health risks Archives - Disasters News

Feb202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Australians Face Death Risk in Heatwaves: Study Reveals Cities as Hotspots for Extreme Temperature & HVI

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland and Griffith University has revealed that urban residents in Australia face a significantly higher risk of death during heatwaves compared to their rural counterparts. The research, published in the Environmental Impact Assessment Review in March 2025, examined two decades of temperature and mortality data across Australia’s major cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, and Darwin. The study utilized the Heatwave Vulnerability Index (HVI) to identify regions most susceptible to heatwave-related fatalities. Even during mild heatwaves, there was a notable correlation between deaths and HVI scores in Australia’s capital cities. The far north and southern regions of Western Aust...

Feb192025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Claims Two Lives in Andhra Pradesh, Sparks Health Alert

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

In Andhra Pradesh, health authorities have sounded the alarm after two deaths from Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were reported. Dr. Sivananda, Superintendent of King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam, described GBS as a rare, non-contagious post-viral condition that can cause paralysis and autoimmune disorders. He noted that GBS affects only two out of every two lakh people. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav confirmed the deaths occurred in Guntur and Srikakulam districts. While acknowledging the syndrome’s 5-7% global mortality rate, Yadav reassured the public that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed comprehensive response measures. He urged people to remain calm and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear. The state’s first GBS-related death was recorded at Gun...

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

B.C. Health Workers Face Mounting Climate Crisis Strain

Breaking News, Climate Actions

British Columbia has faced a series of climate-related extreme weather events in recent years, with severe consequences for both residents and health services. The 2021 heat dome led to over 600 heat-related deaths and overwhelmed emergency services, while wildfires caused increased illnesses and forced the evacuation of thousands. B.C.’s health system, already strained by staffing shortages and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has worked to respond to these emergencies. However, many health service workers reported physical and mental health challenges during and after climate events. Front-line staff, such as paramedics and home health workers, faced exposure to heat and poor air quality, especially when facilities lacked proper cooling and air filtration systems. The mental tol...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Dust Storms Cost US $154B Annually Impacting Healthcare

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study in Nature Sustainability reveals that wind erosion and blowing dust cost the U.S. economy around $154 billion each year, impacting healthcare, transportation, agriculture, energy, and households. Conducted by researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), George Mason University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the study highlights the growing societal burden of dust storms, which are worsened by human land use, drought, and declining water resources. Thomas Gill, Ph.D., a UTEP earth sciences professor, emphasized the significance of these findings. "Blowing dust is a major expense and creates great societal harm," he said, comparing its costs to those of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Healthcare costs make up a significant portion of the tot...

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate & Maternal Health Curtin Study Links Air Pollution to Prolonged Pregnancy

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

New research from Curtin University reveals that exposure to outdoor air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of prolonged pregnancies, offering fresh insights into the effects of climate change on maternal health. The study, which analyzed nearly 400,000 births in Western Australia, found that higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and biothermal stress a combination of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and human physiology was linked to pregnancies lasting beyond 41 weeks. Dr. Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu, the study’s lead author from Curtin’s School of Population Health, explained that while preterm births have been studied extensively, this is the first research to explore the impact of environmental factors on prolonged pregnan...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Los Angeles Fires Leave Lasting Impact on Health, Environment, and Community

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

The flames may have died down, but the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires continues to affect public health, the environment, and daily life. Experts at a recent UCLA Fielding School of Public Health event warned that the city is facing an epochal disaster that has transformed air, soil, and institutions. Air Quality and Health Risks Even miles away from the burn zones, smoke and toxic particles have impacted the air. PM2.5 fine particulate matter from wildfires can lodge deep in the lungs, causing heart and respiratory issues, said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences. Even when air looks clear, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may linger, making exposure dangerous. Michael Jerrett, an expert in climate and public health, highlighted the severe h...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Advances Biomedical Research with Key Facilities and Partnerships

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

India has taken a significant step forward in biomedical research with the inauguration of its first-ever Ferret Research Facility, the launch of the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and a pivotal technology transfer agreement, all aimed at strengthening its role in global health security and advancing research in maternal and child health. The groundbreaking event, held on February 3, 2025, at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana, was led by Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director General of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). First Ferret Research Facility: Boosting Disease Research The newly inaugurated THSTI Ferret Research Facility marks a significant milesto...

Feb42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Uganda Races to Deploy Trial Ebola Vaccine Amid Kampala Outbreak

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

KAMPALA – Ugandan health officials are rushing to deploy a trial vaccine after an Ebola outbreak hit the capital, Kampala. The vaccine targets the Sudan strain of the virus, with over 2,000 doses prepared for emergency use. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged support, providing 2,160 doses while assisting with regulatory approvals. Researchers are working alongside surveillance teams to assess the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before its rollout. Ebola, spread through bodily fluids, is suspected to have originated from contact with infected animals. Kampala’s high mobility presents a major challenge in containing the virus. Despite Uganda’s history of battling epidemic diseases, no licensed vaccine exists for the Sudan strain, making this trial a critical step in the figh...

Feb12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

England Reports New Mpox Case, Risk Level Stays Low

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Health officials in England have confirmed a new case of the mpox variant clade Ib, bringing the total to eight since October 2024. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that the case was detected in London and involved a traveler returning from Uganda, a region where the variant is spreading locally. Despite concerns over mpox’s links to a WHO-declared global health emergency, UKHSA maintains that the overall risk to the public remains low. Authorities note that imported cases are expected as outbreaks persist in parts of Africa, but no direct links have been found between this patient and previous cases in England. Health officials continue to monitor the situation while urging awareness but not alarm, as containment measures remain in place. From News Desk

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNICEF Report Warns of Alarming Malnutrition Crisis Among Infants in Eastern, Southern Africa

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A new UNICEF report revealed a severe undernutrition crisis affecting 5.5 million infants under six months in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). The study highlights how widespread low birth weight, stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions are putting the youngest members of society at risk, with urgent calls for stronger policy interventions and healthcare improvements. Conducted by UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), the study examined the state of infant nutrition in five high-risk countries Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Malawi. The findings paint a dire picture, with 1.6 million infants suffering from stunting, 0.6 million classified as wasted, 0.8 million underweight, and 2.5 million born with low birth weight. However, experts...