Lassa fever is a zoonotic (animal-borne) acute viral illness spread by the common Mastomys natalensis rat and found in parts of West Africa. Although most people’s cases are mild, one in five infections result
Summer is coming and with it the mosquito. Although tropical and subtropical areas of the world host epidemics of mosquito-borne diseases year round, climate change is causing mosquitoes to migrate
MYTH: Measles (rubeola) is an unpleasant but harmless childhood disease. You get a rash for a few days and you’re done. FACT: Measles is an extremely contagious respiratory disease whose complications
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Preventable and treatable if diagnosed in early stages of infection. If not, RHD is deadly. A recent 2024 Lancet article states that “rheumatic heart disease affects 40 million people globally”
In an article just published in the Lancet, the Accelerating African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology and a Vibrant Ecosystem (ACHIEVE) reported that hypertension is a leading cause of premature death in Africa, with the highest global rate of
What are opioids? Opioids are man-made and natural drugs used to treat pain. Most opioids are prescribed legally by doctors to treat very bad pain after surgery or for long-term pain management.
Dengue, a viral fever transmitted by mosquitoes, is now showing up in areas of the world where it has never before been seen. Once confined to the tropics, dengue is spreading fast as illustrated by a case of dengue
In June WiRED International announced that a group of Armenian physicians and NGOs were exploring opportunities to begin community health worker (CHW) training in Armenia. The next step towards this goal resulted in a pilot lecture series
While we are appropriately concerned about the impact of record-breaking temperatures on people, too often we ignore the extensive casualties of heat on the world’s animal and plant populations.
July 2023 is now the hottest month on record worldwide. Extreme heat can endanger human health. The steep rise of global temperatures and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather due to climate change can lead to heat-related illness