Australia has taken a bold step in wildlife conservation by approving the world’s first vaccine designed to protect koalas from chlamydia, a disease that has devastated populations of the beloved marsupials. For decades, scientists, conservationists, and veterinarians have watched helplessly as this bacterial infection caused blindness, infertility, urinary tract disease, and premature death among koalas. Now, researchers believe this vaccine could change the trajectory of the species’ survival.

Chlamydia in koalas is not the same as the common sexually transmitted infection in humans, though both are caused by the same bacterial family. In koalas, the disease spreads primarily through mating and can also be passed from mother to joey during birth. Unlike humans, koalas cannot easily access treatment, and wild populations are particularly vulnerable. The effects are devastating:

• Infertility that prevents population recovery.
• Severe urinary tract infections leading to dehydration.
• Blindness that leaves koalas unable to climb trees or find food.

In Queensland and New South Wales, two of the hardest-hit states, infection rates in wild populations average around 50 percent and sometimes climb as high as 70 percent. Researchers estimate that chlamydia is responsible for nearly half of all koala deaths in the wild.

“Some individual colonies are edging closer to local extinction every day,” said Peter Timms, professor of microbiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast, who has spent over a decade developing the vaccine.

The newly approved vaccine is the result of more than 15 years of research led by Timms and fellow microbiologist Samuel Phillips. Their team at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Centre for Bioinnovation focused on creating a single-dose vaccine that would not only protect healthy animals but also help those already infected.

The formulation targets three specific chlamydia proteins and combines them with an adjuvant to stimulate the immune system. Importantly, it offers what scientists describe as “three levels of protection”:

• Reducing the risk of initial infection.
• Preventing disease progression in infected animals.
• Reversing existing symptoms in some cases.

This means the vaccine doesn’t just stop the spread; it actively helps infected koalas recover.

The vaccine’s approval by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is a global milestone. While vaccines against chlamydia exist in experimental phases for livestock and humans, this is the first time a chlamydia vaccine has been officially approved for widespread use in any species.

Trials over several years involved both wild and captive koalas. Results published in 2023 showed that vaccinated koalas had significantly lower risks of developing clinical symptoms during breeding age and that mortality from chlamydia decreased by at least 65 percent in wild populations.

“Knowing that we don’t have to catch the koalas multiple times and bring them back for booster doses makes this a game-changer,” Phillips explained. “The single-dose design reduces stress on the animals and makes rollout far more practical.”

Currently, about 500 doses are being prepared for distribution, but researchers estimate wildlife hospitals and conservation programs will need 1,000 to 2,000 doses each year. Demand is already overwhelming. “We’ve been getting calls from wildlife hospitals asking for the vaccine before production has even scaled up,” Phillips noted.

The Australian government has supported the development with A$749,000 from its A$76 million national fund to save koalas. Most of the fund is directed toward habitat restoration and monitoring, but scientists stress that addressing disease is just as urgent for long-term survival.

Koalas were officially listed as endangered in 2022 in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. National monitoring estimates suggest only 95,000 to 238,000 koalas remain in these regions. In Victoria and South Australia, populations are somewhat stronger, estimated between 129,000 and 286,000. However, overall numbers have dropped by more than half in the past two decades due to a deadly combination of factors:

Disease: Chlamydia being the single largest driver.

Habitat loss: Expanding urbanization and deforestation.

Climate change: Rising temperatures and drought weakening eucalyptus forests, the koala’s sole food source.

Bushfires: The catastrophic 2019–2020 fires killed or displaced thousands of koalas.

Conservation groups like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) warn that without urgent action, koalas could disappear from much of their natural range by 2050.

How Koalas Are A Symbol of Australia’s Wildlife Struggle?

Beyond their biological importance, koalas hold deep cultural and symbolic value. They are one of Australia’s most recognized icons, drawing millions of tourists every year. Their decline has become emblematic of the broader biodiversity crisis facing the continent.

“This vaccine represents more than just disease control,” Timms said. “It’s about giving one of Australia’s most beloved animals a fighting chance against extinction.”

With approval secured, the immediate focus will be on scaling up production and ensuring enough doses for the most vulnerable populations in Queensland and New South Wales. Researchers are also exploring how the vaccine could be integrated into broader conservation efforts, such as habitat protection and climate resilience strategies.

Phillips emphasized that while the vaccine is not a silver bullet, it fills a critical gap: “We can’t stop habitat loss or bushfires overnight. But we can reduce disease mortality significantly and give koalas the breathing space they need to recover.”

The approval also sends a hopeful message for other wildlife species threatened by infectious disease. From amphibians devastated by fungal infections to African elephants battling herpesviruses, conservationists are increasingly looking to vaccines as tools to prevent mass die-offs.

Australia’s success with the koala vaccine could pave the way for similar interventions worldwide, showing how science and conservation can work hand-in-hand.

When it comes to tackling chronic disease, the United States is lagging behind its peers. A new study published in The Lancet reveals that among 25 high-income Western countries, the US has shown the slowest progress in reducing deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The research, led by Imperial College London, analyzed mortality data from 185 countries between 2010 and 2019. While most nations reported overall declines in the probability of dying before age 80 from chronic disease, the US not only saw smaller reductions compared with other wealthy countries but also a troubling rise in deaths among younger adults aged 20 to 45.

The data show that between 2010 and 2019, deaths from chronic disease decreased in most US age groups but increased among young adults, a rare and alarming trend for a high-income country. Researchers describe this as “a rare phenomenon in high-income Western countries,” suggesting that the problem is systemic, not just demographic.

Majid Ezzati, the study’s senior author and professor of global health at Imperial, explained that while older Americans benefited from improved treatments and detection for heart disease and cancer, younger generations faced new and worsening risks including obesity, alcohol use disorders, and neuropsychiatric conditions like dementia.

The global picture provides a stark contrast. Roughly 80 percent of countries saw reductions in chronic disease mortality during the past decade, covering more than 70 percent of the world’s population. Denmark led the high-income group with the steepest decline, followed closely by Norway and Finland. Germany performed poorly as well, showing only slightly better results than the US.

While all high-income countries experienced a slowdown in the rate of decline compared to earlier decades, the United States stood out for its stagnation in working-age adults and actual increases in younger adults. Other countries managed to balance slower declines in older age groups with sharper improvements in working-age populations, but the US did not.

Why Is the US Falling Behind in Mortality?

The study did not dive into root causes, but experts point to a combination of health system and social factors:

Healthcare access and disparities: Millions of Americans lack consistent primary care, delaying diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions. Without a physician close to home, routine screenings often fall through the cracks.

Social determinants of health: Income inequality, food insecurity, and limited access to healthy lifestyles all disproportionately affect younger and working-age adults.

Rise in neuropsychiatric conditions: While cancer and heart disease deaths declined, increases in dementia, alcohol use disorders, and mental health-related conditions offset gains.

Obesity and lifestyle factors: Rising rates of obesity, poor diets, and sedentary behavior have made chronic diseases harder to control, particularly among younger people.

Ezzati emphasized that underinvestment in public health is a common denominator. “In both the US and Germany, there are segments of the population in which there has been less investment in public health, and these disparities in investment can lead to broad barriers to accessing care,” he said.

Is This A Global Slowdown, Not Just an American Problem?

The US may be the slowest among wealthy nations, but it is not alone in struggling. Nearly two-thirds of all countries saw slower progress in reducing chronic disease mortality during 2010–2019 compared with the previous decade.

In northern Europe, for example, Denmark and Finland reported slower improvements among older adults, but these were offset by faster progress among working-age adults. That balance prevented them from stagnating as the US did.

Globally, the slowdown raises concerns about whether countries will meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030.

So what sets top performers like Denmark apart? Researchers credit strong investment in preventive health, early detection, and broad access to primary care. Comprehensive strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention, aggressive anti-smoking campaigns, and early cancer screening programs have made a measurable impact.

By contrast, the US has struggled to implement nationwide preventive programs. Even when effective interventions exist — like lifestyle counseling, preventive screenings, and access to affordable medications, barriers in insurance coverage, geography, and affordability keep many Americans from benefiting.

Perhaps the most sobering aspect of the study is that progress is slowing not just in the US but worldwide. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment that once drove sharp declines in chronic disease deaths may be reaching their limits. Unless new strategies are adopted — especially those that reach disadvantaged populations — gains could stall entirely or even reverse.

For the US, where chronic diseases already account for 6 in 10 deaths, the message is clear: without significant investment in prevention and equitable healthcare access, the gap with peer nations will only widen.

Ezzati summed up the findings with a blunt warning, “The risk of dying from chronic diseases in most countries in the world is coming down. But we were doing better before.”

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has created a new mental health program called "Never Alone." The program was launched on World Suicide Prevention Day to directly address the serious issue of student suicides and to improve mental health awareness.

"Never Alone" is an AI-based tool designed to help students who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts and other mental health challenges. Its main goal is to reduce the negative social stigma that often prevents people from seeking help and to make it easier for them to access professional support.

How the App Works?

The "Never Alone" app is a very secure and personalized program that students can use anytime, day or night. It works through a web app that can be easily accessed via WhatsApp. For a very low cost of just 70 paisa per student per day, institutions can subscribe to the service and offer it to their students.

Also Read: Physiotherapists Are Not Doctors, Cannot Use ‘Dr’ Title, Rules Health Authority In India

The app provides a secure mental health screening and gives students access to both online and in-person consultations with trained mental health experts. This setup makes getting help more convenient and private, which can be very important for students who might feel uncomfortable talking about their struggles in person.

Growing Crisis Among Young Adults

This program was launched to tackle a serious national problem. According to government data, in 2022, more than 1.7 lakh people died by suicide in India. What's especially concerning is that a large portion of these deaths—35%—were among young adults between the ages of 18 and 30.

Experts say a big reason for this is that many people with mental health issues don't get the help they need. This is often due to a lack of awareness and the fear of being judged by others. The "Never Alone" app aims to fill this gap by providing a confidential and accessible way for students to get support.

Kerala, an Indian state located in the south and famous for its backwaters and green scenery, is now in the midst of increasing fear. Five individuals—children as young as three months old—have died in the last month alone due to a rare but deadly infection referred to as amoebic meningoencephalitis. The infection, brought on by "brain-eating" amoebae present in tainted water, has shocked the region and attracted worldwide attention to the dangers represented by emerging pathogens.

The newest victim, 56-year-old Malappuram district resident Shobhana, died on September 9 while receiving critical care at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH). Only a few days ago, another patient, Ratheesh, from Sulthan Bathery had passed away. Three others—a three-month-old infant, a nine-year-old girl, and a 52-year-old woman—also perished in the recent weeks. At least 11 other patients, including children, are still under observation at the state's biggest tertiary care center.

Why This Infection is So Lethal?

The perpetrator is neither a virus nor a bacterium, but free-living amoebae like Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, and Balamuthia mandrillaris. These are microscopic organisms that live in hot, stagnant freshwater and inadequately maintained sources like rivers, ponds, and untreated wells. The disease occurs in two forms:

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM): Due to Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as the "brain-eating amoeba." It enters via the nose, migrates along the olfactory nerve, and directly infects brain tissue. Symptoms—headache, fever, nausea, stiff neck, seizures—rise within days, frequently terminating in death.

Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE): Due to Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia, these infections spread more slowly, reaching the brain via blood through inhalation or skin injury.

Worldwide, amoebic meningoencephalitis has a case fatality of as much as 97 percent. Infections were rare, having been first reported by India in 1971. But in the past two years, Kerala has witnessed a surge: 36 confirmed cases and nine deaths in 2023 alone, a sharp contrast to eight in the six years that had transpired.

What concerns professionals is not only the increasing figures but also systemic failures. Kerala's public health activists mention lack of coordination between state authorities, local health bodies, and hospitals. There is no unified database available that records confirmed cases, recoveries, or deaths, making health workers and the population oblivious.

Drugs essential in the treatment of patients are not produced locally and have to be imported, in most cases resulting in delays in treatment. Kozhikode MCH officials confirmed that drugs for specialty have been ordered from overseas, but medical practitioners assure that prognosis is still bleak, particularly among patients with comorbid conditions.

Has Climate Change and Environmental Factors Increases Risk Of Infection?

Why is Kerala seeing such an upsurge now? Scientists and doctors think that climate change could be responsible. Temperature increases and unpredictable rainfall patterns are leading to more stagnant water bodies where amoebae can grow.

Dr. Abdul Rauf, a pediatric intensivist from Baby Memorial Hospital at Kozhikode, says that most recent cases have had delayed onset of symptoms—sometimes two weeks—are indicative of other amoebae like Acanthamoeba or Balamuthia as the causative agents. He further states that dirty water with high coliform content, associated with sewage and poor drainage, also raises chances of infection.

This brings into question larger environmental issues. With fast development, poorly designed drainage systems, and houses located near waste disposal grounds, citizens are being subjected to situations that could trigger the spread of unusual pathogens.

Fear and Changing Habits

In northern Kerala—specifically Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts—people are going out of their way to shun ponds and rivers. Parents don't want to let children swim, and villages have gone so far as to declare temporary prohibitions against bathing in communal water bodies. The fear is palpable: each new case contributes to a sense of vulnerability, given how low the survival rates are.

Kerala notched up its very first survivor of PAM in July 2024—a boy of 14 from Kozhikode who became one of only 10 known survivors globally. Although that was celebrated as a rare triumph, it highlighted how slim the chances of survival are.

While amoebic meningoencephalitis is uncommon, Kerala's outbreak highlights a global reality: climate-sensitive diseases once relegated to "medical curiosities" are no longer only found in textbooks. With freshwater sources heating up and sanitation infrastructure coming under strain, more communities around the world may be vulnerable.

For public health officials, the Kerala crisis is a reminder that rapid response, early detection, and open data-sharing are not choices—the choice is lifesaving. For residents, it's a stern call to re-think common interactions with natural water sources.

Kerala's health department has now launched special treatment protocols, pressed local governments to keep a watchful eye on water quality, and stepped up awareness campaigns. Experts caution, however, that these steps need to go beyond firefighting. Long-term investment in sanitation, drainage, and access to clean water will be critical.

Worldwide, experts emphasize the immediate need for stronger surveillance and increased investment in treatment for free-living amoeba infections. Treatments available today are restricted and in some cases, experimental. A more powerful drug pipeline, in addition to prevention with measures such as chlorination of water supplies and improved environmental sanitation, may decrease mortality.