Read the information in Text, published by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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Monkeypox is nothing new, and the virus is endemic in several countries. But when cases started appearing beyond the expected places—and among people who didn’t travel to those endemic regions—researchers paid attention. [...] We’ve been aware of monkeypox for decades, and we have been interested in it mostly because it’s a cousin of smallpox. It is a related orthopoxvirus. The symptoms, although somewhat less severe, are quite similar to smallpox. In most cases, it causes relatively mild illness, meaning most people don’t end up in the hospital with it. [...]

It spreads through large respiratory droplets and bodily fluids, so mostly it spreads through close or intimate contact with other people. It’s not highly contagious— nothing like COVID, for example. [...]

The Monkeypox virus does tend to be a very stable virus. Unlike COVID, or flu that’s mutating constantly, the orthopoxviruses tend to be quite stable. I think the expectation is that the vaccines would still be effective.

(Source: Adapted from What You Need to Know About Monkeypox | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health (jhu.edu), retrieved on 23rd Sep, 2024)

HIV/AIDS TREATMENT

DR. NICOLA WILLIAMS, PH.D

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative viral agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 
(AIDS), is a devasting and lethal disease that has caused widespread suffering worldwide for almost half a 
century and we still have no cure for this disease. But, while those infected can expect to continue treatment 
throughout their lifetime, in recent times there have been advancements in therapeutics.

[5] The introduction of daily combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) led to a significant drop in AIDS-
related morbidities and mortality. Even so, a mechanism of HIV persistence today is the proliferation of 
cells that were infected prior to the introduction of ART. In addition, cART therapy comes with a whole 
host of problems, including premature aging, drug fatigue, toxicity, and inflammatory effects. These side 
effects exacerbate the incidence of other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive 
[10] pulmonary disease (COPD). 

There are remaining knowledge gaps in the campaign against HIV. Challenges to long-acting antiviral 
therapy involve mutations which are resistant and understudied populations. The development of drug-
resistant mutations has been a barrier to achieving a cure for HIV. Meanwhile, problems with adherence to 
cART regimens involve adverse drug reactions and limited access to therapy.

[15] The targeting of integrase has been touted as one of the most promising approaches to combating HIV 
infection. This protein is highly unique. The inhibitors formulated to inhibit integrase are long-acting and 
have shown exceptional promise in their capacity to block HIV integration and replication. Meanwhile, 
another technique that holds promise is the in-vivo delivery of gene-editing tools to either target the virus 
or enhance the immune system or protect cells from becoming infected.

[20] There are opportunities for a collaborative effort and cross-fertilization of concepts from cancer research, 
for example, by utilizing studies done on immune resistance in the field. The same goes for research into 
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), whereby increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in severe 
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral infection could aid further understanding of HIV.

At present, most of the research into a cure for the virus has been carried out by high-income countries.  
[25] In developed countries, the incidence of infection rates is much lower and tends to be mainly problematic 
within the remit of the male homosexual population. Bearing this in mind, we need to remain cognizant 
of the fact HIV strains are genetically and biologically diverse and vary according to sex, ethnicity, and 
geographical locale.

Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Recent-Advancements-in-Treating-HIV.aspx. Accessed in: 22 aug. 2024. (Adapted). 

Read the text and answer questions

     Kids can show anxiety symptoms early on

Kristen Rogers - CNN

    Excessive clinginess to parents can be a sign a child is struggling with an anxiety disorder, experts have said. (...)

    Anxiety disorders are marked by persistent and excessive worries. While someone with generalized anxiety might worry about various everyday things, someone with social anxiety typically has ‘intense or persistent fears or worries about being judged negatively by other people’, said Rachel Busman, a New York-based clinical psychologist and cognitive and behavioral consultant_____specialized in anxiety.

    One fifth of children worldwide have anxiety symptoms that are clinically elevated, or worse than what is considered normal, according to a 2011 study.

    Anxiety symptoms can be difficult to spot, but the sooner parents notice signs, the earlier mental health professionals ‘can help parents and kids understand what is happening’, said Dr. Rebecca Baum, a professor of general pediatrics and adolescent medicine at the University of North Carolina.

    Children with anxiety might begin to avoid anxiety- inducing situations. This behavior can facilitate a cycle that makes their fears bigger and bigger.

Adapted from https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/16/health/anxiety-early- signs-in-kids-wellness/index.html

Texto

UN – United Nations News

May 10th, 2023

1 in 3 children overweight in the European region: WHO report

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report on obesity levels in Europe shows that roughly one in three primary school-aged children is living with obesity or are overweight, and this is only set to rise further. The WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 was launched by the spouses of 16 European leaders and Heads of State, in the Croatian capital. Childhood obesity data for WHO’s European Region paints an alarming picture. “Our children are increasingly growing up in environments that make it very difficult for them to eat well and be active. This is a root cause of the obesity epidemic,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “As societies and countries, we have so far failed to reverse the rising rates of childhood obesity, and that’s why WHO/Europe is here in Croatia, at the invitation of Professor Milanović, spouse of the President, to galvanize political support for this truly insidious public health crisis before it becomes even more difficult to address.” Based on current trends and looking exclusively at obesity in the WHO European Region, which covers 53 countries across Europe and Central Asia, the World Obesity Atlas 2023 published by the World Obesity Federation, projects that between 2020 and 2035, there will be:

• a 61% increase in the number of boys living with obesity,
• a 75% increase in the number of girls living with obesity,
• with a total 17 million boys and 11 million girls aged 5-19 living with obesity in the region in 2035.
• Issues involving being overweight and obesity across all age groups are projected to cost
the WHO European Region $800 billion annually, by 2035.

WHO European Region has identified three specific actions to counter current projections and help prevent this silent epidemic from getting worse: prevention is better than cure: efforts to reduce childhood obesity must start early, right from pregnancy and early childhood. Prevention needs to focus on good nutrition at all stages of a child’s life. Prevention efforts are also needed in homes, schools, and the wider community. Regulating the food and beverage industry: the most effective policies to tackle childhood obesity include imposing a tax on sugary drinks, requiring clear front-ofpackage labelling, and restricting marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Promoting physical activity: this includes better urban design and transportation policies, physical activity in the school curriculum and extra-curricular activities, and clear messaging to support active lifestyles throughout the life course.

Adapted from: 1 in 3 children overweight in the European region: WHO report. UN – UNITED NATIONS NEWS. Release date: May 10th, 2023. Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136547. Access on May 30th, 2023.