Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
N.Korea stockpiled Chinese masks, vaccines before reporting COVID-19 outbreak
In the months before it acknowledged its first official COVID-19 outbreak, North Korea suddenly imported millions of face masks, 1,000 ventilators, and possibly vaccines from China, trade data released by Beijing showed. Two weeks ago state media revealed the outbreak, fuelling concerns about a lack of vaccines, medical supplies, and food shortages. Chinese data show that even before that announcement, the North had begun stocking up.
Factbox-Monkeypox cases around the world
Around 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 200 confirmed or suspected infections mostly in Europe. The outbreaks are raising alarm because monkeypox, which spreads through close contact and was first found in monkeys, mostly occurs in the west and central Africa, and only very occasionally spreads elsewhere.
Factbox-Countries offering vaccine for monkeypox
As more countries where monkeypox is not endemic report outbreaks of the viral disease, some governments have started offering vaccines to most exposed citizens. There isn’t a specific vaccine for monkeypox, but data shows that vaccines that were used to eradicate smallpox are up to 85% effective against it, according to the World Health Organisation.
World Bank approves $500 million for Turkey for COVID-19 vaccines
The World Bank said on Thursday that its board had approved $500 million in additional financing to support Turkey in its efforts to fight against COVID-19. The funds, which will have a maturity of 10.5 years with a five-year grace period, will be used to ensure access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Turkey, the bank said.
N.Korea tests rivers, air, and garbage as anti-COVID efforts gather steam
North Korean health officials are testing rivers, lakes, the air, and household wastewater and garbage for the coronavirus as the country intensify its fight against its first outbreak, state media said on Friday. The isolated country has been in a heated battle against an unprecedented COVID wave since declaring a state of emergency and imposing a nationwide lockdown this month, fuelling concerns about a lack of vaccines, medical supplies, and food shortages.
Swiss to destroy more than 620,000 expired Moderna COVID doses
Switzerland will destroy more than 620,000 expired doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, health officials said on Friday, as demand for the shots drops dramatically. “It was consciously accepted that under certain circumstances too much vaccine was procured for Switzerland’s needs,” a spokesperson for the Federal Office of Public Health said, confirming a report by broadcaster RTS.
Monkeypox can be contained if we act now, WHO says
Countries should take quick steps to contain the spread of monkeypox and share data about their vaccine stockpiles, a senior World Health Organization official said on Friday. “We think that if we put in place the right measures now we probably can contain this easily,” Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, told the U.N. agency’s annual assembly.
Taiwan’s COVID-19 cases reach a plateau – government
The COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan has reached a plateau, with cases at a high but stable level, the government said on Friday, as it maintained a policy of gradually easing restrictions and letting the island life with the virus. Health Minister Chen Shih-Chung said infections could stay near the current level for a while before declining. He has previously forecast a peak could appear in late May.
Shanghai takes baby steps toward ending COVID lockdown
Shanghai took more gradual steps on Friday towards lifting its COVID-19 lockdown while Beijing was investigating cases where its strict curbs were affecting other medical treatments as China soldiered on with its uneven exit from restrictions. The financial hub and the capital have been hot spots, with a harsh two-month lockdown to arrest a coronavirus spike in Shanghai and tight movement restrictions to stamp out a small but stubborn outbreak in Beijing.
EU agrees common purchase of vaccine, antiviral against monkeypox: paper
The European Union has decided on common purchasing of a vaccine and antiviral to fight the outbreak of monkeypox, a virus endemic in Africa and usually rare in other places, Sweden’s vaccine coordinator said on Friday. “After several meetings, it has been decided that we will buy both vaccine and an antiviral treatment,” Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter quoted coordinator Richard Bergstrom as saying.
(With inputs from agencies.)
