Here’s a controversial view: the world can make real headway in the fight against cancer in the developing world over the next decade. In fact, some lower middle income countries will do better than their richer counterparts in adapting to the way that cancer treatment is likely to change. Things are terrible now I might […]
COVID-19
Third wave of COVID-19 appears to be in decline
A total of 161,386 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 across the 1st February according to Union Health Ministry data. The caseload marks a consistent decline from the peaks of around 350,000 recorded in mid January, giving a positive indication that India’s third wave may be in decline. Keeping in line with data being recorded elsewhere […]
Vaccine equity issues among Omicron surge; the latest health stories from around the world
A year and twenty days since the first jab was given, 10 billion Covid shots have been administered globally. However, gaps persist in who gets the vaccine since the milestone has not been arrived at equitably. Theoretically, 10 billion doses could have meant at least one shot for each of the world’s 7.9 billion people. […]
Indonesia plans new global health agency; the latest health stories from around the world
Indonesia plans to propose the creation of a new global health agency when leaders meet at the Group of 20 Summit. The agency will set up standard operating procedures for international travel and health protocols, as well as procure vaccines and ensure access and investment in medical equipment and medicines for developing countries, President Joko […]
5.5 million fatalities attributed to COVID-19; the latest health stories from around the world
Virtually two years since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a pandemic, COVID-19 has already accounted for close on 350 million cases and more than 5.5 million fatalities. The “good” news is that the faster it spreads these days, the lower its deaths. The Omicron variant appears to be a more benevolent avatar though […]
Mass testing for COVID-19 in Tianjin; the latest health stories from around the world
Mass testing of the 14 million residents of Tianjin, a city near China’s capital Beijing, began after a score of COVID-19 cases were discovered. At least two cases of the Omicron variant were found. Lockdowns continue in Xi’an and Yuzhou, two other large cities affected by outbreaks. Cases have also been identified in Hong Kong. […]
Omicron looms over New Year celebrations; the latest health stories from around the world
The Omicron coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities around much of the world, with Paris cancelling its fireworks show, London relegating its one to television, and New York City scaling down its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square. The illuminated ball made of Waterford crystal panels slids down its pole at the midnight hour […]
Emergency authorisation for new COVID-19 vaccine; the latest health stories from around the world
For COVID-19, small seems to be beautiful. First we had BioNTech, a tiny operation headed by a Turkish immigrant couple in Germany that gave us the Pfizer vaccine. Now along comes a small Maryland biotechnology company, Novavax, finally joining the ranks of high-profile COVID-19 vaccine developers, winning emergency authorisations for its candidate. (www.science.org/content/article/novavax a). The […]
New COVID-19 variant emerges; the latest health stories from around the world
As we stagger towards 2022, the words of that old Carpenters’ song come back suddenly: “Its yesterday once more!” Unlike that song, this is a nightmare, not nostalgia. COVID-19 devastated the world back in 2020 when vaccines were a faint glimmer at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel. The vaccines arrived at the threshold […]
“COVID-19 Tsunami” on the horizon; the latest health stories from around the world
Two weeks after the Omicron variant was identified, hospitals are bracing for a COVID-19 tsunami, according to a report in economist.com (www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/12/11/early-data-on-omicron-show-surging-cases-but-milder-symptoms). In South Africa, where it has displaced Delta, cases are rising faster than in earlier waves. Each person with Omicron may infect 3-3.5 others. Delta’s most recent rate in the country was 0.8. […]