U.N. Members Vote Unanimously To End Haiti Peacekeeping Mission Blamed For Bringing Cholera To Country April 14, 2017 News Summary New York Times: U.N. Votes Unanimously to End Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti “The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to end its 13-year-long peacekeeping mission in Haiti, and replace its blue-helmeted soldiers with police officers. … [The mission] became arguably best known for introducing a deadly cholera strain…
Science Examines Vaccinemakers’ Ideas On How To Use CEPI Funding, Better Respond To Emerging Infections April 14, 2017 News Summary Science: Epidemic Insurance “…A new organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), was launched and has raised half a billion dollars to work on three [vaccines for emerging infections]. GlaxoSmithKline, one of only four large vaccinemakers in the world, has proposed devoting one of its idle manufacturing plants to…
More Research Needed To Identify MERS Patients, Prevent Outbreaks, WHO Says April 14, 2017 News Summary The Lancet: Research needed to prevent MERS coronavirus outbreaks “After a recent outbreak of MERS coronavirus was contained in Saudi Arabia, WHO calls for more research for a better control of the disease…” (Devi, 4/15).
Cholera Cases In Somalia Expected To Double To 50K By Summer, WHO Says, Warning Case Fatality Rate Above 2% April 14, 2017 News Summary Associated Press: Somalia’s cholera outbreak at more than 25,000 cases: WHO “The World Health Organization says a cholera outbreak in Somalia has grown to more than 25,000 cases this year alone and is expected to double by the end of June. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said Thursday that the outbreak…
India’s Landmark New Legislation Banning Discrimination Against People With HIV Criticized For Loopholes On Treatment, Requirements For Enforcement April 14, 2017 News Summary CNN: India to ban discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS “India has passed a landmark bill which aims to ensure equal rights for those living with HIV/AIDS. The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, passed by the country’s parliament on Tuesday, will make it illegal to discriminate against people living…
Vaccination Campaign Underway In Nigeria To Curb Meningitis Outbreak; 489 Reported Deaths So Far, WHO Says April 14, 2017 News Summary CNN: Vaccinations underway as meningitis kills hundreds in Nigeria “A meningitis outbreak has killed 489 people in Nigeria this year, the World Health Organization said Thursday. The country’s Center for Disease Control reported 4,637 suspected cases. … The WHO also said that a vaccination campaign organized by the International Coordinating…
Cutting U.S. Foreign Aid ‘Counterproductive’ To U.S. Interests Overseas April 14, 2017 News Summary Washington Post: The amorality and stupidity of eviscerating foreign-aid spending Jennifer Rubin, columnist for the Washington Post “…If [President Trump] is willing to use military power to achieve ends that enhance U.S. standing in the world, why not expend many fewer dollars to stem or prevent humanitarian disasters and political and…
Editorials Denounce U.S. Decision To Withhold UNFPA Funding April 14, 2017 News Summary The Lancet: Defunding the UNFPA: sign of the times Editorial Board “…The removal of support [for UNFPA] is a blow to an agency that ensures access to contraception and maternal and child health services, and fights against gender violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation in more than 150 countries…
U.S. System Of Public Health Emergency Response Is ‘Highly Decentralized,’ Needs Leadership April 14, 2017 News Summary Washington Post: Letters to the Editor: In case of epidemic: Get organized Allan R. Glass, physician in Bethesda, MD “The April 9 news article ‘Trump team ill-prepared for pandemic’ focused on the impact of vacancies in the offices of high-level federal officials, but such federal officials have very limited real…
U.S. Congress Should Continue To Support, Fully Fund PEPFAR To Reach AIDS-Free Generation Goal April 14, 2017 News Summary Minneapolis Star Tribune: Keep fighting AIDS ‘until the job is done’ Editorial Board “…PEPFAR is now in the budget cross hairs of the young Trump administration. The president’s so-called ‘skinny budget’ proposal for [FY 2018] recommends dramatic cuts to medical research, health and human services programs, and the State Department, among…