Health and fitness are two topics which always make headlines. Every day, we get the news about some diseases or cures for diseases, or some new fitness trend. Today, kids are becoming more and more interested in knowing about the latest developments in these fields. Here is the latest health news for kids.
Coronavirus Threatens China
The news about Coronavirus is spreading faster than the disease. It is not just China, but the entire world is on its guard against the virus. What exactly is this virus, and how does it spread?
Coronaviruses belong to a large family of viruses that affect the upper respiratory tract of mammals. Common symptoms of the virus infection include runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and muscle pain. It can transmit from animals to humans, and from person to person. It causes pneumonia in people with weak immune systems. Although it is not always fatal, severe cases of the disease can cause death.
The current outbreak was first reported in Wuhan region in China. Scientists suspect animals such as bats and snakes to be the source of the virus. Apart from China, the virus has so far been reported in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
As the death toll due to the disease is showing a sharp increase, the authorities around the world are taking precautions. Airports have increased health screenings and quarantines for people travelling from affected regions. China has imposed a travel lockdown in many cities. The world stand together to fight this deadly virus.
Chemicals in sunscreen absorbed through skin
A study conducted by the United States Food and Drug Administration has found that the chemicals used in most sunscreen products get absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin. A total of seven chemicals are capable of entering the bloodstream after a single application. Moreover, this is at levels that exceed safety thresholds.
David Andrews, a senior scientist for the consumer organization, EWG, expressed his concern over the finding. According to him, many of these chemicals have not been fully tested for safety. But the FDA authorities have a different view. According to Dr. Janet Woodcock, Director at the FDA, the fact that an ingredient is absorbed through skin does not mean that it is unsafe. She added that this finding stresses the need for additional safety testing of sunscreen ingredients.
FDA authorities go on to stress the need for sun protection as skin cancer is directly linked to sun exposure. If you don’t prefer the use of sunscreen, wear full-sleeved clothing, hats, and sunglasses.
Scientists develop mosquitoes engineered to repel dengue virus
Scientists have found a new method of preventing the spread of the deadly dengue virus. An international team of scientists have developed synthetically engineered mosquitoes that can halt the transmission of the dengue virus.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego under the leadership of Associate Professor Omar Akbari, collaborated with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center to achieve this spectacular development. The team identified a broad spectrum human antibody for dengue suppression. This antibody targets four known types of dengue.
This designed antibody was synthetically expressed in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are responsible for the spread of dengue. When this female mosquito sucks blood, this antibody is activated. As a result, the virus will not transmit further. This in turn prevents the transmission of the virus to humans . This method can be effective in controlling the spread of dengue virus.
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