Medical - global

COVID-19 enters 4th year with successes, but new threats CIDRAP

As the pandemic enters its fourth year, the world is in a better place with managing the disease but still faces threats from inequities for accessing tools to battle COVID-19, intense transmission in several countries, and the emergence of another highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

In a related development, the WHO today shared details about its virus evolution advisory group's assessment of viruses circulating in China and said the experts are also assessing the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant, which is quickly becoming dominant in the United States.

...

EU recommends pre-flight testing of passengers from China, wastewater testing in airports European Union government officials recommended on Wednesday that passengers flying from China to the EU should have a negative COVID-19 test before they board, as Beijing plans to ease travel restrictions despite a wave of new COVID infections. Reuters Reuters

...

3 challenges to watch in global health in 2023 As the third year of the Covid pandemic ends and we look to 2023, what can be spotted on the horizon? Helen Branswell STAT

...

As the third year of the Covid pandemic ends and 2023 begins, what can be spotted on the horizon? We already know about a bunch of things that are going to jostle for our attention; rest assured others we’re not anticipating will materialize as well.

 ...three issues we can see right now.

'I don't trust it:' Vaccine hesitancy lingers even as China COVID cases surge The problem is a growing headache for Beijing as it tries to persuade more people to get vaccinated in the face of a spike in infections and the prospect of more than 1.5 million deaths after the lifting of strict anti-COVID measures. David Kirton Reuters

...