health risks Archives - Disasters News

Mar122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Air Pollution Crisis Damaging Despite Slight Improvement

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Despite a 7% drop in PM2.5 levels India remains the world's fifth most polluted country, with six of the ten most polluted cities globally. The 2024 IQAir World Air Quality Report reveals that India’s annual PM2.5 average fell to 50.6 µg/m³ from 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023, yet pollution levels remain alarmingly high. New Delhi, a pollution hotspot, recorded an annual PM2.5 average of 91.6 µg/m³, showing little change from the previous year. Northern states continue to suffer from severe pollution spikes, with Baddi in Himachal Pradesh reporting a shocking PM2.5 level of 165 µg/m³ in January. Stubble burning contributed to 60% of PM2.5 levels in Punjab, Haryana, and surrounding regions, worsening air quality in November. Air pollution remains a major public health crisis, reducing life expect...

Mar122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change and Sewage Linked Viruses Growing Health Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Rising temperatures and extreme weather events may be increasing the risk of virus exposure from sewage-contaminated waters, a new study warns. Scientists have found that viruses from raw sewage can persist in rivers, lakes, and seas for days, raising public health concerns. Heavy rainstorms often overload sewer systems, leading to untreated sewage being discharged into natural water bodies. This waste carries viruses such as enterovirus and norovirus, which can remain infectious for days, even after passing through wastewater treatment plants. In seawater, enteric viruses stayed infectious for up to three days at 30°C, while cooler temperatures extended their lifespan to a week. Sunlight reduced their viability to less than 24 hours on sunny days, but they survived for 2.5 days in clou...

Mar62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Researchers Portable Lab Detect Dangerous Avian Flu in Antarctica

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Biosecurity efforts in remote regions have taken a major leap forward with the introduction of a portable laboratory capable of on-site testing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard announced the breakthrough following successful trials conducted by Biosecurity New Zealand during an expedition to Antarctica. The portable lab was tested aboard the icebreaker MV Argus, where researchers used it to locate, sample, and analyze potential HPAI H5N1 cases under extreme conditions. The development comes at a critical time, as the virus first detected in 2020 has spread globally and was confirmed on the Antarctic Peninsula in February 2024. Affected species include brown skuas, Adélie penguins, snowy sheathbills, and Antarctic fur seals. "T...

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...