Osman Dar

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The international arrivals area at Terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport, London, UK as travel restrictions were imposed following the discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.

InternacionalSalud Pública

It is important to understand the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron with all its myriad mutations – on this occasion first detected in South Africa – is not unexpected.

What it highlights are the continuing and fundamental risks to everyone associated with not seriously addressing the governance, structural, technological, and socioeconomic inequalities still at play globally in the fight against disease and poor health.

Mutations such as those present in this latest variant will continue to surface, as in all likelihood will other infectious viruses with pandemic potential.

The Omicron variant – rapidly detected thanks to South Africa’s relatively advanced genomic sequencing capability and willingness to engage with international partners and collaborating agencies – has resulted in a series of travel bans restricting South Africa’s citizens and impediments to international trade.…  Seguir leyendo »

A street vendor arranging facemasks at his stall in Hyderabad, India. Photo by NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images.

MundoAsia

What is causing this crisis in India?

Perhaps this is the first time in the pandemic we have seen a major health system close to collapsing under the strain of so many people requiring hospital care, although maybe Manaus in Brazil was a similar example. The accounts of people dying in queues as they try to access life-saving care or dying in hospitals which run out of oxygen is terrifying and extremely concerning. The response from the national and state governments has been very mixed.

In many respects, this is a consequence of India’s chronically under-funded health system with just over one per cent of GDP spent on public health financing.…  Seguir leyendo »