Understanding zoonotic diseases: How viruses break the nature-human divide
Their novel nature and unpredictability make diseases that jump from animals to humans extremely dangerous
COVID-19 update: India records 5,880 fresh cases, active caseload crosses 35,000
With the daily positivity rate touching 6.91 per cent, several states have brought back the mandatory usage of masks and social distancing
The ‘kraken’ COVID variant XBB.1.5 is rising quickly in the US — here’s what it could mean for the UK
While XBB’s mutations enable it to evade our immune systems better than previous omicron subvariants, it doesn’t appear to be causing&…
China’s definition of COVID deaths ‘very narrow’, country’s data ‘under-represents’ severity: WHO
Updated definition is narrow since it counts only those deaths caused by COVID-induced pneumonia or respiratory failures
Lifecycle of COVID-19: Yet another omicron sub-variant has countries on high alert
XBB.1.5 shows how dynamic and wide-reaching SARS-CoV-2 variant evolution is, says expert
There’s a ‘weak spot’ in all major novel coronavirus variants — and scientists have found it
The weakness can be targeted by neutralising antibodies, paving the way for universally effective treatments
What is immunity debt and why is it causing a spike in swine flu cases
Delhi had 15 patients in August; 1,500 cases & 43 deaths reported from Maharashtra this year
Alarming increase in global use of antibiotics, India is the largest consumer
A research published in a medical journal has sounded an alarm on overuse and misuse of antibiotic drugs
Only 2 cases of poliovirus in 2021 so far: WHO
At least 129 cases reported from January-October 2020; the disease will continue to be classified as a public health emergency of international …
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 …
Why Ebola vaccine on trial in the DRC is raising hopes
The viral disease burden in Africa is largely underestimated and the rVSV-ZEBOV is a much-needed vaccine in the fight against Ebola
A 2015-like swine flu outbreak might be on the anvil
A major outbreak can be inferred from its rapid spread towards the northern states which have not been highly affected by the virus in the past …
Coronavirus outbreak: A new mapping tool that lets you scroll through timeline
To provide a clearer picture of an evolving story, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has developed a new outbreak-…
After Ebola, bird flu hits West Africa
Africans will have to mass cull chicken, an inexpensive source of nutrition in the region
COVID-19: ‘Bengal hospitals turning into epicentres of novel coronavirus’
At least 80 healthcare workers, including 38 doctors, have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the state
Ebola survivors can lose their eyesight. What we're doing to prevent it
Translating lessons learnt during the outbreak in West Africa into improved vision health is an ongoing necessity in Congo
Vector-borne diseases may shift base with warmer temperatures
Stanford researchers say climate change will increase risk of vector-borne diseases spreading to countries characterised by cooler climate till now
WHO’s updated priority pathogen list to be out by early 2023
The current list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola and Marburg
Zika virus has spread to several parts of India, finds ICMR
Cases from Telangana, Jharkhand confirm local transmission; experts push for more testing
Trans people twice as likely to die as cis men, women: Lancet study over 5 decades
Mortality risk among trans people did not decrease between 1972 and 2018; the risk may be higher in other countries due to social stigma, study …
WHO launches global facility for pathogen storage, sharing and analysis
The sharing of pathogens is currently done bilaterally between countries; WHO BioHub will expedite the process
Ideas for a pro-poor and pro-women approach to COVID-19
How economic and gender inequalities play out in a public health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic; how local governments can respond …
WHO’s Ebola vaccination strategy ineffective in DRC: MSF
The aid agency has also called for an independent, international committee to manage Ebola vaccine stocks and their use
Monkey fever hits Kerala, health worker fifth victim of disease
Four more suspected cases have been reported in the district and about 20 persons are under observation
Cervical cancer: 90% deaths in low and middle income countries with least access to HPV vaccine, screening
These countries also have low rates of vaccination against HPV