health risks Archives - Page 2 of 4

Jan232025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Fuels Kala-Azar Outbreaks in Kenya’s Turkana facing Deadly Poverty

At just 15, Ekidor Kiyong from northern Kenya’s Turkana region is battling kala-azar, a deadly disease spread by sandflies. While receiving treatment at Lodwar County Referral Hospital, his recovery brings hope, but the cost of KES 30,000 (USD 230) has left his family struggling. Known scientifically as visceral leishmaniasis, kala-azar begins with malaria-like symptoms fever, fatigue, and headaches. If untreated, it is fatal in 95% of cases, warns the World Health Organization (WHO). In Turkana, where poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare prevail, the disease has become a symbol of intersecting crises: climate change, environmental degradation, and health inequity. Turkana's semi-arid terrain, marked by cracked soils and deforestation, has created ideal conditions for san...

Jan232025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Voices Strong Support for WHO Amid Global Health Debates

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

China has reaffirmed its unwavering support for the World Health Organization (WHO) in the face of past criticisms, notably from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused the global health body of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump had initiated U.S. withdrawal from the WHO through an executive order, a decision later reversed by President Joe Biden, signaling renewed U.S. commitment to international health cooperation. China’s Commitment to Global Health Governance Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized WHO’s crucial role in coordinating global health initiatives. “The WHO should be supported and strengthened,” Guo stated, pledging China’s backing to enhance the organization’s capacity and deepen international health collaboration. China’s endorse...

Jan212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Iraq From Cradle of Civilization to Climate Crisis Epicenter

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Iraq, once revered as the cradle of human civilization, is now a stark warning of the perils of climate change. Known historically as the land of the Tigris and Euphrates, the fertile rivers that nourished the first farming communities are now emblematic of a country grappling with escalating environmental and socio-economic challenges. As global temperatures rise, Iraq faces a confluence of crises water scarcity, desertification, heat stress, and displacement that threaten its future. The Drying Lifelines: Water Scarcity in Iraq The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which supply 98% of Iraq’s surface water, have seen their flow decrease by up to 40% over the past four decades. The reasons are manifold: reduced rainfall, intensified evaporation due to rising temperatures, and upstream dam...

Jan212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke: One Can Turn Deadly

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks

As global temperatures rise heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke are becoming more common. While they may seem similar at first, the difference between these two conditions could mean life or death, experts warn. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body struggles to cool down, typically due to prolonged exposure to heat or intense physical activity. The core temperature rises, but remains under 40°C. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, intense thirst, and dizziness, but the individual’s mental clarity remains unaffected. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is far more severe and classified as a medical emergency. When the body’s core temperature surpasses 40°C, the results can be catastrophic, with symptoms such as confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness. With...

Jan202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Toxic Spring Linked to 17 Deaths in Jammu and Kashmir Authorities Seal Contaminated Site

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have sealed a water spring in Badhaal village, Rajouri district, after its water tested positive for pesticides or insecticides. The move comes as part of an ongoing investigation into the mysterious deaths of 17 villagers, including 13 children aged between 3 and 15 years. Deputy Commissioner Dil Mir ordered the spring to be sealed and deployed security personnel to prevent access to the contaminated site. Officials aim to ensure the safety of residents while investigations continue into the cause of the deaths. The health and police departments are working to determine how the water source became contaminated. The deaths, initially unexplained, prompted widespread concern in the region. Samples from the spring were analyzed, revealing the presence o...

Jan202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mpox Case Sparks Health Alert in Azerbaijan 22-Year-Old Tests Positive After Travel

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Mpox Known as monkeypox viral infection often presenting flu-like symptoms, including fever, fatigue, and a distinctive rash. While the disease is typically mild, severe cases can be fatal, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems. Transmission occurs through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials. A 22-year-old Azerbaijani citizen has tested positive for mpox after returning from an international trip, according to health authorities. The individual is currently in isolation and receiving medical treatment in Baku, while family members remain symptom-free under observation. The patient had traveled abroad from January 2 to January 11 before reporting symptoms, including fever, weakness, and a rash. Although the specific countries visited...

Jan172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Wildfire Smoke Crisis in Los Angeles Millions Exposed to Toxic Air as Fires Rage

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Los Angeles, January 2025 – A wildfire crisis is gripping Los Angeles as fires sweep through homes, vehicles, and neighborhoods, blanketing millions in hazardous smoke. The blazes, which have already consumed thousands of structures, are not only destroying property but releasing a cocktail of toxic chemicals that pose severe risks to public health. As homes and urban infrastructure burn, materials like furniture, plastics, paints, and electronics ignite, emitting harmful substances into the air. According to a 2023 study, wildfire smoke from urban-wildland interfaces contains dangerous compounds, including hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins. It also carries heavy metals like lead, chromium, cadmium, and arsenic elements known to damage vital organs, includ...

Jan82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

First US Death from H5N1 Bird Flu Sparks Concern, But Public Risk Remains Low

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

In a first for the United States, a Louisiana man has died from H5N1 bird flu, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Health experts, however, reassure that the risk to the general public remains low. The Louisiana Department of Health reported on January 6 that the man, aged over 65 and with pre-existing medical conditions, contracted the virus after exposure to backyard poultry and wild birds. Officials confirmed there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission in this case. The man, identified as the country’s first severe H5N1 patient, was hospitalized in December with respiratory symptoms. Health authorities diagnosed him with the D1.1 subtype of the virus on December 13. This strain has been spreading widely in U.S. poultry and wild birds. The D1.1 subty...

Jan82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rescue Ops Underway for 11 Miners Trapped in Assam’s Rat-Hole Mine

Breaking News, Disasters

Teams from the Army, Navy, Assam Rifles, NDRF, and SDRF are racing against time to rescue 11 miners trapped since Monday in a flooded "rat-hole" coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district. The mine, located in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, was inundated after an underground water channel breach, leaving rescuers grappling with nearly 100 feet of water inside. Rescuers initially entered the waterlogged mine and discovered personal belongings like shoes and sandals but found no signs of the miners. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma noted that the workers might be in horizontal rat holes, emphasizing dewatering as the only viable option. Specialist pumps from ONGC are currently in use, with Coal India set to join the operations with their equipment on Wednesday. Defence PRO Lt Col M Rawat...

Jan72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Confirms First HMPV Cases Infants Affected in 3 States

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

India on Monday reported its first-ever cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a globally recognized respiratory virus, with five confirmed infections across Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu. The cases, involving infants under one year of age, have sparked concern and prompted health officials to issue guidelines for monitoring and prevention. First Cases in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Salem In Bengaluru, two infants a three-month-old who has been discharged and an eight-month-old recovering in a hospital were among the first cases identified. Ahmedabad reported a two-month-old baby infected with HMPV, while Tamil Nadu recorded one case each in Chennai and Salem. Authorities confirmed that the families of the infected infants in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad had no recent trave...