Philanthropist Bill Gates honored by Pakistan.

Microsoft founder and philanthropist, Bill Gates has been conferred with Hilal-e-Pakistan, the second-highest civilian honour in the country, for his efforts to help eradicate polio in Pakistan.  Gates was on a day-long visit to Pakistan and has met with Pakistan Prime Minis…

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WHO launches Quit Tobacco App.

The World Health Organization has launched on 15 Feb 2022 ‘Quit Tobacco App’ to help people kick the cigarette butt and give up use of tobacco in all forms - including smokeless and other newer products.  The app, the first such by WHO, and the first that targets all forms o…

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"How to Prevent the Next Pandemic" A book authored by Bill Gates.

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, but even as governments around the world strive to put it behind us, they’re also starting to talk about what happens next. How can we prevent a new pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy? Can we even ho…

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India world's third country to record 5 Lakh Coronavirus deaths.

India became the third nation in the world to record over 5 lakh deaths from the highly contagious coronavirus. The country reached this grim milestone of death on February 3. With this, only the US (with more than 9.1 lakh Covid fatalities) and Brazil (with almost 6.3 lakh…

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Chinese researchers develop 4-minute PCR test.

Chinese scientists say they have developed a COVID-19 test that can process results as accurately as PCR tests in less than four minutes. PCR tests are the most accurate on the market, but must be processed in a lab, which so far takes a few hours at minimum. When labs are o…

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New HIV variant discovered in the Netherlands.

The most virulent HIV variant known to science has been discovered in the Netherlands, according to researchers who said it provided a valuable insight into the way viruses such as the one behind Covid-19 can evolve. People infected with the VB variant, as it is known, have …

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Omicron Virus survives over 21 hours on skin.

Omicron survives over 21 hours on skin and more than 8 days on plastic. A study by Japanese researchers has claimed that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can remain alive on skin and plastic more than the earlier variants like Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma. The researchers fro…

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NeoCov found in African bats.

Scientists in China have found a bat virus is South Africa is one mutation away from crossing into humans and potentially spreading from person to person. A new study claims the virus, named NeoCov, shows a potential not seen before which could allow it to mutate and spread …

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The Biden administration has decided to build on significant actions to expand testing capacity and increase access by distributing at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests to Americans for free. To help ensure Americans have tests on hand if a need arises, the Biden Administration is …

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Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla wins $1 million Genesis Prize for COVID-19 vaccine.

The global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Albert Bourla, has been awarded with the prestigious Genesis Prize 2022 on January 19, 2022. He has been awarded for his efforts in leading the development of a COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer–BioNTech COV…

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Discovery of another new type of corona, the "Delta Cron".

Just a mere two months after detection of the highly contagious Omicron Covid-19 variant last November, and the threat of another big lockdown from taking over the world, there is now new evidence that another new variant has now appeared in Cyprus. This new variant has been…

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Man gets genetically-modified pig heart in world-first transplant.

A US man has become the first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig. David Bennett, 57, is doing well three days after the experimental seven-hour procedure in Baltimore, doctors say. The transplant was considered the last hope of savin…

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Cannabis Compounds prevented Covid Infection in a Laboratory Study.

Some of the compounds in cannabis may prevent the entry of the coronavirus into healthy human cells, according to a study published in the Journal of Nature Products.  The research was conducted at Oregon State University and led by Richard van Breemen, a scientist with Oreg…

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Novak Djokovic faces fine or prison for breaking isolation while Covid positive.

Novak Djokovic could face a fine or even prison in Serbia after his admission that he broke isolation while he had Covid last month, lawyers have said, as the Serbian prime minister warned his behaviour appeared to be “a clear breach” of the rules. The 34-year-old Belgrade-b…

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Covid-19 new variant ‘IHU’ discovered in France.

Scientists and experts in France have reportedly identified a new variant of COVID-19 termed ‘IHU’. The new variant is said to be a more mutated strain than Omicron. The B.1.640.2 or IHU variant was first identified by the academics at institute IHU Mediterranee Infection a…

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Israel plans to give fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

A government panel of experts in Israel has recommended a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine for all people aged over 60 and healthcare workers. The move was welcomed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who said it would help the country get through a potential wave of the Omi…

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FDA Approves First Injectable Treatment for HIV Pre-Exposure Prevention.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first ever injectable drug for HIV prevention on Dec. 20. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) for use in at-risk adults and adolescents weighing a…

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Ecuador becomes first country to mandate Covid vaccines for children from age of 05.

Ecuador has become the first country to make Covid vaccines mandatory for children as young as five years. "In Ecuador, vaccination against Covid-19 is declared compulsory," the health ministry said in a statement. This comes in amid growing fears of the Omicron v…

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Global Health Security Index - 2021.

The 2021 GHS Index measures the capacities of 195 countries to prepare for epidemics and pandemics. All countries remain dangerously unprepared for future epidemic and pandemic threats, including threats potentially more devastating than COVID-19.  Sri Lanka ranked at 105th …

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COVID vaccine card mandatory from January to enter public places.

The government of Sri Lanka has made the COVID-19 vaccination card mandatory to visit public places from January 01, 2022. Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella announced this in a tweet posted today (Dec. 21). Earlier this month, the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control deci…

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