In The News

Genetic Sequence of New Virus in China: STAT

Helen Branswell January 10, 2020
Global health officials monitor reports of a new lung disease infecting about 60 people near Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million people. Researchers suspect that an animal species transmitted the virus, and researchers in China “generated a full genetic sequence… a key step in efforts to learn more about the cause of an outbreak of unusual pneumonia,” reports Helen Branswell for STAT News. “The...

Samoa’s Measles Epidemic Part of Global Surge: PRI

Elana Gordon December 11, 2019
Samoa is an independent nation in the Pacific and nearby American Samoa is a US territory. Many on these islands, like others throughout the world, once dismissed measles as a harmless childhood disease, and now both contend with the disease. An outbreak began in September, disrupting Samoan businesses and schools on the island of 200,000 people. The disease is highly contagious and symptoms do...

The Bitter Side of Sugar: Manila Times

November 29, 2019
Wonderful confections are plentiful and affordable due to trade, industry and marketing practices. Chefs no longer limit sugar to desserts and add the ingredient to sauces, salads, coffee and more. “Even non-sweet carbohydrates like pasta, bread, rice, oatmeal, corn, peas and potatoes become the simple sugar glucose once eaten and processed by the body,” explains the Manila Times. Glucose is...

80 Percent of Teens Do Not Exercise Enough: WHO

November 26, 2019
Exercise is essential for good physical and mental health, both short and long term. But the World Health Organization reports that 81 percent of teenagers, aged 11 to 17, report not engaging in the recommended one hour of exercise, sports or other physical activity daily. “The health benefits of a physically active lifestyle during adolescence include improved cardiorespiratory and muscular...

Why Billions Do Not Have Glasses: BBC

Tim Harford November 23, 2019
As many as 2.5 billion people worldwide need but do not have eyeglasses. The Vision Council of America suggests that 75 percent of adults need eyeglasses to read, drive and work. Glasses, often taken for granted in developed nations, support worker productivity and safety. Yet millions worldwide lack access to eyewear. “And many of those people may have no idea glasses could help them,” explains...

Global Backlash on Vaping: Reuters

Aditya Kalra and Aftab Ahmed September 22, 2019
India banned the sale of electronic cigarettes and warned of an “epidemic” among youth. India and China, emerging economies with more than 1 billion people, represent the largest potential markets. “The ban cuts off a huge future market from e-cigarette makers at a time when the number of people smoking worldwide is declining,” reports Reuters. “The ban also covers the production, import and...

Death of Pigs in Luzon: Rappler

Ralf Rivas August 21, 2019
Refusing to acknowledge a health problem can contribute to its spread. Pig farmers in Luzon, the biggest and most populated island of the Philippines, report pigs falling ill with loss of appetite, vomiting and sudden death, reports Ralf Rivas for Rappler. The Department of Agriculture reports that a number of government units “vigorously conduct joint monitoring of the movement of pigs, pork,...