WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

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• UN approves an updated cholera vaccine that could help fight a surge in cases

  ​Cholera is an acute diarrhea disease caused by a bacteria typically spread via contaminated food or water. It is mostly seen in areas that have poor sanitation and lack access to clean water. While most people infected with cholera don't experience symptoms, those with severe cases need quick treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics. If left untreated, cholera kills about a quarter to half of people infected.

  

• Companies racing to commercialise their alternative obesity treatments: GlobalData

  Given the growing patient base, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro generated $9.7 billion globally in 2023, following their 2021 and 2023 launches, respectively. This value represents a 239 per cent increase from the total revenue generated from all obesity drugs in 2022. These products have uncovered and highlighted the viability offered by this market, setting the trend for drug developers to seek approval for their obesity drugs.

  

• Direct transmission of deadlier TB in city, finds genome study

  Around 51% had pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) while 15.5% had the relatively milder multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in which two of the known anti-TB drugs are ineffective. While MDR-TB and pre-XDR-TB require 18 to 24 months of treatment, the drug-sensitive form of TB requires nine months of treatment.

  

• Delhi government's outdated essential medicines list has more drugs than national, WHO lists

  Times of India's sources, however, have said that the Health Minister was apprised of the situation and that all essential medicines were available. Bharadwaj was informed of this during a meeting with the chief secretary, senior officials of health department and directorate of health services.

  

• India accounts for second highest number of cases in hepatitis B & C after China, says WHO report

  The WHO report said new data from 187 countries show that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Of these, 83 per cent were caused by hepatitis B, and 17 per cent by hepatitis C.

  

• 45 per cent of India's population dangerously close to being classified as unhealthy: Study

  Adding to the grave health situation is the fact that Indians continue to be plagued by stress, affecting the physical and mental well-being of individuals across all walks of life. GOQii’s India Fit Report 2024 titled ‘Thriving at Any Age: The Blueprint for Healthy Longevity’ exposes a grim reality where 26 per cent of Indians report being trapped in the throes of work-related stress, while financial instability plagues 17 per cent of the population.

  

• Prostate cancer cases to double between 2020 and 2040, deaths to rise by 85 per cent: Lancet study

  Globally, the study estimated yearly cases of prostate cancer to be 14 lakh and yearly deaths due to the disease to stand at 3.75 lakh in 2020. The prostate cancer cases are projected to rise to 29 lakh a year and almost seven lakh prostate cancer deaths a year by 2040.

  

• TB mortality rate in South-East Asia rose 8.6 per cent in 2021: WHO

  According to the release, the regional director of WHO, South-East Asia Region, Saima Wazed said, "TB mortality rate in the Region increased by 8.6 per cent in 2021 compared to 2015. The probability of death between the ages of 30 and 70 years from four major diseases - cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases - is still unacceptably high at 21.6 per cent."

  

• WHO launches CoViNet a new network for coronaviruses

  CoViNet is a network of global laboratories with expertise in human, animal and environmental coronavirus surveillance.The network currently includes 36 laboratories from 21 countries in all six WHO regions.

  

• General Elections 2024: Political parties need to prioritise healthcare in poll manifesto

  All political parties, be it the ruling party or the opposition, that are contesting the elections are trying to garner votes by painting a rosy picture or mocking the policy measures undertaken by political rival governments. The factual status of health showcases the stark truth that nothing much has changed when it comes to the health status of the country.

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• "Next target is to ensure all girls are vaccinated against cervical cancer": PM Modi to Bill Gates

  Recently global health donors had pledged USD 600 million towards eliminating cervical cancer . The World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF said that the funding would go towards expanding access to vaccination, screening and treatment worldwide.