Five years after the worldwide hyperfocus on COVID-19 began, some are concerned about the next pandemic — whether it could be caused by influenza, bird flu or another pathogen.

Too easily overlooked are non-influenza, non-COVID viruses and bacteria that are burgeoning and spreading unchecked — both in the U.S. and around the world. While they may not cause the next pandemic, they do cause a lot of illness and death.

One such bacteria is Streptococcus Group A, an old enemy that colonizes the throat and tonsils of close to 20% of U.S. children, according to Dr. Joshua Osowicki, team leader and senior research fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. 

CDC WARNS OF INCREASE IN INVASIVE STRAIN OF STREP THROAT IN US

This problematic bacterial strain is easily treated with penicillin drugs when it causes a clinical infection, Osowicki told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview. 

But the problem, he said, is that because the bacteria may be harbored, the diagnosis isn’t always found early enough.

Scarlet fever and rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease can result from recurrent or untreated strep — and they are on the increase again in areas without adequate medical care, including parts of the U.S.

“Rheumatic heart disease is a chronic, non-infectious illness that occurs after untreated group-based streptococcal infections — and almost certainly after multiple untreated, group-based streptoococcus infections,” Osowicki said.

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His research reveals that the prevalence of a life-threatening invasive version of strep Group A — which can include deep-rooted skin infections, sepsis, meningitis and deadly pneumonia — is on the rise around the world. 

The aggressive skin infections, which are associated with intravenous drug use, can lead to the need for repeated surgeries, along with antibiotics.

A life-threatening invasive version of strep Group A can include deep-rooted skin infections, sepsis, meningitis and deadly pneumonia. (iStock)

In the U.S., there have been more than double the annual incidents of invasive Group A strep in 10 states, affecting about 35 million Americans between 2013 and 2022, with 21,000 cases and about 2,000 deaths, according to Osowicki.

“In many ways, it’s a pandemic in plain sight,” he said of Group A strep, adding that close to a billion people likely experience symptomatic disease from the bacteria each year.

“It actually does its damage in severe, life-threatening cases before the patient receives antibiotics.”

The important thing with group A strep, according to the doctor, is that antibiotic resistance isn’t the primary issue. 

“Group A strep is reliably killed by penicillin — and has been since 1941 when penicillin was introduced,” Osowicki noted. 

Strep A colonizes the throat and tonsils of close to 20% of U.S. children, according to the researcher. (iStock)

“The point is that it actually does its damage in severe, life-threatening cases before the patient receives antibiotics. There’s this period where it is too hard to diagnose and treatment comes too late.” 

In those cases, he said, the patients need ICUs, surgery and “the most intensive treatment we have to offer.”

Among patients over the age of 65 or so, a quarter of them will die with this form of the disease, according to Osowicki.

The need for a vaccine

There is not currently a vaccine for Group A strep.

While the more common form of strep throat and minor skin infections are “less scary,” Osowicki warned of the dangers of overlooking the more invasive version of the disease. 

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“We look away sometimes from the life-threatening infections that we struggle to prevent, diagnose and treat, (until) these become the front-page sepsis cases that you see in the newspaper many weeks of the year,” he said.

“They’re headline-catching cases. They’re the cases like Rory Staunton in New York, whose tragic death (in 2012 from sepsis) really triggered the state census mandates across the U.S.”

There are up to 10 different group-based strep vaccines in development, ranging from entirely pre-clinical vaccines that have never seen a person to vaccines that have been tested in phase 1 trials. (iStock)

The need for an effective vaccine is clear — both for invasive strep and the more common variety. Osowicki and others in his group are working hard on developing them.

“The current thrust of my research is all vaccine-related,” he shared. “We do what are called human challenge trials, where we deliberately infect healthy adult volunteers with group A strep, painting it on their tonsils. And we do that in a very careful way, in an inpatient environment.”

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The researchers also provide early antibiotic treatments and collect throat swabs, blood and saliva to study how the human-only pathogen works and to explore ways to stop it.

“The ultimate goal is that it becomes a really high-powered platform to establish the efficacy of vaccines,” said Osowicki.

There are many vaccine candidates in various stages of development, from the protein-adjuvant kind (like Shingrix or the Novavax COVID vaccine) to the MRNA platform and various other kinds, the researcher shared. 

“We’re working with every vaccine company that has a group-based streptococcal vaccine candidate in development,” he said. 

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There are up to 10 different group-based strep vaccines in development, ranging from entirely pre-clinical vaccines that have never seen a person to vaccines that have been tested in phase 1 trials, Osowicki noted.

The goal, the researcher said, is to “create a vaccine that the world wants, that the world accepts, that the world says is safe, and that will help our children.”

He said he is concerned about vaccine skepticism, particularly after the COVID pandemic, which can keep people from trusting the emerging science. 

Still, the researcher is excited about the future of the strep A vaccine and others, though he expects it could take at least five to 10 years before a worthy candidate reaches doctors’ offices.

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The new vaccine will be geared toward adults with skin infections, as well as the many millions of children who are at risk of both mild and severe disease.

The goal, Osowicki said, is to “create a vaccine that the world wants, that the world accepts, that the world says is safe, and that will help our children.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday announced its support for weight-loss drugs in adults globally.

The organization plans to back GLP-1s like Wegovy and Zepbound to treat obesity in adults as part of a shift in addressing the global obesity epidemic, as reported by Reuters.

In a memo, the agency called for strategies to improve access to the medications in countries that are low- and middle-income, Reuters summarized.

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More than one billion people have obesity across the globe, according to WHO’s data, and around 70% of these individuals live in low- and middle-income countries.

The proven effectiveness of weight-loss drugs has led individuals, especially in the U.S. and other high-income countries like Britain and Germany, to seek out GLP-1 solutions.

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Cost can be a factor, however, as the medications can be priced at more than $1,000 per month, Reuters noted.

The proven effectiveness of weight-loss drugs has led individuals, especially in the U.S. and other high-income countries like Britain and Germany, to seek out GLP-1 solutions. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In a statement, a WHO spokesperson wrote that the agency has been working on a “set of new recommendations for obesity prevention, care and treatment” among different age groups, including children, adolescents and adults.

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The agency said it expects the drug recommendations to be finalized by August or September 2025.

The guidance will also include “how and when this class of medications may be integrated as one component of a chronic care model that includes both clinical and lifestyle interventions,” the WHO stated.

In a statement, a WHO spokesperson wrote that the agency has been working on a “set of new recommendations for obesity prevention, care and treatment” among different age groups. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse/File Photo)

WHO experts also plan to meet next week to decide whether GLP-1 drugs should be included on the agency’s list of essential medications to treat both obesity and type 2 diabetes.

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The agency is also reportedly calling for longer-term studies on the cost-effectiveness of these drugs “across all settings” and income statuses.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is back, but this time for a new cause.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that went mega-viral in the summer of 2014 had more than 17 million people on social media, and even celebrities on talk shows, dumping ice water over their heads.

The challenge, supported by the ALS Association, was intended to raise awareness of the disease. It ultimately raised $115 million toward ALS research and patient care.

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Eleven years later, the Ice Bucket Challenge has been revived by USC Mind, the University of South Carolina’s Mental Illness Needs Discussion club.

In support of a foundation called Active Minds, the country’s largest mental health nonprofit for teens and young adults, the USC group launched the #SpeakYourMind Ice Bucket Challenge.

The challenge is taking off on social media and has raised nearly $400,000 on the event’s fundraising site.

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The trend revival has sparked some controversy for taking attention away from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

The average life expectancy after ALS diagnosis is typically two to five years, according to the ALS Association.

Brooke Eby, an ALS patient and influencer, posted a video on social media with the caption, “Watching people steal the ALS ice bucket challenge for a different cause when ALS still doesn’t have a cure and is 100% fatal. Fuming.”

The ALS Association and Active Minds announced they’re teaming up in the new Ice Bucket Challenge for the month of May, which is both Mental Health Awareness Month and ALS Awareness Month. (Abigail Breuchert)

Michael Stone, another content creator and ALS patient, spoke out about the impact the challenge had on the ALS community.

“It is more than a trend,” he printed in an infographic. “The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge changed lives.”

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“Raising awareness for ALS is crucial because it leads to funding, and funding leads to research,” Stone wrote. “What started as a viral challenge grew into something far greater: a worldwide effort that’s funding life-changing research and giving hope to those affected by this devastating disease.”

Brian Frederick, the ALS Association’s chief marketing and communications officer, shared the organization’s support for the revived movement.

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“We’re thrilled to see young people taking up the spirit of activism for mental health, but we also want people to know that ALS is still fatal and urgently needs a cure,” Frederick said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Mental health is an important issue in the ALS community, given the devastating physical, emotional and financial toll that ALS takes on entire families.”

Frederick commented that the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge “dramatically accelerated” the fight against ALS, which led to “new genes discovered, new treatments in the pipeline” and a significant increase in care services.

Since the challenge, the ALS Association has invested more than $150 million in ALS research, followed by nearly $1 billion in additional ALS research funding, according to Frederick.

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“We still have a long way to go to turn ALS from fatal to livable and cure it, but we’re grateful to everyone for taking the Ice Bucket Challenge and raising awareness of ALS and mental health,” he added.

A group of kids dumps buckets of ice water their heads on the fifth anniversary of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on July 15, 2019, in Boston, Massachusetts.     (Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

Cathy Cummings, CEO of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, noted that many people with ALS and their caregivers can face “serious mental health challenges,” such as depression and anxiety.

“Using the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness around mental health supports our community as well,” she told Fox News Digital. “We would like to hold space for multiple people’s experiences, without needing to pick which is more deserving.” 

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In a press release on Thursday, both the ALS Association and Active Minds announced they’re teaming up in this new Ice Bucket Challenge for the month of May, which is both Mental Health Awareness Month and ALS Awareness Month.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday released a comprehensive review of best practices for children and teens with gender dysphoria.

The report, titled ‘Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices,” was published by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Office of Population Affairs.

“This review, informed by an evidence-based medicine approach, reveals serious concerns about medical interventions, such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries, that attempt to transition children and adolescents away from their sex,” stated a press release from HHS.

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These types of “gender-affirming” treatments are recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). 

The report highlights evidence of risks associated with gender-related treatments, including irreversible infertility, sexual dysfunction, reduced bone density, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications and regret.

It also cites “very weak evidence of benefit.”

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The authors also called into question the ethics surrounding medical interventions for children and teens with gender dysphoria.

“HHS believes that medical ethics should be central in this debate,” the release said.

“This review, informed by an evidence-based medicine approach, reveals serious concerns about medical interventions, such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries, that attempt to transition children and adolescents away from their sex,” stated a press release from HHS. (iStock)

A team of medical doctors, medical ethicists and a methodologist contributed to the review, according to HHS. 

“Contributors represent a wide range of political viewpoints and were chosen for their commitment to scientific principles.”

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“Our duty is to protect our nation’s children — not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions,” said NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya in the release. “We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas.”

“It’s time for America to follow the example of other nations and end the dangerous experiment of pediatric gender transition,” said Mark Trammell, the CEO of the Center for American Liberty. (iStock)

The report will undergo a full peer review in the coming days.

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Mark Trammell, the CEO of the Center for American Liberty (CAL), said the new HHS report confirms that the “medical mutilation” of children suffering from gender dysphoria “is not only unsupported by credible scientific evidence, but also poses serious, lifelong risks.”

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“It’s time for America to follow the example of other nations and end the dangerous experiment of pediatric gender transition,” he went on. 

“Children deserve compassionate, evidence-based care, and parents deserve a voice.”

Fox News Digital reached out to WPATH for comment.

More people are focused on staying healthy and fit as they grow older — but it’s true that it can become more challenging with age.

New research has revealed that cellular changes during the aging process can cause belly fat — and that’s exacerbated by stress and sleep issues that contribute to weight gain.

“People often lose muscle and gain body fat as they age — even when their body weight remains the same,” study author Qiong (Annabel) Wang, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology at City of Hope, said in a press release.

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Published in the journal Science, the preclinical research involved experiments on mice that were later confirmed with human cells.

Researchers focused on a group of stem cells called adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) within the fatty tissue responsible for age-related weight gain.

When they transplanted these cells from mice of various ages into another group of younger mice, they noticed the creation of large numbers of fat cells within the younger mice.

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However, when they transplanted a batch of cells from young mice into old mice, they did not see the same effect.

The results confirmed that older stem cells are more likely to lead to new fat cells, regardless of the age of the host receiving them, the press release noted.

Older cells were found to produce more fat regardless of the host’s age. (iStock)

“While most adult stem cells’ capacity to grow wanes with age, the opposite holds true with APCs — aging unlocks these cells’ power to evolve and spread,” said Adolfo Garcia-Ocana, chair of the Department of Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology at City of Hope, in the press release.

Aging also changes these APCs into yet another group of cells called committed preadipocytes, age-specific (CP-As), which actively churn out new fat cells.

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Humans have a “signaling pathway” — a chemical reaction that controls how the body makes cells — called the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR), experts said.

“Our research indicates that LIFR plays a crucial role in triggering CP-As to create new fat cells and expand belly fat in older mice,” Wang said in the same release.

3 ways to prevent belly fat

Despite the effects of aging, there are steps people can take to prevent expanding waistlines, according to Dr. Sajad Zalzala, co-founder and chief medical officer of AgelessRx in Detroit, Michigan.

“As we age, our ability to maintain lean muscle mass decreases, which contributes to metabolic slowdown and increased fat storage, particularly around the abdomen.” (iStock)

1. Prioritize protein

“As we age, our ability to maintain lean muscle mass decreases, which contributes to metabolic slowdown and increased fat storage, particularly around the abdomen,” Zalzala, who was not involved in the City of Hope study, told Fox News Digital.

He recommends starting the day with 20 to 30 grams of protein, which can be found in foods like Greek yogurt, protein shakes and eggs.

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Eating protein at the beginning of the day keeps you full longer, stabilizes blood sugar and encourages muscle maintenance, according to the doctor.

2. Optimize sleep and stress management

“Chronically high cortisol levels, which can be driven by poor sleep or stress, promote fat storage, especially around the waist,” Zalzala noted.

An expert recommends stress-reduction strategies like walking, mindfulness and breathwork to reduce cortisol levels. (iStock)

People should aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night, according to experts.

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Zalzala also recommends stress-reduction strategies like walking, mindfulness and breathwork, calling them “powerful tools for fat regulation and metabolic health.”

3. Limit ultraprocessed carbs and refined sugars

“The study reminds us that aging adipose tissue behaves differently — it’s more inflammatory and prone to dysfunction,” said Zalzala.

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“Minimizing added sugars and highly processed carbs (white bread, pastries, sugary drinks) reduces insulin resistance and fat accumulation, particularly visceral fat that sits deep in the belly.”