International- Mad cow and lifting of the ban on blood donations from the United Kingdom; discovery of a possible new genetic form of Alzheimer’s; how France is organizing itself to limit health risks during the Olympics…A selection of international health news covered by our local editorial teams.
MAD COW
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Europe lifts ban on blood donations from the United Kingdom
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended lifting the ban on people who spent at least a year in the UK in the 1980s and early 1990s to donate blood or plasma for fractionation, says Medscape.uk. These exclusions were imposed by many European countries in response to concerns about possible transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) to humans through blood transfusion after exposure of the donor to food contaminated by the causative agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle during an outbreak of BSE (mad cow disease) in the United Kingdom.
OLYMPIC GAMES: D-50
Olympics: how France is preparing to face the risks of chemical, biological or nuclear attacks
As the Olympic Games approach, France is preparing to face the risks of chemical, biological or nuclear attacks, but also crisis situations involving numerous victims. A look back at two large-scale crisis management exercises: “MANOIR 24” and “ARENA 23”. Organized by the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture, these hyper-realistic role-playing games mobilized two hospitals (Louis Mourier and Beaujon), as well as nursing staff.
Strengthened cybersecurity for healthcare establishments as the Olympics approach
In France, as the Olympic Games approach, experts fear a resurgence in cyber crime. Health establishments are preparing for it (Read on Medscape.fr).
FOCUS INFECTIONS
Dengue, chikungunya: vaccines!
While a new dengue vaccine was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 10, 2024, for its part, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended granting marketing authorization on the market for Ixchiq (Valneva Austria), the first vaccine for EU countries intended to protect adults aged 18 years or older against chikungunya.
Whooping cough is making a comeback in France
With 5,854 cases diagnosed in France since the start of 2024, compared to 495 cases in 2023, according to the Pasteur Institute, whooping cough continues to progress in the territory. “We haven’t seen this in over 40 years or so. Neither this number of cases, nor such a rapid increase,” exclaims researcher Sylvain Brisse, head of the National Reference Center for whooping cough and other bordetelloses at the Pasteur Institute, relayed by France Info.
SEXUAL HEALTH WEEK
Sexual disorders: lifting the taboos
Sexual dysfunctions are common, affecting quality of life, relationships and revealing pathologies. However, they remain insufficiently supported, with sexual health issues rarely addressed by patients and caregivers. (On the occasion of sexual health week, consult our file on Medscape.fr)
SEXIST AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
The French government announces four first measures while waiting for a major Plan
Echoing the #MeToo movement which has been affecting the hospital for several weeks, the Minister Delegate in charge of Health and Prevention, Frédéric Valletoux, announced on May 31 the first measures to combat gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV). in health.
NEW THERAPEUTICS
Drug for severe hypoglycemia in diabetics approved in Europe
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended marketing authorization for Zegalogue (dasiglucagon, Zealand Pharma) for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in diabetic patients aged 6 years and over.
A breakthrough in non-invasive brain stimulation
Researchers from EPFL (Switzerland) and UCLouvain (Belgium) have developed a deep brain stimulation technique without surgery or implants, paving the way for new therapies for various neurological and psychiatric diseases, indicates our site Mediquality.net partner.
IN PRACTICE
Cryptococcosis Update
Meningitis caused by cryptococci is generally associated with HIV seropositivity. However, the increasing use of immunomodulatory therapies has led to a change in the epidemiology of the disease, such that one third of deaths related to cryptococcal meningitis or meningoencephalitis occur in patients without HIV infection. Univadis Spain offers a brief review of this pathology.
FLASH STUDIES
Two copies of APOE4, a factor to take into account in the development of Alzheimer’s disease
A group of Spanish researchers discovered that the presence of two copies of the APOE4 gene could represent a new genetic form of Alzheimer’s disease. Almost all people whose APOE4 gene is duplicated develop the disease (Read on Univadis.es).
Are children born through medically assisted procreation more exposed to the risk of cancer?
The results of a French study attempting to answer this question have been published (Read on Univadis.fr).
The composition of the gut microbiota could have an impact on decision-making
Researchers from INSEAD, the Brain Institute and the University of Bonn have discovered that changes in the gut microbiota can influence decision-making. Hilke Plassmann, co-author of the study, presents it to Medscape.fr.
DEADLY HEAT WAVE
61 deaths in Mexico
The increasing prevalence and severity of heat waves worldwide, attributed to climate change, constitutes a significant health problem, particularly in Mexico. The first heat wave of the year hit Mexico on March 17, and weather forecasts predict at least four more waves through September. By the end of May, 1,346 extreme temperature-related health events and 61 deaths had been reported.
These environmental changes increase the risks of morbidity and mortality, worsen cardiopulmonary, cardiovascular and renal diseases. Doctors emphasize the importance of implementing proactive prevention measures for children, the elderly and pregnant women.
UNUSUAL
Dengue fever: studying fluctuations in surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean to anticipate epidemics
Scientists from the Pasteur Institute have just shown that integrating the analysis of temperature fluctuations on the surface of the Indian Ocean into a forecast statistical model could make it possible to better anticipate dengue epidemics.
*Aude Lecrubier (Medscape French edition), Claudia Bravo (Medscape in Spanish), Leoleli Schwartz (Medscape in Portuguese), Maria Baena (Univadis Spain), Sebastian Schmidt (Coliquio, Germany) collaborated on this article.
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