The COVID-19 pandemic affected hundreds of millions of lives, caused millions of deaths and inflicted devastating impacts on humanity. After three years of unprecedented global efforts, on 5 May the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing however, that it does not mean the disease is no longer […]
Continue ReadingMore than half the world’s countries will be at high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year unless urgent preventative measures are taken, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday. Measles cases have been increasing across most regions mainly due to missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 years when […]
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Women are twice as likely to attempt suicide than men. This difference appears at puberty, suggesting the menstrual cycle may play a key role. Although this link has been known for a long time, it remains a disappointingly under-researched area. But a 2023 study provided new insight into this link – finding that women may […]
Continue ReadingConsiderable exposure to the sun is generally regarded as harmful – increasing the aging of the skin and skin cancer. But it can be beneficial for some people – for example, women aged 30 to 40 who have difficulty getting pregnant. In a pioneering study at Tel Aviv University (TAU) and Sheba Medical Center […]
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You may not have heard of hydrogen sulfide, but I bet you’d recognise the smell. Hydrogen sulfide is the gas responsible for the rotten-egg odour that you come across near stagnant water and in drains. This gas is also highly toxic when inhaled. You may be surprised to learn that the same kind of bacteria […]
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Henrielle Emasignavy works for WHO in Ambovombe, where the Androy Regional Referral Hospital is based. She spoke about the care that is being provided to people who are struggling with mental health crises. WHO’s Henrielle Emasignavy at the Androy Regional Referral Hospital. “In Ambovombe town, we are seeing a number of mental health conditions, including […]
Continue ReadingTea aficionados would do anything to find a variety that makes a tastier cup. China is a country obsessed with the drink and all of its facets – from cultivation, brewing, and serving techniques to methods of consumption and the tea ceremony that have significantly influenced the country throughout history. Now Chinese experts have […]
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There is no clearer marker that we are now in the “after” phase of the pandemic, than the proliferation of public inquiries, reports on lessons learned and post hoc analyses. To reassess and agonise over how reasonable lockdown was is now a near-constant in the media, particularly in the UK. However, against the backdrop of […]
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Wives of reservists who are fighting in Gaza are really suffering – torn between caring for their children at home and working at their regular jobs (if they haven’t been dismissed). A new study by the Israel Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IIOSH) has just unveiled the heavy burden of war on soldiers’ partners […]
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As Kate, a participant in our research on birth experiences, struggled with the pain she was experiencing during labour, the midwife was stern. She referred to Kate as a “silly girl” and told her she needed to calm down. Finally, the anaesthetist arrived to give Kate an epidural. He asked if this was “the silly […]
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