Epidemiology
Discussion: The mental health impacts of reopening society
After more than a year of measures such as mask mandates and social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, communities around the world are adjusting to reopened workplaces and society. But ongoing concerns about the pandemic and challenges posed by variants have many people wary. The World’s Elana Gordon moderated a conversation with Harvard Chan School of Public Health’s Karestan Koenen, who explored mental health during this transition.
An epidemiologist suggests we take cues from the AIDS crisis in dealing with Ebola
While it may seem as though media attention surrounding the Ebola outbreak has dwindled, President Barack Obama has said that “we are nowhere near out of the woods yet in West Africa” — meaning volunteers are still needed. Physician and epidemiologist Sharon McDonnell is one of those volunteers, and she says her experience working during the AIDS crisis offers her some perspective.
We still don’t know for sure how Ebola reached humans
Scientists are still trying to figure out when and how the Ebola virus first emerged in humans. Many believe that fruit bats are the so-called “reservoir hosts,” but that remains to be definitively proven. Science writer David Quammen ventured deep into the forest of central Africa to try to find out for his latest book “Ebola: The Natural and Human History of a Deadly Virus.”
Here’s how cutting down West African trees made us vulnerable to Ebola
Diseases that can move between animals and humans — called zoonotic diseases — make up a majority of infectious diseases that humans can get, scientists say. So it’s no wonder that out-of-control logging in West Africa has likely aided the spread of Ebola.
The current Ebola outbreak is huge, but at least it’s not spreading particularly quickly
In terms of sheer numbers of cases, the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the biggest ever recorded. But analysis shows that the disease is not spreading as quickly as some diseases have in the past, which gives some hope that it might soon be contained.
Avian flu kills a Canadian, and more in today’s global scan
Canada is dealing with its first death from H5N1, known as avian flu. The victim recently returned from Beijing, where officials say she contracted the disease. Meanwhile, ’12 Years A Slave’ is expected to take home awards this season, though it’s a story that was almost lost to history. And police in the UK who carry guns will now have to wear body cameras. All in today’s Global Scan.