Global health briefs - August 2017

Global health briefs - August 2017

WHO advises on ethics of surveillance

WHO has launched the first-ever international guidelines on navigating the ethical issues presented by public health surveillance. The document outlines 17 recommendations that address topics such as privacy, autonomy, equity and the common good, which it suggests must be weighed by those conducting surveillance.

Young women are next HIV frontier

Adolescent girls and young women are the next frontier to address in stopping new HIV infections, says a study published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The U.S. should strengthen efforts targeting these populations to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Pregnant women should participate in trials

An international ethics panel is recommending pregnant women be included in Zika vaccine trials. Following extensive consultations, the working group issued ethics advice on priorities, inclusion and evidence generation. The effort was sponsored by the Wellcome Trust.

Malaria drug protects mice from Zika virus

Hydroxychloroquine, a drug approved by the FDA to treat malaria and certain autoimmune diseases in pregnant women, appears to reduce transmission of Zika virus from pregnant mice to their fetuses, according to an NIH-funded study.

NIH study tracks physical activity globally

Using the largest-ever dataset of human movement, NIH-funded researchers at Stanford University have tracked physical activity by population for more than 100 countries. Daily step data from anonymous smartphone users shows how geography, gender and community type impact physical activity level, and how results might inform intervention efforts.

Report examines global security risk of TB

The U.S. should consider investing in domestic and global TB programs, as well as research to end the epidemic, according to a report issued by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Innovations in service delivery and discovery of new treatments are needed to protect the U.S. from the risk of drug-resistant TB.

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