The World Health Organization’s (WHO) investigative team in Wuhan, China, visited the biosafety laboratory that has been at the centre of numerous conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, making it the most controversial site for the team’s fieldwork so far.  The team of 13 experts spent three-and-a-half hours at the Wuhan Institute of […] Continue reading ->
IBADAN, NIGERIA — A new fixed-dose combination (FDC) tuberculosis (TB) treatment could improve the ease of treatment regimes, increase the availability of treatments, and get the world back on track to achieve the goal of ending TB.  The short-course preventative treatment, consisting of two drugs – rifapentine and isoniazid – will reduce the pill burden […] Continue reading ->
Fulfilling the legacy of its pioneering name, the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, was over 91% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 cases and 100% effective in preventing severe COVID, according to results published Tuesday in The Lancet.  Globally, that means that the Sputnik vaccine joins the club with just two other coronavirus vaccines that have demonstrated […] Continue reading ->
As the World Health Organization (WHO) led expert team on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus began to conduct fieldwork at hospitals, research centers and markets in Wuhan, China, the WHO attempted to curb expectations, insisting that the mission will likely raise more questions.  “The plans and the visits that they have, provide detailed information…The […] Continue reading ->
IBADAN – Five African countries have now confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 variant, which first appeared in South Africa, and there is concern that the variant is circulating undetected elsewhere on the continent. The Gambia and Nigeria have seen cases of the variant B.1.1.7, first identified in the United Kingdom, said WHO’s African Regional […] Continue reading ->
In the midst of the spread of new SARS-CoV2 virus variants, several European countries have updated their guidance and regulations on masks, to recommend the use of high-filtration medical-grade masks over fabric ones in confined settings.  France’s health advisory council (Haute Conseil de la Santé Publique) issued new recommendations last week, warning against the wearing […] Continue reading ->
COVID-19 has led to the suspension of polio campaigns in more than 30 countries, and has underscored the importance of the mission to eradicate it, tackle antimicrobial resistance, and ensure the timely sharing of pathogens, said WHO member states at Monday’s Executive Board session.  Throughout the morning and afternoon sessions, member states reviewed and discussed […] Continue reading ->
In a brief, but historic speech Thursday morning before WHO’s Executive Board, President Joe Biden’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Anthony Fauci, reversed course on four years erratic and often hostile approaches to the World Health Organization and global health – which had alienated and bewildered friends and allies worldwide. .  As one of the first […] Continue reading ->