World

The ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus, condemned by Zeus to endlessly push a boulder uphill only for it to roll back down, has become a powerful metaphor for modern global health challenges, particularly the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Researchers studying NTDs say the story reflects the persistent struggle to eliminate infections that disproportionately affect poor populations in low-income countries. Though less deadly than diseases like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, NTDs cause chronic pain, disability, disfigurement and social stigma, often leading to severe economic hardship.

A new study led by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine is warning that Lassa fever remains a vastly underrecognized public health threat with consequences that extend beyond West Africa. Published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the findings all for urgent improvements in diagnosis, surveillance and treatment to curb preventable deaths and reduce the risk of international spread.

A French infant has tested positive for the toxin cereulide after consuming baby formula, the Health Ministry said on Feb 27, in the latest development in a contamination scare that has triggered recalls in more than 60 countries. The case marks the first time a French infant has tested positive for cereulide, a toxin known to cause nausea and diarrhoea, since it was first detected in December in formula containing arachidonic acid oil. The discovery has intensified scrutiny of infant formula manufacturers across Europe and beyond.

A long-running US clinical trial has found that a simple brain-training exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 25 percent, offering one of the strongest pieces of evidence to date that cognitive decline may be preventable. Researchers said the finding emerged from a randomised controlled trial, widely regarded as the gold standard in medical research, marking the first time suc a study has demonstrated a clear intervention that significantly lowers dementia risk.

Ensuring that children receive a balanced and healthy diet during illness is vital to their recovery and protection against further infections, nutrition and child health experts have said. They also stress the importance of instilling healthy eating habits early in life. Experts note that when children, particularly those under five, fall ill, loss of appetite is often one of the earliest symptoms. Although this can worry parents, maintaining proper nutrition remains critical for recovery.

Scientists have identified a hidden vitamin A-related signal that helps cancers evade the immune system, and developed a way to switch it off. Researchers at the Princeton University branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research report that a vitamin A-derived molecule, all-trans retinoic acid, can suppress key immune responses against tumors and undermine the effectiveness of certain cancer vaccines. The findings, detailed in two studies published in Nature Immunology and iScience, help resolve a long-standing scientific debate over vitamin A's mixed role in cancer. They also led to the development of the first experimental drugs designed to block retinoic acid signaling, a pathway that had resisted drug development for decades.