Bird flu’s growing threat? After human case from infected cow in Texas, over 500 penguins found dead in Antarctica

The human patient had a mutation, PB2 E627K, which is linked to the virus adapting to mammalian hosts

Miracle of birth as a nightmare: India needs urgent policies to protect women’s obstetric rights

Obstetric violence is rampant, specially in rural India

Hope is not the same as optimism, a psychologist explains — just look at MLK’s example

Long-term hope is a mindset that helps people endure challenges, tackle them head-on and keep their eyes on the goal

The Gambia may allow female genital mutilation again – another sign of a global trend eroding women’s rights

Proposed changes before parliament could permit medicalised female genital cutting and allow it for consenting adults

World Bank study reveals high temperatures linked to lower exam scores in Ethiopia

Students exposed to higher temperatures during the school year, particularly on exam days, tend to perform worse than their cooler-climate …

Ethiopia’s flagship health project considers behavioural change, prevention to address NCDs among women, children

Africa CDC eager to extract lessons from the project and extend them to other AU member states  

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic 4 years ago: Take a look at the virus’ journey and global response to it

A timeline of the key events related to COVID-19

Measles accounted for most excess deaths as a result of COVID-19 related vaccine disruptions

Excess deaths due to vaccine breaks amounted to 967,000 deaths, catch-up shots could avert 79% of them, finds Lancet study

Bubonic plague of infamous 'Black Death' era strikes Oregon resident. Is there a climate change link?

When climate subsequently becomes unfavorable, it facilitates collapse of plague-infected rodent populations, forcing their fleas to find …

SADC civil society intensifies efforts to review abortion care legislation 

Policy barriers in many countries in southern Africa need to be removed to stop unsafe abortions, improve women’s health

WHO launches ‘CoViNet’ — a global laboratory to monitor emerging coronaviruses

Builds on COVID-19 reference laboratory network established during early days of pandemic to confirm disease

Violence against women with disabilities and older women goes unseen: WHO advocates for urgent action

Older women and women with disabilities can be extremely isolated when violence occurs, complicating their ability to seek help and report the abuse

Unhealthy levels of arsenic in water could exacerbate health concerns when used to boil rice

Rice, staple of over half of humanity, already has more arsenic than other grains; washing or boiling it with arsenic-contaminated water poses …

Occupational heat exposure doubles risk of miscarriages or stillbirths

Most heat-exposed workers had urogenital symptoms, which might be associated with pregnancy-related complications

Hepatitis B is a public health concern in India; but very few know about its transmission, effects & vaccination

Misconceptions and insufficient education on Hepatitis B are widespread; they necessitate targeted information campaigns, finds Sir Ganga Ram …

Absence of MGNREGS work take a toll on festivities, medical care and nutrition intake in rural West Bengal

Villagers report grappling to make ends meet due to loss of guaranteed employment

Himachal Pradesh joins list of states banning cotton candy after samples fail food safety test

Samples test positive for harmful dye Rhodamine-B

We know loneliness is a big problem. What we do not know is just how big: Christopher Mikton

Technical Officer at WHO and part of the Secretariat on Social Connection speaks to Down To Earth about loneliness on International …

The middle-aged brain changes a lot — and it’s key to understanding dementia

The brain may be going through accelerating, as opposed to gradual, change during our 40s and 50s

Simply Put: International Day of Happiness 2024

Triple jeopardy

Districts with high climate anomalies and socio-economic vulnerabilities also report a greater prevalence of leprosy 

That lonely feeling

WHO has recognised loneliness as a public health crisis and is trying to devise a way to measure the condition that affects a quarter of the …

Investing in ending TB: WHO study shows potential benefit of $39 for every dollar spent in screening, prevention

Released modelling study for Brazil, Georgia, Kenya and South Africa ahead of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24

United States bans white asbestos, last of its kind still in use

Chrysotile asbestos used in chlor-alkali industry to make water treatment chemicals, chlorine bleach, caustic soda

Grab the pathogens, but don’t share the drugs

Developing countries led by the African bloc fight for access to vaccine and therapy at WHO talks on pandemic policy