Monkeypox outbreak brings focus back on smallpox vaccines. But which countries have stock?

Smallpox vaccination was discontinued after smallpox was eradicated in the 1980s

Countries agree to sustainably finance WHO amid COVID-19 pandemic

The aim is to reach 50 per cent of WHO’s budget by 2028-2029 if possible

Tackling antimicrobial resistance: Now G7 health ministers take it up

Report highlights key healthcare challenges, G7 commitments to address them   

‘Paxlovid rebound’ cases have experts scrambling for answers

Is it happening because of the antiviral or is this just how the virus behaves?

Tinsukia’s poor domestic wastewater management paints situation of looming water crisis across Assam

Around 97% of the domestic wastewater is untreated, discharged to the environment

Business as usual for mental health simply will not do: WHO

All WHO member states have adopted the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 but progress has been slow, latest analysis of …

Monkeypox not public health emergency of international concern yet. Do we need to update our understanding of this label?

Emergency Committee meeting indication enough of how serious the monkeypox outbreak is

Ghana reports first-ever suspected cases of Marburg virus disease

Second time the disease with high fatality rate has been detected in western Africa; WHO confirmation awaited

WHO’s urgent call: World needs new antimicrobial resistance vaccines

Urges equitable and global access to existing vaccines as well  

Data democracy: WHO bats for passing on genomics tech to developing world

Inaccessible tech not justifiable; Focus required on inadequate finances, lab infra, highly trained personnel

India’s first monkeypox case reported from Kerala

The patient had returned to Kerala from the United Arab Emirates July 12 and was symptomatic at the time

COVID-19 fallout: 25 million children missed routine vaccinations last year

India among countries where maximum number of children missed diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis shots

Africa’s 1st malaria vaccine: Global alliance Gavi announces $160 million support for rollout

International support will facilitate increased vaccine access to children 

WHO declares monkeypox public health emergency of international concern

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus overruled a committee of experts who could not come to a consensus  

Kerala reports India’s first suspected death due to monkeypox

This takes the global death toll of the current monkeypox outbreak to nine

Why investigating the origin of COVID-19 is important — and tricky

Experts, including WHO, have argued insufficient data from China hampers our understanding of the disease   

Africans likely to live longer now; but will they live healthier?

The WHO said in a statement released August 4 that healthy life expectancy in its African region had increased on average by 10 years per person …

Global pandemic treaty: Soumya Swaminathan promises draft in 18 months

WHO chief scientist says most countries on board for pact to ensure fair sharing of vaccines, data during future pandemics  

How African countries coordinated the response to COVID-19: lessons for public health

Decentralisation strategies and innovation played key roles in coordination. Financing was a challenge to coordination

Acquired shortage: India’s HIV drugs are in short supply, which could have been averted 

This risks undoing India’s hard-won gains against HIV/AIDS and further derails the global progress, which is not on track to meet the goal …

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

Impact of environment on health: Africa adopts strategy for better synergy between sectors

New strategy also integrates recommendations for healthy recovery from COVID-19 pandemic

Monkeypox mortality high in Africa where vaccine remains out of reach

Fewer new cases in last 2 weeks but distribution pattern has changed  

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

Argentina’s mystery pneumonia outbreak finally identified as Legionellosis disease

At least 11 people have been infected and four have succumbed to the illness