Countries No Longer Sharing COVID-19 Sequencing Data- Dr Tedros
By Michael Gwarisa THE number of COVID-19 sequences being shared by countries has dropped by more than 90% while the number of countries sharing sequences has fallen by a third since the onset of the Omicron variant in 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. Speaking during a media briefing, WHO Director General, Dr
Read MoreOmicron Sub Variants Make Up 97.5% Of All New COVID-19 Cases In China
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) which was recently in China to investigate the surge in new COVID-19 cases, has reported that Omicron still accounts for majority of infections together with its sub-variants BA.5.2 AND BF.7. By Michael Gwarisa The TAG-VE meets regularly to review the latest scientific evidence
Read MoreCOVID-19 Rears Ugly Head Again As WHO meets with Chinese officials on current COVID-19 situation
A high-level meeting took place on 30 December between WHO and China about the current surge in COVID-19 cases, to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO’s expertise and further support. By Michael Gwarisa High-level officials from China’s National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration briefed WHO on
Read MoreMonkeypox Disease Gets New Name, It’s Now Called “Mpox”
Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO will begin using a new preferred term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while “monkeypox” is phased out. By Own Correspondent When the outbreak of monkeypox expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other
Read MoreNearly 40 million children are dangerously susceptible to growing measles threat
Measles vaccination coverage has steadily declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a record high of nearly 40 million children missed a measles vaccine dose: 25 million children missed their first dose and an additional 14.7 million children missed their second dose, a joint publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and
Read MoreSub-Saharan Africa Has Highest AMR related Deaths-Dr Moeti
WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti says African governments should step-up the fight against Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) as the continent has one of highest AMR associated mortality in the world. By Michael Gwarisa In her World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 Messag, Dr Moeti said there was also concerns over
Read MoreMerck to Initiate New Phase 3 Clinical Program with Lower Dose of Daily Oral Islatravir in Combination with Doravirine for Treatment of People with HIV-1 Infection
RAHWAY, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)-– Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the company will initiate a new Phase 3 clinical program with once-daily islatravir for the treatment of people with HIV-1 infection. These new Phase 3 studies will evaluate a once-daily oral combination of doravirine 100 mg
Read MoreHalf of health care facilities globally lack basic hygiene services – WHO, UNICEF
Newly established global estimate on hygiene reveals the risk of disease spread and infections to patients and health care providers Half of health care facilities worldwide lack basic hygiene services with water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub where patients receive care and at toilets in these facilities, according to the latest Joint Monitoring Programme
Read MoreChina Considers Offering Attractive Incentives For Families To Have More Children As Birth Drops
A total of 17 Chinese government departments on Tuesday jointly released a guideline on support policies in finance, tax, housing, employment, education and other fields to create a fertility-friendly society and encourage families to have more children, as the country faces growing pressure from falling birth rates. Analysts said that it is rare to see
Read MoreExperts Rename African Linked Monkeypox Variants To End Stereotypes
A group of global experts convened by WHO has agreed on new names for monkeypox virus variants, as part of ongoing efforts to align the names of the monkeypox disease, virus and variants—or clades—with current best practices. The experts agreed to name the clades using Roman numerals. By Staff Reporter The monkeypox virus was named
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