WHO chief stands uncontested for upcoming director general elections
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is currently backed by 28 of 192 member states
Vaccine inequity created perfect conditions for emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants: WHO
Cannot call omicron mild only because it is causing less severe disease, says WHO
WHO calls for moratorium on booster till 2021-end, ‘additional’ dose for high risk population
Currently, 20 per cent of the available vaccines are being used as boosters
Less protection from past infection, likely reduced vaccine efficacy: IHME on Omicron
For now, best to assume Omicron causes as severe a disease as Delta, IHME says
Coronavirus update: WHO snubs ‘smokers better off’ theory
World tally crosses 4 million
Coronavirus update: Pakistan tally at 1,000
India death toll may be at 10
Coronavirus outbreak still containable, says WHO; health agencies disagree
91,308 cases reported globally; 76 countries affected
India bags top spot in child wasting rate: Global Hunger Index
The rate increased to 20.8 per cent among children under five this year
ICMR expands India Hypertension Control Initiative to 100 districts
The initiative earlier covered just 25 districts in four states
Nutritional crisis: India has most ‘zero-food’ children at 6.7 million; third highest prevalance among 92 LMICs
Children aged 6-23 months going without milk, solid or semisolid food in 24-hour period are ‘zero-food’
Rising prevalence of eco-anxiety and climate anxiety is a growing concern
Eco-anxiety has both positive and negative effects on environmental education, ecological crisis and hindrances
Handbook to assess foodborne disease burden: WHO shows the way
The handbook aims to develop framework for routine updating estimates; provide baseline against which food safety interventions can be evaluated
India’s landfills add 113k tonnes of menstrual waste each year: Report
Around 88% respondents want to switch to less-polluting alternatives but report they are not easily available
Accelerate efforts to end malaria: World Health Assembly adopts new resolution
7.6 million deaths, 1.5 billion cases averted since 2000, but global gains levelled off in recent years, flags WHO
WHO, US CDC are now tracking new COVID variant BA.2.86
Also called BA.X, lineage now under WHO’s variant under monitoring list
Climate change, conflicts & poor hygiene accelerate global cholera outbreaks
If the current trend persists, the supply of preventive vaccination will likely continue to be limited
African vaccines: Local manufacturers are struggling to access the market — what must change
Current procurement systems for vaccines in the region does not leave much room for African companies
Fingers crossed: Experts cautious about variant evolution in the wake of China’s COVID-19 tsunami
Any new variant that emerges from the current surge in China may not have the same lethal ability as past ones. But one cannot rule out …
Venoms of 26 deadly snakes in sub-Saharan Africa classified
Snakes considered most important medically; Classification to help develop effective anti-venoms
WHO, ILO lay down guidelines to tackle stress in workplaces
Depression and anxiety are thought to account for 12 billion lost workdays annually, costing the world economy close to $1 trillion
Deluged Pakistan faces significant health threats, WHO warns
Threats include malaria, dengue fever, polio, diarrhoea, COVID-19 and cholera; Maternal health to be affected and domestic violence will rise, UN says
African health ministers adopt PEN-PLUS strategy against non-communicable diseases
Stretegy will help bridge access gap in treatment, care of patients with chronic & severe NCD
COVID-19 update: Deltacron & omicron subvariant — 2 looming threats?
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the United States, countries in Europe and Southeast Asia
Mosquitoes in a warming world: The 3 fearsome diseases
India may have started to report cases of infection by zika virus only in 2017, but dengue and chikungunya have been prevalent — cases have …
Merck signs deal with UN-backed MPP for global access to COVID-19 drug
The agreement will help create broad access for the drug use in 105 low- and middle-income countries, including India, subject to regulatory approval