Advertisement
Advertisement

Health

Your blood could reveal inflammatory bowel disease 10 years before diagnosis

A major study has uncovered hidden warning signs of inflammatory bowel disease in the blood up to 10 years before diagnosis. Researchers discovered distinct antibody patterns that could help predict who would later develop Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, even distinguishing people at risk of more complicated disease.

Key step forward on International Health Rules

The global health community has taken a key step towards ensuring rapid action against future outbreaks of infectious diseases and other threats to international public health. A resolution adopted today confirms and underlines the World Health Organization’s (WHO) authority to verify disease outbreaks from all available official and unofficial sources, and, when necessary to determine the severity of an outbreak through on-the-spot investigations to ensure it is appropriately controlled. The resolution is a major step in the ongoing revision of the International Health Regulations, which were

Hope for 11 million children facing death from illnesses

The World Health Assembly has given a powerful endorsement to new strategic directions for child and adolescent health. The strategy brings together crucial elements to reduce childhood deaths and long term disability. It also aims to reduce the 1.4 million adolescent deaths each year. Last year, the number of children and adolescents who died was double the total number of adult deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. In 2000 10.8 million children under five years old died, over half of them from just five preventable communicable diseases and malnutrition. 99% of these deaths ar

Ensuring continuity of TB services during the COVID-19 pandemic

GENEVA As the world comes together to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to ensure that essential health services and operations are continued to protect the lives of people with TB and other diseases or health conditions. Health services, including national programmes to combat TB, need to be actively engaged in ensuring an effective and rapid response to COVID-19 while ensuring that TB services are maintained. In the lead- up to World TB Day, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General emphasized in a news release, “COVID-19 is highlighting just how vulnerable people with

Statue commemorates smallpox eradication

A statue commemorating the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox is being unveiled today in front of the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters by the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan. Prior to eradication, smallpox epidemics were common in many countries, leaving death, blindness and disfigurement behind. The eradication of this devastating, infectious disease has been called one of the greatest achievements in public health. A reminder of the value of smallpox eradication "The eradication of smallpox shows that with strong mutual resolve, te

WHO Director-General calls on G20 to Fight, Unite, and Ignite against COVID-19

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed Heads of State at today’s extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit focused on COVID-19. He told them, “You have come together to confront the defining health crisis of our time: We are at war with a virus that threatens to tear us apart - if we let it.“ He welcomed the G20‘s initiative to find joint solutions and work together: “This is a global crisis that requires a global response.” “Fight, unite, ignite“ Dr Tedros’ call was clear. First, he urged leaders to fight without excuses, without regrets – thanking

Iraq needs $325 million for emergency health care, says World Health Organization

The people of Iraq are in urgent need of better health care and their situation is deteriorating by the day. The UN has today appealed for at least $325 million in emergency funds to meet the immediate health, nutrition, water and sanitation needs of the most vulnerable populations. Out of this amount, the World Health Organization urgently appeals for $185 million. This request is part of the wider United Nations humanitarian appeal for $2.1 billion to provide assistance to the people of Iraq over the next six months. This appeal is being launched jointly by all the UN humanitarian agencies i

WHO releases guidelines to help countries maintain essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems worldwide. The rapidly increasing demand on health facilities and health care workers threatens to leave some health systems overstretched and unable to operate effectively. Previous outbreaks have demonstrated that when health systems are overwhelmed, mortality from vaccine-preventable and other treatable conditions can also increase dramatically. During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the increased number of deaths caused by measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis attributable to health system failures exceeded deaths from Ebola [1,2]. “Th

Advertisement

IPA, WHO and UNICEF launch Read the World on International Children’s Book Day to support children and young people in isolation

Geronimo Stilton author to kickstart exclusive children’s book reading initiative amid COVID-19 pandemic Much-loved children’s authors are joining an initiative to read extracts of their books to millions of children and young people currently living in isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the World is a collaboration between the International Publishers Association (IPA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. It kicks off today, on International Children’s Book Day, at 15.00 GMT/17.00 CET with Italian author Elisabetta Dami, creator of the popular character Geronimo Stilton. “

#BeActive for the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

FIFA has joined forces with the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in supporting the #BeActive campaign launched on the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace to encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome as the world comes together in the fight against COVID-19, today and every day. WHO recommends all healthy adults do at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity and children at least 60 minutes per day. As part of this, #BeActive and remain #HealthyAtHome include the following suggestions along with any other form of recreation to stay healthy at home:

WHO and Global Citizen announce: 'One World: Together at home' Global Special to support healthcare workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

‘One World: Together At Home’ Global Special to Air on Saturday, April 18 in Celebration and Support of Healthcare Workes, Broadcast to Feature Real Experiences from Doctors, Nurses and Families Around the World. Historic Broadcast to be Hosted by Jimmy Fallon of ‘The Tonight Show,’ Jimmy Kimmel of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and Stephen Colbert of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ Friends from Sesame Street Also on Hand to Help Unify and Inspire People Around the World to Take Meaningful Actions that Increase Support for the Global COVID-19 Response Curated in Collaboration with Lady Gaga, Broadc

Scientists discover a surprising double benefit of exercise for Parkinson’s

A seven-year study found that people with Parkinson’s disease who were more physically active experienced slower declines in memory, thinking, and movement abilities. Those exercising more than eight hours per week showed almost no average cognitive decline, suggesting that staying active may offer important benefits as the disease progresses.

Breakthrough PTSD treatment achieves 68% remission rate in clinical trial

A newly FDA-cleared PTSD treatment uses personalized brain mapping and magnetic stimulation to target abnormal brain activity, with a clinical trial reporting a 52% reduction in symptoms and 68% remission. Researchers believe the technology could transform PTSD care and pave the way for more precise treatments for other mental health conditions.

Advertisement