As omicron spreads, vaccine inequity risks creating further variants
NPR's Ari Shapiro chats with Madhu Pai, a global health expert at McGill University, about the state of vaccine deliveries to Africa and the global south.
Global Health
The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters
How did this new strain of the novel coronavirus evolve? Researchers are investigating various possibilities. One leading theory involves ... just one person.
What the AIDS crisis can teach us about the COVID pandemic response
This is the second World AIDS Day during the coronavirus pandemic. Public health officials are calling on world leaders to do more to address the inequities at the root of both crises.
WHO member states will work on a global agreement to deal with future pandemics
The coronavirus outbreak exposed flaws in the global health system but also showed a willingness among countries to work together, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director-general, says.
African leaders condemn travel restrictions as omicron variant spreads globally
African nations are bristling at the restrictions imposed on them by rich countries — and say they are harmful to local economies and discriminate against countries in the region.
What we know about the omicron variant
The omicron variant of the not been found in the United States yet. Here's what's we known about it, how dangerous it's likely to be, and whether vaccines or new drugs will be effective against it.
Why some researchers think the omicron variant could be the most infectious one yet
Preliminary data about omicron suggests the variant became widespread across southern Africa in a very short period of time. Scientists say its many mutations may play a role in its transmissibility.
The omicron variant was in Europe a week before South Africa reported it
The rapidly spreading variant was identified in retests of samples that were taken on Nov. 19 and 23 in the Netherlands, according to a Dutch health agency.
Portugal may be the model to follow for how to live safely with the coronavirus
Portugal, where nearly everyone is vaccinated, is becoming a test case for living with the coronavirus — as a worrying new strain spreads worldwide.
The omicron variant may be the most infectious one yet
Scientists in South Africa say preliminary data suggests the omicron coronavirus variant is already widespread across southern Africa — and this happened in a very short period of time.