WHO To Release Data On Global Air Pollution Next Month, The Guardian Reports January 19, 2016 News Summary The Guardian: Shock figures to reveal deadly toll of global air pollution “The World Health Organization has issued a stark new warning about deadly levels of pollution in many of the world’s biggest cities, claiming poor air quality is killing millions and threatening to overwhelm health services across the globe.…
U.K. Should Have Listened To MSF Warnings Over Ebola Outbreak, Parliamentary Committee Report Says January 19, 2016 News Summary The Guardian: U.K. should have heeded MSF warnings on Ebola, MPs say “…A report from the International Development Committee (IDC) says that, rather than waiting for the WHO to acknowledge the threat posed by the outbreak, which did not happen until August 2014, the government should have been listening to…
Southern African Nations, Ethiopia Experiencing El Niño-Related Droughts, Food Shortages, U.N. Food Agencies Warn January 19, 2016 News Summary Reuters: U.N. food agency says 14 million face hunger in Southern Africa “About 14 million people face hunger in Southern Africa because of a drought that has been exacerbated by an El Niño weather pattern, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday…” (Stoddard, 1/18). U.N. News Centre:…
Russian Civil Society Urges National Government To Destigmatize HIV/AIDS, Provide Better Treatment January 19, 2016 News Summary Daily Beast: The Forgotten AIDS Crisis in Russia “…[Anton Krasovsky, a leader of the AIDS Center working around Moscow and the Moscow region,] said that his AIDS center would do everything to push the Russian government to destigmatize the disease and reform its approach to HIV/AIDS. Thanks to civil movements…
Brazil Taking Steps To Quell Fears Over Mosquito-Borne Diseases Ahead Of Carnival, Olympics January 19, 2016 News Summary Associated Press: Brazil to fund development of vaccine for Zika virus “…Health Minister Marcelo Castro said Friday that the goal is for the Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute to develop ‘in record time’ a vaccine for Zika, which is spread through mosquito bites. Institute Director Jorge Kalil said that is expected…
CDC Issues Travel Guidance Warning Pregnant Women Of Zika Virus In Latin America, Caribbean January 19, 2016 News Summary News outlets report on a CDC interim travel guidance related to Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean. Associated Press: Pregnant women told to avoid countries with Zika outbreaks “Pregnant women should avoid traveling to Latin America and Caribbean countries that have outbreaks of a tropical illness linked to…
CDC Confirms Zika Infection In Infant Born In Hawaii With Microcephaly; Mother Infected While Living In Brazil January 19, 2016 News Summary New York Times: Hawaii Baby With Brain Damage Is First U.S. Case Tied to Zika Virus “…The Hawaii State Department of Health said that a baby born in an Oahu hospital with microcephaly — an unusually small head and brain — had been infected with the Zika virus, which is…
Madaya, Other Besieged Syrian Towns Continue To Face Food, Medical Supply Shortages, U.N. Agencies Warn January 19, 2016 News Summary CNN: Help arrives in Madaya, but too late for some “…In a war where food has long been a weapon of war, the fate of Madaya has shone a brief spotlight on a savage tactic of war that aid workers say all sides are guilty of exploiting…” (Walsh, 1/16). International…
The Lancet Series Shows More Progress Needed To Lower Global Stillbirth Rate January 19, 2016 News Summary The Guardian: World making barely any progress on preventing stillbirths, says Lancet “…In a series of papers on ending preventable stillbirths, published in The Lancet this week, researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), found the number of stillbirths had remain unchanged since 2011 and was…
Pakistani Lawmakers Withdraw Bill Banning Child Marriage After Leading Religious Body Objects January 19, 2016 News Summary Washington Post: Bill banning child marriage fails in Pakistan after it’s deemed ‘un-Islamic’ “Pakistani lawmakers had to withdraw a bill aimed at curbing the practice of child marriage after a prominent religious body declared the legislation un-Islamic. The bill, which proposed raising the marriage age for females from 16 to…