Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
Biden heads to Texas to highlight toxic health risks for veterans
President Joe Biden travels to Texas on Tuesday to highlight the exposure of U.S. service members to toxins in war zones that can later result in serious health problems, like the cancer that killed his son and for which he blames Iraqi burn pits. Accompanied by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, Biden will visit a clinic for veterans in Fort Worth and receive a briefing from staff on services for veterans and challenges they face, the White House said.
China says Hong Kong must stick to “dynamic zero” COVID strategy
A top Chinese health official rallied embattled Hong Kong on Tuesday to stick with a “dynamic zero” coronavirus strategy and warned that the city’s “lifeline” health system was at risk and the situation had to be turned around as soon as possible. Hong Kong reported more than 43,100 new cases on Tuesday after the launch of an online platform for people to record infections in a surge that has seen the city suffering the most deaths globally per million people in the week to March 6, according to the Our World in Data publication.
‘I am fine’: Whispered words are a ray of hope on Ukraine children’s ward
The doctor leaned over a small boy lying on a bed in a children’s hospital in the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and asked: “Little Vova, how are you?” “I am fine,” came the barely audible reply. “Fine,” the doctor repeated loudly, satisfied by what he heard.
France’s new COVID-19 infections start creeping up again
French health authorities reported 93,050 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, the highest daily total since Feb 22, and an increase of 16.6% versus a week ago. The number of new daily infections has now shown a week-oneweek rise for the fourth consecutive day, reversing a declining trend that started end January.
Omicron sub-variant BA.2 makes up 11.6% of COVID variants in U.S. – CDC
The BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron was estimated to be 11.6% of the coronavirus variants circulating in the United States as of March 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday. Scientists are tracking a rise in cases caused by BA.2, the dominant variant in South Africa, which is spreading rapidly in parts of Asia and Europe.
COVID-19 can cause brain shrinkage, memory loss – study
COVID-19 can cause the brain to shrink, reduce grey matter in the regions that control emotion and memory, and damage areas that control the sense of smell, an Oxford University study has found. The scientists said that the effects were even seen in people who had not been hospitalised with COVID, and whether the impact could be partially reversed or if they would persist in the long term needed further investigation.
Florida breaks with CDC, recommends no COVID vaccine for healthy children
Florida’s top health official said on Monday the state would recommend against the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children, breaking with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In announcing the move during press briefing convened by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the state’s surgeon general Dr. Joseph Lapado cited studies that showed few COVID fatalities among healthy children and elevated risk among young boys receiving the vaccine of side effects such as myocarditis.
Attacks on Ukrainian hospitals, ambulances increasing rapidly, WHO warns
Attacks on hospitals, ambulances and other health care facilities in Ukraine have increased rapidly in recent days and the country is running short of vital medical supplies, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The U.N. agency confirmed on Monday that at least nine people had died in 16 attacks on health care facilities since the start of a Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. It did not say who was responsible.
Explainer-What’s next for Purdue Pharma after $6 billion opioid settlement?
Members of the Sackler family that own Purdue Pharma struck a new settlement last week with a group of eight states and the District of Columbia to resolve widespread litigation accusing the OxyContin maker of fueling the U.S. opioid epidemic. The following details next steps for Purdue and potential hurdles as it moves closer to exiting bankruptcy.
S.Africa’s Aspen signs deal to package and sell J&J COVID vaccine
South African drugmaker Aspen Pharmacare on Tuesday concluded an agreement with Johnson & Johnson to package, sell and distribute the American group’s COVID-19 vaccines under its own brand in Africa. In November Aspen entered into talks with J&J for a licensing deal that would give it freedom to sell and distribute the vaccine under its own brand.
(With inputs from agencies.)
