HEALTH

UK Faces Avian Flu Outbreak as H5N5 Strain Spreads

In northern England, Yorkshire is now facing an avian flu outbreak following the detection of the H5N5 strain in poultry, marking the first cases recorded in farming since the beginning of the autumn season, the UK government announced on Tuesday. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed that all poultry at the farm ...

Climate Change: “The Wasted Time Has Been Paid in Lives”

The 2024 Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change reveals that global warming poses an increasingly significant threat to public health. Compiled annually by researchers from various universities and UN agencies, the study highlights the multiple dangers facing the global population. “Data in this year’s report show that people all ...

Polio: The Aborted Eradication of a Preventable Disease

Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a viral disease caused by the poliovirus, which invades the nervous system and spreads primarily through contaminated water or food. Highly contagious, it affects mainly unvaccinated children under five, with symptoms ranging from mild fevers to irreversible paralysis and death. Despite extensive global efforts, polio ...

Malaria: Egypt Eradicates the Pharaohs' Disease

In Egypt, malaria has long been a public health scourge. It intensified in the 20th century to become a major health issue, particularly in the rural areas of the Nile Delta, where environmental conditions favored the spread of the disease. However, a significant event occurred recently. On October 20, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced ...

Food Poisoning: The Fear on Our Plates!

In recent weeks, Lebanon has seen a notable rise in food poisoning cases, a phenomenon that cannot be separated from the socio-economic conditions burdening the country. The war context alone increases these risks, as we will explain later. However, other factors also play a role. First, the chronic lack or shortage of electricity severely ...

The Chaos of Insurance Against War Risks

Lebanon is under fire, and insurance premiums against war risks are reaching historic peaks. Reinsurers adjust the prices of premiums in real-time, responding instantly to changes in the intensity of the fighting on the ground. What is valid at one moment may no longer be so a few hours later. It’s chaos. Renewing war risk insurance policies in ...

Abiad Assures Ample Medicine Supplies

Firas Abiad, caretaker Minister of Public Health, emphasized that the stock of medications for chronic diseases is sufficient for at least four to five months. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he emphasized that Middle East Airlines is prioritizing health matters and ensuring secure imports, with aid allocated to Lebanon for chronic ...

The War in Lebanon: A Catalyst for Infectious Diseases

With the intensification of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon finds itself at a critical juncture for multiple reasons. This crisis has resulted in devastating consequences for the country, characterized by massive material destruction, a relentless exodus of residents from war-affected areas, and an alarming decline in living ...

WHO Warns of Growing Threat of Infections in Gaza

In a post on social network X, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of the "growing threat of infectious diseases" in the Gaza Strip. He said that WHO staff on the ground were working daily on controlling and monitoring these infections. The WHO chief said on Friday that he was "very concerned" about the growing threat posed by ...