Touro University California Global Health Program

06/30/2021

"The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the world. Many jurisdictions implemented control measures, such as border closures, lockdowns, school and business closures, travel restrictions, mask wearing, and social distancing. This was associated with changes in the prevalence of other respiratory viruses, predominantly influenza viruses1,2 but others as well."

This cross-sectional study assessed the changes in respiratory virus prevalence in 2020 vs 2019 associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

06/28/2021

"Staging and treatment of human African trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (g-HAT) required lumbar puncture to assess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and intravenous drugs that cross the blood–brain barrier for late-stage infection. These procedures are inconvenient in rural health systems of disease-endemic countries. A pivotal study established fexinidazole as the first oral monotherapy to be effective against non-severe stage 2 g-HAT. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of fexinidazole in early g-HAT."

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00208-4/fulltext

06/26/2021

"Global health was founded on an egalitarian promise: improve health care for everyone, everywhere. As an area of research, education, and practice that leverages interdisciplinary collaboration and focuses on multinational health-care challenges and solutions,1 global health is a crucial area of discussion and development, especially to reduce the global burden of pandemics, and to promote health equity. At this crucial moment in global health with the COVID-19 pandemic exposing the weaknesses in our health systems, this Comment takes an introspective and forward-looking approach to propose actionable solutions to global health inequalities in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) while building relationships between high-income countries (HICs) and LMICs."

Global health was founded on an egalitarian promise: improve health care for everyone, everywhere. As an area of research, education, and practice that leverages interdisciplinary collaboration and focuses on multinational health-care challenges and solutions,1 global health is a crucial area of dis...

06/25/2021

"The small country - which consistently ranks at or near the top of global exam scores - is paying close attention to the lingering effects of the Covid crisis on children, which left some families struggling to cope.

This year, weekly sessions started at primary and secondary schools to encourage students to talk about their feelings and improve how they handle stress and anxiety. Sessions feature animated videos to help students identify and cope with stress, while teachers share their personal experiences to encourage the free flow of ideas and discussions."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56720368?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bbbc.news.twitter%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D&at_campaign=64&at_medium=custom7&at_custom2=twitter&at_custom4=6040B12E-D549-11EB-830B-E8C34744363C&at_custom3=%40BBCWorld&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D

06/25/2021

"Su***de remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, according to WHO’s latest estimates, published today in “Su***de worldwide in 2019”. Every year, more people die as a result of su***de than HIV, malaria or breast cancer ̶ or war and homicide. In 2019, more than 700 000 people died by su***de: one in every 100 deaths, prompting WHO to produce new guidance to help countries improve su***de prevention and care."

Su***de remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, according to WHO’s latest estimates, published today in “Su***de worldwide in 2019”. Every year, more people die as a result of su***de than HIV, malaria or breast cancer  ̶  or war and homicide. In 2019, more than 700 000 people...

06/24/2021

"Tanzania has lodged an order for coronavirus vaccines, the country’s presidency said Thursday, after the East African nation’s government spent a year denying the existence of the virus within its borders and becoming a magnet for Covid-19 skeptics from around the globe."

Tanzania’s request to the World Health Organization-backed Covax program marks a turnaround under the East African nation’s new president, who has adopted science-based coronavirus guidelines.

06/24/2021

"Funders and researchers from high-income countries should focus on research activities in low-income and middle-income countries involving the local researchers. Promoting a positive research culture should be the first step to improve global health in low-income and middle-income countries, so that the people living in these countries can truly benefit from evidence-based medicine and health services."

Evidence-based medicine is the backbone of modern medicine. Any newly proposed therapy needs to be tested in high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) before being considered for approval.

06/22/2021

"The Finnish national verification committee for measles and rubella elimination officially joined the Scandinavian Verification Committee, representing Denmark, Norway and Sweden, on 4 December 2019 in Helsinki, Finland. This development will strengthen the Nordic countries’ collaboration in assessing measles and rubella surveillance and immunization data."

The Finnish national verification committee for measles and rubella elimination officially joined the Scandinavian Verification Committee, representing Denmark, Norway and Sweden, on 4 December 2019 in Helsinki, Finland. This development will strengthen the Nordic countries’ collaboration in asses...

06/22/2021

"Human parainfluenza virus (hPIV) is a common virus in childhood acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI)."

"We report the first global burden estimates of hPIV-associated and hPIV-attributable ALRI in young children. Globally, approximately 13% of ALRI cases, 4–14% of ALRI hospital admissions, and 4% of childhood ALRI mortality were attributable to hPIV. These numbers indicate a potentially notable burden of hPIV in ALRI morbidity and mortality in young children. These estimates should encourage and inform investment to accelerate the development of targeted interventions."

We report the first global burden estimates of hPIV-associated and hPIV-attributable ALRI in young children. Globally, approximately 13% of ALRI cases, 4–14% of ALRI hospital admissions, and 4% of childhood ALRI mortality were attributable to hPIV. These numbers indicate a potentially notable burd...

06/21/2021

"The outbreak in Brazil has been fuelled by more transmissible variants of the virus, including the one first identified in the Amazon region and now known as Gamma"

Experts warn the outbreak could worsen amid a slow vaccination programme and the start of winter.

06/21/2021

“Evidence in Africa that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has developed genetic variants that confer partial resistance to the antimalarial drug artemisinin is a warning of potential treatment failure on the horizon, a drug-resistance monitoring study suggested.”

Evidence in Africa that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has developed genetic variants that confer partial resistance to the antimalarial drug artemisinin is a warning of potential treatment failure on the horizon, a drug-resistance monitoring study suggested.

06/20/2021

"Our study results suggest that very preterm infants who are discharged AMA from Chinese NICUs may have intact survival if complete care is provided. Results further suggest that efforts aimed at reducing DAMA rates are essential and urgent and may be associated with an improvement in the overall outcomes of very preterm infants in China"

This cohort study investigates neonatal outcomes of very preterm infants who are discharged against medical advice from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) before complete care can be provided compared with infants who receive full intensive care treatment.