A new US $200 million program, financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to strengthen health data systems in developing countries. USAID is currently developing the scope of this project, including country participation, according to a spokesperson from global health NGO and partner on the project, Vital Strategies. Strengthening health information systems […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization and UNICEF have issued new age-specific mask guidance for children, recommending looser masking protocols for younger children. The agency’s new guidance comes the week after a new study from researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital found that children infected with COVID-19 had higher virus levels in their nose and throats than […] Continue reading ->
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requires “critical” support to fend off a growing Ebola outbreak in the western Province of Équateur, warned WHO’s Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti on Friday. Her warnings came as Équateur’s Ebola cases have almost doubled to one hundred in the past five weeks, of which 96 are confirmed […] Continue reading ->
Germany and France are proposing sweeping reforms to strengthen the World Health Organization and ramp up funding for the agency. A draft paper circulated by the two countries outlines ten key reforms to boost the WHO’s legal authority and funding, while also increasing oversight of the agency’s emergency operations, according to Reuters, which obtained a […] Continue reading ->
Six months into the pandemic, the rapidly evolving science behind COVID-19 has complicated efforts to clamp down on the virus’ rampage around the world. Geneva Solutions asked Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, and leading voice on COVID-19 science in the region, how we can take swift […] Continue reading ->
United Kingdom Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock’s announcement to replace Public Health England (PHE) with a new agency focused on biosecurity and infectious disease threats has drawn widespread criticism from health experts. The Health Secretary announced that PHE will be replaced with a new National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) in a speech […] Continue reading ->
COVID-19 infection may be associated with an increased risk of Type I diabetes in children, according to a new study published by researchers from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Diabetes emerged as a high risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease in the early days of the pandemic. But the new study, published in the Diabetes […] Continue reading ->
An breakthrough new COVID-19 saliva test, named SalivaDirect, received emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, potentially opening the door to broader testing. The new FDA-approved test, developed by researchers from the Yale School of Public Health, is about as sensitive as a traditional COVID-19 test, but is less invasive to perform, […] Continue reading ->
This week, the Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) will be launching a continent-wide antibody study to measure the true extent of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, where reported coronavirus cases are much lower than initial dire predictions. Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong announced the study at a regular Thursday press briefing. Just a […] Continue reading ->
Health experts and access advocates warn that rich countries may leave poorer countries in the lurch as states scramble to preorder doses while COVID-19 vaccine candidates enter late stage clinical trials. The United Kingdom on Friday secured 90 million doses of two promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates, joining a growing group of rich countries buying up […] Continue reading ->