ISGlobal Welcomes WHO’s Proposal To Classify Liver and Blood Diseases As NCDs
Michael Gwarisa Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) proposal to extend the definition of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to include liver and blood diseases, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has expressed its support for the decision. The diseases proposed for inclusion in the NCD definition include steatotic liver diseases, haemophilia, and other inherited bleeding
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Study Finds Ultra-Processed Foods Use Tobacco Industry Tactics to Drive Overconsumption
Michael Gwarisa As governments intensify efforts to address rising chronic disease rates, a new study published in The Milbank Quarterly argues that ultra-processed food manufacturers are using strategies long associated with the tobacco industry to drive overconsumption and dependency. The article examines how the design, marketing, and distribution of ultra-processed foods, commonly known as UPFs,
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WHO Rejects US Claims of COVID-19 Failures After Withdrawal Notice
Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly rejected claims by the United States that it failed during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the accusations as untrue and misleading following Washington’s formal notification of withdrawal from the global health body. The response comes days after the United States became the first country to exit the
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US Faces Greater Disease Risk as Global Health Coordination Weakens
Michael Gwarisa A year after the United States withdrew its support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), experts warn the country is now more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies. The US is experiencing one of its most severe influenza seasons in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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WHO Pushes for Higher Sugar Taxes on Alcohol and Sugary Beverages in Global NCD Fight NCD Fight
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organisation has called on governments to sharply increase taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages, warning that weak tax regimes are fuelling the global rise in noncommunicable diseases and placing unsustainable pressure on health systems. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call following the release of the
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Scientists Make Breakthrough Toward Full Cure for HIV
Researchers say they’ve taken a major step toward finding a cure for HIV. As The Guardian reports, scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne found a way to make the HIV virus visible, potentially laying the groundwork for ways to banish it from the body altogether. As detailed in a paper published
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Flu Deaths in the United States Surpass Seven Thousand, CDC Reports
By Staff Reporter Preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that seasonal influenza continues to cause significant illness across the United States. So far this season, the CDC estimates at least fifteen million flu cases, one hundred eighty thousand hospitalizations, and seven thousand four hundred deaths. Health officials stress that
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What are the biggest vaccine breakthroughs coming in 2026? We asked five experts
Maria Elena Bottazzi Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, US As we move into 2026, the vaccine development landscape is entering a period of remarkable transformation driven by scientific breakthroughs and global collaboration. Messenger RNA (mRNA) platforms are expanding beyond their initial applications, opening new possibilities
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E-cigarette users face up to $190 fines in Vietnam
People who use e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products in Vietnam will face fines ranging from VND3 million to VND5 million (US$114–190) and will be required to destroy the products, a government decree stipulates. Under Decree No. 371, which takes effect on Dec. 31, individuals who allow the use of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products at
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Shingles vaccine may reduce dementia risk, slow progression
Over the last few years, research has been published showing a potential link between the shingles vaccine and a lower risk for dementia. For instance, a study published in February 2024 reported that after analyzing past research, the herpes zoster — the medical term for shingles — vaccine was correlated with a reduced dementia risk. Additionally, research published in April 2025Trusted Source found that
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