German health minister praises 'historic' WHO draft pandemic treaty
"It is no exaggeration to describe this agreement as historic," Lauterbach said.
Thanks to the agreement, forged early on Wednesday, he said information about viruses or other pathogens with pandemic potential will be shared more quickly in the future, enabling action to be taken sooner.
"It simply increases the likelihood that a local outbreak will never become a pandemic if you have an agreement like this," the health minister said.
Over 190 states agreed to the draft treaty, committing to strengthening global collaboration on prevention and responses to future pandemic threats.
The WHO treaty is also designed to prevent chaotic conditions in the procurement of protective materials and the unfair distribution of vaccines - both points of criticism of the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lauterbach expressed regret that the United States no longer participates in WHO negotiations and plans to leave the body in January under President Donald Trump.
"Of course, all of this has been significantly weakened by the planned withdrawal of the United States," he said.
The draft treaty will now be submitted to the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, in May for consideration.
The treaty would be binding only in countries that choose to ratify it.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
The 3 most common causes and triggers of headaches
Headaches are among the most relatable of human complaints – and one of the most disruptive. Whether it's a dull, lingering discomfort or a sudden, throbbing pain, a hurting head can derail a workday, sap your energy for relationships or family time and make even simple conversations feel overwhelming. Head pain is also incredibly prevalent. 'Nearly everyone has a headache occasionally,' notes the World Health Organization. And while some headaches fade quickly with rest or a couple of over-the-counter pain pills, others can last for hours or even days and become downright debilitating. Understanding why your head hurts is the first step toward finding relief and knowing when it's time to see a doctor. 78210275007 Why does my head hurt? There's no single reason for head pain, which is why headaches are generally divided into several types, says Dr. Robert Cowan, a neurologist with board certification in neurology, pain medicine and headache medicine at Stanford Health Care. The main categories are primary headaches – such as migraine, tension-type and cluster headaches – and secondary headaches, which are caused by another condition, such as trauma, infection, tumors or side effects from medication. Tension-type headaches are the most common primary headaches overall and are often linked to muscle tightness from stress, posture or long hours at a computer. Migraine headaches, though less common in the general population, are the type most frequently treated by doctors and can be especially debilitating – causing nausea, extreme sensory sensitivity and visual changes. Not all primary headaches have obvious explanations. 'Headaches, in a nutshell, are conditions of neuro-inflammation, and almost anything can cause inflammation,' says Dr. Fred Cohen, a neurologist and medical director of Headache Intervention at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Complicating matters further, head pain can sometimes be a warning sign of something more serious, such as an infection or vascular problem. In case you missed: A migraine is more than just a bad headache. Here's what causes them. What causes headaches? For primary headaches, there's often no single root cause, just processes in the brain and surrounding tissues that become overactive. 'A migraine is a neurological condition that many people are born with,' Cohen says. Tension-type headaches are often associated with stress, poor nutrition, dehydration, lack of sleep, head trauma or muscle strain. Cluster headaches are rarer but more severe and are linked to changes in a brain structure called the hypothalamus and tend to occur in predictable patterns. Environmental factors can also play a role. Bright lights, loud noises, strong odors, hormonal changes, certain foods and even shifting weather patterns have all been shown to trigger headaches, especially in those prone to migraine attacks. But triggers vary widely. 'Two people with the same diagnosis may have entirely different sets of triggers,' says Cowan. Secondary headaches can stem from sinus infections, concussions, dental problems or serious conditions or issues like meningitis or brain bleeding. How much water is too much? Your guide to knowing if you are drinking enough. How to stop my head from hurting Finding relief starts with identifying the cause of a headache, especially when they occur frequently or are especially painful. 'The first questions we always ask are: What kind of headache is it and what caused it?' says Cohen. Tension headaches often improve with rest, hydration, gentle stretching or over-the-counter pain killers. Warm compresses can also ease neck tension, while cold packs may help with forehead pain. Migraine relief may require prescription medication, plus preventive steps such as maintaining regular sleep, consistent meals, stress management routines and avoiding known triggers. 'If the headache is secondary and due to an underlying cause, then the causative condition needs to be addressed,' says Cowan. It's important to seek medical attention if headaches are frequent, severe, sudden or accompanied by vision changes, weakness, numbness, confusion, fever, weight loss or worsen with exertion. Cohen adds that headaches that change with bodily position, occur during pregnancy, or develop after age 50 also warrant evaluation. 'Any time you have pain, your brain is telling you something is wrong,' explains Cowan. Sometimes, the message is obvious, like not hitting your thumb again with a hammer. 'But sometimes the pain is telling you there's something in your body or your environment that's threatening; and you need to pay attention, figure it out and do something about it.' This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why does my head hurt? What doctors say
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
California resident tests positive for plague after flea bite
Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A person in California tested positive for the plague after likely getting bit via an infected flea during a camping trip in the Lake Tahoe area. Health officials in El Dorado County's Public Health Division announced Tuesday that a positive case of the potentially life-threatening disease turned up in a South Lake Tahoe resident after the virus-filled flea bit the unidentified victim. "It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present," stated Kyle Fliflet, acting director of El Dorado County's public health. As of Tuesday, the patient was recovering at home under medical care. Worldwide, 3,248 human plague cases were reported between 2010 and 2015, according to World Health Organization data. The disease, commonly referred to as as "the plague," caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, occurs naturally in the western parts of the country and typically spreads via fleas or wild rodents. "Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County," added Fliflet. Pets, but particularly dogs and cats, are susceptible to carrying plague-infected fleas. The plague, oftentimes referred to as the Black Death, is estimated to have killed roughly half of Europe's population during the 14th century. An investigation into the exact circumstances is underway, according to officials.
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Boston Globe
‘Natural' sex drugs are a spreading health risk in West Africa
Products like Attoté, a manufactured beverage, and other so-called artisanal sex stimulants made in the Ivory Coast contain high levels of sildenafil, the drug commonly known as Viagra, according to public health officials and laboratory tests obtained by The New York Times. The pills are manufactured in India, smuggled into the Ivory Coast, crushed, mixed with other ingredients, and sold for $1.50 domestically, $15 in France, and $20 in the US. Advertisement Up to half of the drugs in West Africa are unregulated, according to the United Nations' drug agency. More than 500,000 people are estimated to die every year in sub-Saharan Africa from the consumption of dangerous, unregulated medications. Sexual stimulants like Attoté are among the most frequently reported, according to the World Health Organization. Advertisement 'It's coming in from everywhere,' Dr. Assane Coulibaly, the head of the Ivory Coast's pharmaceutical regulatory authority, said about the sexual stimulants. 'It's a war.' Though there is no public data available on the consumption of sexual stimulants in the Ivory Coast, public health officials have warned of the growing risks. Emergency doctors have reported seeing prolonged erections that can lead to necrosis, and patients with frequent migraines and drooling. 'Sexual omnipotence is glorified,' said Dr. Mamadou Kamagaté, a professor of pharmacology. 'Popular beliefs have taken over scientific reasoning, and people ignore the side effects.' One afternoon last fall on an empty lot in Korhogo, a city in northern Ivory Coast, a steady stream of men riding in shiny SUVs or on cheap motorbikes drove past street vendors seated on wobbly plastic chairs. The men were looking for Attoté, a pink, bitter drink purported to improve male performance. The production of Attoté had been suspended a few months earlier by the government, citing misleading advertising and health risks, including death. But the demand remained high. On the empty lot, the main production plant for the drug was at a standstill, but shelves in the plant's adjacent store were still stocked with Attoté bottles. 'I last so much longer,' said Bruno Siloué, a high school student looking to purchase Attoté. 'That's what I take when I have a tough game ahead of me,' said Tenena Soro, 29, a construction worker, referring to a date. Few of the men circling the lot seemed worried about the side effects, which include migraines, stomach pains, uncontrolled drooling, and worrying heartbeats, according to more than two dozen health officials interviewed for this article. Advertisement 'Every man taking this complains about strong migraines. In the news, we hear about men suffering from heart attacks,' said Dr. Fadley Coulibaly, an Ivorian doctor who has raised awareness about the dangers of consuming such drugs. 'And yet, there's no awareness.' In a back alley in downtown Korhogo, herbal scents wafted in the air one afternoon. Consumers milled about buying various supplements and unregulated drugs meant to treat everything from stomach pain to erectile dysfunction. Herbal medicine remains highly popular across West Africa, and some entrepreneurs like Djakalia Ouattara, Attoté's founder, have found success in the market. In an interview with a Times journalist, Ouattara claimed that his product was made only with plants sourced from local markets and nearby villages. But the recipe remains secret, he added. Attoté's concentration of sildenafil is eight times higher than the recommended dose, according to the Ivorian Agency for Pharmaceutical Regulation, which provided the laboratory tests obtained by the Times. Last year, police seized more than 40 tons of sildenafil pills smuggled from India and stored in disused warehouses in Korhogo. 'Even if we use sildenafil, if it cures people, why is it bad?' said Moussa Soro, one of Ouattara's sons. Soro, 29, claimed that Attoté helps with various ailments and even infertility, and said that he began working with his father to produce the product at age 8. Neither of the men holds a degree in medicine. Ouattara, a burly man who wears a fedora and is known across the Ivory Coast as 'Dr. Attoté,' was once a mechanic. When his business was run into the ground, he had a revelation, said two of his sisters, Natou and Mariam Ouattara, both Attoté resellers. Advertisement Djakalia Ouattara supposedly inherited the sacred recipe for Attoté from his deceased grandfather, and believes it is his divine responsibility to share its powers with other men. Representatives for the company declined to provide official sales figures. But Soro said that production started at 5 a.m. and ended at 1 a.m. and that the Attoté plant produced thousands of bottles every day. Key markets for the company include Senegal and Ghana in West Africa, as well as France, Belgium, and the US. Production discreetly resumed shortly after the government ban last year, according to Ouattara. It's the same recipe but under the new name Fêrêlaha, which roughly translates to 'Take the shame off me.' In his living room in Korhogo, Ouattara showed a membership card for the Ivory Coast's National Program for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine, an agency overseen by the country's Health Ministry. The card was issued after the ban, he said. This article originally appeared in
