Hospital attack

A group of "angry youth" stormed tents built with support from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) at Mongwalu General Referral Hospital, Richard Lokudi, the facility's medical director, told Radio Okapi. The facility was hosting 28 suspected Ebola cases when the attack occurred, and at least 13 patients escaped and remain missing, he added, noting that police opened an investigation Saturday morning to identify the perpetrators.

Second incident in a week

The incident marked the second assault on Ebola treatment infrastructure in the region within seven days, underscoring mounting friction between medical teams and local populations. On Thursday, a treatment center in nearby Rwampara was set ablaze after relatives were barred from retrieving the body of a man suspected to have died from Ebola, according to the report. Humanitarian groups have warned that fear, misinformation and distrust continue to undermine response efforts in eastern DR Congo, where weak infrastructure and insecurity complicate outbreak control.

Burial protocols and outbreak data

Bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious and can spread the virus during traditional burial practices, prompting authorities to assume responsibility for burials of suspected victims — a practice that often triggers objections from relatives and community members. As of Sunday, authorities in Congo had recorded 904 suspected cases and 119 suspected deaths linked to the latest outbreak, while neighboring Uganda confirmed five cases and one death, according to health officials.

Cases surge past 100 across three provinces

The ministry's report issued on Sunday showed that as of May 23, the virus had affected 11 health zones across the country. The outbreak initially emerged in Ituri province before spreading to neighboring North Kivu and South Kivu, complicating containment efforts in a region with porous borders and limited healthcare infrastructure.

Health officials continue surveillance, screening, and awareness campaigns in affected areas to stem transmission. The ministry said that "vigilance and adherence to prevention measures remain essential" as authorities work to trace contacts and isolate confirmed cases in the densely populated region.

Virus detected in neighboring Uganda

The World Health Organization has confirmed at least seven deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the outbreak began last month. The UN health agency raised its alert level to "very high" as the epidemic shows no signs of slowing, with Congolese authorities struggling to contain the highly infectious pathogen in densely populated urban centers.

Three new cases emerged in Uganda on Saturday, bringing the total confirmed infections there to five since the current outbreak started, according to the Health Ministry. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that ten countries — including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Zambia — face elevated risk of cross-border transmission.

Authorities suspend activities as neighbors tighten borders

Congolese authorities have suspended social activities in Ituri province, including sports events and public gatherings, to prevent further spread of the virus. Several neighboring countries have intensified preventive measures and restricted travel from the Democratic Republic of Congo, implementing enhanced screening at border crossings to detect potential cases before they enter their territories.

Coordination and current figures

Hrncirova emphasized that diseases do not stop at borders, making coordination with WHO, regional countries, and other partners essential. The EU’s Health Security Committee met on Wednesday to assess the situation and discuss potential additional measures. According to the latest WHO figures as of May 20, there have been nearly 600 suspected Ebola cases, including 139 suspected deaths. Earlier Wednesday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that 33 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and two cases were detected in travelers from the DRC in Kampala, Uganda.

Commission calls for urgent action

The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health released its recommendations from Geneva on Sunday, arguing that current international health rules are no longer sufficient to address climate-related threats. The group said governments have treated climate change as a long-term environmental issue instead of an immediate crisis affecting public health, food security and national stability.

The commission is led by former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and was established under the leadership of WHO Europe Regional Director Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge. The body includes former heads of government, ministers and civil society representatives from across the WHO European region, which covers 53 countries.

Pressure on governments increases

In its statement, the commission urged national administrations to place climate and health risks on the agenda of security councils and involve ministries responsible for energy, water, agriculture and infrastructure. The group warned that heatwaves, droughts, floods and pollution are increasingly putting pressure on public services and healthcare networks.

The experts also stressed the economic impact of delayed action, saying the financial burden of inaction would be significantly higher than early investment in climate adaptation and emissions reduction policies. They called for stronger monitoring systems that prioritize public health, environmental sustainability and social equality in decision-making.

Health systems face growing risks

The commission recommended improving the resilience of hospitals and national health systems against climate-related emergencies. It also highlighted the need for better training for healthcare workers on climate-linked diseases and environmental risks.

Jakobsdottir said climate change should no longer be viewed as a problem for future generations alone. “It is a real and present threat to us right now in Europe,” she said, adding that climate policies should be considered both a public responsibility and a long-term investment in social stability.

The panel additionally urged the WHO to strengthen coordination between United Nations agencies on climate and public health issues as global temperatures continue to rise.

Four Australians among the group

The group includes four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealander. All had tested negative and shown no symptoms before departure. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said they “remain in good health.” The group will undergo further testing, including additional PCR tests, and a three-week quarantine period. Butler said earlier that additional monitoring arrangements were being considered given hantavirus’s longer incubation period of about 42 days. “We're not going to let anything happen that doesn't align with World Health Organization (WHO) advice about the incubation period for this virus,” he said.

Crew also in voluntary quarantine

The flight crew and a doctor on board are also expected to voluntarily quarantine at the facility for two weeks. Butler said everyone on board remained in full personal protective equipment throughout the flight. The aircraft used for the evacuation will be decontaminated. The WHO confirmed on May 4 that severe respiratory illness cases aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship were a hantavirus cluster. The outbreak involves the Andes strain, which can spread between humans. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the outbreak as a Level 3 emergency, its lowest activation level. According to WHO officials, 11 cases have been reported, including three deaths. Türkiye’s health authorities continue to monitor global infectious disease developments closely and have implemented enhanced screening protocols at ports of entry.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed on Sunday that one of five French nationals evacuated from the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship developed symptoms of hantavirus during the repatriation flight to Paris. The infected passenger was immediately placed in strict isolation alongside the other four evacuees upon arrival, according to French health authorities.

The five passengers are currently undergoing medical examinations and comprehensive testing, Lecornu said, adding that France would introduce isolation measures for contacts "to protect the general population." The case emerged as international evacuation operations continued off Spain's Canary Islands, where the Dutch-flagged vessel arrived Sunday morning following an outbreak that killed three people and infected several others.

International evacuation proceeds

World Health Organization pandemic preparedness chief Maria Van Kerkhove announced that evacuation efforts would resume Monday morning and conclude by 7 pm local time. Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia reported that 94 people of 19 nationalities — including Dutch, Canadian, and Turkish nationals — had been evacuated from the vessel during the first day of operations, though she had earlier stated all passengers and crew were asymptomatic upon arrival.

The first group to disembark comprised 14 Spanish nationals, who were transported by military aircraft to Madrid for quarantine and testing at a military hospital. Approximately 30 crew members will remain aboard the ship to sail it back to the Netherlands in the coming days, where the vessel will undergo thorough disinfection upon arrival.

Regional concerns over outbreak

The evacuation operations proceeded amid objections from Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands regional government, who raised concerns about the operation's safety. Spanish officials dismissed fears that infected rodents could reach shore from the ship, stating the possibility of an Andean rodent swimming to the Canary coast was "zero."

Hantavirus is a rare disease typically transmitted through infected rodents or their droppings, though health authorities noted the strain responsible for this outbreak can also spread between humans. The virus has claimed three lives aboard the cruise ship since the outbreak began.

The cruise ship MV Hondius arrived in waters off Granadilla Port on Tenerife Island early Sunday morning as authorities launched a large-scale medical operation to evacuate 150 passengers and crew following a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has killed three people, according to Spanish media reports. The vessel reached its position at approximately 5:30 am local time (0430GMT) with six confirmed infections and two suspected cases on board, including two fatalities that occurred during the voyage while the ship was still at sea.

Evacuation and screening protocols

Health officials said the remaining passengers are currently asymptomatic but will undergo rigorous medical screening and complete epidemiological questionnaires before authorities clear them for repatriation flights to their home countries. Spanish authorities are transferring evacuees in small groups by boat to shore without allowing the ship to dock, then transporting them by bus to an airport roughly six miles away for onward travel. Spanish nationals are expected to be among the first evacuated, with some transferred to a military hospital in Madrid for quarantine lasting between one and two weeks depending on individual medical evaluations.

International repatriation efforts

Seventeen US passengers will be flown to the United States and monitored at a specialized quarantine unit in Nebraska, though officials said mandatory quarantine is not expected for the asymptomatic travelers. An American oncologist aboard the vessel, Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, stepped in to treat passengers after the ship’s doctor became infected, describing the situation as a rapidly escalating medical crisis, according to ABC News. Kornfeld said one patient died within 24 hours of his involvement while the ship’s doctor and a staff member showed worsening symptoms, noting that multiple infected individuals had already been treated in the Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland after disembarking earlier in the voyage.

Virus strain and global response

The outbreak involves the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, the only known variant capable of human-to-human transmission through close contact, prompting the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to classify the incident as a Level 3 emergency response. World Health Organization officials confirmed that two deceased passengers had traveled through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay before boarding the ship, and said travelers will be monitored for approximately six weeks reflecting the virus’s incubation period. The vessel carried a diverse international passenger list including 38 crew members from the Philippines, 23 British nationals, 17 Americans, 14 Spaniards, and 11 Dutch citizens, alongside eight Germans, five French nationals, five Ukrainians, four Canadians, four Australians, three passengers from Türkiye, and travelers from India, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Montenegro, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Argentina, and Guatemala.

The European Union's ambitious initiative to eliminate dangerous chemical compounds has encountered severe implementation obstacles, with oversight organizations asserting that Brussels itself has emerged as the primary obstacle to progress. Four years following the announcement of comprehensive restrictions targeting toxic materials, regulatory processes remain stalled for numerous substance categories, permitting continued contamination of ecosystems and human populations across the continent.

Alarming pollution figures expose implementation failures

Recent analyses indicate that administrative postponements have directly contributed to approximately 98,000 tonnes of supplementary environmental contamination. The majority of this toxic burden stems from continued utilization of lead-based ammunition and fishing equipment, which discharge an estimated 44,000 tonnes annually into European territories. Environmental advocates emphasize that these figures represent preventable harm resulting entirely from institutional inefficiency rather than technical necessity.

Everyday products containing dangerous compounds

The delayed regulatory framework encompasses fourteen distinct categories of harmful substances currently present in common consumer goods. These include perfluorinated compounds—frequently termed "forever chemicals" due to their environmental persistence—alongside carcinogenic agents detected in infant hygiene products and childcare items. Additionally, calcium cyanamide fertilizers and bioaccumulative flame retardants utilized in automotive manufacturing remain unregulated despite documented health risks including genetic mutations and chronic renal conditions among exposed populations.

Systematic violations of chemical safety legislation

Under existing REACH directives, the European Commission bears legal obligation to formulate restriction proposals within three months of receiving scientific recommendations. However, investigative findings reveal systematic non-compliance, with response periods extending between thirteen and forty-seven months beyond statutory limits. Seven substance groups have received no regulatory attention whatsoever, while advancement on another seven categories has effectively ceased, fundamentally contradicting the roadmap's original phased elimination timeline.

Growing demands for institutional accountability

Legal practitioners and environmental defenders have intensified criticism regarding what they characterize as institutional paralysis undermining public trust. Representatives from ClientEarth and similar organizations assert that the strategic document has effectively lost its prescriptive function, now serving merely as documentation of administrative incapacity. Without immediate intervention to restore regulatory momentum, observers warn that European chemical policy risks permanently sacrificing environmental integrity and citizen wellbeing to bureaucratic expedience.

Northern Bangladesh hardest hit

The outbreak has escalated significantly over a short period, with government data indicating more than 7,600 suspected measles cases identified nationwide since mid-March. Hundreds of new patients are being admitted to hospitals daily. Northern Bangladesh has been the most affected region. The vaccination drive is being carried out under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), with health workers deployed to reach vulnerable populations in underserved areas.

Global health concern and Türkiye’s support

Public health experts warn that measles—one of the most contagious viral diseases—spreads rapidly in communities with low immunization coverage, particularly among young children. The disease can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis and remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths globally. Dr. ANM Nuruzzaman, a public health specialist, told Anadolu that the vaccination drive is critical to preventing further loss of life. For Türkiye, which has strengthened its own immunization programs and maintains health cooperation ties with South Asian nations, the outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of routine vaccination even amid global crises. Ankara has previously supported humanitarian health initiatives in Bangladesh, particularly among Rohingya refugee communities, and continues to monitor the situation closely.

The International Energy Agency projects that global demand for hydrogen could triple by 2050, driven by its ability to generate intense heat for shipping and heavy industries like steelmaking without producing planet-warming emissions. Currently, less than one percent of hydrogen is produced through renewable methods, with the vast majority derived from fossil fuels, highlighting the urgent need for alternative sources.

Vast Reserves Trapped Beneath Earth's Surface

Researchers at the United States Geological Survey estimate that approximately 5.6 trillion tons of hydrogen may be trapped within the Earth's crust. According to scientists, this white hydrogen forms when water encounters iron-rich rock in the Earth's mantle at temperatures between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius. "When it meets with water, the iron basically takes the oxygen from the water, leaving behind pure hydrogen," explained Jurgen Grotsch.

While much of this resource lies too deep for commercial extraction, a 2024 study suggested that accessing just two percent of these natural reserves could satisfy global hydrogen demand for roughly 200 years. The lightest element naturally migrates upward through cracks in the crust, often collecting in porous rock formations like sandstone, where it becomes trapped beneath denser geological layers.

First Commercial Site Demonstrates Viability

Dozens of companies worldwide are now actively searching for underground hydrogen reservoirs, though commercial extraction remains in its infancy. The only operational site currently producing white hydrogen is located in the village of Bourakebougou, where a well generates approximately 49 tons annually for local electricity generation.

Türkiye, with its diverse geological landscape, could potentially host similar hydrogen reserves, though exploration efforts remain limited. While the Bourakebougou operation produces far less than a typical fossil gas well, which can yield hundreds to thousands of tons annually, it nonetheless demonstrates that tapping naturally occurring hydrogen could offer a viable and sustainable alternative to energy-intensive manufacturing processes.

Tete Province at the Center of the Crisis

The central region of Tete is now the focal point of the epidemic. Recent days have seen the death toll there more than double, with 87 new cases identified in the same one-day period. The outbreak, which began in September of last year, has also seen significant case spikes in the northern provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado.

Government’s Long-Term Plan Against the Disease

The current wave follows a devastating year for cholera in Mozambique, with 169 fatalities recorded throughout 2025. In response, the government initiated a strategic plan last September aimed at eliminating cholera as a public health threat by 2030. Cabinet spokesperson Innocencio Impissa outlined the goal of ensuring communities have access to safe water, sanitation, and quality healthcare through coordinated, evidence-based actions.

A Compound Catastrophe with Flooding

The public health emergency is exacerbated by a parallel natural disaster. Mozambique is currently grappling with severe flooding after weeks of torrential rains, which have killed numerous people and displaced millions nationwide. This humanitarian disaster creates ideal conditions for waterborne diseases like cholera to spread, challenging containment efforts and straining resources.

Heightened Impact on Military Personnel

The mental health toll appears more severe among military personnel. Of those who served during the past year, 39% stated they need mental health support, 26% reported concerns about depression, and 48% are experiencing sleep problems. Overall, 17% of all respondents described their psychological condition as average or poor, compared to 13% before the Gaza war. The data also indicated a 4% decline in births in 2025 compared to the previous year, which analysts link to the war's broader psychological and social effects.

Lifestyle and Behavioral Changes

The strain has manifested in behavioral changes, with 30% of smokers reporting they increased cigarette consumption due to psychological stress. The Israeli military also disclosed that 21 of its members died by suicide since the beginning of 2025, underscoring the severe impact of prolonged conflict on service members. These findings highlight a profound and growing public health challenge, similar to the long-term psychological trauma observed in populations enduring prolonged conflict elsewhere, a humanitarian concern that nations like Türkiye, which hosts millions affected by regional wars, understand deeply through their own refugee support and mental health initiatives.

Context of Ongoing Conflict

The mental health crisis unfolds against the backdrop of a war that, despite a ceasefire on October 10, continues to inflict casualties. The conflict, which began in October 2023, killed over 71,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 171,200 others, leaving Gaza in ruins. Health authorities report that Israeli attacks have continued since the truce, killing over 400 more Palestinians and injuring more than 1,100. The data underscores the war's devastating and lasting psychological toll on both sides of the conflict.

Comprehensive Scientific Review

The agency's assessment, updating previous evaluations from 2013 and 2016, incorporated major research programs including MOBI-Kids and the US National Toxicology Program. Olivier Merckel, head of ANSES's unit on risks related to physical agents, explained that while some laboratory studies show temporary cellular changes following radiofrequency exposure, these effects typically reverse once exposure ceases. The agency concluded that aggregated data "does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship" between mobile phone radiation and cancer occurrence.

Precautionary Recommendations Despite Findings

Despite the reassuring conclusions, ANSES maintained its recommendation for limiting direct exposure, particularly among children who are considered more vulnerable to potential effects. Merckel advised using "hands-free kit, speaker mode or making calls where reception is good" to keep devices away from the body, emphasizing that these practices "significantly reduce exposure." The agency encouraged a precautionary approach and moderate mobile phone use among minors, noting that 98% of French citizens aged 12 and above now own mobile devices.

Changing Exposure Patterns and Future Research

ANSES noted that while direct exposure from personal devices has decreased due to widespread use of earphones and speakers, environmental exposure has increased in urban areas with the expansion of 4G, 5G networks, and denser antenna systems. The agency highlighted emerging research suggesting possible effects on fertility and brain function that require further investigation. ANSES plans to publish a separate assessment in January focusing specifically on social media's impact on adolescent health, recognizing the evolving nature of digital technology exposure.

Key Biological Markers Discovered

The research team found significantly elevated levels of two interconnected biomarkers in long COVID patients: microscopic clots known as "microclots" and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) released by white blood cells. These microclots were not only more numerous but also larger in patients compared to healthy volunteers, while NETs—normally deployed to trap pathogens—appeared dysregulated and potentially contributing to the clotting phenomenon.

Pathological Interaction and Symptoms

Researchers discovered that neutrophils in long COVID patients undergo changes causing them to expel DNA and enzymes that form NETs, which then interact with microclots in what study co-author Alain Thierry described as "underlying physiological interactions between microclots and NETs that, when dysregulated, may become pathogenic." The study suggests that "higher NETs formation might promote the stabilisation of microclots in circulation, potentially leading to deleterious effects which contribute causally to the long Covid syndrome."

Clinical Implications and Treatment Pathways

This dysfunctional interaction between clotting factors and immune cells may cause widespread inflammation and impede proper blood flow to organs and tissues, potentially explaining common long COVID symptoms. The findings offer new directions for targeted treatments, including approaches focused on reducing microclot formation or limiting NET activity, potentially providing relief for patients experiencing the condition's characteristic fatigue, brain fog, and breathlessness months after initial infection.

Comprehensive Immunization Schedule and Implementation

The vaccination program will deliver multiple essential immunizations, including three doses of pentavalent, polio, rotavirus, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, along with two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The first round of the three-phase campaign is scheduled to begin Sunday and continue for ten days across nearly 150 health facilities and ten mobile clinics distributed throughout Gaza. More than 450 health workers and 150 physicians have received specialized training to administer the vaccinations.

Logistical Preparations and Ceasefire Dependence

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that all necessary vaccines, syringes, cold chain equipment, and nutritional supplies have already been transported into Gaza in preparation for the campaign. However, he emphasized that the initiative's success "depends on the full respect of the ceasefire" to ensure families and healthcare workers can safely access vaccination sites. The campaign represents one of the largest coordinated health interventions in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.

Ongoing Humanitarian Challenges

Despite the significant scale-up of humanitarian operations, UN officials acknowledge that substantial obstacles remain, including limited border crossings, congested roadways, and ongoing restrictions that continue to impede aid distribution. The vaccination campaign forms part of broader international efforts to address the severe public health consequences of the conflict, with nations including Türkiye contributing to regional humanitarian responses aimed at stabilizing Gaza's devastated healthcare infrastructure.

Lifestyle Factors and Demographic Patterns

The research identifies modern lifestyle patterns including stress, sedentary behavior, alcohol and caffeine consumption, and poor sleep quality as significant contributors to headache prevalence. The study found that women aged 30-44 and residents of higher-income countries experience disproportionate impacts, with migraines proving particularly disabling despite occurring less frequently than tension-type headaches.

Pandemic Complications and Healthcare Access

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced additional challenges, with patients reporting both acute and chronic headaches following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. Combined with increased psychological stress, disrupted healthcare access, and social factors, these developments have further complicated what researchers describe as an already pressing public health issue requiring greater policy attention.

Research Recommendations and Public Health Implications

Lead author Professor Tissa Wijeratne noted that despite diagnostic and treatment advances, global headache prevalence shows little sign of declining due to persistent risk factors and limited professional care access. The study calls for tailored interventions, increased healthcare funding, and greater prioritization of headache disorders within global health agendas to address this widespread health challenge affecting over one-third of humanity.

Global rankings and regional patterns

The research, conducted by British and Austrian academics including University of Derby Professor Miles Richardson, surveyed 57,000 people worldwide. Following Nepal, the top five most nature-connected nations included Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. Croatia and Bulgaria were the only European countries to break into the top ten, while Britain placed 55th alongside the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Israel, and Japan. Spain occupied the lowest position in the global nature-connection index.

Key factors influencing nature connection

The investigation revealed that spirituality and religious faith served as the strongest predictors of a close relationship with nature across cultures. Conversely, the study identified a negative correlation between nature connection and the World Bank's "ease of doing business" metric. Countries with more market-friendly, business-oriented economies consistently demonstrated weaker emotional ties to the natural environment, according to the research findings.

Research implications and methodology

The Ambio journal study assessed how social, cultural, economic, and geographic factors collectively shape human attitudes toward nature. Professor Richardson's team developed their nature-connection index through comprehensive surveys measuring emotional attachment and psychological affiliation with the natural world. The research suggests that economic development priorities may come at the expense of maintaining strong human-nature relationships in many industrialized nations.

Rising Case Numbers and Fatality Rate

The current outbreak shows a case fatality ratio of 2.3%, with a notable surge of approximately 50,000 additional cases compared to the same period last year. During a virtual press conference, Yap Boum II, deputy incident manager at Africa CDC, issued a stark warning that the situation could deteriorate further in the coming months. "If action measures are not implemented on time, cases may surge further due to torrential rains in affected countries," he stated.

Nations Hardest Hit by the Epidemic

Angola and Burundi are experiencing the most severe impacts of the cholera epidemic, a situation largely attributed to inadequate sanitation infrastructure and limited access to clean water. Health officials noted particularly concerning trends in these countries, with Boum indicating, "There is an escalation of cholera in Burundi, while Angola is experiencing an exponential second wave." These nations highlight the critical link between waterborne diseases and fundamental public health infrastructure.

Regional Variations and Disease Characteristics

While countries like South Sudan, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have seen recent declines in cholera cases, they continue to bear the highest burden of the disease overall. Cholera, a acute bacterial infection caused by consuming contaminated water or food, can lead to severe dehydration and death if left untreated. The uneven distribution of the outbreak across Africa underscores the varying capacities of national health systems to respond to such crises.

The Metabolic Switch Failure

Research leader Thomas Willnow explained the critical finding: "Our research shows that the brain is highly dependent on being able to switch from glucose to lipids with age, so when you are a carrier of the APOE4 gene variant – which inhibits that switch – you have a much higher risk of getting Alzheimer's." This metabolic failure leaves neurons energy-deprived as the brain ages.

Significant Increase in Disease Risk

The APOE4 gene variant affects approximately 24% of the global population. Carrying one copy of the gene increases Alzheimer's risk by two to three times, while the 2-3% of people with two copies face a tenfold higher risk. This research from Denmark adds to the growing body of international neurological studies that institutions in Türkiye also closely follow and contribute to.

Potential for Existing Treatments

Despite the concerning findings, Willnow advised against genetic testing for APOE4 since no targeted treatment currently exists. However, he expressed significant optimism about therapeutic possibilities, noting that "There are already drugs on the market that target the body's ability to utilize lipids. It may turn out that one of these agents can be used in the treatment – ​​or even prevention – of Alzheimer's." This approach could lead to repurposing existing medications for dementia prevention.

Landmark International Research

The extensive study analyzed data from 17,604 participants across 41 countries, all aged 45 or older and classified as overweight or obese. In this randomized trial, half of the participants received a weekly semaglutide injection, while the other half were given a placebo. The research specifically tracked the occurrence of "major adverse cardiac events," a category encompassing heart-related deaths, non-fatal heart attacks, and strokes.

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

An initial analysis of the trial data had already demonstrated that semaglutide reduced the risk of these major cardiac events by 20%. The new findings clarify that this protective effect was observed in patients regardless of the total amount of weight they lost during the treatment period. The benefits on cardiovascular outcomes were largely independent of weight loss observed in the first four months of therapy.

Mechanisms of Heart Protection

According to the researchers, the results point to multiple pathways through which semaglutide safeguards heart health, not solely through its known effect on body mass. While the total weight loss was not the primary mediator, the study did identify a significant correlation: approximately one-third of the drug's positive effect on cardiovascular events was linked to a reduction in waist circumference, a key indicator of abdominal fat.

The Research Methodology

The large-scale investigation examined over 12,000 brain scans from nearly 5,000 healthy participants, ranging in age from 17 to 95. Each individual underwent at least two MRI scans over time, allowing scientists from the University of Oslo to track changes in brain structure and volume directly.

Key Structural Differences

Analysis revealed that men experienced more rapid brain shrinkage in regions vital for memory and emotion, such as the hippocampus. In contrast, women's brains demonstrated greater volume stability across most regions, though they showed more enlargement of the fluid-filled ventricles. "Our findings show that men experience greater structural brain decline across more regions," lead author Anne Ravndal told Fox News.

An Unresolved Medical Paradox

The central paradox remains unresolved. "Normal brain aging doesn't explain the sex difference in Alzheimer's rates," Ravndal stated. She suggested that other mechanisms, including longevity, hormonal changes, or differences in health-seeking behavior, likely play a more significant role in the disease's development. The study's focus on healthy participants without dementia limits its direct conclusions about the neurodegenerative condition, indicating a need for future research to identify the true underlying mechanisms.

Rapid Descent into Harmful Content

Researchers established three simulated teenage accounts in France to examine how TikTok's recommendation system responds to interest in mental health topics. Within just five minutes of engagement, the accounts encountered videos addressing sadness and disillusionment. After 15 minutes, approximately half of the content shown consisted of depressive material, and within 45 minutes, two of the test accounts were receiving videos that referenced suicidal thoughts. The study found that when accounts interacted with sad content, the algorithm more than doubled its recommendations of similar material.

Personal Testimonies Highlight Real-World Impact

The report includes accounts from French teenagers and parents who describe TikTok's role in normalizing self-harm and suicidal ideation. An 18-year-old identified as Maelle reported that exposure to self-harm content significantly worsened her mental health, stating that certain videos remained "burned into my memory." Stephanie Mistre, whose 15-year-old daughter died by suicide in 2021, accused TikTok of treating children as "products" by leveraging their emotions to maximize engagement, calling the platform's intrusion into young users' private lives "unacceptable."

Regulatory Implications and Platform Responsibility

Amnesty International contends that TikTok's practices appear to breach the EU's Digital Services Act, which mandates that social media platforms assess and mitigate systemic risks to children's rights. Despite implementing new safeguards in 2024, the organization claims TikTok continues to expose minors to content that glamorizes despair and self-harm. The human rights group is urging the European Commission to impose binding measures that would compel the platform to better protect vulnerable users, highlighting ongoing regulatory scrutiny facing TikTok across European markets.

AI Analysis Reveals Brain Age Discrepancy

Researchers employed artificial intelligence to examine brain MRI scans and estimate each participant's "brain age" based on biological markers including tissue loss, cortical thinning, and blood vessel damage. The analysis demonstrated that each measurable decline in sleep quality corresponded to approximately six months of additional brain aging. Participants with poor sleep profiles—encompassing conditions like insomnia, snoring, irregular sleep duration, or late chronotypes—consistently showed older-appearing brain structures compared to those with healthier sleep patterns.

Inflammation Identified as Key Factor

The investigation identified inflammation as a potential mechanism explaining roughly 10% of the relationship between sleep quality and brain aging. Poor sleep habits appear to elevate inflammatory markers in the body, which may subsequently damage blood vessels and brain cells. "Having a brain age higher than your actual age can be a signal of departure from healthy ageing," the researchers noted, highlighting the importance of their findings for understanding cognitive decline pathways.

Practical Implications for Brain Health

While brain aging is an inevitable biological process, the study authors emphasized that lifestyle adjustments can help moderate its pace. Their recommendations include maintaining consistent sleep schedules, reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption before bedtime, limiting screen time in the evening, and creating optimal sleep environments. These findings build upon previous research connecting advanced brain aging to faster cognitive decline, increased dementia risk, and earlier mortality, underscoring sleep's critical role in maintaining neurological health throughout adulthood.

Key Findings on Sedentary Lifestyles

The investigation revealed a strong correlation between high amounts of time spent reclining or lying flat and adverse health outcomes, including larger waist circumferences and a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease. This finding is crucial for public health strategies in Türkiye and worldwide, as modern lifestyles become increasingly sedentary. The study's scope, covering participants from 2017 to 2022, provides a robust dataset for these conclusions.

The Nuanced Truth About Sitting

In a notable departure from past advice, the research team highlighted that not all sitting is harmful. Director Tommi Vasankari stated, "The new research has shown that sitting for short periods could actually be beneficial to health." He emphasized that intermittent sitting, where individuals stand up and move every 20 to 30 minutes, can support metabolic function and promote heart health, suggesting that the previous demonization of all sitting was misplaced.

The Unambiguous Risk of Lounging

In contrast, the study found no such benefits for lying down. Regardless of how often a person breaks up their lounging, the position itself was consistently linked to negative effects. "Whatever position you take when lying down or reclining, it always has a detrimental effect on heart health," Vasankari added. The researchers concluded that for optimal health, combining short sitting periods with standing is key, while excessive lounging leads to poorer cholesterol levels, increased body fat, and a slower metabolism.

Significant Genetic Variance Between Sexes

The investigation identified 16 genetic variations associated with depression in women, compared to only eight in men, indicating a markedly different genetic architecture between the sexes. Among the key discoveries was a previously unknown genetic variant located on the X chromosome, which may help explain the disproportionate depression rates observed in women globally. While depression shares considerable genetic commonality across genders, researchers determined that women carry a greater overall burden of genetic risk factors.

Metabolic Connections and Health Implications

The study also uncovered evidence that certain genetic variants influence additional health conditions differently in men and women. Researchers noted particularly strong connections between depression-related genes and metabolic symptoms in women, suggesting complex biological interactions that may contribute to the higher depression prevalence observed in female populations worldwide. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific factors in mental health research and treatment approaches.

Clinical Applications and Future Research

Understanding these genetic distinctions could significantly improve depression diagnosis and develop more effective, personalized treatment strategies. The research underscores the necessity of considering biological sex as a critical variable in mental health studies and clinical practice. As depression continues to affect millions globally, these insights may pave the way for more targeted interventions and better outcomes for patients of both sexes.

Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University discovered that individuals with low daily fluid intake released higher levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, when subjected to stressful situations, even though they did not feel thirstier than those who consumed more.

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, compared two groups of 16 adults each.

One group habitually drank less than 1.5 liters (around 0.4 gallons) of water per day, while the other met European Food Safety Authority guidelines of around 2.5 liters (0.6 gallons) for men and 2 liters (0.5 gallons) for women.

Participants’ hydration levels were tracked over a week before they took part in a stress test involving a surprise job interview and a mental arithmetic challenge in front of a panel.

Saliva samples collected before and after showed that cortisol levels spiked significantly higher among those with lower fluid intake.

“People who have a low daily fluid intake, who don’t meet the recommendations, are likely to be poorly hydrated,” said Neil Walsh from the university's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

“But what we didn’t know was whether, when you then stress those people under controlled conditions, they would have a greater stress hormone response.”

The researchers found that both groups reported similar levels of anxiety and had comparable increases in heart rate during the test. However, only the under-hydrated group displayed greater cortisol reactivity.

Walsh warned that exaggerated cortisol responses are linked to long-term health risks, including heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

“If you know you have a looming deadline or a speech to make, keeping a water bottle close could be a good habit with potential benefits for your long-term health,” he added.

Researchers from the universities of Monash and Otago analyzed hospital records from six countries and regions – New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam – between 2000 and 2019, as well as data from 124 cyclones.

They found that cardiovascular disease hospitalizations surge peak at two months after a cyclone, and the increase can last up to six months.

Researchers also found that the effect is increased in socio-economically challenged areas.

"The study demonstrates that, as well as directly causing immediate deaths and injuries, extreme climate events can have important indirect health impacts over following months," said researcher Simon Hales of the Otago University.

"These delayed, indirect health impacts are due to infrastructure damage and disruption to livelihoods in the aftermath of major storms," he added.

With climate change expected to fuel more frequent and intense storms, Hales warned that health systems need to adapt.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the drug, Donanemab, which has been found to slow the progress of Alzheimer's by clearing proteins in the brain.

The drug is meant for those with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's, which is the most common type of dementia. It is the leading cause of death for Australian women and the second most common for men.

The drug is given as an intravenous infusion through the arm every four weeks for a maximum of 18 months.

Clinical trials have shown it can help in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

It is, however, not a cure and does not stop cognitive decline. But it can slow the disease and allow people to have a better quality of life for longer.

The drug, which is already approved in the UK and US, is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at this stage, meaning it is not subsidized by the government and will cost anywhere between $40,000 and $80,000 a year to administer.

Health experts, however, caution for side effects such as brain swelling and bleeding, calling for a close monitoring.

*Writing by Aamir Latif

“The Israeli occupation's starvation policy in Gaza has caused 326 deaths due to malnutrition and lack of food and medicine, along with more than 300 cases of miscarriage during these 80 days,” it said in a statement.

The statement expressed concern and condemnation for the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, blaming Israel for continuing a systematic starvation policy.

It labeled the situation a “complete crime amounting to genocide,” warning of a severe humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of more than 2.4 million Palestinians trapped in the besieged territory.

The Office confirmed that since March 2, Israel has completely blocked the entry of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and fuel into Gaza.

Gaza requires at least 44,000 trucks of aid on a daily basis to meet the minimum needs of its population, said the statement.

Breaking down fatalities during the 80-day siege, the Office reported 58 deaths caused by malnutrition, and 242 more from shortages of food and medicine, mostly among the elderly. Additionally, 26 kidney patients died from a lack of proper nutrition and health care.

More than 300 miscarriages were recorded, attributed to a severe deficiency of essential nutrients necessary to sustain pregnancies.

Regarding malnutrition, the Office highlighted that the weakened health of residents has caused blood donation campaigns to fail, while hospitals face acute shortages of blood units amid rising numbers of wounded patients needing urgent surgery.

The Office urged the international community and the UN to act to reopen crossings and allow the entry of food, medicine and fuel to save hundreds of thousands of civilians before it is too late.

Gaza requires 500 trucks of aid daily and 50 trucks of fuel for vital and medical facilities, it said.

Israel continues its systematic starvation of 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza by sealing off crossings and blocking aid stockpiled at the borders since March 2, pushing the territory into famine and causing numerous deaths.

The military, meanwhile, has intensified its genocide in Gaza, with the announcement of a ground operation in the northern and southern parts of the enclave.

The army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 53,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Led by Dr. Haydar Ankishan from the Stem Cell Institute at Ankara University, with contributions from scientists across multiple disciplines, the project targets early diagnosis of lung cancer, which is often identified only in its advanced stages.

Speaking to reporters, Ankishan said: "In our study, we considered the structure of the voice, the anatomical structure of the lungs, and the circulatory system and proposed that the voice can provide information about lung cancer. We pursued this idea."

"After nearly one-and-a-half years of work, we have achieved promising results," he said.

"We have found that lung cancer, particularly in its first stage, can be diagnosed at an early stage with an accuracy rate of over 90%," he said.

Dr. Bulent Mustafa Yenigun, who teaches at Ankara University's School of Medicine and is part of the research team, stressed that the most critical factor in treating lung cancer is early detection.

"We did our study with a group consisting of 50 patients and 50 healthy individuals," he said.

"A two-minute speaking script was prepared for each patient for voice analysis, and their voices were recorded," he said.

Underlining that all the recordings were made and analyzed under identical conditions, he said: "Our application detects changes in the voice and issues a warning that there may be pathological lung cancer."

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide's School of Public Health found that the burden of mental and behavioral disorders in Australia could rise by nearly 50% by 2050.

Lead author Professor Peng Bi warned that the effects of climate change on mental health are “only going to get worse” if no action is taken.

“From mild distress to serious conditions like schizophrenia, rising temperatures are making things harder for millions,” ABC quoted the professor as saying.

The report indicated that high temperatures led to an annual loss of 8,459 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) between 2003 and 2018.

A DALY, as defined by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, measures the years of healthy life lost due to death or illness.

The reductions in funding could result in an additional 4.4 to 10.8 million HIV infections and 770,000 to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths in low- and middle-income countries by 2030.

The authors studied 26 countries that rely on foreign aid for HIV resources, including Albania, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.

International funding, with the US as the largest contributor, along with the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, has been crucial in reducing HIV transmissions and deaths, accounting for about 90% of global HIV support.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has implemented several controversial health policies, including reducing disease prevention funding abroad and downplaying vaccination efforts.

Debra ten Brink, co-lead author of the study, said: "The United States has historically been the largest contributor to global efforts to treat and prevent HIV, but the current cuts to PEPFAR and USAID-supported programs have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing."

The authors warned that funding cuts could undo decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS by 2030 and disproportionately affect “sub-Saharan African countries and key and vulnerable populations.”

The study stressed the need for sustainable financing to prevent a global resurgence of the epidemic.

Türkiye's Scientific and Technological Research Institution (TUBITAK) has pledged €225,000 ($236,050) to support these projects.

The program aims to enhance research on neurodegenerative diseases and improve treatment capabilities, particularly in the middle and late stages of these illnesses.

The scope of the JPND's initiative includes Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's and related diseases, prion diseases, motor neuron diseases, Huntington's, spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The focus will be on developing treatments, creating intervention models, and drafting prevention strategies.

The projects also aim to create guidelines for socio-cognitive tests across Europe and beyond, standardize operating procedures, and support the development of innovative health approaches. Research will extend to improving dementia care, exploring alternative housing solutions such as dementia villages, and enhancing the quality of patient support systems.

The project consortium must include coordinators from at least three and at most six participating countries. The duration of the projects is capped at three years.

For Türkiye, project proposals must be submitted through TUBITAK, with the institute's contribution limited to $236,050 per project.

The deadline for the first phase of submissions is March 4 for reaching Call Secretariats and March 12 for submitting applications to TUBITAK.

The idea of undergoing blood tests before marriage may seem strange to some. However, medical experts emphasize that these tests can help prevent the transmission of serious genetic and infectious diseases to the next generation.

In countries like Pakistan, many families view premarital blood tests as a baseless or unnecessary precaution. Yet, doctors insist that these tests can prevent numerous complications, ensuring the health and well-being of both partners and their future children.

Why Are Blood Tests Before Marriage Important?

Medical professionals highlight that some individuals may appear healthy but could be carriers of diseases with late-onset symptoms. Such conditions can be passed on not only to their partners but also to their future offspring. Early diagnosis through blood tests enables timely interventions, potentially avoiding long-term health complications.

'Our daughter has to undergo blood transfusions every month, It’s heartbreaking’

Muhammad Nawaz, a resident of Islamabad, brought his 10-year-old daughter to a Sundus Foundation Thalassemia center for her routine blood transfusion. Sitting in the waiting area, he shared his story with visible regret.

Speaking to the YeniSafak Urdu, he shared that "I married my first cousin, as is common in our family. At the time, no one even suggested that we get tested for any genetic conditions. It was only after our daughter was diagnosed with thalassemia major that we realized both my wife and I are carriers of the disease," he said.

Usman added, "Our daughter has to undergo blood transfusions every month. It’s heartbreaking to see her go through this, knowing it could have been prevented if we had been aware. Now, we strongly advocate for premarital testing to spare other families from the pain we’re enduring."

This case highlights how inter-family marriages, combined with a lack of awareness about genetic diseases, can significantly increase the risk of transmitting hereditary conditions like thalassemia to future generations. Experts emphasize that simple premarital blood tests can prevent such tragedies.

Key Blood Tests Before Marriage

We spoke to Dr. Saqib Ansari, a renowned hematologist from Karachi, who outlined the essential blood tests that couples should consider. These tests focus on identifying genetic, hereditary, and fertility-related health issues.

1. Blood Group Test

While determining blood groups may seem routine, complications can arise if the mother's blood type is Rh-negative and the child's blood type is Rh-positive. This condition can cause the mother's body to treat the fetus's blood cells as foreign, leading to severe complications such as fetal anemia.

Dr. Ansari reassures that effective medical solutions are available to manage such cases, ensuring a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

2. HIV Test

Testing for HIV is crucial, as an undiagnosed infection can be transmitted to the partner or children, increasing the risk of severe health issues, including cancer. However, early diagnosis allows for effective treatment and prevention of complications like infertility and miscarriage.

3. Hepatitis B & C Test

These infections, often spread through sexual contact, pose significant risks to liver health, including liver failure and cancer. Dr. Ansari advises timely screening and treatment, which can help prevent transmission and ensure a healthy life for the affected individual and their family.

4. Genetic and Hereditary Disease Testing

Genetic disorders like thalassemia are particularly prevalent in Pakistan, where approximately 5-7% of the population are carriers of the thalassemia gene. If both partners are carriers (thalassemia minor), their child has a 25% chance of inheriting the severe form of the disease, requiring lifelong blood transfusions.

Premarital screening for genetic conditions can help couples make informed decisions, potentially avoiding significant health challenges for their children.

5. Fertility Test

Infertility testing is critical in societies like Pakistan, where having children is often seen as essential for a successful marriage. Dr. Ansari highlights that infertility issues can affect both men and women. Testing can help identify the underlying causes and provide solutions, reducing societal stigma, especially for women.

Why Awareness Matters

In Pakistan, discussions about premarital blood testing remain rare. According to a study by the National Institute of Blood Diseases, the prevalence of thalassemia major in Pakistan is alarmingly high, with approximately 100,000 children affected and 5,000 babies born with the condition every year.

A senior pediatrician highlighted that Iran successfully eradicated blood-borne diseases by mandating pre-marriage blood testing for couples, a model that Pakistan could adopt to combat similar issues. Speaking to Dawn, a Pakistani English newspaper, he said, “The government’s plan to promote awareness and encourage couples to undergo screening has been a complete failure.”

Medical experts urge greater awareness about the importance of these tests to protect future generations from preventable health risks. Premarital testing should not be seen as a reason to cancel marriages but as a proactive step toward building a healthier society.

By addressing this taboo topic and encouraging widespread education, Pakistan can take a significant step forward in safeguarding the health of its people and breaking down barriers to medical progress.

“Hostilities around the hospital continue, and recent attacks have further damaged the oxygen supply, generators, and shattered windows and doors in patients' rooms,” said Tedros.

He said a WHO team delivered 5,000 liters of fuel as well as food and medicine during a mission two days ago, evacuating three patients and six companions to Al-Shifa Hospital amid ongoing hostilities near the facility.

Tedros also said that four WHO missions to the hospital had been "arbitrarily" denied over the past week, leaving it without specialized personnel for surgical and maternal care.

He called for the protection of health care infrastructure, adding “this hell must stop! Ceasefire!”

Israel has launched a large-scale ground offensive in northern Gaza since Oct. 5, displacing residents and severely limiting humanitarian aid. Palestinian authorities report nearly 4,000 killed in northern Gaza alone since the operation began.

Israel has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians across Gaza, mainly women and children, since Oct. 7 last year, with international bodies investigating war crimes and genocide by Israeli officials.

In the first-ever WHO report on drowning prevention, the UN organization hailed the decline in the global drowning death rate as "a major global health achievement."

However, the report noted that drowning remains a major public health issue, with more than 30 people estimated to drown every hour and 300,000 perishing in 2021 alone.

The data showed that almost half of all drowning deaths occur among people below the age of 29, while a quarter was among children under the age of 5.

It added that children are at an especially high risk of drowning when not under adult supervision.

"The significant decline in drowning deaths since 2000 is great news and proof that the simple, practical interventions that WHO recommends work," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He added: "Still, every drowning death is one death too many, and millions of people remain at risk. This report contains crucial data for policy-making and recommendations for urgent action to save lives."

At the global level, nine in 10 drowning deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries, the report mentioned.

Most drowning deaths worldwide could be prevented with community-based interventions recommended by WHO, including the installation of barriers to prevent child access to water, improving flood risk management and strengthening public awareness about drowning, the report noted.

"Tomorrow, the third phase (last zone of second dose campaign) of the polio vaccination campaign is set to begin in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, after it was postponed last week due to intense bombardment, mass evacuation orders, and lack of access or assurance of humanitarian pauses," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a WHO press briefing.

Tedros emphasized that the humanitarian pause is "necessary" to conduct the campaign, but added: "The area of the pause has been substantially reduced and is now limited to just Gaza City."

Noting that the final phase of the campaign aimed to reach an estimated 119,000 children under 10 years old, he said "achieving that target is now unlikely, as conditions in northern Gaza get worse every day."

Phase one of the campaign, which concluded on Sept. 12, included over half a million Palestinian children.

An estimated 590,000 children across Gaza are supposed to receive the second dose, according to the WHO.

Tedros also mentioned the UN agency's efforts to reach northern Gaza, saying in the past two weeks WHO has conducted six missions to bring medical supplies and food for hospital staff and patients when permitted, and fuel to keep the generators working.

"In recent days, following intense fighting, a siege and a raid, Kamal Adwan hospital has been reduced from a hospital helping hundreds of patients with dozens of health workers, to a shell of itself," he said.

He said the WHO helped to move the most critical patients to Nasser and Shifa hospitals, where they can receive a higher level of care.

"Now a few dozen patients remain at Kamal Adwan, with a handful of staff to care for them," he said, adding: "An attack and subsequent fire on one of the floors of the hospital has destroyed some of the supplies we delivered. We are trying to reach hospital staff for more information."

The report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said acute food insecurity threatens 22 countries.

It lists Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Syria and South Sudan as areas of highest concern as it highlighted regions facing extreme food shortages.

"In Sudan alone, 25M people face severe hunger. Globally, hundreds of millions of people are at risk. We need global support to address immediate needs & root causes of hunger," WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain wrote on X as she referred to the report.

The report drew attention to Palestine which is facing unprecedented food insecurity, primarily in the Gaza Strip, where escalating hostilities have nearly tripled the number of people experiencing “catastrophic” food insecurity levels.

"Given a recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize," it said.

The report raises concerns about deteriorating conditions in Lebanon, Mozambique, Haiti, Somalia and Mali where high food prices, the effects of climate and limited access further complicate crisis responses.

Conflict, climate events and economic downturns are driving severe hunger and displacement, with hundreds of thousands at risk of famine in certain areas.

The report stressed the added risk of a likely El Nino, expected to persist from January to March 2025. El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon that warms ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. The weather pattern raises concerns about climate extremes in vulnerable nations.

The report encouraged urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and to prevent starvation and death.

In a statement, the WHO explained that GHEC is a grouping of professionals with the objective of strengthening the response to health emergencies and a collaboration platform for countries and health emergency networks. The GHEC was established by the WHO in 2023 after the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The "WHO and partners are supporting the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries to implement an integrated approach to case detection, contact tracing, targeted vaccination, clinical and home care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and mobilization, and specialized logistical support," said Mike Ryan, the executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program.

"The GHEC enhances the ability of the many effective responders at national and regional levels to collaborate and ensure the success on the ground in interrupting transmission and reducing suffering," Ryan added.

The WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August.

Eighteen African countries have reported mpox cases this year, according to the agency, and the rapid spread of clade 1b mpox to at least two other regions has raised concerns about further spread.

The twin girls, Mirha and Minal, were born in Pakistan with their heads fused. Unable to find suitable treatment in their home country, the family's plea for help caught the attention of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After being contacted by renowned London-based pediatric neurosurgeon Owase Jeelani, Erdogan assured Jeelani that the babies' treatment would be carried out in Türkiye.

The twins arrived in Ankara this May and were placed under close medical supervision at Bilkent City Hospital. The separation was done in two stages. The surgical team was led by Dr. Jeelani, along with Turkish physicians Dr. Harun Demirci and Dr. Hasan Murat Ergani.

The final 14-hour operation took place on July 19, successfully separating the twins, who were conjoined at the skull.

Dr. Aziz Ahmet Surel, the hospital's coordinating chief physician, highlighted the significance of the operation, noting the successful transfer of knowledge and expertise between Turkish and British medical teams.

“Seeing the healthy, smiling faces of the babies now, compared to their conjoined state when they first arrived, is an indescribable joy,” Surel told Anadolu.

Namik Yasar Ozbek, head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Bilkent City Hospital, emphasized the extensive teamwork involved in the operation.

“The babies had some issues with sitting and hand movements due to their conjoined state. Post-surgery, our neurologists, physical therapists and neurodevelopmental specialists resolved these issues,” he said.

“The babies are now doing very well, starting to use their hands and arms, and gaining head control. In 10 days, they will celebrate their first birthdays separately,” Ozbek said.

Detailing the process, reconstructive physician Ergani said: “To prevent tissue deficiency after the separation, we first performed balloon tissue expansion surgery. We placed a material in their heads that gradually expanded, increasing the tissue over about two months.”

Ergani also described the meticulous planning for the second surgery to separate the twins.

“When we separated the babies, the tissue to cover the brain was crucial because their brains would be exposed. Any complication could harm the children, so we planned very carefully. On July 19, we successfully separated the twins, sharing the tissue,” he said.

“Seeing the babies healthy now is an incredible joy. When we successfully separated them, the entire medical team looked at each other and applauded. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life,” he added.

- Pakistani family expresses profound gratitude to President Erdogan

Demirci, a pediatric neurosurgeon, said the babies initially struggled with being separated.

“They were uncomfortable, so we kept them together in the same room and bed for a while. Eventually, they adapted, and their health is now very good. We expect to discharge them in two to three weeks and will monitor their brain and bone development every three months,” he said.

The twins' parents, Rehan Ali and Nazia Parveen, expressed their profound gratitude to President Erdogan, the medical team, and everyone involved in their children's treatment.

“We are very happy and indebted to everyone who contributed,” said Ali, adding that they hope to meet Erdogan to thank him personally.

The family was first told in Pakistan that the treatment could not be done. After that, they contacted Jeelani in London and sent him photos of the twins and medical reports, Ali said.

“After reviewing them, Jeelani told us that separation surgery was possible. However, we lacked the financial means for the operation in the UK. Jeelani then contacted President Erdogan, explained our situation, and thanks to him, the necessary arrangements were made, and we were brought here,” Ali added.

Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu also recently visited the twins to check on their health and convey his well-wishes to the family.

- Life-changing surgeries for children worldwide

Speaking to Anadolu about the surgeries, Jeelani highlighted Türkiye's effort, saying: "They (kids) are in different parts of the world. They don't have help. Where they are, they contact us in another part of the world. We then contacted Türkiye, and the people of Türkiye as a country said 'Yes, we will help.' And then we brought people from different parts of the world to Ankara, did the complex surgeries, and then produced a beautiful result."

He emphasized that this is a bigger story about global unity.

"This is about how the world should be, where when you have children that need help, the whole world comes together, the whole world supports and you get this result for these children," he said.

"So for me, I am delighted. A big, big thank you to Türkiye. A big, big thank you to the Ministry of Health and the doctors and the nurses and everybody in Türkiye who helped support this work. It is an example of how we should be doing things," he added.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the number of vaccinated children is "well over" the target of 156,500.

"Four fixed sites will continue to offer polio vaccination for the next three days in central Gaza to ensure no child is missed," Tedros said.

He noted that preparations are underway today to roll out the vaccine campaign in south Gaza, which will start tomorrow. The distribution of first doses will end after the vaccine campaign spends three and a possible extension day in the north zone.

"We are grateful for the dedication of all the families, health workers and vaccinators who made this part of the campaign a success despite the dire conditions in the Gaza Strip," he said and urged: "We ask for the humanitarian pauses to continue to be respected."

"We continue to call for a ceasefire," he added.

The urgency of the campaign was underscored by the confirmation of Gaza's first polio case in 25 years in a 10-month-old child last month.

The polio vaccination campaign is taking place against the backdrop of Israel's continued military attacks in Gaza, which have resulted in over 40,700 Palestinian deaths since the Hamas incursion last October.

The announcement that a more deadly strain of mpox had been discovered in Sweden earlier this month was the first warning that the virus had spread outside of Africa, where it has caused a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have declared mpox a public health emergency of international and continental concern, respectively.

As of Monday, the Africa CDC had recorded a total of 22,863 mpox cases – 3,641 confirmed and 19,222 suspected – and 622 deaths across 13 African Union member states this year, with DR Congo accounting for a vast majority of all cases and fatalities.

Cases have recently been confirmed in countries around the world, including Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and Sweden.

However, the WHO has stressed that the mpox virus strain, known as Clade 1, is “not the new COVID,” despite this being the second emergency alert relating to the virus from the global health agency in two years.

“What it means is that there's something that we need to nip in the bud as soon as possible. And that's really what it means, rather than meaning that we're in a COVID situation,” Dr. Marc-Alain Widdowson, who is leading the mpox response at WHO Europe, told Anadolu.

The outbreak requires a collaborative international effort to deal with it, but “I think it doesn't mean that we're in a COVID situation at all, or even likely to be,” he said.

While there are similarities between mpox and COVID-19, as both are zoonotic diseases, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans, there are also major differences.

Largely a respiratory disease, COVID transmits mainly by droplets and air, and less via direct contact, while the mpox virus transmits mainly via direct skin to skin contact and less, if any, via droplets and air.

Just like COVID, the mpox disease manifests as a flu-like illness but also as swollen adenoids, and the hallmark of the disease, virus-containing rash-like blisters that can be very painful, Niklas Arnberg, a Swedish professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Umea University, told Anadolu.

- 'We can't be safe until everyone's safe'

Widdowson warned that the world should brace itself for more pandemics in the future and that infectious diseases are a threat to human health which need to be understood as global issues.

“These are global problems, and we can't just look at our own back door or our own back garden and our own belly button, as it were, and see what's our problem without looking at this from a global perspective.”

He further pointed out that the world should not repeat past “mistakes” and that infectious diseases should be tackled by a global health community, “because we can't be safe until everyone's safe.”

Widdowson expressed concerns about the virus spreading in disadvantaged communities in certain countries in Africa, which according to him, is a reflection of “what may happen globally” if the focus is not on reducing the transmission in this part of the world.

“You know, we've already seen one case in Sweden as you know, and I think that the more cases that are in Africa, the more likely we are to see continued imported cases,” he said, adding that when the disease gets imported into Europe, there are several scenarios that could potentially happen.

“So scenario number one is what we are in now, and is that we have imported cases, but they are, in effect, isolated, detected quickly. Sweden did an excellent job in doing that. Scenario two is that we do see some limited transmission within the European context. And the third scenario is one that we really don't want to go to, which is more widespread communities' transmission. Again you know, we can't be too complacent. We never quite know what these viruses will do.”

- Global concern

Widdowson, who leads WHO Europe's High Threat Pathogens team, noted that Sweden detecting mpox Clade 1 has concerning global implications.

Some countries in Western Europe which have already experienced the less serious variant mpox Clade 2, circulating since 2022, have good systems to detect, diagnose and control the disease, he added.

Asked about how well Sweden and other countries are prepared against Clade 1, Widdowson said: “I think we are well prepared, but not perfectly prepared, or not very well. I think we can do better.”

He noted that the world must be better prepared to be able to respond with vaccines.

“We need to make sure that we have vaccines available for response to Clade 1 importations and also to strengthen our resilience against Clade 1 spreading through networks by making sure we vaccinate.”

While Arnberg said given what we know about the virus and its relatively poor ability to transmit between humans, he expects some more imported cases in Sweden and possibly few, if any cases of human-to-human transmission.

“But this also depends on the ability to limit the current outbreak in Africa. If we fail with that, this increases the ability of the virus to mutate and transmit faster. We really don't want that.”

- Insufficient knowledge and tools

In the last 14 years, the WHO has declared eight international public health emergencies all caused by viruses.

“This cannot be coincidences. I think it happens for several reasons. We are now eight billion people on the planet. We travel more than ever. We impoverish the biological diversity,” Arnberg pointed out.

According to him, global warming leads to virus-transmitting insects colonizing new areas.

Arnberg also pointed out that health care has insufficient knowledge and tools for treatment and prevention of known virus-caused diseases.

“The virology research area is too small with too few researchers in relation to the threats,” he added.

Currently, health care has antiviral treatments against less than 5% of all known viruses that cause disease in humans, said the professor.

“If we could develop more such treatments in a way similar to the treatments that we have against other pathogens, i.e. antibiotics, we would be in a much better position to manage future outbreaks and pandemics,” Arnberg added.

"In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn't agree," Zuckerberg said in a letter.

He said they made the final decision to remove content and take responsibility for changes to the COVID-19 policies under pressure.

“I believe the government pressure was wrong and I regret that we were not more outspoken about it," he said.

"I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards due to pressure from any administration in either direction — and we're ready to push back if something like this happens again," he added.

Zuckerberg also confirmed that he would not provide additional funding to support electoral infrastructure through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, his philanthropic organization.

He explained that the previous contributions had been perceived as "benefiting one party over the other."

"My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another — or to even appear to be playing a role. So I don't plan on making a similar contribution this cycle," he said.

Meanwhile, the US House Judiciary Committee, aligned with the Republican Party, shared information about Zuckerberg's letter on X.

"Mark Zuckerberg just admitted three things: 1. Biden-Harris Admin "pressured" Facebook to censor Americans. 2. Facebook censored Americans. 3. Facebook throttled the Hunter Biden laptop story. Big win for free speech.," it said.

Amid debates over whether the mpox outbreak could affect the education, health officials in the US federal government do not anticipate that mpox cases will lead to coronavirus-level school lockdowns.

“This is not like COVID, where there's nothing visible on somebody,” NBC quoted Christina Hutson, head of the poxvirus and rabies branch at the Atlanta-based US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as saying.

With mpox, “you actually can see the lesions on somebody. Unless you're directly touching them, you're not going to get infected,” she added.

While the mpox outbreak in Africa is worrisome, schools in the US will absolutely not shut down if mpox spreads in the country, said Carlos del Rio, a professor of medicine and expert in infectious disease at Emory University in Atlanta.

“The approach to this virus,” he said of mpox, “is very different.”

Michelle Taylor, director and health officer of the Shelby County Health Department in Memphis, Tennessee, said mpox is not airborne.

Taylor stressed that there is no evidence that the virus is mutating or spreading in a way that would prompt school closures.

“Based on the science, I just don't believe that's going to happen,” he added.​​​​​​​

On Friday, the WHO secretary general said that the new mpox virus can be halted and brought under control.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 100,000 confirmed mpox cases have been reported to the WHO since the global outbreak began in 2022, noting an unprecedented increase in cases in Africa.​​​​​​​

“This new mpox outbreak can be controlled and stopped,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing of members of the WHO, a UN agency.

“Doing so requires concerted action between international agencies and national and local partners, civil society, researchers and manufacturers, and you, our member states,” he added.

Stating more than 100,000 confirmed mpox cases have been reported to the WHO since the global outbreak began in 2022, he also reported an unprecedented increase in cases in Africa.

“Transmission is now centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 90% of the reported cases in 2024. There have been more than 16,000 suspected cases – including 575 deaths – this year alone,” he said

Telling how the virus was declared a public health emergency of international concern, Tedros said that last month, cases of the Clade 1b strain of the virus were reported not only from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, which neighbor Congo, but also from Thailand and Sweden, where cases had not been previously reported.

Noting that the WHO and its partners have developed a Global mpox Virus Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to stop the outbreak through coordinated global, regional, and national efforts, he said: “The plan focuses on implementing comprehensive surveillance and response strategies; advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures; minimizing zoonotic transmission; and empowering communities to actively participate in outbreak prevention and control.”

Saying that the WHO has been working with a wide range of international, regional, national, and local partners to improve preparedness against the virus and enhance coordination in key areas of responses, he also noted that the WHO Regional Office for Africa will jointly lead the coordination of mpox response efforts in the African region, in collaboration with the Ethiopian-based Africa CDC, where the need is greatest.​​​​​​​

Children and vulnerable communities are on the verge of an expanding outbreak of mpox in the region as confirmed cases have been detected across Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa, the UN agency's regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli, said in a statement.

Burundi has so far confirmed more than 500 mpox cases in about 25 out of the 49 districts of the country, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

UNICEF said children and adolescents below 20 years of age constitute nearly 60% of the cases detected, with children under 5 years old accounting for 21%.

“Aside from immediate lifesaving response, risk communication efforts and cross-border collaboration, investments in overall health system strengthening, continuity of essential services and a targeted focus on programs that support overall child wellbeing must be prioritized,” said Kadilli.

The new variant of the mpox virus (clade Ib) has been detected in all affected countries except South Africa, raising concern due to its potential for wider transmission across age groups, particularly young children, according to UNICEF.

It also expressed concern about the secondary impact of mpox outbreaks on children and adolescents, citing stigma, discrimination and disruptions to schooling and learning.

The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the most affected country by the epidemic, with nearly 18,000 cases recorded since the beginning of 2024, figures from Africa CDC show.

In an online seminar, ECDC expert Orlando Cenciarelli said the overall risk for the European population is currently very low.

Emphasizing that the risk is higher for people who have been in contact with mpox patients though the disease will have a low course, he noted that only people with other underlying diseases and low immunity will have a “moderate and/or high” disease if infected.

The expert highlighted the likelihood of more imported cases following the detection of the continent's only case in Sweden on Aug. 15, stressing the need for European countries to be prepared to manage these cases and prevent further transmission.

Cenciarelli pointed out that vaccine should only be offered to people at risk of infection, those with severe illness, and those traveling to areas where transmission is likely and based on individual risk assessment.

- 10 deaths in 2022

Marc-Alain Widdowson, World Health Organization (WHO) Europe officer, who also attended the seminar, said that a total of 27,000 cases were found on the continent in the summer of 2022 and 10 deaths were recorded.

Widdowson stated that the WHO believes that Europe can protect itself from the virus.

Last week, the WHO and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a public health emergency of international and continental concern.

According to the latest Africa CDC figures, as many as 17, 541 mpox cases and 517 deaths have so far been reported from 13 African countries.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicenter of the current outbreak, accounts for 96% of all cases and 97% of all deaths reported in 2024.

Congo has recorded 16,700 confirmed or suspected cases of mpox, including more than 570 deaths.

South Africa recorded 24 confirmed cases, including three deaths, and Cameroon five confirmed cases, including two deaths. Burundi has over 100 cases, while Nigeria has 39, Liberia has five, Rwanda has four, Ivory Coast and Uganda have two each, and Kenya has one confirmed case.

“It's not recommended for mass vaccination; that's very important. It really needs to be targeted vaccination where the virus is transmitting,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told Anadolu in an exclusive interview.

Noting that the rapid spread of the virus has captured global attention, she said the mpox virus has two genetic types: Clade 1 and Clade 2.

Harris expressed concern over the new strain of the virus, Clade 1b, which emerged last year, saying: “It's this one that we're worried about because it transmits very rapidly. It's also got quite a high death rate, especially among children.”

Stressing that one of the main concerns is the virus' rapid spread, she said the virus caused more cases in 2024 than in 2023 and that the past year had already seen more mpox cases than previously.

She went on to say that while the number of mpox cases increased in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, it has spread to Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya as well.

“We are seeing a higher fatality rate. It's around 3% and in really vulnerable groups, like small children. It's higher than that. We're particularly concerned about the effects on small children. Now it's important to understand that the populations that it's been spreading through rapidly are people who have been displaced by conflict. They're in a very precarious situation,” she said.

Pointing out that people with smallpox and HIV infections are more likely to experience a more severe form of the mpox virus, Harris said they are at a higher risk of death.

She noted that there is no specific treatment for the mpox virus and no antiviral drug to combat it, but that symptomatic treatment is effective.

The WHO spokeswoman said people who contract the disease will develop skin rashes, emphasizing the need for treatment to prevent other infections.

She suggested that those infected with the mpox virus will experience fevers and require antipyretic and pain-relieving medications.

She underscored the importance of patients receiving medical treatment and being able to isolate themselves during this process.

- No need for lockdown due to outbreak

Noting that the vaccines developed for smallpox are effective against mpox, Harris said: “They are recommended for people who are known to have been exposed. It's recommended they get it within four days of exposure to somebody known to have mpox.

“The other group that should get vaccination (is) health workers in areas where there's an ongoing pandemic, to protect them. There are some other groups that (are) at greater risk.”

Northern Europe, the US, and Japan have good resources for vaccine stocks, she said, adding that they are currently working closely with countries that have stocks and manufacturers to increase production and ensure that these stocks reach the areas where they are needed.

She said mpox is an active virus that can be easily stopped, as long as those suffering are identified, good contact with them is maintained, and isolation measures are implemented.

She asserted that there is no need for a lockdown due to the outbreak, but that good surveillance to determine who is sick and good laboratory diagnostics are needed.

Advising people not to worry as if they are facing a situation similar to COVID-19, Harris underlined that the virus is different and spreads in different ways.

“COVID-19 spread primarily through the air. This one spread primarily through very close physical contact. Stopping all the things that you do for the physical contact that is actually easier than when you've got something that's spreading through the air,” she said.

“However, we don't want this to spread around the world and become a pandemic, because, again, it will put pressure on health systems. That is the reason for calling a public health emergency of international concern to prevent a pandemic.

“Of course, is why we have the pandemic treaty that we're trying to finish and get agreed so again. Whenever we have a situation like that, we have systems that can kick in very quickly and stop a threat from becoming a pandemic,” she added.

Harris pointed out that Pakistan and Sweden have reported mpox cases, highlighting the importance of these two countries detecting and reporting cases quickly.

She also highlighted the importance of countries reporting the cases transparently, as this transparency contributes to the fight against the disease.

Sweden early Thursday reported the first case of the more contagious variant of mpox outside of Africa, just a day after the WHO declared the infectious viral disease a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern."

"As we noted earlier, it was only a matter of time before mpox clade I – which appears to be more severe than clade II - was detected in other @WHO Regions, given our interconnected world," Hans Kluge warned on X.

Recalling the mpox case that Swedish authorities confirmed, he said the infected person is being treated for symptoms and that standard public health measures, including patient isolation and contact tracing, are being implemented.

"Once again, WHO/Europe urges all 53 of our Member States across Europe and Central Asia to enhance surveillance to detect mpox, issue sound public health advice, and strengthen access to vaccines and antivirals," Kluge added.

Since the beginning of 2024, over a dozen African countries have reported the disease, which is transmitted through close contact, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for more than 90% of reported cases.

According to the WHO, mpox causes rashes and flu-like symptoms.

“In 2024, no cases of Mpox disease, particularly observed on the African continent, have been detected in Türkiye,” the country's Health Ministry said in a statement posted on X.

According to the ministry, there is currently no need for additional restrictions or measures in the country.

The ministry is carrying out the necessary work, and the process is being closely monitored, it added.

The announcement came after the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the mpox situation a “public health emergency of international concern.”

Since the beginning of 2024, over a dozen African countries have reported the disease, which is transmitted through close contact, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for more than 90% of reported cases.

According to the WHO, mpox causes rashes and flu-like symptoms.

According to a statement from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), there were 170 cases of cholera reported in the country between July 15 and 21, with three deaths attributed to the outbreak during that period.

The statement noted that since January, there have been 4,809 reported cases of cholera in Nigeria.

The statement also mentioned that as part of the cholera response, medical supplies for case management, infection prevention and control have been distributed to all health centers across the country.

A national emergency was declared in Nigeria on June 26 due to the cholera outbreak.

Last year, the country saw more than 3,000 cases of cholera with more than 100 deaths.

Cholera, an infection of the intestines caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and transmitted through contaminated food and water, leads to diarrhea and significant dehydration which can be fatal if left untreated.

In Nigeria, the lack of clean water and inadequate medical intervention contribute to the increased risk of disease and death. The country also frequently faces outbreaks of other diseases such as malaria, polio, typhoid and monkeypox.

The country's National Police Agency recorded that 19,039 people went missing, which is up 330 from 2022.

It is the largest since the police began compiling data in 2012, the public broadcaster NHK reported.

Of all missing persons, police found 18,175 people alive, while 502 were confirmed dead.

Some 250 were still missing at the end of last year.

The central Hyogo province reported the highest number of such cases at 2,094, while the Osaka province recorded 2,016 and Saitama 1,912.

The study, published in the journal Brain, suggests several potential treatments, including brain stimulation and targeted psychotherapy.

Schizophrenia, a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by multiple symptoms, affects up to 1% of the population.

One of the most common symptoms, and one for which there is no treatment, is apathy and lack of motivation, according to the study.

It compared neural activation during a reward-based game, in a study carried out by a team from the University of Geneva and the University Hospitals of Geneva.

They collaborated with researchers from the non-governmental group Charite Berlin, deciphering the neural bases of this schizophrenia.

The brains of people who have schizophrenia are unable to discriminate between different levels of reward in a sufficiently subtle way, hampering their motivation to undertake everyday tasks, it said.

The scientists enrolled 152 volunteers – 86 people who have schizophrenia and 66 controls of similar age and gender – to play a reward game in an MRI scanner to observe the activation of their brain regions.

- Lack of motivation

"Lack of motivation is at the root of the difficulties encountered by people suffering from schizophrenia in pursuing their studies, holding down a job, or engaging in social contacts," said Geneva Hospitals and University psychiatry professor Stefan Kaiser.

When discussing schizophrenia, people first think of hallucinatory or delusional symptoms, such as ideas of persecution.

However, the study found that apathy and lack of motivation are less visible and are just as burdensome in everyday life.

"Furthermore, the antipsychotics prescribed for hallucinatory phenomena and delusions have no effect on motivation, for which there is currently no effective treatment," said Kaiser.

The experiment took place in three stages: an assessment of motivation in different contexts, an initial game session, and, three months later, a second session identical to the first to measure the stability of the cerebral response over time.

By deciphering the neural response to a possible reward in people who have schizophrenia, the team suggested an origin to the lack of motivation, one of the symptoms of the illness.

According to the researchers, the results open several therapeutic avenues that precisely target the neuronal activation defect.

"For example, psychotherapy targeting the perception of reward and pleasure to reinforce motivation to engage in social behavior, or the use of non-invasive brain stimulation, a technique already used to treat depression" could be used, explained researcher Mariia Kaliuzhna.

"However, these techniques are complex and must be validated in clinical trials before any clinical implementation,” she added.

Q fever, caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii that infects goats, sheep, and cows, was detected in a government breeding station in Marinduque. Results of confirmatory tests came out Wednesday, June 19.

The BAI said it has already depopulated more than five dozen goats imported from the US, as well as other animals in the Marinduque facility.

Humans can get infected from Q fever “by breathing in dust that has been contaminated by infected animal feces, urine, milk, and birth products,” according to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Manila has temporarily banned the importation of goats from the US.

The BAI assured the public that they were “conducting extensive surveillance” and procuring additional polymerase chain reaction or PCR reagents for testing of suspected cases.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of both animals and humans,” Christian Daquigan, chief of BAI National Veterinary Quarantine Services Division, said in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary actions to control the cases.”

The new center is of great importance for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases in children from newborns to adolescence, according to a statement from the hospital.

Medipol Mega University Hospital Ophthalmologist Sevil Karaman pointed out in the statement that myopia, also known as nearsightedness, which is an increasingly prevalent issue worldwide, has shown a significant increase especially among children, young people and even adults.

Karaman emphasized that families should be cautious of myopia risk when children frequently rub their eyes, have headaches, or show signs of eye fatigue.

She noted that as the first pediatric eye and myopia center in Türkiye, they approach children's eye health with special attention.

"Early diagnosis and treatment are of great importance, especially for common and rapidly progressing eye problems like myopia. In our center, we offer the most accurate and effective treatment methods with devices specifically designed for children.

"Regular check-ups and early interventions in myopia treatment are crucial for protecting your children's future vision health. This center, which focuses on children's eye health, provides a health care service that families can trust from birth onwards. Do not neglect regular check-ups for your children's eye health," she added.

According to the latest available data, 56,634 measles cases and four deaths were officially reported across 45 out of 53 countries in the WHO European Region during the first three months of 2024.

Throughout 2023, 61,070 cases and 13 deaths were reported by 41 countries.

The effect of measles is devastating on children's health, with young children most at risk of severe complications, the world health body warned.

“Even one case of measles should be an urgent call to action,” said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO's regional director for Europe.

“No one should suffer the consequences of this devastating but easily preventable disease,” he added.

High rates of hospitalization and long-lasting weakening of children's immune systems make children more vulnerable to other infectious diseases.

Over half of those who contracted measles in the WHO European Region in 2023 were hospitalized, demonstrating the severe burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems.

Kluge applauded every country that has accelerated their efforts to interrupt transmission through catch-up vaccination.

- Call for action

“I urge all countries to take immediate action, even where overall immunization coverage is high, to vaccinate the vulnerable, close the immunity gaps, and thereby prevent the virus from taking hold in any community,” said the WHO regional head.

Nearly half of the reported cases in 2023 occurred among children under five years of age, reflecting an accumulation of children who missed routine vaccinations against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the WHO.

The tendency was linked to a slow recovery in vaccination coverage in 2021 and 2022.

“An increase in measles cases is a clear sign of a breakdown in immunization coverage,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF regional director for Europe and Central Asia.

“As cases of measles continue to surge, we need urgent government action to both strengthen health systems and implement effective public health measures to secure protection for all children from this dangerous but preventable disease,” she said.

More than three-quarters of children under five who contracted measles in 2023 had not received any measles vaccination doses.

Around 99% of these children did not receive two doses of measles-containing vaccine, which confers the required protection.

Measles cases are also rising globally.

In 2023, there were over 300,000 cases of measles worldwide, and the numbers reported so far in 2024 indicate that the total for the year will match or exceed the total in 2023.

The WHO said those countries currently experiencing outbreaks need to continue their efforts to vaccinate all susceptible individuals.

They need to intensify case finding and contact tracing and use epidemiological data to identify gaps in vaccination coverage so that the programs can protect affected communities and prevent future outbreaks.

UNICEF and WHO said they, along with other regional and global partners, will continue to support such efforts by countries.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It is spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to two hours.

This is the world's first liver xenotransplantation surgery of a living human and will become "one of the most significant breakthroughs in the medical field,” Global Times reported, citing a statement from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.

The surgery was conducted by Professor Sun Beicheng's team at the First Affiliated Hospital on May 17.

Seven days after the surgery, the patient can move freely without acute or hyperacute rejection reactions. There are no abnormalities in the coagulation system, and liver function has returned to normal.

During the surgery, the tumor in the patient's right liver was resected. It was confirmed that the remaining left liver lobe was insufficient to meet the liver function needs of the patient.

Scientists transplanted the liver from a gene-edited pig into the right liver fossa of the patient. The surgery proceeded well, and bile secretion began immediately.

Dr. Kate O'Brien, the WHO's director of immunization, vaccines and biologicals, spoke at a press conference of the organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, known as SAGE.

"I think we do have to acknowledge the cholera outbreaks that are ongoing are deeply linked to climate change in emergency situations, conflict situations, and we have raised the alarm on cholera," said O'Brien.

"It's not only about vaccines; certainly it's not the first line of defense for cholera. Cholera is a disease around clean water and clean sanitation. And vaccines are a method to prevent disease when it's around."

O'Brien also said the world was currently gearing up for measles outbreaks.

"With outbreaks going on, climate change, populations on the move and humanitarian crises, the prevention of disease through immunization couldn't be more important than it is now," she said.

She said immunization programs have shown that resilience to diseases is at the heart of responding to new pathogens, "in particular pathogens like we've all just experienced, the COVID disease."

She said the SAGE group had recently previewed new tuberculosis vaccines and several TB vaccines are in the pipeline to prevent adolescent and adult disease.

"TB is one of the most impactful diseases that takes the lives of people around the world. Over 1.3 million people died of tuberculosis in 2022, with over 10 million falling ill from tuberculosis."

She also said the biggest impediment to access to vaccines is not disinformation, which was prevalent at the height of COVID, but the availability of such medicines in some areas.

"I think we saw in a very poignant way in the COVID pandemic that the availability of vaccines and access to vaccines alone is not sufficient. There really does need to be community demand, family demand and individual demand for the vaccines so that people go and get what is available to them.

"And over the past, as you well know, during the COVID pandemic, there was a really impressive scaling of the amount of misinformation and frankly just overwhelming amounts of information, which we refer to as an ‘infodemic,'" she added.

She said some of that information was incorrect, either unintentionally incorrect or intentionally, or misinformation.

"The primary reason people don't get vaccinated, however, is not that.

"For many people, the hours of clinics that are open, the distances that have to be traveled, and potentially, the quality of the services are just insufficient for them to actually get the vaccines that are on offer."

In a country emerging from decades of war and turmoil, women and children are among those particularly impacted by biting food insecurity, according to the UN's World Food Program (WFP).

“Some of the most affected by the hunger crisis at the moment are women and girls,” Philippe Kropf, WFP's head of communications in Afghanistan, told Anadolu.

Currently, a third of the Afghan population, or nearly 16 million people, are going hungry, and every province is at crisis levels of food insecurity, or higher, according to the UN agency.

“We have 15.8 million people in acute food insecurity, which includes 3.5 million people facing emergency levels of food insecurity,” Kropf said.

UN figures paint a grim picture for women and girls, with an estimated 1 million malnourished, pregnant and breastfeeding women in Afghanistan in 2023.

Around 2 million girls and boys under the age of 5 were facing moderate acute malnutrition, and nearly 860,000 girls and boys under 5 had severe acute malnutrition.

“Severe acute malnutrition is one of the worst cases, where children do, unfortunately, die regularly,” said Kropf.

- Crisis of access

One stark difference when comparing Afghanistan to other countries grappling with food crises is the level of availability.

In Afghanistan, according to the WFP, food is available in most parts of the country, even in the smaller remote districts.

The challenge is that families, including, and in most cases, women and girls, cannot access it because they do not have the money to buy it.

“Afghanistan is a crisis where the most vulnerable women and children cannot access the food that is on the market,” Kropf explained.

Curbs imposed on women's employment have severely impacted households where women are the main providers.

Many of these are women and widows who are currently not able to go out to work, he said.

“They are not salaried anymore. They cannot find work outside of their homes and it is increasingly difficult for them to buy the food, to buy the basic needs,” said Kropf.

More children are being admitted to hospitals and clinics for malnutrition, with beds fully occupied in some areas, he added.

He cited testimonies of women who have been deprived of the chance to earn an income, or cases where their husbands have moved to neighboring countries for work but are unable to send money to their families.

“Mothers here are relying a lot on borrowing food and money, both from shopkeepers and also from relatives,” said the WFP official.

“They are at the brink and they have very few opportunities left to look after themselves and their children.”

- Food security and funding cuts

In August 2021, the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.

The food security situation has improved since then, said Kropf, with donor investments and sustained large-scale food assistance helping pull back millions of people from the brink.

Last year, the harvest was also a bit better, he added.

“It was the first on-average harvest in several years. So, we do see a slight improvement of the food security situation, but we are at risk of losing all the gains,” he warned.

“We are now in a situation where we're kind of stabilized. The economy is in a better state than many people thought two years ago, (but) we're still not in a good state.”

A major issue is that, in 2023, the WFP had a massive funding shortfall that forced it to drop around 10 million people from assistance programs in Afghanistan.

These included 1.4 million women and children who did not receive any specialized food anymore to prevent and treat malnutrition, said Kropf, adding that the agency is still facing a “big funding crisis.”

This is not a case of “playing one humanitarian crisis against the other,” he asserted, but the number of crises around the globe have left “many more people in need of emergency food assistance.”

“There are, of course, crises that are more in the headlines. So, we're calling on all our partners and all our donors not to forget about the Afghan girls, boys, women and men who need assistance,” he said.

In previous comments on the aid cuts, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan's economic situation was “normal” but impacted by the “40 years of war in the country.”

“The countries that help us should increase their cooperation. We appreciate their help and we want more help from them,” he told local broadcaster Tolo News.

- Impact of climate change

Afghanistan's food crisis is also exacerbated by the fact that it is “one of the countries most affected by the climate crisis,” Kropf pointed out.

Since 2018, Afghanistan has been “in drought or in drought-like conditions,” he said, adding that past harvests have not been sufficient to feed the country.

This winter season was also “very much delayed, very late,” so the lack of snow means that “it's very well possible that Afghanistan is going into another year of drought-like conditions,” said Kropf.

He said erratic weather patterns fluctuating between drought and floods are taking a massive toll on agriculture.

This issue was also raised by an Economy Ministry official in comments to Tolo News.

“Climate change and droughts have affected the agriculture sector and social security to some extent,” said Abdul Rahmad Habib, a ministry spokesman, stressing that “dealing with climate change” is a key government priority.

At the moment, Kropf said people in Afghanistan are in a place where they “cannot prepare, cannot predict” the weather patterns.

“Just a few weeks back … hundreds of animals, livestock, sheep, goat, donkeys, cows died in the snow because shepherds brought them out far into the desert to find food, suspecting that the winter is over,” he said.

“Suddenly, winter came with meters of snow and hundreds of livestock perished. So, these are the long-term challenges that we are seeing in Afghanistan.”

A clinical research center at the Gazi University Medical School also pioneered the first non-surgical brain gene therapy method for GM1 Gangliosidosis, which poses a life-threatening risk to children.

Dr. Fatih Ezgu, the head of the Department of Pediatric Genetics and deputy director of the clinical research center, told Anadolu that the research conducted at the center became operational approximately one year ago.

Ezgu emphasized that the center focuses on Türkiye's first advanced treatment methods and drug development studies, especially for childhood genetic diseases that require new and permanent treatments.

He mentioned that the center is currently conducting over 20 clinical trials involving various treatments.

Gene therapy applications, which can only be performed in a few qualified centers worldwide, have also been initiated in accordance with international approvals, Ezgu noted.

He highlighted three ongoing clinical trials for phenylketonuria (PKU), with the latest aiming for a "definitive, permanent" treatment via gene therapy.

- The only center in world

Ezgu emphasized the "importance" of a special diet for PKU to prevent mental retardation and permanent brain damage in children.

He mentioned that the gene therapy research for PKU, aiming for a permanent cure, has begun worldwide.

Stressing that the drug, developed in another country, has "successfully" completed the lab and animal trials, he said the human trial is the next stage.

"Our center was selected to perform the world's first gene therapy application on phenylketonuria patients due to its ability to meet the criteria established in the research," he said.

"We began this study as the only center in the world with an international status, and two to three more centers may join in the future.

"This is not only important for patients in our country but also for many patients worldwide. We have successfully applied gene therapy to two phenylketonuria patients, and the third patient will be treated soon. We will observe the results together in the coming days," he added.

He also said the Phase 1 gene therapy trials involve three patient groups receiving different doses and that international doctors will evaluate the results, guiding the next phase.

- 2 patients receive non-surgical brain gene therapy

Ezgu said they have initiated a clinical study for a treatment method, the third in the world and the first in Türkiye, for GM1 Gangliosidosis -- a type of enzyme deficiency disorder that can cause severe damage to the brain and other organs, and can result in death.

"Gene therapy has been developed by a foreign sponsor, and three centers, including ours, have been selected to apply it worldwide," he stressed.

"We administer the treatment directly into the brain, not through the vein, using a needle under tomography guidance," Ezgu added.

Ezgu noted that this method, which is very new worldwide, can only be applied by a limited number of teams.

The team at Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Hospital has received training in this area in the US.

- Local gene therapy

Ezgu highlighted two clinical studies that could offer insights into treating various genetic diseases, mentioning plans to advance a drug developed in their lab alongside those developed abroad.

He said they will commence two gene therapy studies for urea cycle disorders and lysosomal diseases.

He pointed out efforts to produce a local gene therapy drug for another disease in their laboratory, with the potential for clinical trials in the future.

Ezgu noted that Phase 1 clinical trials involve a limited number of patients initially, with more participants to be added in later stages.

For the gene therapy study, patients are accepted based on the evaluation of around 20 different criteria, including age.

He said: "Our goal is for these studies to be successful and for treatments to be developed in a way that all patients can use them. I would like to emphasize that all our patients can look to the future with hope. Of course, they will have to be patient for a while."

Ezgu noted the significant support from Türkiye's Health Ministry, the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, as well as the country's health institutes for these studies.

He also highlighted the collaboration with various departments such as pediatric neurosurgery, anesthesia, otolaryngology, and radiology.

Ezgu added that the clinical research at the center is carried out by a professional team dedicated to ensuring that patients receive better healthcare in the future.