A veterinary manager inspects a dead Mallard duck at a lab in Scotland. Laboratories are testing dead birds after a swan was found with the H5N1 avian flu virus in a nearby village.

The rapid-fire spread of bird flu, an evolving toxic drug supply and the political response to it, plus the rise and expanding use of medications like Ozempic. These are some of the top medical stories we plan to cover in 2025.