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 ->
There is ‘no evidence’ that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be transmitted in food or on food packaging, said the World Health Organization on Thursday. WHO’s Executive Director of Health Emergencies Mike Ryan made the comments in response to reports that a dozen frozen chicken wings imported into China’s southern city of Shenzhen tested positive for […] Continue reading ->
Vaping, or the use of electronic nicotine delivery devices that vaporize nicotine-infused liquid, is linked to a dramatically higher risk of getting infected by COVID-19 in teens and young adults, according to a new study by Stanford University researchers. The study, published in The Journal of Adolescent Health just ahead of International Youth Day on […] Continue reading ->
Russia’s speedy approval of a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday has drawn widespread criticism from Health Ministers, researchers, and even a Russian pharma industry group. However, it has also spurred interest and offers to collaborate on testing the new vaccine in other countries, including from quarters as farflung as Israel and the Philippines. The Russian COVID-19 […] Continue reading ->
More than US $100 billion will be required just to scale-up manufacturing and ensure worldwide distribution of a coronavirus vaccine, said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in prepared remarks at a WHO press conference on Monday. He said that the World Health Organization’s ACT Accelerator consortium has received only 10% of the funding that […] Continue reading ->
To facilitate equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines, WHO launched the COVID-19 Access Accelerator (ACT) in April. COVAX is the vaccine component of this initiative. It is led by WHO, the Oslo-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Geneva-based Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI). Heidi.news spoke with Gavi’s Executive Director, Seth […] Continue reading ->
A World Health Organization spokesperson on Friday said that the Organization is not well-positioned to make specific recommendations about when, where, and how travelers should be tested or quarantined for COVID-19 as countries reopen aviation, deferring the policy question to national governments. “Some of it is really dependent on what your national authorities ask of […] Continue reading ->