In The News
1. As Zika Spread Slows In Some Latin American Nations, Puerto Rico Prepares For Peak Of Viral Outbreak
Reuters: In war on Zika mosquitoes, Puerto Rico starting at 'square one'
"The United States faces its first real challenge with the Zika virus on the island territory of Puerto Rico, a part of the nation that is perhaps least prepared to cope with what is expected to be its worst outbreak. Zika is spreading rapidly in Puerto Rico and is expected to peak in late summer and early fall..." (Steenhuysen, 4/1).
Washington Post: Spread of Zika virus appears to be slowing in parts of Latin America
"In several Latin American nations hit hard by the Zika epidemic, the transmission of the virus appears to have peaked, with the number of infections declining in recent weeks, according to governments in the region and the latest World Health Organization data. The slowdown has prompted some countries, including Colombia, to significantly scale back their projections of the impact of the virus..." (Miroff, 3/31).
2. Evidence Points To Zika As Probable Cause Of Neurological Conditions, Including Microcephaly, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, WHO Says
Reuters: WHO sees scientific consensus on Zika as cause for disorders
"Researchers around the world are now convinced the Zika virus can cause the birth defect microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. The statement represented the U.N. health agency's strongest language to date on the connection between the mosquito-borne virus and the two maladies..." (Nebehay/Steenhuysen, 3/31).
3. Scientists Discover Molecular Structure Of Zika Virus, Providing Information To Aid Vaccine, Antiviral Development
News outlets report on a study published Thursday in Science showing the molecular structure of the Zika virus, information that could help researchers develop a vaccine or antiviral.
The Guardian: Zika structure discovered, raising hopes for new ways to combat virus (Davis, 3/31).
Reuters: U.S. study may point the way on how to beat the Zika virus (Steenhuysen, 3/31).
Wall Street Journal: Scientists Identify the Structure of Zika Virus (Long, 3/31).
Washington Post: Zika’s structure has been revealed, bringing scientists closer to a vaccine (Feltman, 3/31).
4. Hundreds In Guinea Receive Experimental Ebola Vaccine; Wellcome Trust-CIDRAP Report Warns Against Complacency In Vaccine Research
Reuters: Hundreds in Guinea get Ebola vaccine in fight against flare-up
"Hundreds of possible contacts of eight people infected with Ebola in Guinea have been vaccinated with an experimental Merck vaccine to try and halt a flare-up of the deadly disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday..." (Kelland, 4/1).
Reuters: Experts warn complacency on Ebola may leave vaccine work unfinished
"...Great progress has been made in Ebola vaccine development in the last two years, according to a report by an international panel of infectious disease experts, but this 'could grind to a halt as memories of the outbreak in West Africa begin to fade.' 'The job is still not done,' said Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust global health charity which co-led a report on the world's progress towards Ebola immunization..." (Kelland, 3/31).
5. USAID Deploys Disaster Assistance Response Team To Ethiopia To Curtail Drought Impacts
Devex: Can USAID's disaster team avert catastrophe in Ethiopia?
"The U.S. Agency for International Development has deployed a disaster response team to Ethiopia, where there is a 'crucial window of time' to avert the worst impacts of a drought, according to the agency's disaster chief. The disaster assistance response team -- or DART -- traveled to Ethiopia on March 3..." (Igoe, 3/31).
6. GlaxoSmithKline Taking Steps To Help Reduce Drug Prices In Lower-Income Countries
The Guardian: GlaxoSmithKline to lower drug prices in poorer countries
"GlaxoSmithKline is taking action to make medicines more affordable in developing countries, including waiving patent protection for new drugs in the world's poorest nations. ... The measures will affect 85 countries, helping more than two billion people, and benefit Africa most, according to GSK. Any GSK medicines on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines will be automatically included..." (Kollewe, 3/31).
7. Health Inequities Remain Problem In World’s Growing Urban Areas, U.N. Report Says
U.N. News Centre: U.N. report aims to equalize health conditions amidst exploding metro populations
"...The 'Global Report on Urban Health: Equitable, healthier cities for sustainable development,' jointly released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. Human Settlements Programme (U.N.-Habitat), compares data on health from urbanites in almost 100 countries. The criteria vary from clean water access to HIV knowledge, obesity, and air pollution. The report shows that 'in cities, progress in health depends not only on the strength of health systems, but also on shaping urban environments,' Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO assistant director general for Health Systems and Innovation, and Joan Clos, executive director of U.N.-Habitat said in the foreword..." (3/31).
8. More Overweight Than Underweight People Worldwide, Study Shows
Reuters: World's obese population hits 641 million, global study finds
"More than 640 million people globally now weigh in as obese and the world has more overweight than underweight people, according to an analysis of global trends in body mass index (BMI). ... The study, published on Thursday in The Lancet medical journal, involved the World Health Organization and more than 700 researchers worldwide. It analyzed data on weight and height from nearly 20 million adults from 186 countries..." (Kelland, 3/31).
9. 3.4M Women Of Reproductive Age At Risk In War-Torn Yemen, UNFPA Says
U.N. News Centre: Yemen: year of conflict puts 3.4 million women of reproductive age at risk, U.N. reports
"A year of conflict in Yemen has left an estimated 3.4 million women of reproductive age between 15 and 49 years in need of humanitarian assistance, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reported, expressing growing concern about the situation. Of them, nearly 500,000 are pregnant and will give birth within the next nine months..." (3/31).
10. Chronic Kidney Disease Of Unknown Origin Affecting Men From Asian, Latin American Nations
Science: Mysterious kidney disease goes global
"...This region in coastal Andhra Pradesh is at the heart of what local doctors and media are calling a [chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu)] epidemic. ... A rash of similar outbreaks in other countries has underscored that it is a global problem. Some rice-growing regions of Sri Lanka have their own epidemic, and the disease is rampant in sugar-producing regions of Mexico and Central America..." (Chatterjee, 3/31).
11. Women In Nepal Banished During Menstruation Despite Law Banning Practice
The Guardian: Nepal's bleeding shame: menstruating women banished to cattle sheds
"...Sofalta is one of thousands of girls and women in Nepal who practice Chhaupadi -- banishment to a cattle shed or makeshift hut -- because of so-called 'impurity' during menstruation or just after childbirth. ... Although Chhaupadi was outlawed by Nepal's supreme court in 2005, the practice is still widely observed in the western parts of the country, where low development rates, gender inequality, community tradition, and high illiteracy all contribute to its continuation, say activists..." (Hodal, 4/1).
12. Libya’s Health System Devastated By Violence, Medication Shortages
The Lancet: Libya's health crisis looks set to worsen
"...Health workers largely fled the country after the violence escalated in 2014. The international community regards Libya as a high-risk state. Médecins Sans Frontières works in some places, including the ravaged city of Benghazi, but most charities dare not enter. U.N. agencies undertake their operations from neighboring Tunisia. The population has scant access to basic care and there are severe shortages of essential medications, including insulin, tuberculosis drugs, and antiretrovirals..." (Burki, 4/2).