Simon Schama’s history of 18th and 19th century disease outbreaks speaks powerfully to the present
At the core of Foreign Bodies is Schama’s understanding that “all history is natural history”
COVID-19 testing led to new techniques of disease diagnosis: Progress mustn’t stop now
In the past three years, focus of disease testing moved from simple detecting & understanding to incorporating speed, efficiency & …
First ever national survey shows the extent of South Africa’s TB problem
In 2019, 58,000 people died of TB in South Africa and 1.4 million people died from TB globally
First ever case of H7N4 afflicting a human being reported in China
The virus, identified by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is of avian origin
On the comeback trail
The scientific community is trying hard to combat communicable diseases which have made a comeback
Outbreak of infectious diseases linked to change in forest cover, finds study
Outbreaks of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases linked to deforestation increased between 1990 and 2016
Gut bacteria are a reservoir of drug resistance genes: study
Friendly gut bacteria from individuals who had not consumed antibiotics for past 6 months harbored resistance against multiple antimicrobials,…
Deceptive bug behind Andhra disease
A seemingly harmless germ has been on a killing spree. This is what has been detected by the National Institute of Virology in respect of the …
Ebola re-emerges in the Democratic Republic of Congo
36 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo less than two weeks after the WHO declared an end to the outbreak
Understanding the bug
Book>> The Viral Storm • by Nathan D Wolfe • Penguin • Rs 450
Famines in India are a nightmare of the past
A WHO study notes that While India has achieved impressive levels in food production, equitable distribution is still a distant dream. Chronic …
Health class
Enemies of health and allies of poverty join hand to create global havoc, leaving different marks on different classes
SARS Wars
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is making the world sneeze. Even as the global health community struggles to unmask a new, deadly, …
Climate change and human health: The impact is too big to be ignored
A changing ecosystem of viruses, compromised host-immune system stemming from climate crisis paves the way for infectious diseases
How monkey fever in Goa is linked to deforestation, climate change
From Karnataka’s Shimoga district, this virus-borne disease has spread to the entire Western Ghats
PRET: WHO launches initiative to make world better prepared for future pandemics
The current focus of the initiative is on respiratory viruses but will soon include other groups of pathogens
World not prepared to cope with re-emerging infectious diseases: WHO Director General
Director General Margaret Chan was addressing the World Health Assembly being held in Geneva
Wildlife markets in Laos host dangerous pathogens, finds study
There is a high risk of transmission of these pathogens to humans posing a potential threat to gloabl health
Poo transplants can eliminate two superbugs from the gut: mice study
Two of the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria circulating in hospitals can be wiped out by transplanting faeces from a healthy animal into …
Frogs are falling silent
The decline of the frog population is an early warning that something is seriously wrong with living conditions on Earth
Extreme weather events continue to hamper access to potable water, sanitation; urgent action needed: WHO
The world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal on water and sanitation for all by 2030
New WHO panel to investigate rise in zoonotic diseases and build action plan
The experts will advise several international organisations on how future outbreaks can be averted
India joins global research hub on antimicrobial resistance
The country is the largest consumer of antibiotics in the world — consumption increased by 103 per cent from 2000 to 2015, the highest in …
Health report 2016: a glance at major developments
Down To Earth takes a probing look into key health issues that raised concerns and dominated medical discourse in 2016
Zika-the new global pandemic
After dengue and chikungunya, the Aedes mosquito is delivering a new emergency— Zika. Down To Earth looks into the reasons behind the …