Digital tests based on speech and smell are being developed to screen for cognitive decline, researchers told the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto. Two speech apps are already some way down the road, testing several markers including speech speed, vocabulary and rhythm in different languages to establish a baseline for testing, a session convened […] Continue reading ->
The proportion of the world’s population suffering acute hunger declined globally in 2024 to about 673 million people, but continued to rise in most African regions as well as western Asia, according to the new UN State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) report, launched Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Global hunger levels have remained […] Continue reading ->
As negotiators prepare to meet in Geneva, 5-14 August in yet another attempt to finalize the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty addressing a pollution crisis affecting oceans and ecosystems worldwide – a critical linkage between health and environment governance seems to be largely missing from the draft text. After nearly three years of negotiations, the […] Continue reading ->
The United States’ decision last Friday to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) – aimed at improving the global response to disease outbreaks – is based on “inaccuracies”, according to the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “We regret the US decision to reject the amendments adopted by consensus by the […] Continue reading ->
Despite major breakthroughs in identifying and combating respiratory diseases, two of the most prevalent – respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal disease – continue to pose a significant health burden globally, particularly in infants, young children, and older adults.  Against this backdrop, a recent panel at the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) meeting, […] Continue reading ->
The global childhood vaccination rate in 2024 held steady with 85% of infants and children receiving three doses of the vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), used as a global benchmark for immunization rates overall.  However large, continued gaps in coverage are propelling outbreaks, including the highest rate of measles cases since 2019.  “In […] Continue reading ->
As the world observes World Zoonoses Day, it’s important to remember that human health is intimately tied to the health of animals, wild and domesticated.  Five years after COVID-19, the world remains alert to health threats that can cross over from animals to people.  Alongside growing concerns over high-profile spillovers like avian influenza, the silent […] Continue reading ->