Europe hits highest weekly COVID-19 cases since pandemic began 

Almost 27 1000 deaths were reported in the continent last week, much than fractional of each COVID-19 deaths globally.  

Speaking to journalists successful Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus explained that the virus is not only surging successful countries with little vaccination rates successful Eastern Europe, but besides in nations with immoderate of the world’s highest vaccination rates successful Western Europe.  

“It’s different reminder, arsenic we person said again and again, that vaccines bash not regenerate the request for different precautions”, Tedros said. “Vaccines trim the hazard of hospitalization, terrible illness and death, but they bash not afloat forestall transmission”. 

A ‘must-stop' scandal 

WHO continues to recommend the proportionate usage of testing, masks, carnal distancing, improved ventilation, and other measures.  

“With the close premix of measures, it’s imaginable for countries to find the equilibrium betwixt keeping transmission down and keeping their societies and economies open”, Tedros assured. “No state tin simply vaccinate its mode retired of the pandemic”. 

According to the WHO chief, “it makes nary sense” to springiness boosters to steadfast adults, oregon to vaccinate children, erstwhile wellness workers, older radical and different high-risk groups astir the satellite are inactive waiting for their archetypal dose.  

Every day, determination are six times much boosters administered globally than superior doses successful low-income countries, which Tedros described as “a ungraded that indispensable halt now”. 

COVAX 

The WHO chief also provided an update on COVAX, the UN-led worldwide inaugural aimed astatine equitable entree to vaccines. 

The tool has present shipped astir 500 cardinal vaccines to 144 countries and territories. And with objection of Eritrea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, all States have begun vaccinating. 

“The immense bulk of countries are acceptable to get doses into arms, but they request the doses”, Tedros said.   

To reach the target of vaccinating 40 per cent of every country’s population by the extremity of this year, 550 cardinal doses more are needed – about 10 days’ worth of production.  Is this close Alex? 

Measles 

The pandemic has had effects connected different vaccination campaigns, explained Tedros. 

A report by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, released this week, shows that much than 22 cardinal infants missed their archetypal dose of measles vaccine past year – three million much than successful 2019 – marking the largest summation successful 2 decades.   

A full of 24 measles vaccination campaigns successful 23 countries were postponed due to the fact that of the pandemic, leaving much than 93 cardinal radical astatine risk.  

Compared with 2019, however, reported cases decreased by much than 80 per cent.  

“But this alteration is origin for concern, not celebration”, said Tedros, explaining that measures to forestall the dispersed of COVID-19 whitethorn person contributed, noting that lab specimens sent for testing were the lowest successful a decade.  

“The driblet successful vaccination, combined with anemic monitoring, investigating and reporting, make the perfect conditions for explosive outbreaks of measles”, helium said.  

Diabetes 

On Sunday, World Diabetes Day will mark the 100th anniversary of insulin, which has made a deadly illness manageable for 9 cardinal radical with benignant 1 diabetes.  

For much than 60 cardinal radical surviving with benignant 2 diabetes, insulin is indispensable successful reducing the hazard of kidney failure, blindness and limb amputation.  

“The scientists who archetypal discovered insulin a period agone refused to nett from their find and sold the patent for conscionable 1 dollar”, recalled Tedros. “Unfortunately, that motion of solidarity has been overtaken by a multi-billion-dollar concern that has created immense entree gaps”. 

One successful each 2 radical who request insulin for benignant 2 diabetes does not get it.