Latest news with #HealthSecurity
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Temperatures to rise ‘day by day' through the week, say Met Office
Temperatures across the UK are set to rise 'day by day' through the rest of the week with predicted highs 'in the low 30s', the Met Office said. The forecaster said highs of 26C to 28C can be expected in some of the hotter spots across central parts of the UK from Wednesday. By the end of the week, even the far north and west can expect hot temperatures 'in the high 20s and low 30s', a Met Office meteorologist said. It comes after a yellow heat health alert was issued for the southern half of England on Tuesday by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). It will be in place from 10am on Wednesday until 10am next Tuesday and covers London, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East Anglia, the South East and South West. A spokesperson for the Met Office said: 'The UK is set to experience a marked rise in temperatures midweek, with much of the country enjoying dry and sunny conditions. 'While the North West remains unsettled, elsewhere it will feel increasingly warm, even hot in places, particularly across southern and eastern regions.' Wednesday is set to be 'a largely dry day with sunny spells' – but patchy rain and drizzle is expected to persist across parts of north-west Scotland and possibly the north of Northern Ireland. Temperatures are however set to climb significantly compared to Tuesday, with a broad swathe of England and eastern Wales reaching between 24C and 26C. The highest temperatures are likely to be reached in the South West, where some places may see highs of 28C, the Met said. Eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland will also see a rise in temperatures, but will remain cloudy, limiting the day time heat. Met Office presenter and meteorologist, Aidan McGivern, said: 'There'll be sunny skies for the south and the east first thing Wednesday, but a lot of cloud elsewhere. 'It's mostly dry into the afternoon and it's turning warmer day by day. 'It's even warmer across northern areas as the cloud breaks up and fronts push further north.' By Thursday and Friday, temperatures are expected to settle across parts of eastern Wales and central, southern, and eastern England, the Met Office predicted. 'Actually, it's not the South East where we'll see the highest temperatures,' Mr McGivern said. 'It's more towards the north and the west. Certainly compared with what we'd normally expect at this time of year, the biggest anomalies compared with climate will be across the far north and west of the UK. 'And we're talking about widely, temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s. 'So yeah, increasingly warm, if not hot, in many places by the end of the week and into the weekend.' The UK saw its hottest day of the year so far when 34.7C was recorded at St James's Park in central London on July 1, while the capital also experienced the hottest start to Wimbledon on record. Provisional Met Office figures also showed England had its warmest June on record last month. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.
Zawya
17-06-2025
- Health
- Zawya
MOHAP strengthens cooperation with partners to implement a National Roadmap for Addressing Health Risks
Workshop to launch the 'National Policy for Combating Health Risks' and to establish the policy's executive framework. Coordination at all levels through building effective national partnerships and networks and international cooperation. His Excellency Al Olama: The policy's focus on good governance and institutional empowerment constitutes a fundamental pillar for establishing comprehensive national health security. UAE, Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention held a workshop titled "Launching the National Policy for Combating Health Risks in the UAE." The workshop was attended by broad participation from relevant stakeholders, including health authorities and other entities. The aim was to introduce its pillars following its approval by the UAE Cabinet. The workshop also discussed the framework of the executive plan emanating from the policy and enhanced coordination among all relevant partners to ensure integrated efforts related to combating health risks and to ensure the achievement of the policy's vision and objectives. This will contribute to adopting a multi-sectoral approach to health risk preparedness and response, meeting the aspirations of the UAE Centennial 2071 vision. Wide Participation The workshop was opened by His Excellency Dr. Salem Al Darmaki, Advisor to the Minister of Health and Prevention, with the participation of representatives from the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, the Presidential Court, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security, the General Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Health Services Corporation, the Emirates Drug Establishment, the Dubai Health Authority, the Sharjah Health Authority, Dubai Health, the United Arab Emirates University, and the Emirates Medical Association. Risk Response System The workshop focused on governance frameworks for combating health risks, including building and supporting social, financial, and administrative commitment; coordination at all levels through building effective national partnerships and networks and international cooperation; developing supportive policies and legislation; integrating health into all policies; and mechanisms for managing health risks at all stages, including: Prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery are achieved through monitoring the implementation of the National Framework for Health Risk Management, identifying, analyzing, assessing, and providing early warning of risks, as well as ensuring response and control of the health situation in cases of exposure to health risks and emergencies. Future Planning The workshop addressed strengthening sustainable basic health infrastructure and logistics, maintaining essential and vital health services during health emergencies, ensuring the availability of a sufficiently qualified health workforce, developing interventions for effective response to risk communication, addressing rumors, and providing and analyzing risk data and statistics for evidence-based decision-making. It also focused on strengthening research capacity, establishing systems, and managing innovation in the field of various health risks. It also identified the most important expected improvements in the health sector and beyond it, and developing a future planning process for health risk management. A Proactive Vision His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, emphasized that the National Policy for Combating Health Risks in the UAE represents a strengthening of the national response system to health emergencies. This embodies a proactive vision that aligns with the aspirations of wise leadership and the UAE government's ambitions to continuously develop a health sector capable of containing emerging challenges and responding quickly to health crises and emergencies. His Excellency added: "The Ministry operates within a coordinated framework with all government, private, and academic entities, both local and international, within a framework that enhances the integration of roles and establishes a legislative and executive environment capable of achieving sustainable results. Furthermore, the policy's focus on good governance, institutional empowerment, and improving infrastructure efficiency constitutes a fundamental pillar for establishing comprehensive national health security by consolidating the role of community participation as a strategic tool for early detection, disease prevention, and achieving comprehensive preparedness that ensures the continuity of vital services under various circumstances, thus achieving the Ministry's strategy 2023-2026. Dr. Lubna Al Shaali, Director of the Health Policy and Legislation Department at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, indicated that implementing the National Policy for Combating Health Risks will contribute to providing proactive guidance for developing the national capabilities needed to respond to various events and risks and combat their health impacts, in accordance with the latest global and national health practices and guidelines. This will also promote more resilient health systems capable of adapting to future crises through a national framework that consolidates integration among agencies and unifies efforts. She noted that this policy represents a strategic step toward building a robust health system, centered on health in all policies, and aligned with the Ministry's strategy to achieve comprehensive and sustainable health security. Dr. Fatima Al Attar, Director of the International Health Regulations Office at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, indicated that accurate periodic assessment of health risks by strengthening monitoring and early detection systems, classifying these risks, and identifying their sources will enhance preparedness, improve response indicators, reduce mortality and morbidity rates associated with health emergencies and disasters, and enhance the continuity of health coverage in the country.
Zawya
29-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Robert Koch Institute (RKI) expand unique partnership to strengthen collaborative surveillance in Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced today the expansion of the successful Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa (HSPA) to seven countries on the continent. The Health Security Partnership strengthens disease surveillance and epidemic intelligence across the African Continent, enabling countries to better detect and respond to public health threats – whether they are natural, accidental, or deliberate. Launched in 2023 in six countries, The Gambia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, and Tunisia, the partnership will expand to other countries, including Rwanda, in its second phase which runs from 2025-2028. 'HSPA represents an important step forward in building stronger partnerships for health security in Africa. By bringing together global, regional and national actors, this initiative supports countries in strengthening Collaborative Surveillance through mutual exchange and practical action. WHO remains committed to working alongside Member States to ensure that these collective efforts are well-coordinated, responsive, and rooted in national priorities,' said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa; Deputy Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme. Africa experiences more disease outbreaks than any other part of the world. While significant progress has been made in strengthening disease surveillance over the past decade, no country can tackle today's complex health threats alone. 'Within the framework of this project, Africa CDC will work with the Member States in mobilizing political will for biosecurity and surveillance, establishing regional frameworks for bio-surveillance of high-consequence biological agents and toxins, and coordinating event-based surveillance. The collaboration with other partners and coordination with Member States is crucial especially in the current context of limited resources to strengthen the continent's capacity for early detection, response, and management of biological threats,'said Dr Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director General and Head, Division of Public Health Institutes and Research, Africa CDC. At the heart of the initiative is a Collaborative Surveillance approach that connects health and security sectors to reduce biological risks and strengthen surveillance systems nationally and internationally. The partnership is supporting countries to strengthen capacities in biorisk management, event and indicator-based surveillance, genomic surveillance and epidemic intelligence. This is achieved through training, guidance development, co-creation of implementation roadmaps, and hands-on technical assistance to ensure that implementation is aligned with country priorities, embedded within broader national systems, and built for long-term sustainability. 'We are proud of what this partnership has achieved so far. It has strengthened health system coordination and resilience in the African Continent, delivering tangible gains in biosecurity, disease surveillance, genomic surveillance, and epidemic intelligence. This has only been possible because of the trusted partnership between Africa CDC, RKI and WHO with countries in the driver's seat,' said Dr Merawi Aragaw, Head of Surveillance and Disease at Africa CDC. The HSPA initiative has been supported from the start by the Government of Canada through its Weapons Threat Reduction Program, with additional funding in phase two from the Government of the United Kingdom. Building on the achievements in phase one, the participating countries, with support from WHO and partners, will accelerate implementation to build a healthier, safer and more resilient Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
The Prototype: New Bacteria Discovered On Chinese Space Station
In this week's edition of The Prototype, we look at whether we should worry about spaceborne bacteria, a clinical trial for regenerating nerves after a traumatic injury, a new class of electronics and more. You can sign up to get The Prototype in your inbox here. A Chinese spacecraft returning from the Tiangong space station A previously unknown strain of bacteria is living on Chain's Tiangong space station, according to a study published this week. The new microorganisms were discovered on swabs taken from the station. The news immediately brought the novel (and movie) The Andromeda Strain into my brain, which is about a disease that makes it to Earth from space by way of a government satellite. Luckily, Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, reassured me that any microorganisms found in space aren't likely to cause a new pandemic. 'It's important to remember that the vast, vast majority of bacterial organisms are not going to cause any harm,' he said. One thing to consider about these types of microbes, he said, is that their ability to adapt to one extreme environment does not mean they will thrive in another environment that it's not adapted to.' And to determine whether such an organism might pose a disease risk, it's important to consider whether they can survive in human bodies. If they can, do they even cause any harm? Odds are, they don't, he said. 'Most bacteria that live on or in us aren't harmful,' he said. Even if a new microorganism adapted to space or some other environment were to cause disease, humans still wouldn't necessarily be helpless, Adalja said. That's because lots of microorganisms share characteristics with each other, meaning the study of a new pathogen's data, like its DNA, can help researchers determine ways to find a treatment or vaccine. Stay tuned. Auxilium Biotechnologies Over 300,000 people every year experience an accident that causes damage to their peripheral nerves–those that exist outside of the brain and spinal cord. These injuries can be serious and lead to disability in some cases. There's no easy way to treat them, either. When repairs are possible, they often require surgically grafting a portion of a healthy nerve from another part of the body to the injured one. Sometimes that canlead to difficult complications and side effects like chronic pain. San Diego-based Auxilium Biotechnologies has a different approach. It's developed a device it calls a NeuroSpan Bridge, which it hopes will enable damaged nerves to regenerate into health. It does this by physically guiding the nerves to grow in a single direction to repair the damage. The company announced this week that it will begin a clinical trial of 80 nerve trauma patients with its device. Nerves do actually regenerate naturally, CEO and cofounder Jacob Koffler, who is also a professor of neuroscience at UC San Diego, told me. But the problem is that 'the nerve goes wherever it wants,' he said. It doesn't necessarily reconnect with the rest of the healthy nerve. 'What we bring to the table is a technology that organizes regeneration' by guiding the regenerated nerves directly to the healthy one. The company has already successfully demonstrated the device in mice, so humans are the next step. The clinical trial will take about a year, Koffler said. If results are good, the company would then work to seek a green light from the FDA to commercialize its device. Scientists at Rutgers University have created 'intercrystals' - a new substance that could power the electronics of the future. It consists of two layers of graphene, each one atom thick, which are laid on top of a crystal made from boron and nitrogen. The result is a structural pattern in the chemistry that allows a very efficient transmission of electrons that can be refined on the atomic level. The researchers behind the discovery say it could someday lead to more efficient electronics materials such as sensors or transistors. Even more importantly–all the components are cheap. 'Because these structures can be made out of abundant, non-toxic elements such as carbon, boron and nitrogen, rather than rare earth elements, they also offer a more sustainable and scalable pathway for future technologies,' researcher Eva Andrei said in a press release about the discovery. NASA says that a 'cumulative multi-year budget reduction' will force cutbacks in crew size and scientific research on board the International Space Station. NASA is currently considering operating the U.S. portion of the station with a three person crew, rather than four. There are also fewer planned cargo flights to the International Space Station, which will reduce revenues for contractors like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. It's not clear yet whether NASA will be able to continue to support private missions to the ISS, such as those from SpaceX purchased by Axiom Space. I wrote about Abel Avellan, whose company AST SpaceMobile is taking on SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Project Kuiper in the battle to provide broadband satellite internet directly to your smartphone. This would enable connectivity in remote areas and help the over 2.6 billion people who currently lack regular internet access o get online. In my other newsletter, InnovationRx, Amy Feldman and I looked at the FDA's new COVID-19 vaccine rules, Novartis's acquisition strategy, Medtronic's diabetes spinoff, Regeneron's purchase of 23AndMe, and more. Recycling electronics might get easier thanks to researchers at the University of Helsinki, who figured out a way to extract silver from old electronics with used cooking oil. Funding for scientific research is at its lowest point in 35 years, reports the New York Times, with nearly every field being impacted by the slowdown in grants from the National Science Foundation. Energy infrastructure projects tend to be over budget and behind schedule, a new study finds. Nuclear power plants are the worst offenders. If you want the best bang for your energy investment buck, build a solar power project–they tend to finish under budget or ahead of schedule. Researchers built a new kind of lithium battery that works by pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Previous attempts at this kind of chemistry tended to be expensive and not work well, but the new version could allow them to scale cheaply. And good news for Elon Musk–they're ideal for Mars, where the atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide. One of the downfalls of restrictive dieting to lose weight is that pretty soon you start craving certain foods–and once you give in after prolonged abstinence, you may start binging, which can derail your diet completely. A new study suggests a better way: eat what you crave. During the study, a group of people on a diet were encouraged to include the foods they love, even junk food, into otherwise balanced meals. That group of people not only lost more weight, they also reported fewer food cravings than those who didn't incorporate such foods into their meal plans. One of the comforts of the streaming era is the chance to finally get around to shows that you missed the first time. Right now, for example, I'm watching Boardwalk Empire, which aired on HBO from 2009 to 2014. The series is centered on organized crime and corruption in Atlantic City during the Prohibition era, using real-life characters like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Steve Buscemi is excellent in the lead role and it's a great watch for anyone who's into a good mob drama. All episodes are streaming on Max–or HBO Max–or whatever we're calling it now.
