Health
Fighting the ‘infodemic’: how coronavirus became the litmus test for tech companies’ struggle to contain mis- and disinformation
Facebook, Twitter and Google are among the actors pushed into action in the face of fast spreading Covid-19 disinformation but the efficiency of their efforts will need proper evaluation.
Changing environment, changing health
Our environment and health are closely intertwined, and we must equip future generations with adaptive capacities to achieve sustainable human wellbeing on all fronts. One such environment is our chemical one, present in the products we use, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. Human biomonitoring - a scientific technique that allows us to assess whether and to what extent environmental substances have entered our bodies and how exposure may be changing over time - is a useful public health surveillance tool with which the real-life burden of exposure to chemicals can be assessed.
The differences between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2
Although according to the World Health Organization the novel coronavirus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes, some scientists suggest we should also consider the possibility of aerosol transmission. As the pandemic continues to unfold, research and discussions are ongoing to determine how best to tackle it. Two leading experts offer their opinions, alongside an exploration into some of the vital research being conducted.
Vaccine perspectives for COVID-19 – Scientists around the planet are united to develop a vaccine and make it available to the market as soon as possible
Covid-19 urges policy makers and the big pharma to fasten vaccine developments and possible treatments for the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Will the vaccine be specific to Covid-19 only, or will it be suitable for all SARS coronaviruses? Will it be suitable to all ages? What are the greatest challenges of vaccine production processes and why does it take so long?
Ilaria Capua: A preparedness plan against unknown viruses is crucial for Europe
Interview on COVID-19 with Ilaria Capua, DVM, PhD, Director of the One Health Center of Excellence for Research and Training, University of Florida, USA. There are tests for COVID-19 which detects the virus, other which detects antibodies. Could you briefly describe the differences of these two tests? The rapid spread of the outbreak required rapid ...
Urban health: making cities sustainable and healthier for all
The current Covid-19 pandemic draws attention to the need to integrate health equity into urban planning and encourage behaviours that simultaneously protect the environment and promote health.
Which way for EU data governance during COVID-19?
Since the unprecedented outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the use of data has extensively been discussed. What obstacles do scientists, public health officials and private companies face when processing datasets? And how much digital privacy can EU citizens afford in times of crisis?
Helena Legido-Quigley: “Austerity saps the ability of a health system to respond to COVID-19”
Interview on COVID-19 with Helena Legido-Quigley, Associate Professor of Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and at the National University of Singapore. What role has Spain played in the COVID-19 pandemic? Spain has been slow, but as equally slow as the rest of Europe. The continent lost a month that ...
Covid-19: Boosting antiviral research
As countries around the world implement national pandemic plans, we take a look at some of the research strategies being pursued to tackle Covid-19.
Prof. Andrea Crisanti: “Active surveillance is crucial in containing the epidemic”
Interview on corona virus and what is the best approach to fight epidemic with Andrea Crisanti, professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology and director of the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Padua. From your experience in Italy what should have been the best approach to fight epidemic? I have been repeating since ...