Covid Health Article 2
Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, has been common in countries like India even prior to the COVID pandemic. Black fungus is closely linked to diabetes which is common in south-east Asian countries especially India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Following recovery from COVID, the immune system is further weakened. If the patient also suffers from diabetes, the risk of obtainig black fungus in increased. This fungus mainly infects the eyes and facial structures, resulting in loss of vision in severe cases. There has been a shortage of anti-fungal medication used to treat this infection in countries with the highest incidence.
Recent data shows that there have been recommendations to start vaccinating children over the age of 12 years. The incidence of the COVID infection in children remains low with thankfully negligible deaths. Deaths have mainly been in children with underlying medical problems. Thus, clinicians ensure vaccine safety is balanced with the risk of mild infection. Wider studies and international data is essential prior to providing universal immunisations in teenagers. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, mentions that should recommendations of vaccinating teenagers be passed that there should be sufficient vaccine supply to ensure UK children between 12 to 15 years are vaccinated. There is some data that the benefits would be very limited due to baseline low rate of coronavirus infections in children.
A discovery from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a new type of immune cell to help fight against cancer. The usual treatments for cancer involve drugs called chemotherapy; surgery to remove the diseased part or radiation called radiotherapy. Immune treatments for cancer are recent developments. In this, the body’s white cells are targeted to enhance their ability to self-destroy the cancer cells.
Since vaccinating majority of the world’s population is the safest way to improving global mobility, several developed nations are leading in donating vaccine to various countries falling behind. Recent announcement by US to donate 750,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan and UK is already donating vaccines to India and other countries where it would be helpful.