Global Health

News Brief: Surfside Condo Collapse, Facebook's Reprieve, Delta Variant

5:43am June 29, 2021

Rescue efforts continue at a collapsed condominium building in Florida. A judge dismisses two antitrust complaints against Facebook. COVID-19 cases surge in many, poorly vaccinated parts of the world.

Kenya Escaped The Worst Health Effects Of COVID-19 — But Got Hit Hard In Other Ways

7:45pm June 28, 2021

by Eyder Peralta

Kenya has so far escaped the worst health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the social and economic effects have cut deep.

A computer-enhanced image of the HIV virus.

Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

6:50pm June 28, 2021

by Nurith Aizenman

Vaccines may not be as effective for those who are immuno-compromised. Protecting them needs to be made a top priority, says researchers — to keep them safe and to slow the emergence of variants.

Students work on a classroom exercise at a school in Kibera, a poor neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya.

How Do You Help Girls Thrive In School? There's A Surprising Answer

9:33pm June 27, 2021

by Joanne Lu

A new study finds that girl-centric programs may not be the only effective way to boost girls' school performance in low-income countries.

Terence Crowster, a development worker who has been an avid reader since he was young, solicited donations to start the Hot-Spot Library in Scottsville, Cape Town, so kids would have a safe place to connect with books.

PHOTOS: Improvised Library Brings Joy Of Books To Kids Living In Gang Territory

4:15pm June 27, 2021

by Tommy Trenchard

It started with a guy who had a dream – bringing books to kids in a slum – and two used shipping containers. It's the Hot-Spot Library of Cape Town, South Africa.

A sign urges people to get tested for a COVID-19 variant in Blackburn, England. The U.K. is experiencing a surge in the delta variant, which was first identified in India.

Coronavirus FAQ: I've Been Vaccinated. Do I Need To Worry About Variants?

12:00pm June 25, 2021

Here's what we know about the effectiveness of vaccines for variants of concerns, notably the delta variant, first identified in India and now responsible for more than 20% of new U.S. cases.

People line up in their cars to get tested for COVID-19 at a pop-up testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Friday. Parts of Sydney will go into lockdown late Friday because of a growing coronavirus outbreak in Australia's largest city.

New COVID-19 Outbreaks Are Driving Some Places Back Under Lockdown And Behind Masks

8:47am June 25, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

Health officials around the world have announced renewed restrictions this week as they see clusters of outbreaks from the delta variant of the coronavirus.

This photomicrograph depicts Leishmania donovani parasites contained within a canine bone marrow cell. One of the more dangerous of 20 different species of Leishmania, L. donovani is endemic to parts of India, Africa, and South-West Asia.

Flesh-Eating Parasites May Be Expanding Their Range As Climate Heats Up

5:00am June 25, 2021

by Agostino Petroni

Scientists caution that as the planet warms, more Americans could be exposed to disfiguring varieties of the Leishmania parasite. Overtreatment can be a problem, too, experts warn.

An oxygen cylinder plant in Kampala, Uganda. The Ugandan army has started producing oxygen for state-run hospitals to ease the burden existing plants as COVID-19 cases — and demand for oxygen for severe illness — keep rising.

Health & Safety

Africa Is Running Out Of Oxygen

7:41am June 24, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

As COVID surges, so does demand for oxygen. And oxygen manufacturing plants simply can't keep up. That's bad news not only for severely ill COVID-19 patients but others in need, including newborns.

India Says New 'Delta Plus' Coronavirus Variant May Be More Transmissible

7:07pm June 23, 2021

by Lauren Frayer

India has detected over 40 cases of a new coronavirus variant called "Delta Plus," which may be more transmissible and resistant to COVID-19 treatments.