises.

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One expert told Newsweek that "the risks extend beyond the DRC’s borders," and the U.S. is not immune.

07/22/2026

⏰ Reminder: Tomorrow, Thursday 23 July, 17:30–19:00 BST

📍 Join us at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, U. of London (Manson Lecture Theatre) or online to discuss our report "Health in a World of Crises and Impunity" — offering evidence and recommendations on health in conflict, displacement and climate-related crises.

📺 Can't make it in person? Watch via the livestream: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/events/health-in-world-crises-and-impunity

🟢 Free and open to all, no registration required. For more information: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/events/health-in-world-crises-and-impunity

Paul B. Spiegel,

📢 Attention UK-based humanitarians: Join us on Thursday 23 July, 5:30–7:00pm at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London to discuss our report "Health in a World of Crises and Inpunity."

🛑 Conflict, forced displacement and climate-related crises are reshaping the humanitarian landscape, and the health consequences are severe. This report brings together new evidence and recommendations for anyone working to protect health in these settings.

The programme:
✅ Opening by Richard Horton and Ana Mateus, Executive Editor from The Lancet
✅ Our co-chair Paul B. Spiegel will present the key findings and recommendations followed by a panel discussion and open Q&A with:

🔹 Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive, ODI Global, and Commissioner
🔹 Munzer Alkhalil, LSE IDEAS / Syria Public Health Network, Next Generation Scholar
🔹 Malavika Rao, University of Cambridge, Next Generation Scholar
🔹 Aula Abbara, Imperial College London, and Commissioner

📍 LSHTM, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT
🕠 17:30–19:00, Thursday 23 July 2026
🎟️ Free and open to all, no registration required
💻 Livestream available

For more information: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/events/health-in-world-crises-and-impunity

07/21/2026

ICYMI — a timely reflection from our co-chair Professor Paul B. Spiegel on the response to the Venezuela earthquake, and what it reveals about how humanitarian aid gets allocated.

💡 Our report, "Health in a World of Crises and Impunity," looks at the state of humanitarian aid, including how support is distributed: https://healthconflictcommission.org/the-report/

The administration proclaimed itself a leader of the Western Hemisphere under the “Donroe Doctrine.” A natural disaster has put that to the test.