Here are eight significant developments in global and public health for today, November 3, 2025:
1. ⚖️ Report Links Inequality to Higher Pandemic Risk and Duration
A new report, “Breaking the inequality-pandemic cycle,” released ahead of G20 meetings by the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics (convened by UNAIDS), finds that high levels of inequality make the world more vulnerable to pandemics. The report, co-chaired by Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz, warns that inequality increases the deadliness, disruptiveness, and duration of outbreaks, and that pandemics, in turn, deepen inequality. It calls for inequality-informed pandemic responses to achieve true health security.
- Source: Report: inequality is making pandemics more likely, more deadly and more costly | UNAIDS
- https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2025/november/20251103_pandemic-inequality
2. 🌍 Negotiations Begin on WHO Pandemic Agreement
The Third meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement is beginning today in Geneva. This crucial meeting, running through November 7th, is part of the ongoing process to strengthen global preparedness and response for future pandemics, following the World Health Assembly’s adoption of the Agreement earlier this year.
- Source: Third meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement
- https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/11/03/default-calendar/third-meeting-of-the-intergovernmental-working-group-(igwg)-on-the-who-pandemic-agreement
3. 🇺🇸 US Federal Shutdown Endangers Key Public Health Benefits
As the US federal government shutdown continues into November, essential public health and nutrition programs face significant harm. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the month are at risk of being delayed or suspended, threatening a severe food insecurity and public health crisis for nearly one in eight Americans. Funding for numerous Head Start programs is also in jeopardy.
- Source: Nov. 3 Federal Update: Communities Experience Growing Profound Harm as the Government Shutdown Continues – Social Current
- https://www.social-current.org/2025/10/nov-3-federal-update-communities-experience-growing-profound-harm-as-the-government-shutdown-continues/
🏛️ 4. Public Health Experts Gather for Major Annual Meeting
The American Public Health Association (APHA) 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo is underway in Washington, D.C., gathering over 12,000 public health professionals. The theme, “Making the Public’s Health a National Priority,” underscores the need to address challenges like budget cuts, attacks on science, and national health goals. Today’s agenda includes sessions on developing public health leaders and the future of health equity.
- Source: APHA 2025 to celebrate public health, educate field in November
- https://www.thenationshealth.org/content/55/9/1.2
5. 💰 World Bank/WHO Health Works Initiative Pushes for Health Investment
The World Bank Group, the Government of Japan, and the WHO continue to advance the Health Works Leaders Coalition, a global alliance launched in October. The initiative aims to mobilize domestic and international investments in health systems as a strategy for economic growth, job creation, and improved resilience, with an ambitious goal to reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030.
- Source: Announcement: Launch of the Health Works Leaders Coalition – World Bank
- https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/factsheet/2025/10/16/launch-of-the-health-works-leaders-coalition
6. 🦠 Continued Global Concern Over Chikungunya Resurgence
The WHO highlights the resurgence of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) disease globally in 2025, with over 445,000 suspected and confirmed cases reported in 40 countries through September. The spread is attributed to factors like the expanded geographic distribution of Aedes mosquitoes due to climate change, unplanned urbanization, and weakened vector control, emphasizing the need for strengthened disease surveillance.
- Source: Chikungunya virus disease- Global situation – World Health Organization (WHO)
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON581
7. 🇭🇹 Haiti’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Health Emergency
The protracted socioeconomic, political, and security crisis in Haiti continues to severely constrain the health response. Insecurity and gang violence have limited access to essential services and supplies, with only one of the three major hospitals in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area reported as operating. The lack of funding is hindering efforts to curb the cholera outbreak and address the staggering humanitarian needs affecting 6 million people.
- Source: PAHO Responds to Haiti’s Humanitarian Crisis Grade 3
- https://www.paho.org/en/haiti-humanitarian-crisis-grade-3
8. 🇳🇿 Public March Begins to Demand Better Health System in New Zealand
The “Hīkoi for Our Health,” a major public march organized by Patient Voice Aotearoa, begins its journey to Wellington to deliver the Buller Declaration to Parliament. The declaration, signed by 60,000 people, highlights the crisis in the New Zealand health system, calling for adequate staffing and a better-functioning public health system to address current poor health outcomes.
- Source: Southern start for ‘Hīkoi for Our Health’
- https://kaitiaki.org.nz/article/southern-start-for-hikoi-for-our-health/
