What does quarantine mean and when did it begin
In the 14th century, ships arriving at Venice were made to sit at anchor for 40 days before landing. This practice, called quarantine, was …
Coronavirus mutated, new strain more aggressive: Research
Though older, less aggressive ‘S type’ strain seems to be more frequent now than ‘L type’
Aspartame ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’, labels WHO expert panel
Limited evidence on whether the artificial sweetener causes cancer in humans, more studies on carcinogenicity needed
One Health approach: European Union strengthens action to combat antimicrobial resistance
European Council recommends incentives for innovation and access to antimicrobials along with alternatives
World Health Assembly approves draft resolution on health action plan for indigenous people
Global plan should focus on reproductive, maternal and adolescent health, resolution highlights
WHO announces council to speed up TB vaccine development
Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announces plan to save millions of lives at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland
World Tuberculosis Day: At 316 per lakh, India’s TB prevalence higher than WHO estimations
Gujarat has the lowest burden of all forms of TB, while Kerala is the lowest in pulmonary TB, according to the National TB Prevalence Survey 2019-2021
Alarming number of infections, deaths due to antimicrobial resistance across Europe: Report
Around 33,000 people died as a direct consequence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria infections
WHO raises the bar on clean air
The WHO seeks significant tightening of clean air benchmarks for near zero tolerance for particulate pollution and to protect public health
Deaths due to COVID-19 much higher than reported: WHO
At least 90% countries reported one or more disruptions to essential health services during the pandemic, the World Health Statistics report …
New antimicrobial toolkit by WHO, OIE, FAO aims to fill data gaps
Their report called for implementation of standards on antimicrobial use in a comprehensive manner across all five stages of the antimicrobial …
Coronavirus outbreak: A new mapping tool that lets you scroll through timeline
To provide a clearer picture of an evolving story, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has developed a new outbreak-…
Primary health care, community health workers bag spotlight at WHA
The member states decided to implement Declaration of Astana and allocate adequate resources to support community health workers
25% healthcare centres lack water facilities, 20% sanitation facilities: WHO
The report highlights that each year 17 million women in least developed countries give birth in centres with inadequate facilities for water, …
Are antibiotic resistant bacteria the new global epidemic?
Study says 131 antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) material, including blaNDM-1 gene first found in India in 2008, has been found in the&…
Zika has unborn victims in Madhya Pradesh
As India fights its first Zika outbreak, Down To Earth finds a grievously unprepared response system in virus-hit districts of Vidisha and Bhopal …
Africa constitutes 40% of those affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases in world
Sub-Saharan Africa can save almost US $52 billion in the next decade by eliminating Neglected Tropical diseases by 2020
Why Africa's healthcare is struggling with basics
Without political will and robust investments in healthcare, Africa cannot break out of the underdevelopment trap
India’s sanitation economy to double by 2021
It would be worth $62 billion in three years and the credit would go to Swachh Bharat Mission, say speakers at 18th World Toilet Summit
‘We could eradicate malaria by 2040’ says expert after revolutionary vaccine is approved by WHO
R21/Matrix vaccine was developed by Oxford University together with the Serum Institute of India and can reduce malaria by 75%
Consider updating COVID-19 vaccine composition to include omicron: WHO to authorities
The only other precedent we have for updating vaccines regularly based on the circulating strain is for flu. But the comparison may not be fair
Uganda declares end of Ebola disease outbreak: WHO
Uganda recorded a total of 164 cases & 55 deaths since the outbreak began September 20, 2022
5 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2021, 1.9 million stillborn: UN reports
A death of child or youth every 4.4 seconds; many could have been prevented with equitable access to high-quality healthcare
Pandemic treaty draft negotiations to begin in February 2023
Ensuring equity and solidarity, promoting preparedness while respecting sovereignty will form the crux of this document
WHO’s updated priority pathogen list to be out by early 2023
The current list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola and Marburg