Research suggests that a new antiretroviral drug, Lenacapavir could transform HIV prevention and treatment. Currently priced at over $40,000 annually per patient, Some say that the drug’s cost could be slashed to just $40 per year if produced generically.
A 14-year-old boy from Malappuram district died due to Nipah virus infection, which was confirmed after he showed symptoms of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) and suffered a cardiac arrest. The infection was confirmed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. The state health minister Veena George informed local media about the death and the preventive measures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning regarding a listeria outbreak associated with deli meats which has resulted in at least two fatalities and affected 28 individuals across 12 states.
According to a study conducted by the University of Glasgow, those who do cycling to work have a 47% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 51% lower risk of dying from cancer. The study also showed a 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 10% lower chance of needing hospital treatment for any cause among cyclists.
On July 2, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved donanemab, a monoclonal antibody developed by Eli Lilly for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. This approval introduces a new option for those in the early symptomatic phases of Alzheimer’s, a chance to slow disease progression and maintain quality of life.
Japan is facing an increase in cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a rare but severe bacterial infection that can rapidly become fatal. As of June 2, 2024, the Japanese Health Ministry has reported a record 977 cases, surpassing last year’s previous peak of 941 cases. This outbreak has already resulted in 77 deaths between January and March.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has unveiled that a “small but detectable quantity” of the H5N1 bird flu virus can survive common pasteurization methods for milk.
On May 13, 2024, the South African government declared an outbreak of Mpox following the confirmation of a case in Gauteng province. This case had no travel history to countries experiencing active Mpox outbreaks. As of June 14, 2024, there have been seven laboratory-confirmed cases and two deaths, yielding a high case fatality ratio (CFR) of 28.6%. The cases are distributed across Gauteng (3), KwaZulu-Natal (3), and Western Cape (1) provinces.
The study shows that individuals who closely follow a planetary health diet have a 30% lower risk of early death compared to those with the least adherence to this diet. This dietary approach also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and land use, both critical factors in addressing climate change.
Moderna has announced that its combination COVID-19 and influenza vaccine has demonstrated promising results in late-stage trials. The vaccine is known as mRNA-1083, not only generates a stronger immune response compared to separate shots but also shows potential for simplifying vaccination schedules.
