Almost every forest bird species in Hawaii is spreading avian malaria, posing an increasing threat to wildlife in the popular honeymoon destination, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

The research revealed a potential explanation for why the disease shows up almost everywhere mosquitoes are found on the Hawaiian Islands.

Scientists from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and the University of California analyzed blood samples from over 4,000 birds across 64 sites across the state, a press release revealed.

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Next, they conducted feeding trials where they allowed mosquitoes to feed on infected birds, and tracked whether those insects spread the disease at various temperatures.

The team found that both native and “introduced” species of forest birds can infect mosquitoes when the insects feed on them. Even when the birds have only small amounts of the parasites, they can carry the disease for months or years.

“Avian malaria has taken a devastating toll on Hawaii’s native forest birds, and this study shows why the disease has been so difficult to contain,” Christa M. Seidl, who conducted the research as part of her PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz, stated in the release.

“When so many bird species can quietly sustain transmission, it narrows the options for protecting native birds and makes mosquito control not just helpful, but essential,” she added.

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In many ecosystems, a disease continues circulating even if only a handful of animal species are spreading it, but this study found that avian malaria appears to spread more broadly across many bird species.

Mosquitoes, which are not native to Hawaii, could increase the forest birds’ risk of extinction, says the National Park Service. The ʻakikiki, a Hawaiian bird native to Kauai, is now considered extinct in the wild due to the disease.

While avian malaria is from the same family of protozoa that causes malaria in humans, the bird-specific strains cannot be transmitted to people, according to the National Audubon Society.

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Even when avian malaria isn’t fatal to birds, it can shorten their telomeres, an element of DNA that influences lifespan, the above source states.

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In addition to affecting the infected birds, the altered DNA can be passed onto chicks, creating a new generation of birds with shorter lifespans.

The researchers noted a few caveats with the study. First, they primarily used lab-controlled canaries to determine transmission for different parasite levels, which may not be an exact match for every wild bird species.

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They also faced technical hurdles in measuring exactly how much malaria-carrying saliva a mosquito produces at various temperatures, though their models largely account for this, the study stated.

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Finally, as researchers can’t realistically track every mosquito bite in the wild, they used infection patterns as an indirect way to estimate insects’ feeding preferences. If a species is infected more often, that suggests mosquitoes are biting them more frequently.

Researchers in Australia are raising flags about GLP-1 weight-loss medications potentially raising the risk of a rare disease.

Scurvy — historically called a “pirate disease” due to long voyages at sea without nutritious food — is caused by a lack of vitamin C. If left untreated, scurvy can cause severe symptoms, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Those symptoms include anemia, loosened teeth that may fall out, bleeding under the skin, bruising, swollen legs, rough and scaly skin, dry and brittle hair that coils, and the re-opening of wounds that do not heal. Swollen, bleeding gums are another common result.

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The disease could surface as the result of not properly providing the body with nutrient-rich foods, leading to malnourishment. New research suggests that GLP-1 drug users may be at greater risk.

A systematic review by the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Australia found that although diabetes and obesity medications support significant improvements in weight loss, clinical trials have “failed to report what people are actually eating while taking them.”

“A reduction in body weight does not automatically mean the person is well-nourished or healthy,” Clare Collins, laureate professor of nutrition and dietetics at The University of Newcastle, Australia, wrote in a press release statement. “Nutrition plays a critical role in health, and right now it’s largely missing from the evidence.”

These findings raise “major concerns about the risk of malnutrition, including macro and micro-nutrient deficiencies, with adverse metabolic and nutritional effects being reported,” Collins told Fox News Digital.

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Certain GLP-1 and GIP medications have a “major impact” on appetite and satiety, which leads to overall reduced food intake, according to the researcher.

The signs can be missed because they overlap initially with side effects of the medications.

“While this mechanism drives weight loss, it also increases the risk of inadequate protein, fiber, vitamin and mineral intakes if diet quality and nutritional adequacy are not carefully monitored,” she cautioned.

British pop singer Robbie Williams was diagnosed with scurvy in 2025, previously sharing with The Mirror that he experienced symptoms of the “17th-century pirate disease” after he’d been taking “something like Ozempic.”

Collins noted that nutrient deficiencies are “not specific” to scurvy.

“There are other nutrients that, if not consumed in adequate amounts, can lead to deficiencies,” she said.

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Iron deficiency can cause anemia, for example, and vitamin B1 deficiency leads to beriberi (a disease that can damage the nerves and heart) and Wernicke’s encephalopathy (a potentially life-threatening brain disorder), according to Collins.

Nutrition in focus

For GLP-1 users who are losing weight quickly, Collins emphasized the importance of adequate intake of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

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“The signs can be missed because they overlap initially with side effects of the medications, including fatigue, lethargy, nausea, poor appetite and irritability,” she said.

To ensure proper nutrition, Collins recommends seeking professional help from an accredited dietitian.

“It is challenging to assess whether your nutrient intake is adequate by yourself,” she said. “People may also require a specific multivitamin or mineral supplement, along with medical nutrition therapy support.”

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Future clinical trials should include “validated dietary assessment tools” and “transparent reporting of food and nutrient intakes,” Collins suggested.

“This will help improve the nutrition-related health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals prescribed these medications, while supporting adherence and long-term health,” she said.

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“We’re calling for greater attention to nutrition when these medications are being prescribed in order to avoid malnutrition risk.”

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