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WHO warns of rising COVID-19 cases due to new variant

WHO warns of rising COVID-19 cases due to new variant

Al Etihad5 hours ago

8 June 2025 09:28
WASHINGTON (WAM)The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a rise in COVID-19 infections linked to the emergence of a new variant, NB.1.8.1, which is currently under investigation.While the organisation confirmed that the new variant does not pose a greater health risk than previous strains, it noted that the continued evolution of the virus could lead to new waves of infection.WHO stated that the current increase aligns with the virus's seasonal pattern and emphasised that the need for hospitalisation or intensive care remains limited due to widespread community immunity and vaccination coverage.
The global health body classified the overall global risk level as 'high', urging countries to strengthen health surveillance, integrate COVID-19 into seasonal respiratory disease strategies, combat misinformation, and encourage individuals to adhere to preventive measures.

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WHO warns of rising COVID-19 cases due to new variant
WHO warns of rising COVID-19 cases due to new variant

Al Etihad

time5 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

WHO warns of rising COVID-19 cases due to new variant

8 June 2025 09:28 WASHINGTON (WAM)The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a rise in COVID-19 infections linked to the emergence of a new variant, NB.1.8.1, which is currently under the organisation confirmed that the new variant does not pose a greater health risk than previous strains, it noted that the continued evolution of the virus could lead to new waves of stated that the current increase aligns with the virus's seasonal pattern and emphasised that the need for hospitalisation or intensive care remains limited due to widespread community immunity and vaccination coverage. The global health body classified the overall global risk level as 'high', urging countries to strengthen health surveillance, integrate COVID-19 into seasonal respiratory disease strategies, combat misinformation, and encourage individuals to adhere to preventive measures.

SRTI Park and Doctory launch smart medical bag for Hajj pilgrims
SRTI Park and Doctory launch smart medical bag for Hajj pilgrims

Sharjah 24

time16 hours ago

  • Sharjah 24

SRTI Park and Doctory launch smart medical bag for Hajj pilgrims

Innovation designed for real-world pilgrimage challenges The Hajj season presents a critical opportunity to test practical health innovations. 'Masand' is a portable smart medical bag that integrates cutting-edge diagnostic tools, enabling fast, efficient health assessments in demanding environments. This solution was designed to address the specific healthcare needs of pilgrims during Hajj, where timely medical response is crucial. Built in SoiLAB: A hub for advanced medical prototyping Developed through collaboration between Doctory's experts and SoiLAB's engineering team, the bag uses technologies such as 3D printing, additive manufacturing, laser cutting, and custom circuit design. The partnership reflects SRTI Park's position as a nexus for innovation, where academia, government, and industry converge to build life-enhancing products. Enabling health innovation through partnership Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTI Park, emphasized the importance of collaboration: 'Doctory's innovative products, designed within SoiLAB, are a model of health innovation. This project reflects our commitment to empowering creative and innovative companies to turn their ideas into tangible solutions that improve lives.' He further highlighted the Park's goal of fostering an environment where healthcare innovation thrives, backed by advanced research facilities, technical expertise, and investor support. 'Masand' brings mobile healthcare to the forefront The 'Masand' bag can connect patients remotely with a network of medical professionals, making it an essential tool in regions with limited healthcare access. During the current Hajj season, it has gained recognition from medical and regulatory authorities for effectively managing emergency cases at holy sites—affirming its real-world value. A legacy of successful innovation at SRTI Park This is not the first health innovation to emerge from SRTI Park. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Park supported the production of protective masks using advanced lab processes. It also led initiatives like the development of smart prosthetic limbs. The 'Masand' project continues this legacy of meaningful, impact-driven innovation. Doctory's vision: From concept to solution Osama Shamsi Pasha, Co-Founder and COO of Doctory, shared his perspective on the collaboration: 'The 'Masand' medical bag represents a significant leap in mobile healthcare, made possible by the advanced innovation environment and world-class team at SoiLAB.' He noted previous successful collaborations, such as the 'Doctory Chair,' as further proof that SRTI Park is a prime destination for testing and launching innovative health technologies. SoiLAB: Sharjah's engine for future health tech SoiLAB serves as the prototyping and innovation hub of SRTI Park. It supports startups, researchers, and industry with capabilities ranging from 3D printing (metals, polymers, and concrete) to electronics manufacturing, textiles, robotics, and digital fabrication. This environment helps transform bold concepts into real-world devices, particularly in the health tech space. Positioning Sharjah as a regional health innovation leader By fostering collaborations like the one with Doctory, SRTI Park continues to attract healthcare innovators and medical diagnostic companies. It offers a flexible, resource-rich environment for research and manufacturing—strengthening Sharjah's role as a key exporter of advanced medical technology across the region and beyond.

Europe wary of new Nimbus Covid wave as cases emerge in UK and Italy
Europe wary of new Nimbus Covid wave as cases emerge in UK and Italy

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time2 days ago

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Europe wary of new Nimbus Covid wave as cases emerge in UK and Italy

A new Covid strain is rapidly spreading around the world, with European scientists the latest to sound the alarm. The variant, a descendant of Omicron, has been detected in small numbers in the UK, but data suggests it is growing as a proportion of all cases. It was detected for the first time in the world on January 22, 2025 and has spread rapidly. Nimbus, also known as NB. 1.8.1, has been designated a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM) by the World Health Organisation due to its increasing global presence. The World Health Network warned that Nimbus has been identified as responsible for a resurgence of cases in several Asian countries, including India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. At the end of May, the percentage of respiratory samples testing Covid-positive in Hong Kong reached its highest in a year. While the resurgence is yet to match the infection peaks seen in the past two years, rising viral load found in sewage water, as well as in Covid-related medical consultations and hospitalisations suggest the virus is actively spreading, with hospitalisations reaching their highest levels in a year. Singapore's health ministry released its first update on infection numbers in almost a year. The estimated number of cases jumped 28 per cent to 14,200 a week at the start of May, while daily hospitalisations rose around 30 per cent. Singapore only provides case updates when there is a noticeable spike. Thailand's Department of Disease Control has reported two cluster outbreaks this year, with cases rising after April's annual Songkran festival, which brings together crowds of people. Unlike other respiratory pathogens that tend to be more active during colder months, Covid's comeback just as much of the Northern Hemisphere enters summer shows the virus can still strike a large swathe of the population even in hot weather. In Italy, where it was detected for the first time in Genoa this week, there were warnings that the country had 'lowered its guard too much' on vaccination against Covid. Matteo Bassetti, director of the infectious diseases unit at San Martino Hospital in Genoa, said current policies are not working. 'Elderly and immunosuppressed people have problems with Covid,' he said. Dr Giancarlo Icardi, co-ordinator of the region's hygiene laboratory, said the Nimbus variant 'is more easily transmissible, but has nothing to do with the virulence of the virus at the beginning of the pandemic or the first variants'. The UK Health Security Agency urged those eligible for vaccination to ensure they received their jabs. Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of the agency, said there was no evidence that the Nimbus variant causes more severe disease than previous variants or that current vaccines would be less effective. The UKHSA said: 'When a new variant appears on our radar, at the initial stages it is often quite difficult to know whether the mutations provide any advantages to the virus. Genetic mutations happen all the time, and in some cases have been known to make a virus less transmissible or cause a milder reaction in people.' The symptoms of the Nimbus variant remain the same as previous variants: high temperature, cough, sore throat and runny nose.

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