Highlighting Inequities in Cancer Care Between Low and High Income Countries

Fighting Cancer

The disparity between high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) continues to persist, with an increasing emphasis on the impact it has on children with cancer. The American Childhood Cancer Organization states that 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year globally; however, thousands of children in LMICs remain undiagnosed, widening the gap between those who receive treatment and those who do not. 

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Climate Change Drives Unparalleled Superfloods in Europe

Floods in Europe

In early September, disastrous floods in Europe killed 24 and affected millions, causing economic damage worth $2 to 3 billion. The unparalleled storm, known as Storm Boris, brought five times the monthly average rainfall onto Central European countries, leading to four missing people and the isolation of several villages. The impacts of climate change exacerbated the intensity of the storm, providing a bleak glimpse of its effects on the planet’s fastest-warming continent. 

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Listeria Outbreak in Boar’s Head Products Kills 10

Boar's Head products.

In July 2024, Boar’s Head, a prominent deli meat producer, became the center of a serious Listeria outbreak linked to its liverwurst and other deli products. The contamination was traced back to a facility in Virginia, prompting the recall of millions of pounds of deli meats. Affected products were distributed across 19 states, resulting in at least 34 hospitalizations and 10 deaths. This outbreak is one of the largest food-related Listeria incidents in the U.S. in recent years, with cases particularly concentrated in New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) played a pivotal role in identifying Boar’s Head liverwurst as a primary source after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes​.

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How Access to Online Information Reshaped COVID-19 Preparedness

Person wearing mask, on phone.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, the internet emerged as a primary source of information, allowing people to become aware of the virus and how to prepare effectively. One study found information accessed during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the preparedness of Chinese netizens—active internet users—regarding the virus. According to the study, variable access to information influences how people perceive disastrous events, shaping their views on susceptibility and severity.

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560,000 Children Vaccinated Against Polio in Gaza

Child in Gaza.

When Gaza reported its first case of polio in a quarter century in late August, there was a swift effort taken by health officials to provide polio vaccines to the region and prevent further spread. The effort was led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a group of national governments and partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance. So far, the effort has been successful, with nearly 560,000 children vaccinated.

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Mosquito-Borne Virus, EEE, Health Raising Concerns in Northeast

Mosquito on a branch.

There have been growing concerns among health experts about the recent surge in Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases in the Northeast, a rare mosquito-borne virus with severe health risks. Health officials have reported infections in New York, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts, and one death in New Hampshire, prompting warnings and curfews in certain areas.

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Jamaica’s ‘Smart Health Centers’ Withstand Category 4 Beryl

Smart Centers

The UK-led initiative, “Smart’ Health Care Facilities in the Caribbean Project,” aiming to improve critical healthcare facilities’ infrastructure and environmental impact in the Caribbean, has proven to be a resounding success in Jamaica as Category 4 Hurricane Beryl caused extensive damage to the island.

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Typhoon Shanshan Hits Japan, Millions Forced to Evacuate

Typhoon Shanshan hits Japan.

On August 30, Japan was struck by Typhoon Shanshan, prompting emergency warnings across the nation. Japanese authorities reported that over one million individuals were advised to evacuate due to extensive damage caused by the typhoon. Japan was hit with record-breaking rainfall and flooding, which particularly damaged structures along the southern coastline.

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