
Europe reviews Valneva's chikungunya vaccine after reports of serious side-effects in older people
Valneva logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
Companies
Valneva SE
Follow
May 7 (Reuters) - The European Union's health regulator said on Wednesday it has begun a review of Valneva's (VLS.PA)
, opens new tab chikungunya vaccine after reports of serious adverse events in older adults, including two deaths globally.
Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Share X
Facebook
Linkedin
Email
Link
Purchase Licensing Rights
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How your compost heap can hide a lethal superfungus that destroys lungs and kills 85 per cent of those infected. Doctors warn of growing threat as sufferer Lisa says: 'My life was stripped away.' Special report by JOHN NAISH
Lisa McNeil, 54, a married mother of two from Blackpool, knows all too well the gruelling rigours of living with a chronic fungal infection. For the past 13 years she's had to take highly toxic medication to keep the potentially lethal fungus at bay – including one drug so poisonous that no one can be in the room with her when she administers it.


BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Nigeria maternal mortality: The world's worst country to give birth
At the age of 24, Nafisa Salahu was in danger of becoming just another statistic in Nigeria, where a woman dies giving birth every seven minutes, on into labour during a doctors' strike meant that, despite being in hospital, there was no expert help on hand once a complication baby's head was stuck and she was just told to lie still during labour, which lasted three a Caesarean was recommended and a doctor was located who was prepared to carry it out."I thanked God because I was almost dying. I had no strength left, I had nothing left," Ms Salahu tells the BBC from Kano state in the north of the survived, but tragically her baby years on, she has gone back to hospital to give birth several times and takes a fatalistic attitude. "I knew [each time] I was between life and death but I was no longer afraid," she Salahu's experience is not is the world's most dangerous nation in which to give to the most recent UN estimates for the country, compiled from 2023 figures, one in 100 women die in labour or in the following puts it at the top of a league table no country wants to 2023, Nigeria accounted for well over a quarter - 29% - of all maternal deaths worldwide. That is an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth in a year, which works out at one death every seven This article contains an image depicting childbirth The frustration for many is that a large number of the deaths – from things like bleeding after childbirth (known as postpartum haemorrhage) – are Nweze was 36 when she bled to death at a hospital in the south-eastern town of Onitsha five years ago."The doctors needed blood," her brother Henry Edeh remembers. "The blood they had wasn't enough and they were running around. Losing my sister and my friend is nothing I would wish on an enemy. The pain is unbearable."Among the other common causes of maternal deaths are obstructed labour, high blood pressure and unsafe "very high" maternal mortality rate is the result of a combination of a number of factors, according to Martin Dohlsten from the Nigeria office of the UN's children's organisation, Unicef. Among them, he says, are poor health infrastructure, a shortage of medics, costly treatments that many cannot afford, cultural practices that can lead to some distrusting medical professionals and insecurity."No woman deserves to die while birthing a child," says Mabel Onwuemena, national co-ordinator of the Women of Purpose Development explains that some women, especially in rural areas, believe "that visiting hospitals is a total waste of time" and choose "traditional remedies instead of seeking medical help, which can delay life-saving care".For some, reaching a hospital or clinic is near-impossible because of a lack of transport, but Ms Onwuemena believes that even if they managed to, their problems would not be over."Many healthcare facilities lack the basic equipment, supplies and trained personnel, making it difficult to provide a quality service."Nigeria's federal government currently spends only 5% of its budget on health – well short of the 15% target that the country committed to in a 2001 African Union treaty. In 2021, there were 121,000 midwives for a population of 218 million and less than half of all births were overseen by a skilled health worker. It is estimated that the country needs 700,000 more nurses and midwives to meet the World Health Organization's recommended is also a severe lack of shortage of staff and facilities puts some off seeking professional help."I honestly don't trust hospitals much, there are too many stories of negligence, especially in public hospitals," Jamila Ishaq says."For example, when I was having my fourth child, there were complications during labour. The local birth attendant advised us to go to the hospital, but when we got there, no healthcare worker was available to help me. I had to go back home, and that's where I eventually gave birth," she 28-year-old from Kano state is now expecting her fifth adds that she would consider going to a private clinic but the cost is Obiejesi, who is expecting her third child, is able to pay for private health care at a hospital and "wouldn't consider giving birth anywhere else".She says that among her friends and family, maternal deaths are now rare, whereas she used to hear about them quite frequently. She lives in a wealthy suburb of Abuja, where hospitals are easier to reach, roads are better, and emergency services work. More women in the city are also educated and know the importance of going to the hospital."I always attend antenatal care… It allows me to speak with doctors regularly, do important tests and scans, and keep track of both my health and the baby's," Ms Obiejesi tells the BBC. "For instance, during my second pregnancy, they expected I might bleed heavily, so they prepared extra blood in case a transfusion was needed. Thankfully, I didn't need it, and everything went well."However, a family friend of hers was not so her second labour, "the birth attendant couldn't deliver the baby and tried to force it out. The baby died. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, it was too late. She still had to undergo surgery to deliver the baby's body. It was heart-breaking." Dr Nana Sandah-Abubakar, director of community health services at the country's National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), acknowledges that the situation is dire, but says a new plan is being put in place to address some of the November, the Nigerian government launched the pilot phase of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (Mamii). Eventually this will target 172 local government areas across 33 states, which account for more than half of all childbirth-related deaths in the country."We identify each pregnant woman, know where she lives, and support her through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond," Dr Sandah-Abubakar far, 400,000 pregnant women in six states have been found in a house-to-house survey, "with details of whether they are attending ante-natal [classes] or not"."The plan is to start to link them to services to ensure that they get the care [they need] and that they deliver safely."Mamii will aim to work with local transport networks to try and get more women to clinics and also encourage people to sign up to low-cost public health is too early to say whether this has had any impact, but the authorities hope that the country can eventually follow the trend of the rest of the maternal deaths have dropped by 40% since 2000, thanks to expanded access to healthcare. The numbers have also improved in Nigeria over the same period - but only by 13%.Despite Mamii, and other programmes, being welcome initiatives, some experts believe more must be done – including greater investment."Their success depends on sustained funding, effective implementation and continuous monitoring to ensure that the intended outcomes are achieved," says Unicef's Mr the meantime, the loss of each mother in Nigeria - 200 every day - will continue to be a tragedy for the families Mr Edeh, the grief over the loss of his sister is still raw."She stepped up to become our anchor and backbone because we lost our parents when we were growing up," he says."In my lone time, when she crosses my mind. I cry bitterly." More BBC stories from Nigeria: 'I scarred my six children by using skin-lightening creams'Why British boarding schools are so eager to open in NigeriaThe Nigerian queer parties that offer liberation'I've been sleeping under a bridge in Lagos for 30 years' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica


The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Cancer patients risk dying because of ‘RUBBISH they read on social media', top doctors warn
CANCER patients are refusing medical treatment because of rubbish they read online, top doctors warn. People are becoming incurable and even dying as a result of misinformation on social media. A study led by the University of Bologna found that almost all cancer -related videos on YouTube and TikTok – between 88 and 100 per cent – contain incorrect information. The NHS, top UK charities and global experts warn the problem is out of control, killing patients who have cancer and terrifying those trying to stay healthy. Professor Richard Simcock, NHS doctor and chief medical officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'I recently saw two young women who have declined all proven medical treatments for cancer and are instead pursuing unproven and radical diets, promoted on social media. 'As a doctor, I want to be able to use the best available therapies to help people with cancer. 'A person is perfectly entitled to decline but when they do that on the basis of information which is frankly untrue or badly interpreted it makes me very sad.' Polling by Macmillan has found that 59 per cent of Brits – more than 30million people – believe myths or misconceptions about the disease. For example experts say patients are being sucked in by influencers' claims that low-carb diets can battle cancer, recommendations for unproven drugs, and a belief that negative thoughts can cause relapse. Internet users have also been convinced of false or unproven cancer risks such as from deodorants, mobile phones, underwired bras and dairy, they added. They also accuse search engines and artificial intelligence of regurgitating false information. Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England's medical director, said: 'Social media can provide a supportive community but we're also seeing an alarmingly high level of misinformation on some of these platforms. 'I would urge people to be sceptical of any 'miracle cures' and to use trusted, credible sources like the NHS website. 'These fairy tales aren't just misleading, they can be harmful.' Dr Julie Gralow, president of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, said: 'Several patients of mine wanted an all-natural treatment approach and found clinics online. 'In some cases they died within nine months. 'It's tragic and we wonder what we could have done differently but in the end we can't force anybody to do anything.' About 400,000 people develop cancer in the UK each year and 50 per cent survive for 10 years or more after diagnosis. Matthew Hobbs, of Prostate Cancer UK, added: 'Sadly there are a lot of poor sources of information out there. 'Sometimes they are deliberately pushing unproven treatments or ideas, other times it is well meant advice but lacking expertise and full understanding of all the facts.' Retired breast surgeon Dr Liz O'Riordan said: 'We need to get more doctors talking to patients on social media and explaining things to them.' 1