The world is facing “formidable” challenges, including Covid, the war in Ukraine and monkeypox, the head of the World Health Organization has warned. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was speaking in Geneva, where the UN health agency’s experts were discussing the monkeypox outbreak in 15 nations outside Africa. More than 80 cases have been confirmed in Europe,...
Category: Health
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‘Flurona’ is circulating around Australia. But what is it?
A leading doctor is urging Australians to be vigilant for so-called “flurona” infections – as she dispels some common misconceptions. Flurona made headlines earlier this month when a Victorian woman died after being diagnosed with both COVID and the flu. Experts say there’s a heightened possibility people could be infected simultaneously as we enter the...
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WHO calls on Pfizer to make its COVID pill more available
The head of the World Health Organization called on Pfizer to make its COVID-19 treatment more widely available in poorer countries, saying Tuesday that the pharmaceutical company’s deal allowing generic producers to make the drug was insufficient. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news briefing that Pfizer’s treatment was still too expensive. He...
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Household close contact rules scrapped in favour of RAT testing in NSW
Close contact isolation rules in NSW have been eased for those living in the same house as a COVID positive case, if they continuously test negative themselves. The new rules announced in NSW on Wednesday morning will come into effect from 6pm on Friday April 22. Close contacts will be required to test negative on...
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Australian firefighters in battle over compensation as experts link cancers to bushfire smoke
Bruce Barnes has been with the Lavington Rural Fire Brigade on the NSW-Victoria border for four decades. But according to Bruce, he’s no hero. He doesn’t even think he’s brave. In fact, more than anything, he says he’s disgusted. After years of service fighting fires, he’s been diagnosed with three cancers that his specialists say...
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Is a new ‘super cold’ with COVID-like symptoms spreading?
With winter coming and Australians resuming normal life amid easing restrictions, the floodgates have opened to a myriad of pathogens – and some of them are causing an illness very difficult to differentiate from COVID-19. Of particular concern is a so-called “super cold”, which is not simply one new mega-virus but an onslaught of many...
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NSW and Victoria COVID cases spiking as Omicron subvariant takes hold
The number of new cases of coronavirus in New South Wales has spiked, compared to last week, as the Omicron subvariant takes hold. The state recorded 24,803 new cases on Thursday, NSW Health reports. Another eight deaths were also recorded. There are currently 1180 people being treated in hospital with the virus, with 43 in...
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Researchers probe ‘astounding’ links between long-COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome
Queensland scientists are closely monitoring long-COVID patients to see if recent breakthroughs in understanding myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) could help diagnose and treat ongoing symptoms. According to infectious diseases and immunology researcher, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, there appeared to be a correlation between the illnesses. “The symptom overlap between ME/CFS and long-COVID is quite astounding,” Professor...
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Australia’s ban on cruise ships to expire on April 17
The federal government has announced Australia’s ban on international cruise ships will be expiring on April 17. Australia on Tuesday said it would lift its entry ban for international cruise ships next month, effectively ending all major COVID-related travel bans after two years and boosting a tourism industry hit hard by the pandemic restrictions. Australia...
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American who received a pig heart transplant has died after two months
A 57-year-old man with terminal heart disease who made history as the first person to receive a genetically modified pig’s heart has died in hospital. US man David Bennett received the transplant on January 7 at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). His condition began deteriorating several days ago, the hospital said in a...