Mylab becomes first Indian company to get COVID-19 test kits validated
Mylab’s innovation reduces test time from 4 to 2.5 hours. The company has promised that it can manufacture up to 100,000 tests in a week which can be further scaled up if needed.
Public health & disease
From disease eradication efforts to advances in vaccination and maternal health, this archive tracks real progress in public health. Stories here focus on what’s working — policies, interventions, and research that are improving and extending lives around the world.
U.K. government will pay wages for anyone facing unemployment due to pandemic
Unveiling an unprecedented intervention by the state in the British economy, the government will cover 80% of worker salaries for at least the next three months up to a maximum of $2,900 a month.
Carnival offers its cruise ships to help with COVID-19 care
The company’s portfolio of cruise line brands includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn, including 102 ships. During normal times, they host over 225,000 guests on any given day.
Scientists can now accelerate COVID-19 testing by screening multiple samples at the same time
Health care professionals may be able to dramatically speed up COVID-19 testing now that Israeli scientists have developed a technique for screening up to 60 patient samples at the same time.
Japanese flu drug ‘clearly effective’ in treating coronavirus, says China
Patients who were given the medicine in Shenzhen turned negative for the virus after a median of four days after becoming positive, compared with a median of 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug.
New York halts evictions indefinitely due to coronavirus pandemic
The move came after tenant advocates and elected officials argued that evictions during this public health crisis would drive up homelessness and worsen the spread of COVID-19.
New Lyme disease treatment kills bacteria that causes lingering symptoms
A new Stanford Medicine study provides evidence that the drug azlocillin could be effective for treating Lyme disease patients infected with drug-tolerant bacteria.
Second-ever patient cured of HIV
A man from London has become the second person in the world to be cured of HIV, doctors say. Adam Castillejo is still free of the virus more than 30 months after stopping anti-retroviral therapy.
MIT uses machine learning to develop powerful antibiotic
The drug works in a different way to existing antibacterials and is the first of its kind to be found by setting AI loose on vast digital libraries of pharmaceutical compounds.
Researchers invent an “EpiPen” for spinal cord injuries that can prevent paralysis
The approach was demonstrated in mice at the University of Michigan, with the nanoparticles enhancing healing by reprogramming the aggressive immune cells—call it an “EpiPen” for trauma to the central nervous system.