New global guidance aims to curb antibiotic pollution from manufacturing
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its first-ever guidance on antibiotic pollution from manufacturing. The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024. The […]
Our skin is teeming with microbes. We should learn to love them
Billions of bacteria, fungi and viruses live on the surface of our bodies. We are only just beginning to understand the vital role they play in our health and wellbeing. Your skin is crawling. Zoom in on any square centimetre of the skin on your body and you’ll find between 10,000 to one million bacteria living there. […]
Majority of global population found deficient in 15 essential micronutrients
According to a new study by researchers at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), more than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of several micronutrients essential to health including calcium, iron and vitamins C and E. The researchers claim it […]
Manuka Honey Reduces Breast Cancer Cell Growth, Study Says
New research has revealed that Manuka honey may have potential as an alternative prevention and treatment option for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Recent research revealed that compounds found in Manuka honey exhibit anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer effects. Moreover, previous investigations have shown that honey may be an effective alternative for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Now, a […]
What is World Humanitarian Day and why is it important?
World Humanitarian Day takes place every 19 August to recognize the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of humanitarians around the world. The day aims to promote the well-being, dignity and ultimately the survival of those affected by disasters, and the safety and security of the aid workers who rush to help them. Like other international days […]
Study uncovers some underlying reasons why music therapy helps treat depression
Using music to help treat mental illness is one focus of mental illness research. Experts are interested in understanding music therapy and how to achieve the best results from its use. A study published in Cell Reports looked at some of the underlying mechanisms involved in the effectiveness of music therapy as a treatment for depression. The researchers found that subjective […]
New research links a healthy diet with limited added sugar to lower biological age
A new study found that women following a diet rich in vitamins and minerals with low added sugar had a lower biological age. Moreover, even when people follow healthy diets, the researchers found that each gram of added sugar consumed was associated with a higher biological age. The researchers at the University of California (UC) […]
WHO Director-General declares mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). Dr Tedros’s declaration came on the advice of an IHR […]
Energy drinks are everywhere. How dangerous are they?
If you believe the ads, energy drinks turn ordinary schnooks like you and me into lean, mean, git-her-done machines. They promise to give you wings, unleash the beast, make you the boss of time, and enable the crushing of your enemies. No wonder sales have boomed in recent years, growing by 73 percent from 2018 to 2023. Nearly half of […]
On World Breastfeeding Week, UNICEF and WHO call for equal access to breastfeeding support
Statement by Catherine Russell (UNICEF Executive Director) and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO Director-General). In the last 12 years, the number of infants under six months of age globally who are exclusively breastfed has increased by more than 10%. This means 48% of infants worldwide now benefit from this healthy start in life. It translates to […]
