Using sugar substitutes to lose weight could cause harm long-term, warns WHO
Continued consumption doesn’t reduce weight; could increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults
WHO ends COVID-19 global health emergency, bringing one of human history’s most painful periods to a close
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautions world against letting its guard down
India’s new COVID-19 vaccination milestone in figures
How many people have been fully vaccinated and how many are yet to get a single shot?
Urgently need $7.7 billion to save lives from Delta, emerging COVID-19 variants: WHO
Huge gap in ACT-Acceletor funding needed to deliver crucial medical supplies across the world to combat COVID-19
After WASH report, burden of eradicating open defecation shifts to Africa
Around 196 million of the 494 million people practising open defecation in the world are from sub-Saharan Africa
TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, meds just got tougher after US support
Biden administration wants text-based negotiations on a waiver limited to vaccines but no one is complaining
What does quarantine mean and when did it begin
In the 14th century, ships arriving at Venice were made to sit at anchor for 40 days before landing. This practice, called quarantine, was …
Coronavirus mutated, new strain more aggressive: Research
Though older, less aggressive ‘S type’ strain seems to be more frequent now than ‘L type’
Antimicrobial resistance a ticking time bomb, warn world health experts
They were speaking at a live broadcast organised at the 69th World Health Assembly
Ebola and Zika epidemics are driven by pathologies of society, not just a virus
To tackle Zika and other viral outbreaks, we need to focus not only on the pathology of the disease, but also on the global political …
Maternal mortality on a decline, but challenges remain
An earlier report had said that India accounts for the maximum number of maternal deaths in the world — 17 per cent or nearly 50,000 …
Sharp drop in malaria cases, but three million people still at risk: WHO
The fastest rate of decrease in malaria was witnessed in Caucasus and Central Asia, which reported zero cases in 2014
WHO adopts global action plan on antimicrobial resistance
The action plan is a historic resolution to combat antimicrobial resistance by addressing all contributing factors—human, animal and …
What makes your snack more appetising?
A recent study used food items with nutrients similar to those in potato chips to find out what encourages snacking
Healthcare needs of the elderly should become global priority, says study
As the number of elderly exceeds that of children under 5 years, health systems will need to learn how to address the changing age profile of the …
What Nigeria did to become Ebola-free
Technology combined with good detective work was instrumental in Nigeria’s fight against Ebola
World Tuberculosis Day: At 316 per lakh, India’s TB prevalence higher than WHO estimations
Gujarat has the lowest burden of all forms of TB, while Kerala is the lowest in pulmonary TB, according to the National TB Prevalence Survey 2019-2021
New antimicrobial toolkit by WHO, OIE, FAO aims to fill data gaps
Their report called for implementation of standards on antimicrobial use in a comprehensive manner across all five stages of the antimicrobial …
Are antibiotic resistant bacteria the new global epidemic?
Study says 131 antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) material, including blaNDM-1 gene first found in India in 2008, has been found in the&…
Zika has unborn victims in Madhya Pradesh
As India fights its first Zika outbreak, Down To Earth finds a grievously unprepared response system in virus-hit districts of Vidisha and Bhopal …
Africa constitutes 40% of those affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases in world
Sub-Saharan Africa can save almost US $52 billion in the next decade by eliminating Neglected Tropical diseases by 2020
Why Africa's healthcare is struggling with basics
Without political will and robust investments in healthcare, Africa cannot break out of the underdevelopment trap
India’s sanitation economy to double by 2021
It would be worth $62 billion in three years and the credit would go to Swachh Bharat Mission, say speakers at 18th World Toilet Summit
Climate impacts on health: most nations yet to evolve policy plans
Greater focus on preventative public health measures could ease pressure on health services and provide a more supportive environment for …
15 African nations set up fund to fight Ebola
The recent outbreak of disease has claimed about 500 lives; medics continue efforts to combat misconceptions and mistrust around the disease