Browsing: Infectious Disease

In a concerning development for public health, Japan has confirmed its first case of human-to-human transmission of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), a potentially lethal tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced that a young doctor, aged in his 20s, contracted the virus following the treatment of a patient who succumbed to the disease in April 2023.

The receipt of the P145.5 million grant signifies a significant milestone in the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to fortify COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunisation programs. Therefore, the collaboration endeavours to bridge immunisation gaps and achieve optimal vaccination coverage rates with a targeted approach. Additionally, it exhibits a commitment to gender responsiveness and collaborative partnerships. As the nation navigates the complexities of the pandemic, collective action and solidarity remain pivotal in ensuring a healthier, more resilient future for all Filipinos, safeguarding the health and well-being of current and future generations alike.

The Alliance reiterates the imperative of addressing TB as a top global health priority. Alarming figures show that 1.5 million people die from TB-related causes annually, with millions more affected. Urgent concerted efforts are necessary to stem the tide of this relentless disease. The Philippines’ steadfast commitment to TB elimination resonates deeply with its broader public health agenda. This champions the principles of accessible and quality healthcare for all its citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location.

Singapore’s Project Wolbachia began as a small-scale project involving the release of male mosquitoes that carry a natural parasite called Wolbachia, which prevents the eggs of female mosquitoes from hatching. This approach led to a dramatic 90% reduction in the A. aegypti mosquito population and a 77% decrease in dengue cases in the targeted areas. The project has been expanding steadily since its inception.

Recently, with a striking increase in dengue cases over the past ten weeks, Singapore’s government has urged for immediate action. In just the past week, the project released a further 350,000 Wolbachia-carrying males in an area and are planning to extend this initiative to four more regions within this first quarter. This means stepping up to produce a whopping 11 million male Wolbachia mosquitoes weekly and coverage from 26% to 35% of all households in Singapore.

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In a startling incident in central Oregon, a pet owner has been diagnosed with the bubonic plague, a disease that harks back to the Middle Ages. Health officials believe the resident contracted the rare illness from their symptomatic pet cat, marking a rare occurrence of the plague in modern times.

The Duke-NUS research team, collaborating with Duke University and the National University of Singapore, conducted a preclinical comparison between nasal and subcutaneous administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Their findings were published in eBioMedicine. It revealed that the intranasal route not only induces a strong mucosal antibody response but also enhances long-term mucosal and systemic immune protection.

Dengue infections in Malaysia nearly doubled in 2023 compared to 2022 amid global surge in dengue cases. According to the Malaysian government’s iDengue portal, a total of 123,300 dengue cases were reported from January 1st to December 31st 2023, 86.5% more compared to 2022 (66,102 cases). This was the highest number of recorded cases since 2019 when 130,101 dengue cases were reported.