Gene-editing in embryos is concerning. New study shows why
Extensive copying of genetic information from one parent to another due to CRISPR could give rise to mutant copies of disease-causing genes in …
Run-up to pandemic treaty: WHO’s 10 proposals call for high-level council, changes to health regulations
Observers had earlier criticised the absence of independent monitoring for ensuring compliance with the pandemic accord
Lumpy skin disease epidemic in Saurashtra; 39 animals dead: Govt
Government takes measures to control epidemic spread in animals; over 25,000 cattle vaccinated across affected areas
Mosquitoes in a warming world: Aedes the menace
Latest Zika outbreaks indicate mosquito-borne diseases are fast spreading to new populations and regions & are no longer restricted to monsoon.…
The Zika virus is here to stay in India, Kanpur just latest victim
The presence of the vector and the virus together makes India extremely vulnerable to Zika
First ever national survey shows the extent of South Africa’s TB problem
In 2019, 58,000 people died of TB in South Africa and 1.4 million people died from TB globally
‘COVID-19 could have started 3-4 months before December in China’
Down To Earth speaks to Maureen Miller, infectious disease epidemiologist and medical anthropologist about the possible origins of the novel …
US doctors customise drug to treat girl with rare genetic disease
The drug Milasen was designed to treat only Mila Makovec suffering from a form of Batten disease — a rare, fatal and inherited disorder …
Bihar braces for dengue outbreak after floods, cases cross 1,100 mark
Patna is worst hit as several areas are still water logged and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes
Did Pentagon weaponise ticks: US Congress orders probe
US Department of Defense asked to provide information on whether it accidentally or deliberately released disease-causing ticks into the environment
Dual drug delivery system may make heart stents safer
A group of Indian researchers has developed a dual drug delivery therapy to minimise such stent-related complications
A 19-year-old is the youngest person to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease — the cause is a mystery
Nearly all cases of Alzheimer’s disease in people younger than 30 are due to inherited faulty genes
Mosquito species from Asia poses growing risk to Africa’s anti-malaria efforts
This invasive mosquito is difficult to locate & is resistant to a number of insecticides
Study identifies potential areas for discovering new plant species in Indian grasslands
Over 200 endemic plant species have so far been discovered from the Indian savanna, finds study
Mosquitoes in a warming world: A losing battle?
In a warming world, viruses and their mosquito vectors are fast acquiring traits to gang up on humans
Outbreak of infectious diseases linked to change in forest cover, finds study
Outbreaks of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases linked to deforestation increased between 1990 and 2016
A flesh-eating parasite carried by dogs is making its way to North America
A ‘One Health’ approach, requiring the collaboration of human, animal, and environmental health partners, is key to preventing …
Coronavirus continues its march across Asia and the world
New cases reported in Singapore and Hong Kong; suspected cases in Scotland; three Chinese cities shut to prevent infection
Here come the gene hackers
Interventions to make heritable changes to the human genome are fraught with uncertainties. There are legitimate concerns about using a still …
Fungal flood: Increasing disease, aided by climate change, risk to global food security
Practising monoculture in modern agriculture provides ideal grounds for fungi
African swine fever: Highly contagious virus hit 49 countries since 2021
Only way to contain the virus is to cull the infected, in-contact pigs and bury them in lime-treated deep trenches
Bats dying of heat stroke: Experts fear mass population collapse, zoonotic diseases
Live bats don’t cause harm as they’re immune to viruses, but their carcass coming in contact with domestic animals may increase …
Yoga: Modern research shows a variety of benefits to both body and mind from the ancient practice
With its focus on controlling breath, holding postures and meditation, yoga increases how much a person pays attention to the sensations of their …
‘Africa’s health institutions must be strengthened at country-level’
During an outbreak, the same health worker is repurposed for emergency tasks, impacting routine healthcare services
Bacterial infections caused most deaths in sub-Saharan Africa in 2019: Lancet
The region saw 230 deaths per 100,000 people; Just 5 pathogens caused over half the infection deaths globally