Tag: Medical

  • Living Healthy Lives By Choice

    Living Healthy Lives By Choice

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    How to live healthy and disease free for the rest of your life. Do you think that is pipe dream? If you think it is not possible, then you have already defeat your purpose. However, if you think it is possible, then I want to categorically tell you that it is can happen, and it is happening.

    I am going to tell you and show you how to make it happen for you, as it is for me and many others.

    Listen to me carefully, we are healthy by design and sick by default!

    Living a healthy life is a matter of choice we make every day by the things we do, the food we eat and drink, and overall life we live. I am going to show you how to live a dynamic, vibrant healthy life. How to live your full life and never get sick, and how do do all this without drugs or surgery.

    How to look like you have found the secret of the fountain of youth.

    Let me ask you this all important question,

    Why Are We Sick?

    If we don’t know the cause of something, it almost impossible to fix it. So, we have t0 first explore what is making us so sick, and I am sure some of the reasons that are making us sick might surprise you.

    To put it at the very basic and say, there are only two reasons why a person become ill.

    1. You “catch” something, meaning, your body picks up a germ, generally a bacteria or a virus.
    2. Your body develop an illness or a disease. That will happen because something has gone wrong in your systems, causing some imbalance.

    Something is not working as it should, and a disease or an illness develop. Examples are, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, acid reflux, arthritis, etc.

    Remember that our focus is living healthy, so now, let’s dig a little deeper in these two causes of all illnesses and diseases. And I’ll start with the first cause of catching something.

    We said before that is either a bacteria or a germ causing the problem. But look at this fact, the atmosphere is filled with these small and most times invisible creatures. Have you ever ask why some people in the same environment where others who pick up the germ and they are fine!

    Don’t tell me everyone is made up differently, and you will soon understand why this argument cannot stands the test of a day.

    I said earlier that we are healthy by design, meaning, our bodies are designed to fight off those bacteria and germs that are bombarding us every day.

    That inbuilt apparatus is called the Immune System which has two fundamental functions which are vital to the survival of the person.

    1. The Immune System is for identification of all types of micro-organisms and foreign bodies that are potentially dangerous to the individual.
    2. The Immune System is also for destruction of these micro-organisms, substances or foreign bodies.

    Our Immune System can be weakened from a variety of ways, and these are some of the most common:

    A. Under or malnourishment which is a lack of essential nutrients like vitamins and some trace elements.

    B. Stress, can either be physical or psychological. Obesity can be a cause.

    C. Chemotherapy which comes in the form of anti-cancer medication

    D. Infectious diseases come from “catching” something

    E. Dieting includes the foods that contribute in special ways to the correct functioning of the complex Immune

    System

    F. AIDS: Is the Immune System deficiency caused by a viral attacks on your body’s defense mechanisms.

    Let me remind you of the two reasons why people get sick:

    1. You catch something and your body cannot fight it off, as a result your body give in to the germs.
    2. Your body develops something in the genetically weak areas.

    In both of the above cases the causes are the same.

    A. Your Immune System is weak

    B. Toxins are attacking your body

    When we consider those two fundamental causes for illnesses, we can conclude that all sicknesses come from one or a combination of four things. This is what Kevin Trudeau in one of his books called: “Natural Cures They Don’t Want You To Know About” said about why we get sick.

    These are the four basic reasons Kevin give for all sicknesses:

    1. People get sick because they have too many toxins in their bodies
    2. We are suffering from nutritional deficiencies, meaning our cells are not getting enough nutrients in their proper proportions.
    3. We are exposed to and negatively affected by Electromagnetic Chaos (EMC).
    4. You have trapped mental and emotional stress

    According to Kevin, these are the only four reasons why our Immune System could be weak or why genetically weak areas in the body can break down, and thus allowing illness and diseases to develop.

    Although Kevin said these are the only reasons for all illnesses, I would like to add one more reason why we get sick.

    Because I want to establish this fact, or I should say this TRUTH!!

    We as living creatures called human beings are different from all other living things. Only human beings are created in the image and likeness of Elohim.

    As a result, only human beings are created in His image and likeness, meaning, just like how Elohim exist in three formalities as Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we also exist in three dimensions as body soul and spirit.

    To state it correctly, we are first and foremost spirit, with a soul in a body.

    As a result of this enlightened truth, we can also get sick from a spiritual perspective. The medical experts call this psychosomatic illnesses

    Psycho in psychosomatic comes from the root word psychic, and mean among other things, the supernatural or spiritual.

    There are researches surrounding psychosomatic illnesses which seems to provide sufficient scientific evidence that the mind or the intangible part of a person, or a person’s beliefs and thoughts, have the ability to cause physical changes in the body.

    If we are going to be Living Healthy lives, holistic healthy lives, then all three areas on man’s existence must be covered. Complete health is in spirit, soul and body.

    Therefore I will say people are sick because of these five reasons

    1. We allow too many toxins in our bodies for too long
    2. We are not eating properly balanced meals resulting us suffering from nutritional deficiencies,
    3. We are exposed to and negatively affected by electromagnetic chaos (emc).
    4. We do not properly manage mental and emotional stress
    5. We ignore the Spirit-man that is more real than the physical man

    There are things we can, and other things we cannot control. Therefore, the only way to manage those uncontrollable things, is to ensure the cells of our body are vibrantly healthy and strong to function as they should.

    One such things we cannot control is electromagnetic fields to which we are all exposed.

    What is electromagnetism?

    Electromagnetism is a scientific word in physics used to describe one of the fundamental forces of nature. This force is between subatomic particles such as protons and electrons. You have to have a basic knowledge of physic to appreciate these terms.

    Electromagnetism helps to hold matter together. It is also used to describe how a magnetic field is created by the flowing of electric current.

    Our body has electromagnetic fields and communication systems. Electromagnetic chaos come about when wireless devices like the laptops, computers, televisions and cell phones are used too frequently. And even more dangerous when we sleep with them in the bedroom.

    The resulting distortion creates chaos within the body’s electromagnetic fields and communication systems. This causes physical, mental and emotional imbalances.

    Electromagnetic chaos is a negatively powerful force and causes disease.

    When we are able to reduce, eliminate, or neutralize these powerful negative frequencies, then we can reverse the negative reactions, resulting in the “curing” of symptoms and disease.

    Living Healthy Through Balanced Diet

    There are areas where we have complete control. For example, in the area of nutrition to prevent nutritional deficiencies.

    People suffer unnecessarily because they do not eat the right way.

    The proper way to ensure you are eating a balanced diet, is to include portions in your meals every day.

    The portions should be considered in colors. So, in your daily eating, make sure you consume 50% green, 35% yellow, and 15% red. In so doing, you are covering all the basic nutritional needs of your cells.

    Eating like this is the natural way to live healthy life and cancel the imposition of nutritional deficiency diseases.

    In other words, we will not suffer from those noncommunicable diseases (NCD), that most people develop from improper or unhealthy eating habits.

    For example, we will not suffer from the disease they call cancer. If we are to reveal the truth, cancer is not a disease, but rather a nutritional deficiency.

    “According to Pharmaceutical Research, 95% of the causes of cancer are rooted in our lifestyle; our habits and rituals. The result of what we eat and don’t eat. Only 5% of all cancers have a genetic link in their etiology, (causes of cancer)”.

    The naked truth is, there is no disease called cancer. Cancer is a tumor- like growth that occurs as a result of a nutritional deficiency of vitamin B17.

    Most doctors won’t tell you this, but take it from me, only your body can cure itself!

    There are certain things you can do to help your body heal itself better, or cure itself of illness, sickness and diseases.

    I stated earlier one of the fundamental reason you are sick is because of too much toxins in your body. What that comes down to are six areas that have direct relations to toxicity in your body.

    These six areas are:

    1. Exercise

    2. Rest

    3. What goes in your body

    4. What comes out of your body

    5. Your thoughts

    6. Words you speak

    Did you know that when you are toxic your body becomes highly acidic? Good health mean your body pH should be alkaline. When your body pH is acidic, you are vulnerable to illness and disease.

    If your body pH remains alkaline, you virtually cannot get sick!

    Every single individual who is diagnosed with cancer, has a pH that is too acidic.

    One man said it all in this way – “If man made it, don’t eat it.” Put another way, eat only what comes from the plant, and not what come out of a plant.

    There is so much that could be said here about genetical modification by man of virtually all fruits and vegetables to make them more disease resistant.

    And even worse than that, how farmers have to produce more per acre in order to make more profit, by using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. So when you eat a piece of that fruit or vegetable, it is loaded with toxic chemicals.

    The bottom line is this, if you are going to be living healthy life and experience vibrancy and high energy, you must clean the accumulated toxins from your body.

    Live Good Health By Eliminating Toxic Built-up

    It is important to know that from a baby, you have been flooding your body with toxins.

    These toxins and poisons included everything form vaccines, prescription and nonprescription drugs, from the air we breath, the water we drink, swim and shower in, and all the chemical from the food we eat.

    You should learn about getting a full-body fat/lymphatic detox once per year. And in between that, do a complete colon cleanse, do a heavy metal cleans, do a liver/gallbladder cleanse, do a parasite cleanse, and a candida cleanse.

    Other Measures to Good Health

    You should drink eight full glasses of purified water every day. You need to drink more water, and the water must be pure. Water is necessary not only for flushing and nourishing your cells, but also for keeping them hydrated and pH balanced.

    It is recommended that if you are going to be living healthy life, you should use a rebounder (mini trampoline) for at lease ten minutes a day.

    By simply using this device on a daily basis, can provide more health benefits for your cells than almost any other form of exercise.

    A rebounder stimulates every single cell in your body simultaneously.

    It also stimulates the immune system and is amazingly effective in cleansing toxins out of the cells. The rebounder is said to be the most incredible exercise device made by man.

    If you are going to be living a healthy life, you must stop putting toxins in your body!

    If you stop doing the things that are causing your symptoms and disease, then you have in effect “cured” yourself.

    Most medical practitioners won’t tell you this, because their interest is to have you coming back to them as often as possible to sell you more drugs to suppress the symptoms.

    So, in concluding this article on living a healthy lifestyle, let me summarize:

    The best way to get rid of any and all illness and disease that you may be suffering from, and prevent them from recurring. Also to slow down or potentially reverse the aging process is to do the following:

    1. Get rid of all the toxins that have built up in your system.
    2. Stop, or at least reduce the toxins entering your body. It is almost impossible to totally prevent toxins from entering our bodies, but we can drastically reduce the amount.
    3. We must ensure our elimination systems are clean and not sluggish. That will make the toxins we put in and those develop in our body naturally are getting out freely and quickly.
    4. We are to make sure we are getting adequate amounts of nutrition in the various forms such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, co-factors, and life-sustaining “energy”.
    5. Make an effort to reduce or neutralize the electromagnetic energy attacking our body’s energy fields and cells.
    6. Do everything to reduce stress
    7. Understand that our mind, and thoughts and words can create a healthy alkaline body pH, and actually change the way out body genetically defective DNA structures into normal healthy DNA structures.

    Remember, living good healthy is our responsibility.

    The choices we make every day determine the quality of our health.

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    Source by Adrian T Brown

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  • How to Avail the Best Health Insurance Plans in India

    How to Avail the Best Health Insurance Plans in India

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    Many people think why to buy medical insurance but the key fact is that in the present scenario having a well-designated insurance policy is beneficial for you and your family. Many insurance companies are well coming up with various types of plans and policies that fit your requirements effectively.

    There are several reasons are behind choosing health-or-medical insurance coverage policies. It is a typical type of insurance coverage plan that basically pays for medical expenses with certain terms and conditions. It is a good idea to pick the best-guaranteed insurance services from the established company.

    Another fact is that multi features based insurance policies are easily accessible in the market that allows the customers to pick their choice of plans and policies efficiently. No one wanted to get sick or hurt buy mishap can occur any time at anywhere so it is better to insured with best health insurance plans in India by availing their advanced services and instant care.

    Why people need health-insurance facility:

    Most of the people cannot able to afford the high medical private expenses and that gives the introduction of the medical insurance policy. With the help of some amount of premium, the customer can easily able to hire best-required health-insurance policies. There are plenty of insurance plans are available as per your budget and need to cover you and your family.

    The best plans for emergency or health problems cover several diseases and protect you from future concerned problems also. In the present time, many people are seeking for availing the best family health-insurance cover to stay safe.

    What is the main function of any health insurance policy?

    The typical any medical insurance is ready to serve the customer with all primary care services. The primary function of the medicals includes daily routine care, chronic condition, emergency medical assistance and pharmaceutical.

    Especially when it comes to choosing private medical facilities for treating health problems is really not affordable for all people. The middles class families are not able to afford it due to high charges. So in those cases, the accessibility of health insurance is the best way to claim for the treatments charges and get benefited.

    The Benefits of modern insurance plans

    Another fact is that the entire insurance market is booming and emerging with numerous riders and benefits for the insurance holders. One of the major facts for choosing health insurance plans in India is also due to high medical expenses. In the present time, many hospital and specific clinics are charging huge treatments charges for several treatments which are not affordable for all.

    Many people as getting aware of the benefits of medical health insurance policies are becoming more conscious to hire them. Choosing the best good health insurance policy is leading to serve the holder better financial support towards the medical treatments charges.

    As time goes all the medical treatments and charges for the medical tools or medicines are increasing day by day. The customers are willing to reduce the burden of their medical expenses by ensuring the best health insurance benefits effectively.

    So in short and simple way it is good for the family security. All the family members get a medical coverage and can be safer under the umbrella of medical health insurance plans. Choose the active plans that suits to your needs and family requirements and make your future safer.

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    Source by Suraj Anjaana

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  • 'Cure With Care': The Motto Of Indian Medical Tourism

    'Cure With Care': The Motto Of Indian Medical Tourism

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    Medical tourism in India has seen an exponential growth in the past five years and is all set to become the major earner of foreign exchange in near future. There are a number of reasons that has led to the promotion of medical tourism in India. Patients from abroad are wooed not only by the low cost factor but also by the exceptional hospitality offered by the Indian healthcare centers. In a nutshell, one is not only cured but also cared for and it is this theory of 'cure with care' that forms the motto of medical tourism industry in India.

    Indian healthcare facilities are in no way inferior to their foreign competitors in the medical tourism industry like Thailand, Philippines, Singapore and so on. Canadian Minister of Labor and Citizen's Services, Michael De Jong, who recently visited few hospitals in India and was impressed with the facilities on offer, has even acknowledged this. Indian healthcare centers offer specialized services at less than one-fifth of the cost in developed countries. That is why more and more patients from abroad find it wiser to undergo treatment in other countries like India. Medical tourism in India is soaring upwards and it is estimated that healthcare tourism alone can now rake over 8,000 crore additional revenue by 2012.

    Medical tourism in India has been successful in arousing the interests of Indian government with its promise to bring in more revenue by luring people over the world to travel and cure themselves at the same time. Most Indian healthcare centers make provisions for their foreign patients to travel across India prior to or after their treatment. A report by the Confederation of Indian Industry estimates that this year, close to half a million foreign patients will travel to India for treatments as complex and varied as bone marrow and kidney transplants, neurosurgery, joint replacement and dental implants. Not only those, these Indian health centers are highly admired for the wonderful hospitality offered to their foreign patients.

    Till the 1980's, government run hospitals were the primary providers of healthcare in India. The emergence of corporate hospitals has brought a touch of sophistication and modernity to the Indian healthcare industry. These hospitals house equipments imported from countries like UK, USA, Germany, Japan and the like. Complex treatments are now being performed frequently owing to the latest technologies available here. India has established world-class expertise in complex medical practices such as cardiac care, cosmetic surgery, joint replacements, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and dentistry. Besides, these treatments are offered at only a nominal cost compared to other developed countries like USA.

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    Source by Suzanne Macguire

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  • Free psychological help extended to May 15

    Free psychological help extended to May 15

    Free psychological help extended to May 15 1

    GEORGE TOWN: The free psychological first aid offered by Wawasan Open University (WOU) in partnership with the International College of Clinical Hypnotherapy Practitioners (ICCHP) Asia will now be extended until May 15 owing to the overwhelming response received.

    The aid comes in view of the mental challenges that the people, especially families, are experiencing during the movement control order (MCO), which has now entered its 52nd day.

    A total of 223 people had reached out for help in relation to the Covid- 19 pandemic from April 1 to 25.

    The programme is scheduled to continue past the anticipated relaxation of the MCO to handle post-traumatic stress from the prolonged lockdown.

    The team from ICCHP Asia assisted callers with tips and skills to better manage their challenging emotions.

    Although the free psychological service was set up mainly for the frontliners, there were many calls from the people due to various losses and the restrictions, WOU said in a statement.

    Suicidal cases were referred to the team’s on-call psychiatrists for clinical assessment, advanced help and close monitoring.

    The team helped to calm distressed callers and enabled them to better cope with the current uncertainties and make informed decisions.

    Where practical assistance was needed, they worked with the Members of Parliament in the areas concerned to provide urgent assistance, such as medical emergencies, ambulance services and food aid.

    Sixteen professionals from ICCHP Asia, including six psychiatrists, are offering support over the telephone.

    All conversations are private and confidential.

    Students who are doing complete online learning remotely from their homes or elsewhere are also encouraged to call in if they are feeling stressed during the MCO period.

    Feel free to call ICCHP Asia from 9am to 9pm daily from now until May 15 as per below, or email icchpcovid19@gmail.com to arrange a convenient time to chat: 0124447032 / 0169271240/ 0124856404 (9am-12pm);

    0123021262 / 0124080675/ 0123741558 (12pm-3pm);

    0174777746 / 0124736830 / 0164979876 (3pm-6pm);

    0122212906 / 0195645868 / 0124252962 (6pm-9pm)

    Free psychological help extended to May 15
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/home/free-psychological-help-extended-to-may-15-BL2386535

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  • Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 – 7 May 2020

    Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 – 7 May 2020

    Falsified and contaminated Defibrotide identified in WHO regions of Western Pacific, Europe and Eastern Mediterranean

    This alert relates to falsified DEFIBROTIDE 200MG VIALS OF 2.5ML (80MG/ML) CONCENTRATE FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION identified in Australia, Latvia and Saudi Arabia. This product is sold under the brand name Defitelio.

    On 13 March 2020, the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System on Substandard and Falsified (SF) Medical Products was informed that falsified DEFIBROTIDE 200MG vials were identified at patient level in Australia, displaying batch number 0286 (see Table 1 below for full details).

    Following enquiries with stakeholders, on 8 April 2020, WHO was informed that falsified DEFIBROTIDE 200MG vials had also been supplied to Saudi Arabia, displaying batch number 0286 and 0126 (see Table 1 below for full details).

    Following enquiries with stakeholders, on 9 April 2020, WHO was informed that falsified DEFIBROTIDE 200MG vials, displaying batch number 0126, had also been identified in Australia and Latvia.

    DEFIBROTIDE is used to treat hepatic veno-occlusive disease, in which the blood vessels in the liver become damaged and obstructed by blood clots. This can be caused by treatments prior to a stem cell transplantation.

    Laboratory analyses, conducted by national medicines regulatory authorities and the manufacturer of the genuine product, established that these falsified products do not contain any of the expected active ingredient. The solution in the vials is also contaminated with mould (Cladosporium sp. and Aspergillus niger).

    Information available to WHO indicates that both batches of falsified DEFIBROTIDE 200MG vials were present within the regulated supply chain in Latvia as early as January 2020 and were also handled by medicine wholesalers in the United Kingdom in February 2020. It is important to note that widespread vigilance is required from all countries, regardless of where the product was originally identified.

    Table 1: falsified defibrotide subject of WHO Alert n°5/2020, identified in Australia, Latvia and Saudi Arabia

    Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 - 7 May 2020 2

    The two products listed in Table 1 are confirmed falsified, on the basis that there is deliberate misrepresentation of their identity, composition and source.

    The genuine manufacturer of Defibrotide, GENTIUM S.R.L has also confirmed to WHO that:

    • They did not manufacture the above products.
    • Authentic DEFIBROTIDE 200MG VIALS with batch number 0286 were supplied to Argentina, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey.
    • Authentic DEFIBROTIDE 200MG VIALS with batch number 0126 were supplied to Australia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, New Zealand, Qatar, Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. 

      For guidance and photographs, please refer to page 2 of this Alert n°5/2020.

    Photos of Falsified DEFIBROTIDE Batch number: 0286, with expiry date: 09/2021

    Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 - 7 May 2020 3         Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 - 7 May 2020 4
    Sample from Latvia       Sample from Latvia

    Photos of Falsified DEFIBROTIDE Batch number: 0126, with expiry date: 08/2021

    Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 - 7 May 2020 5           Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 - 7 May 2020 6
    Sample from Australia       Sample from Australia

    WHO requests increased vigilance within the supply chains of countries likely to be affected by these falsified products. Increased vigilance should include hospitals, clinics, health centres, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies and any other suppliers of medical products.

    If you are in possession of the above products, please do not use them. If you have used these falsified products, or if you suffer an adverse reaction/event having used these products, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional, and to report the incident to the National Regulatory Authorities/National Pharmacovigilance Centre.

    All medical products must be obtained from licensed, authorized and reliable sources. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. Seek advice from a healthcare professional in case of doubt.

    National regulatory/health authorities are advised to immediately notify WHO if these falsified products are identified in their country(ies). If you have any information concerning the manufacture, distribution, or supply of these products, please contact rapidalert@who.int.

    WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for Substandard and Falsified Medical Products

    For further information, please visit our website: https://www.who.int/medicines/regulation/ssffc/en/ 

    Medical Product Alert N°5/2020 - 7 May 2020
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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/07-05-2020-medical-product-alert-n-5-2020

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  • Billions worldwide living with herpes

    Billions worldwide living with herpes

    About half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection, new estimates show, highlighting the need to improve awareness and scale up services to prevent and treat herpes.

    About 13% of the world’s population aged 15 to 49 years were living with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in 2016, the latest year for which data is available.  HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causing genital herpes. Infection can lead to recurring, often painful, genital sores in up to a third of people infected.

    Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact to cause oral herpes infection – sometimes leading to painful sores in or around the mouth (“cold sores”). However, HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral sex, causing genital herpes.

    Around 67% of the world’s population aged 0 to 49 had HSV-1 infection in 2016 – an estimated 3.7 billion people. Most of these infections were oral; however, between 122 million to 192 million people were estimated to have genital HSV-1
    infection.

    Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide – beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductive
    health” says Dr Ian Askew, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the World Health Organization (WHO). 

    Herpes and HIV

    People with HSV-2 infection are at least three times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. Thus, HSV-2 likely plays a substantial role in the spread of HIV globally. Women are more susceptible to both HSV-2 and HIV. Women living in
    the WHO Africa Region have the highest HSV-2 prevalence and exposure to HIV – putting them at greatest risk of HIV infection.

    No cure: vaccine needed

    There is no cure for herpes. Antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms but cannot cure the infection.

    Better awareness, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally. In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly
    HSV vaccines.  

    “A vaccine against HSV infection would not only help to promote and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, particularly women, worldwide – it could also potentially have an impact on slowing the spread of HIV, if developed
    and provided alongside other HIV prevention strategies” says Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes.

    Authored by staff at the University of Bristol, the WHO, and Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, and published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, this new study estimates the global infection prevalence and incidence of HSV-1 and HSV-2
    in 2016. 

    Billions worldwide living with herpes
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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/01-05-2020-billions-worldwide-living-with-herpes

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  • WHO and European Investment Bank strengthen efforts to combat COVID-19 and build resilient health systems to face future pandemics

    • WHO and the European Investment Bank enhance cooperation to support countries in addressing the health impact of COVID-19
    • The first phase will address urgent needs and strengthen primary health care in ten African countries
    • Enhanced WHO-EIB partnership will scale up financing to assure the chain of essential supplies, including personal protective equipment, diagnostics and clinical management
    • New initiative will accelerate investment in health preparedness and primary health care with a focus on health work force, infrastructure, and water, sanitation and hygiene
    • The initiative involves measures to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance

    The World Health Organization and the European Investment Bank will boost cooperation to strengthen public health, supply of essential equipment, training and hygiene investment in countries most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The new partnership between the United Nations health agency and the world’s largest international public bank, announced at WHO headquarters in Geneva earlier today, will help increase resilience to reduce the health and social impact of future health emergencies. 

    “Combining the public health experience of the World Health Organization and the financial expertise of the European Investment Bank will contribute to a more effective response to COVID-19 and other pressing health challenges,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. 

    “WHO looks forward to strengthening cooperation with the EIB to improve access to essential supplies including medical equipment and training, and deliver better water, sanitation and hygiene where most needed. New initiatives to improve primary health care in Africa and support the EU Malaria Fund hint at the potential impact of our new partnership,” Dr Tedros concluded.

    “The world is facing unprecedented health, social and economic shocks from COVID-19. The European Investment Bank is pleased to join forces with the World Health Organization as a key part of Team Europe’s efforts to address the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU Bank’s new partnership with the WHO will help communities most at risk by scaling up local medical and public health efforts and better protect people around the world from future pandemics. This new cooperation will enable us to combat malaria, address anti-microbial resistance and enhance public health in Africa more effectively,” said Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank.

    Improving local public health efforts to tackle coronavirus

    The WHO and the EIB will increase cooperation to help governments in low- and middle-income countries to finance and secure access to essential medical supplies and protective equipment through central procurement.

    Building resilient health systems in vulnerable countries across Africa

    The WHO and the EIB will reinforce cooperation to support immediate COVID-19 needs and jointly develop targeted financing to enhance health investment and build resilient health systems and primary health care to address public health emergencies as well as accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage.

    The partnership will benefit from the EIB’s planned 1.4 billion EUR response to address the health, social and economic impact of COVID-19 in Africa.

    This will address immediate needs in the health sector and provide both technical assistance and support for medium-term investment in specialist health infrastructure.

    The collaboration envisages rapid identification and fast-track approval of financing for health care, medical equipment and supplies. 

    The first phase of the collaboration will see public health investment in ten African countries. 

    Long-term collaboration to overcome market failures in global health

    The agreement signed today establishes a close collaboration to overcome market failure and stimulate investments in global health, accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage. Increased cooperation between the WHO and the EIB will strengthen the resilience of national public health systems and enhance preparedness of vulnerable countries against future pandemics, thanks to investments in primary care infrastructure, health workers and improved water, sanitation and hygiene. 

    Future cooperation will strengthen the EIB’s 5.2 billion EUR global response to COVID-19 outside the European Union.

    Scaling up investment to tackle antimicrobial resistance

    The two organisations will also cooperate in an initiative to address investment barriers hindering development of new antimicrobial treatment and related diagnostics. Antimicrobial resistance is amongst the most significant global health threats.

    The WHO and the EIB are working on a new financing initiative to support development of novel antimicrobials and address the estimated 1 billion EUR needed to provide medium-term solutions to antimicrobial resistance. Other crucial partners have been invited to join this discussion. 

    Improving the effectiveness of malaria treatment

    Under the new agreement the EIB and WHO will support development of the EU Malaria Fund, a new 250 million EUR public-private initiative intended to address market failures holding back more effective malaria treatment. 

    Strengthening EIB support for healthcare, life science and COVID-19 investment

    In recent years the European Investment Bank has provided more than 2 billion EUR annually for health care and life science investment.

    In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EIB is currently assessing over 20 projects in the field of vaccine development, diagnostic and treatment, leading to potential investments in the 700 million EUR range. The EIB will also take part in the EU’s rolling pledging effort for the coronavirus global response that is taking place on May 4th.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    The World Health Organization provides global leadership in public health within the United Nations system. Founded in 1948, WHO works with 194 Member States, across six regions and from more than 150 offices, to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. Our goal for 2019-2023 is to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and wellbeing. For updates on COVID-19 and public health advice to protect yourself from coronavirus, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube

    WHO’s information site on the COVID-19 pandemic

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  • Massive proportion of world’s population are living with herpes infection

    Massive proportion of world’s population are living with herpes infection

    Virus causing genital herpes may put millions of people at greater risk of infection with HIV

    About half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection, new estimates show.

    Authored by staff at the University of Bristol, World Health Organization (WHO), and Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, and published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization,
    the new study estimates the global infection prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in 2016. 

    “Herpes infection affects millions of people across the globe and can have far-reaching health effects. We need more investment and commitment to develop better treatment and prevention tools for this infection.” says Dr Sami Gottlieb, Medical
    Officer at WHO and an author of the study.

    Prevalence and incidence

    An estimated 491.5 million people were living with HSV-2 infection in 2016, equivalent to 13.2% of the world’s population aged 15 to 49 years. HSV-2 is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, causing infection in the genital or anal area (genital
    herpes).

    An estimated 3.7 billion people had HSV-1 infection during the same year – around 66.6% of the world’s population aged 0 to 49. HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact to cause infection in or around the mouth (oral herpes). However,
    HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral-genital contact – during oral sex – to cause genital herpes. Most HSV-1 infections were oral; however, between 122 million to 192 million people were estimated to have genital
    HSV-1 infection, depending on the assumptions used in the estimation model.

    Because herpes is a lifelong infection, estimated prevalence increased with age; HSV-2 prevalence was also higher among women and in the WHO African Region.

    Health and social impacts

    Most people living with herpes, caused by either HSV-1 or 2, are unaware they have the infection.

    When symptoms do occur however, oral herpes infection can lead to painful sores around the mouth (“cold sores”). Genital herpes infection can cause recurring, often painful, genital sores, often referred to as genital ulcer disease. 

    WHO and partners published a study in March 2020 estimating that around 5% of the world’s population (187 million people) suffered from at least one episode of herpes-related genital ulcer disease in 2016 (1). Most of these episodes were due to
    HSV-2, which can recur frequently over many years.

    Recurrent symptoms of genital herpes can lead to stigma and psychological distress, and can have an important impact on quality of life and sexual relationships. However, in time, most people with herpes adjust to living with the infection.

    “Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide – beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductive health”
    says Dr Ian Askew, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO. 

    Herpes and HIV

    A strong association exists between HSV-2 infection and HIV infection. In 2019, WHO commissioned a modeling study to estimate how much HSV-2 infection might contribute to HIV incidence. The study estimated that almost 30% of new sexually acquired HIV
    infections in 2016 worldwide were likely attributable to HSV-2 infection (2). 

    Evidence shows that people with HSV-2 infection are at least three times more likely to become infected with HIV, if exposed. HSV-2 leads to inflammation and small breaks in the genital and anal skin that can make it easier for HIV to cause infection.
    In addition, people with both HIV and HSV-2 infection are more likely to spread HIV to others.

    Women have higher biologic susceptibility to both HSV-2 and HIV. Women living in the WHO Africa Region have the highest HSV-2 prevalence and exposure to HIV – putting them at greatest risk of HIV infection, with negative implications for their health
    and well-being. 

    For people living with HIV (or who are living with other conditions that compromise their immune systems) as well as HSV-2, the symptoms of herpes can be more severe and more frequent. 

    Neonatal herpes

    Neonatal herpes can occur when an infant is exposed to HSV in the genital tract during delivery. This is a rare condition, occurring in an estimated 10 out of every 100,000 births globally, but can lead to lasting neurologic disability or death. The risk
    for neonatal herpes is greatest when a mother acquires HSV infection for the first time in late pregnancy. Women who have genital herpes before they become pregnant are at very low risk of transmitting HSV to their infants.

    No cure – better treatment and prevention needed

    There is no cure for herpes. At present, antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir, can help to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms but cannot cure the infection.

    As well as increasing awareness about HSV infection and its symptoms, improved access to antiviral medications and heightened HIV prevention efforts for those with genital HSV symptoms are needed globally. 

    In addition, development of better treatment and prevention interventions is needed, particularly HSV vaccines. WHO and partners are working to accelerate research to develop new strategies for prevention and control of HSV infections. Such research includes
    the development of HSV vaccines and topical microbicides. Several candidate vaccines and microbicides are currently being studied.

    “A vaccine against HSV infection would not only help to promote and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, particularly women, worldwide – it could also potentially have an impact on slowing the spread of HIV, if developed
    and provided alongside other HIV prevention strategies” says Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes.

    Related publications

    WHO guidelines for the treatment of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus

    WHO preferred product characteristics for herpes simplex virus vaccines

     

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    (1) Looker KJ, Johnston C, Welton NJ, et al. The global and regional burden of genital ulcer disease due to herpes simplex virus: a natural history modelling study. BMJ Glob Health. 2020;5(3):e001875. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019- 001875.

    (2) Looker KJ, Welton NJ, Sabin KM, et al.Global and regional estimates of the contribution of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection to HIV incidence: a population attributable fraction analysis using published epidemiological data. Lancet Infect Dis.2020;20(2):240-249. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30470-0.

    Massive proportion of world’s population are living with herpes infection
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  • New FAQs address healthcare workers questions on breastfeeding and COVID-19

    New FAQs address healthcare workers questions on breastfeeding and COVID-19

    Mothers and healthcare workers who support them have many questions and concerns about whether it is safe for mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 to be close to and breastfeed their babies during the pandemic.

    To address their questions, WHO has released a list of Frequently asked questions: Breastfeeding and COVID-19. The FAQ complements the WHO interim guidance: Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when COVID-19 is suspected and draws upon other WHO recommendations on infant and young child feeding.

    The FAQs aim to provide information to healthcare workers supporting mothers and families in maternity services and community settings, and communicate how the interim guidance should be implemented. Additionally, the FAQs provide information about the protective effects of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, and the harmful effects of inappropriate use of infant formula milk.

    Accompanying the FAQs is a decision tree which provides step-by-step guidance to health workers on how to support mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 to breastfeed. It provides advice on what to do if mothers are not well enough to breastfeed, as well as appropriate hygiene measures for mothers, including wearing a medical mask if available, to reduce the possibility of the COVID-19 virus being spread to her infant.

    Benefits of breastfeeding outweigh potential risks

    The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in the breastmilk of any mother with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 and there is no evidence so far that the virus is transmitted through breastfeeding. Researchers continue to test breastmilk from mothers with the infection.

    WHO recommends that all mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 continue to have skin-to-skin contact and to breastfeed. In all socio-economic settings, breastfeeding improves survival and provides lifelong health and development advantages to newborns and infants. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer for the mother. Skin-to-skin contact, including kangaroo mother care, reduces neonatal mortality, especially for low birth weight newborns.

    While infants and children can contract COVID-19, they are at low risk of infection. The few confirmed cases of COVID-19 in young children to date have experienced only mild or asymptomatic illness.

    WHO’s recommendations on the care and feeding of infants whose mothers have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 aim to improve the immediate and lifelong survival, health and development of their newborns and infants. These recommendations consider the likelihood and potential risks of COVID-19 in infants and also the risks of serious illness and death when infants are not breastfed or when infant formula milk are used inappropriately.

    WHO’s Q&A on breastfeeding and COVID-19 also provides additional infection prevention advice to mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

    New FAQs address healthcare workers questions on breastfeeding and COVID-19
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