Global Health News and Research

RSS

Rwanda successfully controls Marburg virus outbreak

An outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Rwanda has officially been declared over by the Government of Rwanda, with no new cases recorded since the last patient tested negative on 7 November 2024, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

20 Dec 2024

Public health strategies essential for reducing airborne virus transmission

Half a decade on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study by the University of Surrey highlights the significant impact of combined public health measures in reducing airborne viral transmission.

20 Dec 2024

How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic

Keith Poulsen's jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October.

20 Dec 2024

Improved diagnostic tools and early intervention crucial for autism’s global health burden

A new global analysis reveals that an estimated 61.8 million people in 2021 were autistic - equivalent to 1 in every 127 individuals. Conducted as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, the research identifies autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as one of the top ten causes of non-fatal health burden for youth under 20 years old.

20 Dec 2024

A scaffolded vaccine approach for broader influenza protection

Most people who get the seasonal influenza vaccine – which contains strains of viruses from distinct virus subtypes – mount a strong immune response to one strain, leaving them vulnerable to infection by the others, and researchers have long wondered what impacts such variable responses more – host genetics or prior exposure to virus strains.

19 Dec 2024

The role of phytochemicals in combating metabolic diseases

This editorial reviews the impact of phytochemicals on metabolic diseases, emphasizing their potential in reducing inflammation and improving health outcomes.

19 Dec 2024

Global study reports significant decline in diarrheal disease mortality

New global study reports a 60% drop in global mortality from diarrheal diseases, but children and the elderly still have the highest death rates, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

19 Dec 2024

Research identifies key stressors impacting midwives' wellbeing

Research into stress among midwives has identified the most effective actions individual midwives and healthcare trusts can make to enhance wellbeing and reduce negative outcomes, including staff leaving the profession.

19 Dec 2024

Syphilis family traced to Pre-Columbian Americas

In spring 1495, the Italian campaign of Charles VIII of France was interrupted by an intense outbreak of an apparently unknown illness – a disease of high mortality that quickly engulfed the whole of Europe and left its survivors with life changing impairments to their bodies and minds.

18 Dec 2024

Researchers discover weakness in bacterial machinery that drives antibiotic resistance

Superbugs, bacteria that are immune to multiple antibiotics, pose a great challenge to modern medicine. Researchers from the B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TUD Dresden University of Technology and Institut Pasteur in Paris identified a weakness in the bacterial machinery that drives antibiotic resistance adaptation.

17 Dec 2024

Generative AI falls short in accurately identifying global health policies

Generative AI tools enhance data collection in health policy analysis but show notable inaccuracies, especially in African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

17 Dec 2024

Dinuclear platinum(II) complexes could offer a more targeted approach to treating prostate cancer

Prostate cancer remains a global health challenge, ranking as the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men.

16 Dec 2024

Revolutionizing MASLD treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists

Researchers explore the therapeutic potential and clinical insights of GP1-RAs in the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

16 Dec 2024

IAS-USA releases updated HIV treatment and prevention guidelines

On the occasion of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2024, the International Antiviral (formerly AIDS) Society-USA (IAS-USA) has published new international guidelines for the treatment and prevention of HIV.

15 Dec 2024

WHO reports major decline in global drowning deaths since 2000

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes its first-ever report on drowning prevention, which reveals a 38% drop in the global drowning death rate since 2000 - a major global health achievement.

14 Dec 2024

Women face greater barriers to accessing mobility aids despite higher need

Women are more likely than men to experience mobility limitations that could benefit from the use of mobility aids but are much less likely to use them when needed, according to a new study from researchers at UCL and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

14 Dec 2024

AI tool could revolutionize placenta examination and improve neonatal care

A newly developed tool that harnesses computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) may help clinicians rapidly evaluate placentas at birth, potentially improving neonatal and maternal care, according to new research from scientists at Northwestern Medicine and Penn State.

14 Dec 2024

Nutrition progress stalls: Most nations lag behind 2030 goals

Global progress toward nutrition targets is slow, with few countries on track to meet goals for anemia, stunting, and child overweight by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for long-term, multisectoral strategies.

12 Dec 2024

UMD researcher aims to uncover "ghost networks" in Medicare Advantage health insurance plans

Dr. Mika Hamer is about to go ghost hunting. Thanks to a $100K grant from the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation (RWJF), the University of Maryland School of Public Health researcher aims to uncover the extent of so-called "ghost networks" in Medicare Advantage health insurance plans.

12 Dec 2024

New study identifies potential target for treating diabetic cardiomyopathy

Some patients with diabetes develop a serious condition known as diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is slow and cannot be directly attributed to hypertension or other cardiovascular disorders.

12 Dec 2024