Tag: Global health

WHO sounds major alarm over ‘concerning’ Covid wave coming this winter as deaths soar

It comes as schools across America bring back mandated face masks, recalling the darkest days of the pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of “concerning trends” for COVID-19 ahead of winter as a dangerous new strain runs rampant across the Northern Hemisphere.

The UN health agency estimates that hundreds of thousands of people around the world are currently hospitalized with the virus. However, the true number could be much higher because many countries have stopped reporting Covid data.

“We continue to see concerning trends for COVID-19 ahead of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online press conference.

He added: “Deaths are increasing in some parts of the Middle East and Asia, intensive care unit admissions are increasing in Europe and hospitalizations are increasing in several regions.”

America has also seen a surge in cases as a new variant, designated BA.2.86, gains a foothold in the country as winter approaches.

Covid: WHO is pushing for increased vaccinations as Covid cases rise across Northern Hemisphere (Image: Getty Images)

According to a recent bulletin in Yale Medicine, the new variant has more than 30 mutations to its spike protein – located on the outer surface of a coronavirus – which helps it enter and infect human cells.

“Such a high number of mutations is notable,” infectious disease specialist Dr Scott Roberts said.

“When we went from [Omicron variant] XBB.1.5 to [Eris] EG.5, that was maybe one or two mutations.

“But these massive shifts, which we also saw from Delta to Omicron, are worrisome.”

Schools across America are reinstating mask mandates in response to the surge in cases.

Kinterbish Junior High School in Alabama has asked all students, staff and visitors to start wearing face masks in classrooms and hallways “due to the slow rise of Covid cases in the area” in recent weeks.

Alabama’s Talladega City School district which is home to more than 1,700 students has also urged children and staff to wear masks, but stressed they are “encouraged but not required”.

And Maryland elementary school became embroiled in controversy this week after saying students must don tightly fitted N95 masks for 10 days, despite a smattering of cases.

Source: https://www.the-express.com/news/science/111089/who-covid-19-new-coronavirus-winter-symptoms-vaccine

China Grapples With Rapid Surge In Monkeypox Cases As WHO Urges Swift Action

The most recent data from WHO highlights China’s emergence as a major concern. In the last three months alone, China has documented 315 confirmed mpox cases.

Image: AP

In recent months, China has been grappling with a surge in cases of mpox, a disease previously known as monkeypox, earning the unenviable title of the world’s fastest-growing outbreak, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency is urging swift action from China to curb the spread of the disease.

While parts of the Americas and Europe have managed to rein in the mpox outbreak, Asia has become a new hotspot for the disease. The origins of this outbreak can be traced back to mid-2022. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand experienced sporadic cases last year. However, this year has witnessed a notable upswing, with these nations reporting double-digit cases on a weekly basis.

WHO suggests China is a major concern

The most recent data from WHO highlights China’s emergence as a major concern. In the last three months alone, China has documented 315 confirmed mpox cases. The accuracy of these numbers is challenged by inconsistencies in reporting from the Chinese government, making it challenging to fully comprehend the true scale of the outbreak within the country.

In efforts to contain mpox, various nations have employed different strategies. While the disease is less contagious than Covid-19, its impact has been felt globally, affecting thousands. One key factor in controlling mpox has been proactive measures like vaccination. However, in China, questions have arisen about the efficacy of the government’s actions in tackling the outbreak, as some experts argue that more could be done.

According to a report from South China Morning Post, Hong Kong, too, has witnessed a surge in mpox cases, believed to be a delayed result of the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Experts caution that this trend might lead to more infections spilling over from mainland China, which has recently seen a significant rise in cases. While the overall threat to the general population remains relatively low, concerns are arising over the necessity of hospital isolation for mpox patients, especially those with mild symptoms.

Source: https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/china-grapples-with-rapid-surge-in-monkeypox-cases-as-who-urges-swift-action-articleshow.html

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