Page 7 - World Health Organisation

New Zealand removes last of its closely watched Covid-19 restrictions

New Zealand on Monday removed the last of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions, marking the end of a government response to the pandemic that was watched closely around the world. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the requirement to wear masks in hospitals and other healthcare facilities would end at midnight, as would a requirement for people who caught the virus to isolate themselves for seven days. New Zealand was initially praised internationally for eliminating the virus entirely after imposing nationwide lockdowns and strict border controls. But as the pandemic wore on and more infectious variants took hold, the nation's zero-tolerance approach became untenable. It eventually abandoned its elimination strategy. Reflecting on the government's response to the virus over more than three years, Hipkins said that during the height of the pandemic he had longed for the day he could end all restrictions, but now it felt anticlimactic. He said about 3,250 New Zealanders from a popula

WHO classifies EG.5 strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus as 'variant of interest'

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the EG.5 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in different parts of the world, including India, as a "variant of interest" but said it did not seem to pose more of a threat to public health than other strains. EG.5 or Eris variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first reported on February 17 this year, and designated as a variant under monitoring (VUM) on July 19. In its latest risk evaluation on Wednesday, the WHO designated EG.5 and its sub-lineages as a variant of interest (VOI). Variants are broadly categorised into three categories: (1) "variants of interest," (2) "variants of concern" and (3) "variants of high consequence. According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), VOIs are defined as variants with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes that may cause enhanced transmissibility or virulence, reduction in neutralisation by antibodies obtained through natural infection or vaccination. EG.5 is a ..

WHO flags contaminated syrup in Iraq made by India's Fourrts Laboratories

The United Nations agency in its medical products alert said the batch of the syrup, branded Cold Out, had higher than acceptable limit of contaminants diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol

World Hepatitis Day 2023: History, significance, symptoms and more

World Hepatitis Day aims to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and finding ways to prevent, test and treat the disease. Reports say someone dies every 30 seconds globally due to hepatitis

ICMR to explore vaccine against 'WHO Blueprint Priority Pathogens': Govt

The ICMR has collaborated with two global institutions to explore available vaccine candidates against "WHO Blueprint Priority Pathogens", the government told Lok Sabha on Friday. Minister of State for Health SP Singh Baghel was replying to a question on the steps being taken by the government to speed up the development of vaccines for "emerging/reemerging pathogens". The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has collaborated with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the International Vaccine Institute, Korea, for exploration of available vaccine candidates against "WHO Blueprint Priority Pathogens" and the feasibility of bringing available technology to India, he said. On the steps being taken by the government to promote development and production of vaccines for diseases such as polio, smallpox and measles, Baghel said the ICMR has been designated as the secretariat for the National authority for Containment (NAC) of polio viruses. The ICMR has approved .

Can Aspartame cause cancer? WHO committee says no, reaffirms daily intake

The FDA has also stated that even if the sweetener had been labelled as 'possibly carcinogenic', it would not necessarily mean it causes cancer

Serum meningococcal meningitis vaccine achieves WHO prequalification

Serum Institute of India (SII) on Wednesday said its vaccine to protect against the five predominant causes of meningococcal meningitis in Africa has been prequalified by the World Health Organisation. MenFive has been developed through a 13-year collaboration between Serum and PATH, a global nonprofit, with crucial funding from the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. WHO prequalification, which ensures a vaccine meets strict international quality, safety, and efficacy standards, was supported by extensive clinical studies in The Gambia, India, and Mali. Importantly, prequalification allows MenFive to be procured by United Nations agencies and Gavi, the vaccine alliance. "As the first conjugate vaccine to safeguard against the five predominant causes of this deadly disease, MenFive offers hope for a future free from annual outbreaks and epidemics in the African meningitis belt," SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said in a statement. The vaccine protects against ...

Guillain-Barre Syndrome emergency in Peru: All you must know about disease

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that affects the immune system causing it to attack the nerves of the body

WHO issues guidelines for protecting children from unhealthy food marketing

WHO issued new guidelines to protect children from unhealthy marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, free sugars and/or salt (HFSS)

Aspartame: What is this sweetener that may be 'possibly carcinogenic'

The WHO is reportedly going to make a decision on the artificial sweetener, that is used in more than 6,000 food and drinks including Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, in July

Want immediate insurance coverage for diabetes? Apply for a customised plan

Though costlier, they offer coverage for both type I and II diabetes, and to those with high levels of HbA1C

Need to move from dangerous streets for cars to safe spaces for people: WHO

The governments and various stakeholders need to rethink mobility as there is an urgent need to move from the dirty and dangerous streets for cars to safe, green and vibrant spaces designed for the people, WHO's Head of Safety and Mobility, Nhan Tran, said on Monday. Road accidents kill more than 1.3 million people each year - more than two every minute - with 9 in 10 of these preventable deaths occurring in low-and middle-income countries. Road crashes are the leading global killer of children and youth aged 5-29. We must urgently move from an old model of drab, dirty and dangerous streets built for cars, to safe, green and vibrant spaces designed and built for people. Mobility underpins so many other aspects of public health and development. By making walking and cycling safe, we can reduce air pollution and fight climate change," Tran said at the Vision Zero Conference on Road Safety here in the Swedish capital. By prioritising the safety of vulnerable road users like pedestrians

International Albinism Awareness Day 2023: Theme, History and Importance

The theme for International Albinism Awareness Day 2023 builds on the call for albinism-affected individuals to have their voices heard in all spheres of society last year

Menstrual cups reduce plastic waste generation by 99%: Soumya Swaminathan

According to a recent report, one woman generates around 14.1 kg of non-biodegradable waste in a lifetime if she uses commercially manufactured disposable sanitary pads

World must prepare for even deadlier diseases than covid 19, says WHO chief

WHO chief says covid-19 is not over yet and urges member states that it's time to advance negotiations to prevent the next pandemic.

WHO recommends new Covid-19 shots should target only XBB variants

The bivalent booster shots developed and distributed last year targeted two different strains - the Omicron variant as well as the original virus

Recruiting nurses remain a major hurdle to hospital bed expansion

India has a shortfall of 1.37 mn nurses if we wish to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations; and globally there is a need for 13 mn nursing professionals

WHO advises against non-sugar sweeteners like stevia for weight control

In addition, the review found that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults

WHO declares end to viral disease 'mpox' public health emergency

Almost 90% fewer mpox cases were reported in the past three months, compared with cases in the same duration before that, the WHO chief said

Global health need structural changes else we'll be doomed again: Expert

Kamal-Yanni said that people in developing countries should never again wait for the "good will" of rich countries, nor the charitable actions of pharmaceutical companies