GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a “variant of interest” and said current evidence shows risk to public health was low from the strain. At least two experts told Reuters that while the strain can evade the immune system and transmit more easily […]
Healthcare
BEIJING: China plans to manage monkeypox in the same way it handles infectious diseases such as Covid-19 starting from September 20, health authorities said today, after detecting around 500 cases of the viral infection last month. Monkeypox will be managed under Category B protocols, the National Health Commission (NHC) said […]
Some claim they rarely cry; others say the slightest breeze opens the floodgates. But what are tears made of? They rise up in our eyes when we’re mourning the loss of a loved one, getting the “feels” from a touching scene in a rom-com or simply chopping onions for dinner: […]
SINGAPORE: Human-induced climate change has played an “absolutely overwhelming” role in the extreme heatwaves that have swept across North America, Europe and China this month, according to an assessment by scientists published today. Throughout July, extreme weather has caused havoc across the planet, with temperatures breaking records in China, the […]
GENEVA: The extreme heat in the northern hemisphere is putting an increasing strain on healthcare systems, hitting those least able to cope the hardest, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday (Jul 19). The WHO said the heat often worsens pre-existing conditions, saying it was particularly concerned about those with […]
LONDON: One of the world’s most common artificial sweeteners is set to be declared a possible carcinogen next month by a leading global health body, according to two sources with knowledge of the process, pitting it against the food industry and regulators. Aspartame, used in products from Coca-Cola diet sodas […]
Five cases of malaria have been confirmed in Florida and Texas, the first time the potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease has been locally acquired in the United States in 20 years, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday (Jun 26). The four Florida cases, along with one in Texas, […]
WASHINGTON: The United States yesterday approved the world’s first vaccine for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the culmination of a decades-long hunt to protect vulnerable people from the common illness. Drugmaker GSK’s Arexvy was green-lighted for adults aged 60 and older, with similar shots from other makers including Pfizer and […]
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation said yesterday that it has dismissed a senior scientist, known for his role as the head of an international mission to China to probe the origins of Covid-19, for sexual misconduct. The UN agency said Peter Ben Embarek, a Danish scientist who previously headed up […]
GENEVA: The WHO said Wednesday (Apr 26) that COVID-19 deaths had dropped by 95 per cent since the start of the year – but warned the virus was still on the move. The World Health Organization said COVID-19 was here to stay and countries would have to learn how to […]