This article was originally published by the World Economic Forum

• This global round-up brings you health stories from the past fortnight.
• Top health news: Climate change to accelerate spread of fungal infections, study finds; Gender imbalance in UK clinical trials sparks calls for reform; Are genetically modified mosquitoes the solution to malaria and dengue?
• The Forum will host an inaugural Annual Health Roundtable in Geneva from 20-21 May. Convening over 150 health and healthcare leaders from multiple sectors, the symposium will cover three distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: Improving Health & Wellness; Transforming Health Systems; Mitigating Health Risks.

1. Warming climate could increase fungal infection risks worldwide – study

Rising global temperatures will accelerate the spread of a fungus responsible for millions of infections and up to 2.5 million deaths globally each year, scientists warn.

The Aspergillus fumigatus species, in particular, could expand its range by 77% by 2100, reaching more northerly parts of Europe, Asia and the Americas, potentially exposing 9 million more people in Europe alone, new research projects.

“We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of lives, and continental shifts in species distributions,” Norman van Rhijn, Wellcome Trust research fellow at the University of Manchester, told the Financial Times.

What is Aspergillus?

• A common mould found in soil, compost and indoor environments.
  Causes aspergillosis, a lung disease that can spread to other organs, especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems.
• A. fumigatus is one of the World Health Organization’s top four fungal threats.
• A. flavus, another species, infects crops and produces aflatoxins, toxic compounds that can cause liver cancer.

Key findings:

• Climate change could shift the habitat of A. fumigatus northward, driven by its ability to thrive at 37°C – the temperature of the human body.
• A. flavus may spread to 16% more land, including northern China, Russia, Scandinavia and Alaska, while retreating from areas in Africa and Brazil.
• Infections often go undiagnosed due to symptom overlap with other diseases and lack of awareness.

Researchers and clinicians warn that fungi remain an under-recognized global health threat, with limited treatment options, increasing drug resistance and low investment in antifungal drug development.

“In 50 years, where things grow and what you get infected by is going to be completely different,” said van Rhijn.

2. Experts urge action on gender imbalance in UK clinical research

Health experts are calling for urgent reform in UK clinical research after new data revealed a stark gender imbalance in clinical trials, with 67% more male-only studies than female-only.

A review by The Guardian of 4,616 trials submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) between 2019 and 2023 found that while most studies included both sexes, male-only trials (6.1%) were nearly twice as common as female-only trials (3.7%).

Pregnant and breastfeeding women were involved in just 1.1% and 0.6% of trials, respectively.

Dr Amy Brenner, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the disparity has “serious implications,” noting: “This under-representation means there is a lack of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of many interventions in women.”

The MHRA said it is working to address the imbalance, with its deputy director Professor Andrea Manfrin, acknowledging that the lack of representation “creates evidence gaps about how medicines work” for underrepresented groups.

The women’s health gap equates to 75 million years of life lost to poor health or early death per year, according to World Economic Forum and McKinsey research. A major barrier to understanding biology and improving care delivery for women is investment, finds the Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap.

“Research funding for women’s health and the drivers of sex-based differences, particularly for conditions that affect the health span, is not proportional to the burden of disability attributed to these conditions.”

3. News in brief: Health stories from around the world

A new study published in Nature presents the Body Clock, a comprehensive metric quantifying disease burden across 13 organ systems. Outperforming the frailty index, it is said to accurately predict ageing-related outcomes, including disability and mortality.

Generative AI is gaining traction as a tool for capturing patient and caregiver narratives often overlooked in clinical data. The American College of Health Data Management reports that these stories can surface critical insights – emotional, relational and behavioural – that traditional records miss.

A new study reveals that fewer than 7% of people in poorer countries with severe drug-resistant infections receive the antibiotics they need. Research published in The Lancet warns that this not only leads to increased suffering and deaths but could also accelerate antimicrobial resistance.
A new global report from the World Health Organization reveals that factors like poor housing, limited education and lack of job opportunities can reduce healthy life expectancy by decades – sometimes more than 30 years – underscoring that social conditions, not just healthcare access, are key drivers of health outcomes worldwide.

A British biotech firm is developing genetically modified mosquitoes to combat diseases like malaria and dengue. By introducing a self-limiting gene that targets female offspring, the technology reduces mosquito populations. Early releases in Djibouti, Florida and Brazil show promise, with experts calling it a potential game-changer in controlling mosquito-borne diseases.

4. More on health from Forum Stories

Investing in women’s health represents a $1 trillion opportunity for the global economy by 2040. Despite this, it has long been underfunded and overlooked. Read more on how prioritizing women’s health can improve outcomes, boost productivity and extend lifespans for half the world’s population – offering multigenerational benefits for all.

Learn how this start-up is helping farmers identify diseases in shrimps to prevent overuse of antibiotics:
The rise in malaria cases across Asia Pacific, exacerbated by conflict and instability, is threatening hard-won progress in the fight against the disease. But with a $4.3 billion funding gap and a $90 billion return on investment from malaria elimination, urgent action is needed. A renewed commitment to innovation, increased funding and stronger collaboration can help close the gap and ensure a malaria-free future by 2030.

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