Global Health Press

CDC recommends new vaccine to help protect babies against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness after birth

Today, CDC recommended the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant people to protect their newborn from severe RSV illness. RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for U.S. infants...

Global Health Cast Edition 50

Fiftieth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Global Health Cast website: 02:30 Intelligence and timing of COVID boosters 06:30 Legionellosis...

Vaccine hesitancy among the top barriers to hepatitis eradication

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global health concern, with nearly 300 million individuals chronically infected worldwide. To combat this public health challenge, the World Health...

Rapid acting, oral vaccines are coming soon

A new paper in Biology Methods and Protocols, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that researchers studying SARS-CoV-2 may have developed new methods to administer vaccines orally, which would be...

Global Health Cast Edition 49

Forty-ninth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) incidence and climate factors 04:15 Biological explanation...

HIV: two autopsies reveal where the virus hides

A small number of HIV-infected cells remain in the tissues of people living with the virus and who are undergoing antiretroviral therapy. These viral reservoirs, real obstacles to the cure of HIV, have long...

Global Health Cast – COVID-19 Update on Virology

Part 3 of the series on COVID-19 presented by Prof. Bruno Lina, Prof. Catherine Weil-Olivier, and Prof. Joe Schmitt. 00:00 Introduction 02:15 Currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants globally 03:20 The...

How to inactivate common cold viruses

There is something we can all do to prevent the common cold virus RSV from spreading: disinfecting hands and surfaces as well as gargling with mouthwash when symptoms occur. Every year, respiratory syncytial...

Using ChatGPT to address vaccine hesitancy: a promising tool for guiding users to scientific information?

In a recent study published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, a group of researchers assessed Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)’s ability to address the 50 most common...

Global Health Cast Edition 48

Forty-eighth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Blood biomarkers predicted cognition 6 and 12 months post COVID 03:00 MERS-CoV cases 05:00...

Global Health Cast Edition 47

Forty-seventh Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 COVID Omicron death risk compared to flu 03:00 Polio emergency 06:00 Respiratory syncytial...

COVID-19 vaccine benefits pregnant mother and unborn baby: Study

Getting the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine or booster during pregnancy can be beneficial for pregnant women and their babies, a new study found. The study found that the vaccine given to the mother did transfer to the...

FDA approves first maternal vaccine aimed at preventing RSV in infants

The FDA has approved the first vaccine for use in pregnant individuals to prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD as a result of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants, from birth...

Herpes virus: Once infected – always infected

Herpes viruses lie dormant in the body and can be reactivated by certain circumstances. The herpes virus HCMV is particularly widespread, yet despite its impact, well-tolerated and effective antiviral drugs or...

Global Health Cast – Long COVID

Part 2 of the series on COVID-19 presented by Prof. Schmitt, Prof. Weil-Olivier, and Prof. Altmann. 00:00 Introduction 02:20 How common is long COVID 03:25 Is long COVID a major public health problem 04:52...

Novel multi-epitope subunit vaccine induces robust immune response against Epstein-Barr virus

Scientists from Australia and the USA have developed a lymph node-targeted multi-epitope subunit vaccine that induces strong humoral and cellular immune responses against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in mice. The...

COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe cases in children

COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe cases of the disease in children and adolescents, according to a review. However, with most children now having caught the SARS-CoV-2 virus and building up a...

Global Health Cast Edition 46

Forty-sixth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:54 EG.5 variant 02:34 What to do when you catch COVID-19 05:58 Unusual dengue surge in Bangladesh...

New study reveals Covid vaccine given during pregnancy has ‘transferred’ effect on child

Antibodies generated by vaccination are able to cross the placenta and help shield newborns in the vulnerable first months of their lives. Both mother and child benefit when pregnant women are given a COVID-19...

What to know about the EG.5 variant

The new variant is a reminder that COVID-19 still poses a risk to public health. The latest COVID-19 variant to make headlines, EG.5, is now the most prevalent variant in the U.S.—accounting for more than 17%...

Global Health Cast Edition 45

Forty-fifth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:52 COVID-19 cases update 03:37 How long do COVID-19 symptoms last 05:34 Who should take Paxlovid...

Groundbreaking Epstein-Barr virus vaccine may prevent MS

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking vaccine that generates two types of immunity against the Epstein-Barr virus, a virus that almost all of us carry and which has been found to be a primary cause of...

Want to change attitudes on vaccination? Try a little empathy

Even among groups with entrenched attitudes to vaccination, GW researchers showed that an empathetic social media approach and constructive information sharing can foster change. Amid ongoing public scrutiny...

Invention enables early magnetic levitation

Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of British Columbia have invented a system that can quickly and inexpensively detect airborne viruses using the same technology that enables high...

Three doses of COVID-19 vaccine leads to catch-up antibody responses among the particularly vulnerable

Even vulnerable people, who are at risk of severe Covid-19, achieved good antibody levels after three doses of mRNA vaccine. This is shown by a study from the University of Gothenburg on patients having...

Similar numbers say deliberately published false information is main reason for public confusion about vaccinations

Nine out of 10 U.S. academic scientists surveyed believe scientists have a part to play in reducing vaccine hesitancy among the public, a research team from Arizona State University’s Center for Science...

Global Health Cast – Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence: What Science Tells Us

Part 1 of the series on COVID-19 presented by Prof. Schmitt, Prof. Weil-Olivier, and Dr. Karafillakis. 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Attitude changes to COVID-19 during the pandemic 09:46 Is there an inverse...

Scientists develop breath test that rapidly detects COVID-19 virus

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a breath test that quickly identifies those who are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. The device requires only one or two breaths and...

AI is leveling up the fight against infectious diseases

Artificial intelligence is a new addition to the infectious disease researcher’s toolbox. Yet in merely half a decade, AI has accelerated progress on some of the most urgent issues in medical science and...

Global Health Cast Edition 44

Forty-fourth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:35 Dengue epidemiology 01:00 Transmission between mosquitoes and humans 01:58 Dengue risk by...

Age and immunity: study highlights challenges and opportunities for vaccine protection

International scientists have evaluated molecular mechanisms responsible for heterogeneous responses to influenza vaccination among older adults. They have identified potential immunological mediators that...

Global Health Cast Edition 43

Forty-third Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:35 Dengue phases 01:30 Clinical signs of dengue fever 02:25 Antibody disease enhancement 03:05...

Machine versus virus: Deploying artificial intelligence against future pandemics

How do you design a vaccine against a virus not yet known to man? Doing so could help arm us against future pandemics, by rapidly compressing the time it takes to develop protective vaccines. Most vaccines...

Global Health Cast Edition 42

Forty-second Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:35 Dengue definition 02:18 Dengue history 03:55 Flavivirus 05:00 Global distribution of...

Researchers craft ‘origami DNA’ to control virus assembly

The global team behind the research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, developed a way to direct the assembly of virus capsids – the protein shell of viruses – at physiological conditions in a precise and...

These factors increase the risk of “long COVID” in children

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, also known as post-COVID-19 conditions or long COVID, are a growing cause for concern. Beating COVID-19 is unfortunately no longer limited to surviving the infection, as...

EMA aims to develop guideline for mRNA vaccines

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has created a concept paper that addresses the need to establish a guideline on the quality aspects of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, emphasizing the number of clinical...

Genetic screen reveals protein primed to stop COVID-19 virus

When activated, a protein found in cells that line the body’s tissues can inhibit viral spread — offering the potential for a new defense against COVID-19. Vaccines that spur the creation of antibodies...

Global Health Cast Edition 41

Forty-first Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Topics covered 01:17 Global COVID-19 overview 07:01 Blood grouping and SARS-CoV-2 11:22 Most...

Insights from the first technical meeting of the Adult Immunization Board: Assessing the health burden of vaccine-preventable infections in European adults

After a successful kick-off meeting in November 2022, the AIB had its first technical meeting entitled: Assessing the health burden of vaccine-preventable infections in European Adults: challenges and...

International team develops new vaccine distribution model

Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell’s Ithaca campus, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and San Jose State University in California have developed a model for optimizing the dispensing...

Global Health Cast – Dengue Vaccines

Part 3 of the Global Health Cast on Dengue presented by Prof. Schmitt and Prof. Schwarz. 00:00 Introduction 02:10 TAK-003 05:35 Study sites for vaccine trials (TIDES) 06:45 Study endpoint design 12:55 Long...

Vaccination in pregnancy greatly reduces risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, and protects babies up to 6 months after birth

From the early days of the pandemic, it has been evident that a COVID-19 infection in pregnancy can be serious. Hundreds of studies from around the world have consistently shown that a COVID-19 infection in...

New COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is safe and highly immunogenic as a heterologous booster: Study

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in more than 600 million confirmed cases and 6.5 million deaths worldwide. mRNA-based vaccines have...

No direct evidence COVID started in Wuhan lab, US intelligence report says

U.S. intelligence agencies found no direct evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic stemmed from an incident at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. The four-page report by the Office of the Director of...

Global Health Cast – Dengue: Clinical Aspects

Part 2 of the Global Health Cast on Dengue presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Leong. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 How is dengue virus transmitted to humans 01:52 Aedes aegypti 02:52 Different strains of dengue...

Supporting vaccinations and strengthening health systems in 16 African countries

An EU-funded and WHO-implemented project helped health systems become more resilient and better prepared to tackle future epidemics of vaccine-preventable diseases. COVID-19 vaccination coverage is on the rise...

Global Health Cast – Dengue: a complex disease

Part 1 of the Global Health Cast on Dengue presented by Prof. Schmitt and Prof. Sáfadi. 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Global risk of dengue 06:02 Arboviral diseases in the Americas Region 08:32 Dengue Virus 09:46...

Yeast dust makes a cheap, fast virus test

Researchers from The University of Queensland have made a dust from baker’s yeast that can detect COVID-19 and could safeguard communities against future pandemics. The powdery ‘nanoprobes’ developed at UQ’s...

Scientists discover critical factors that determine the survival of airborne viruses

Critical insights into why airborne viruses lose their infectivity have been uncovered by scientists at the University of Bristol. The findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, reveal...

New ‘deadly virus’ due to climate change

Scientists in the UK have warned about a new ‘deadly virus’ which is ‘highly likely’ to arrive due to climate change. The UK government’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee was informed of the...

Malaria infection may be prevented by novel molecule

Malaria infection in humans, caused by unicellular parasites from the genus Plasmodium and transmitted via the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, is a major global health challenge. Researchers are...

New diagnostic platform uses nanotechnology and machine learning to identify infectious diseases quickly

Infectious diseases and respiratory infections in particular are a leading cause of global mortality. As such, there is an urgent need for rapid, large-scale diagnostic tools that can detect these diseases...

Gates Foundation renews collaboration with Beijing government and Tsinghua University on innovative therapies for infectious diseases prevalent in low- and middle-income countries

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University to support the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) in its...

COVID-19 human challenge study reveals more insights into how virus spreads

New analysis shows how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads from the nose to the air and surfaces in the immediate surroundings. The findings are the second batch of results to come from the COVID-19 Human Challenge...

No concerning side effects found in young children who received the COVID-19 vaccine

No serious side effects were found in children aged 5 years or younger who were given mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, according to a recent study published in Pediatrics. Researchers of the study examined the patient...

Encouraging first-in-human results for a promising HIV vaccine

In recent years, we’ve witnessed some truly inspiring progress in vaccine development. That includes the mRNA vaccines that were so critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first approved vaccine for...

The key to understanding Corona: The virus needs only a single door opener

Why is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus able to spread so efficiently? Various hypotheses are still circulating in the scientific community. A group of researchers from Würzburg has now found groundbreaking answers...

Global Health Cast Edition 40

Fortieth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 COVID-19, depressive, cognitive symptoms, brain inflammation 03:26 Cats transmit COVID-19 to each...

Global Health Cast SPECIAL 6: The European Health Data Space – Data Collection and Data Safety

Sixth SPECIAL Edition on The European Health Data Space of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Prof. Dipak Kalra.
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Drug Shortage – Call for Improved Access to Vital Drug against Invasive Fungal Infections

Scientists from Cologne criticize the severely limited availability of flucytosine, which requires urgent action by authorities and the pharmaceutical industry. Under the leadership of Professor Dr Oliver A...

Global Health Cast Edition 39

Thirty-ninth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:19 RSV-trials –overview 04:04 Pre-infection COVID vaccination linked to lower Long COVID odds...

Duke Health leads its first clinical trial testing a new universal flu vaccine

Duke Health is leading its first clinical trial under a large federal initiative to develop a new-generation flu vaccine. The phase 1 clinical trial, which launched last month, is testing the safety of a...

Deadly virus structures point toward new avenues for vaccine design

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in West Africa become infected with Lassa virus, which can cause Lassa fever and lead to severe illness, long-term side effects or death. There are currently no...

Needle-free vaccines could be available within five years, but investment is needed

Researchers have called for pilot manufacturing facilities to be constructed ‘at-risk’, to ensure this game-changing technology is ready for deployment before the next pandemic. Needle-free vaccines could...

WHO launches Global Infectious Disease Surveillance Network

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), a public health network to prevent and detect infectious disease threats before they become epidemics or...

Global Health Cast Edition 38

Thirty-eighth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:04 What to expect with the end of PHE for COVID 05:05 SARS-CoV-2 at the Huanan Seafood Market...

African scientists are working to pool data that decodes diseases – a giant step

Infectious disease outbreaks in African countries are, unfortunately, all too common. Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda; Marburg virus in Guinea or Equatorial Guinea; cholera in Malawi;...

Global Health Cast Edition 37

Thirty-seventh Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:04 COVID-19 global health emergency is OVER 03:10 COVID-19 epidemiology 10:24 Obstructive...

WHO declares end of COVID global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) ended the global emergency status for COVID-19 on 5 May, more than three years after its original declaration, and said countries should now manage the virus that killed...

MIT research team develops microneedle patch “printer” for vaccine delivery

In a research article published in Nature Biotechnology, a team from the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT details their journey in devising an exciting new methodology for delivering...

Two very different microbes immune to the same viruses?

In a study published in Nature Microbiology, Harvard researchers found evidence that viruses infecting microbes in the deep sea interact with a far more diverse set of hosts than previously thought. The...

Yale study reveals insights into post-vaccine heart inflammation cases

When new COVID-19 vaccines were first administered two years ago, public health officials found an increase in cases of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, particularly among young males who had...

Research illuminates ‘programmed cell death’ process induced by a common toxin

ASU professor and team find that arsenite induces cell death and could lead to over inflammation Cells are the building blocks of our body and many other organisms. But did you know that sometimes cells need...

Herpes study adds to understanding of viral reinfections, how to potentially prevent them

In the early days of the pandemic, there was hope that being infected once with the coronavirus would grant immunity against future infections. As we all know by now, that is not how things played out. Yet...

Global Health Cast Edition 36

Thirty-sixth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:05 COVID-19 update including variants 06:36 Why infectious diseases will increase in the future...

Global Health Cast Edition 35

Thirty-fifth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:58 COVID-19 update 08:03 RSVPreF OA: Efficacy and license 14:39 COVID19: Past and future of...

Over 30,000 virus “stowaways” discovered hiding in microbe genomes

The impressive feat of detective work has revealed thousands of sequences that have never been seen before. DNA sequences from over 30,000 previously unknown viruses have been discovered, thanks to a seriously...

Big data study debunks one of the most common fears surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations

A massive US-based study involving tens of thousands of military veterans has concluded there is a negligible risk of developing a blood clot as a result of a COVID-19 vaccine. While the results might do...

Global Health Cast Edition 34

Thirty-fourth Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:59 COVID-19 update 05:28 MPOX 06:58 RSV-vaccine efficacy in adults 13:23 Crimean-Congo...

Big data study refutes anti-vax blood clot claims about COVID-19 vaccines

A study led by UB researchers has confirmed that, contrary to claims by anti-vaccine proponents, COVID-19 vaccines pose only trivial risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), or blood clots. In addition, the study...

Nanomedicine: A multipronged approach to tackle infectious diseases

The burgeoning incidence of infectious diseases (IDs), especially with a surge in chronic infections, pandemic outbreaks, and possible emerging biothreats, pose a significant challenge to public health...

Global novel disease surveillance: Majority of countries lack preparedness

In a recent study posted to the Preprints with The Lancet / SSRN´s First Look* preprint server, researchers explored national surveillance for new diseases in different countries. Novel pathogen-induced...

How often should people get COVID boosters?

The CDC and FDA have decided that one updated COVID booster is enough for now, in contrast to recommendations from other countries and global health organizations Many people in the U.S. who are fully...

Organoids shown to speed glycoengineered vaccine development

Testing the efficacy of a vaccine candidate is typically a long process, with the immune response of an animal model taking around two months. A multi-institution team, led by Matt DeLisa, the William L. Lewis...

Global Health Cast Edition 33

Thirty-third Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:07 COVID-19 update 05:02 SARS-CoV-2 Variants 08:50 Most infectious diseases the WHO has...

Scientists create antibody ‘cocktail’ to fight deadly Lassa virus

Antibodies are a crucial ingredient in preventing infection for a wide variety of viruses. Scientists are frequently looking for new antibodies that could help fight viral infections. One deadly virus, the...

COVID-19 remained deadlier than flu this past season

COVID-19 remained deadlier than influenza this past season, although the difference in mortality shrunk compared with past years, according to a study comparing outcomes of patients hospitalized with the...

Study finds trash, household crowding increase risk for three dangerous, mosquito-borne illnesses in Kenya

With the risk of mosquito-borne disease expected to grow with climate change, a new study by Stanford researchers and their Kenyan colleagues sheds light on the factors that put communities at risk for these...

Immunomodulators boost vaccine response and reduce inflammation

Adjuvants—ingredients that help boost the immune response in vaccines—have been used in vaccines for decades. But inducing a stronger immune response can result in more unwanted side effects, like swelling at...

Deadly dengue virus hacks mosquito saliva to spread sickness

The saliva of mosquitoes infected with dengue viruses contains a substance that thwarts the human immune system and makes it easier for people to become infected with the potentially deadly viruses, new...

Global Health Cast Edition 32

Thirty-second Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 01:12 COVID-19 update 07:18 Roadmap for COVID-19 vaccination in the Omicron era 15:14 Long COVID...

A new rapid ‘glow-in-the-dark’ test for infectious diseases

Researchers from TU/e, Fontys Hogescholen and Rijnstate Ziekenhuis have developed a new bioluminescence-based sensor that can detect tiny amounts of viral or bacterial DNA/RNA in samples. PCR testing – the...

Poverty and infectious disease come together far too often — the solution could be data-driven

Infectious diseases are a problem everywhere — but more so in the world’s poorer countries. Every year, malaria, HIV and tuberculosis (TB) kill over 2.8 million people, and more than 1.7 billion people require...

Global Health Cast Edition 31

Thirty-first Edition of the Global Health Cast presented by Prof. Schmitt and Dr. Sanicas. 00:00 Introduction 00:55 COVID-19 update 03:08 Flu update 07:04 March 24 was World TB Day 11:13 Acute effects of...

Nasal injections could treat long-term COVID-19-related smell loss

In a trial led by Stanford Medicine researchers, more than half of patients with persistent smell loss saw improvement with injections of platelet-rich plasma. Early in the pandemic, when people with COVID-19...

Stanford researchers study causes of and treatments for long COVID

Time heals many wounds. But not all of them. Three years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially bestowed pandemic status on COVID-19. Now, much of the fear that accompanied that...

Chatbot systems using AI may feasibly provide access to information on infectious diseases

A recent study found that chatbot systems that used artificial intelligence (AI) could be valuable in providing access to current, accurate, and complete information about infectious diseases and vaccines...