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Jan272025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

New CIA report believes COVID likely originated in a Chinese lab, though it’s not certain

COVID19

GHealth News - The CIA now believes that the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, based on an assessment that points to China. However, the agency has expressed "low confidence" in this conclusion. This assessment, which was not based on new intelligence, was completed at the request of the Biden administration and former CIA Director William Burns. It was declassified and released on Saturday under the leadership of John Ratcliffe, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in as CIA Director on Thursday. The agency's findings suggest that, while the total evidence leans toward a lab origin, the evidence is not conclusive, and the CIA has assigned a low degree of confidence to this conclusion due to gaps, contradictions, or...

Jan242025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Cost-Cutting Measures Announced by WHO Chief After U.S. Exit

Global Health

GHealth News - The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to cut costs and reassess its health program priorities following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the organization, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Trump announced the withdrawal on Monday, the first day of his second term, accusing the WHO of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises. "This announcement has made our financial situation more acute," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote in the memo dated January 23. The memo outlined cost-saving measures, including significant reductions in travel expenses and a hiring freeze, except for critical areas. A WHO spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the memo, initially reported by Reu...

Jan242025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

How global collaboration is addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance

AMR

By: Shyam Bishen - World Economic Forum Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global public health and development threats of our time. When infection-causing microbes such as bacteria develop resistance to the medicines we use to treat them, it affects every community and every country across all regions and income levels. Its drivers and consequences are exacerbated by poverty and inequality, making low- and middle-income countries the most vulnerable. AMR jeopardizes many of the advancements of modern healthcare. It not only makes infections harder to treat, it increases the risks associated with many medical procedures, including surgery and cancer care. Severe infections are the second-leading cause of death in cancer patients, and effective ...

Jan202025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Tanzania confirms outbreak of Marburg virus

Communicable Diseases

GHealth News - Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, announced on Monday the confirmation of a Marburg virus outbreak in the country’s northwest, with one case confirmed so far. “Laboratory tests conducted at Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera, later confirmed in Dar es Salaam, identified one patient as infected with the Marburg virus,” she stated during a press conference in Dodoma, where World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was also present. Last week, Tanzania’s health minister denied any outbreak, asserting that no one had tested positive for the virus. However, the denial followed reports from the WHO indicating that eight suspected deaths from the virus had occurred in the same region on January 10. Victims reportedly exhibited cl...

Jan152025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Ozempic – What’s the truth behind the hype? | DW Documentary

NCDs

GHealth News - This documentary examines the controversial marketing strategies surrounding a weight-loss injection hailed as a groundbreaking scientific innovation. The injection’s active ingredient, Semaglutide, was originally developed for the treatment of diabetes. For individuals who are slightly or moderately overweight, it appears to offer a convenient method for weight reduction. However, experts caution against its use without proper medical supervision. “For those looking to lose just a few kilograms, these new drugs pose significant risks. We still lack long-term data,” warns Dr. Lucie Favre from an obesity consultation center in Lausanne, Switzerland. She emphasizes that for many individuals, the core issue lies in unhealthy eating habits and inadequate physical activity. “R...

Jan152025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Is obesity a disease? Sometimes but not always, experts decide

NCDs

Paris (AFP) – Do people with obesity have an illness? A panel of global health experts looking at this controversial question announced Wednesday that the definition of obesity should be split into two categories -- and diagnosed using more accurate measurements. The recommendations hoped to move past the blame and discrimination that often revolve around obesity, which is estimated to affect more than a billion people worldwide. "The idea of obesity as a disease is at the centre of one of the most controversial and polarising debates in modern medicine," said a paper by the 56-expert commission in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal. On one hand, obesity is known to lead to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and other health problems. Th...

Jan82025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

France identifies first case of new mpox variant, AFP reports

Communicable Diseases

GHealth News - France has confirmed its first case of a new variant of mpox, as reported by the AFP news agency on Monday, citing a statement from the French Ministry of Health. The patient, who had not traveled to Central Africa—the origin of the new virus strain—had been in contact with two individuals who had recently returned from the region. Authorities are currently investigating the source of the infection and tracing all potential contacts. The patient, a woman, was diagnosed in Rennes, located in the northwestern Brittany region, as reported by the French regional newspaper Ouest France. The new variant, known as the clade 1b variant, is associated with the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in August. Germany and Britain also reported their first...

Jan62025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Former WHO Chief Scientist Assures HMPV Is Not a Cause for Panic, Shares Precautionary Measures

Communicable Diseases

GHealth News - Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is not a cause for panic, according to Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization. In a post on X, Dr. Swaminathan stated, "It's a known virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly mild." She emphasized the importance of following standard precautions for cold symptoms, such as wearing a mask, washing hands, and avoiding crowded places. "Rather than reacting to the detection of every pathogen, we should all take basic precautions when we have a cold: wear a mask, wash hands, avoid crowds, and consult a doctor if symptoms are severe," she advised. #HMPvirus is nothing to panic about. It’s a known virus that causes respiratory infections, mostly mild. Rather than jump at detection of every pathogen...

Jan42025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

China Reports Increase in HMPV Infections, but It’s Not a New Virus

Communicable Diseases

GHealth News - Since mid-December 2024, China has experienced a rise in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infections, sparking public concern about the emergence of a novel virus. However, health experts and officials have assured the public that HMPV is a well-established respiratory illness, often under-recognized but not new. Domestic media have highlighted the increase in HMPV cases, with some patients reporting "flu-like" symptoms, including dizziness, which has fueled speculation about an unfamiliar pathogen. This trend follows a similar surge in HMPV cases in the U.S. around April 2024, when the virus was described as "little-known" in media coverage. HMPV: A Familiar Virus Chinese experts emphasize that HMPV is not a new threat. Zheng Lishu, a virologist at the Chinese Cente...

Jan22025 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

France Confirms Bird Flu Outbreaks, Loses Disease-Free Status

Communicable Diseases

GHealth News - France has reported bird flu outbreaks on two poultry farms in Normandy on December 27 and 28, shortly after regaining HPAI-free status on December 15. This status, which requires no outbreaks for at least a month, has now been lost, potentially affecting trade restrictions. The outbreaks led to the culling of entire flocks, totaling 25,540 birds. While France credits its year-old vaccination program, particularly for farm ducks, for reducing the virus's spread compared to past seasons, the country remains vigilant due to risks from migrating birds. Meanwhile, Germany also reported a bird flu outbreak on a Bavarian farm with 16,000 birds culled. (Reuters)