Curing Hepatitis C, in an Experiment the Size of Egypt

The GeneXpert machine is being used to diagnose tuberculosis earlier, and can identify strains that are receptive to common medications as opposed to drug-resistant strains. The machine tests samples by extracting and amplifying genes. Based on the bacterium load in a sample, it reports whether there are low or high amounts of TB detected and has the capacity to test four gene samples at the same time with a 90-minute period. Because of early and accurate detection, drug-resistant cases have reduced nationwide, saving people the trauma of prolonged and expensive treatments for drug-resistant strains.

Vitiligo, an incurable autoimmune condition that impacts both children and adults, is often a cause of stress and stigma concerns for those affected. Recent efforts to reduce the skin discoloration that the condition is known for has lead to the discovery that medications and therapies already used in the health field can also be applied to this circumstance.

The "Bangladesh Regimen"--a shorter drug treatment for tuberculosis--is being implemented in Kenya. A shorter treatment means that patients will be less likely to develop the often serious side effects that can come with tuberculosis medications.

In the past two years, Zika virus has arisen as one of the most pressing public health concerns. This piece charts the worldwide efforts by doctors using new technology to develop a vaccine for Zika.

Racing to contain the Zika outbreak, Brazil has deployed an army of health workers to eradicate mosquitoes. But in a country where standing water abounds, giving mosquitoes endless opportunities to breed, the task is daunting.

In light of a study published in BMC Medicine, authors Nancy Fullman and Alexandra Wollum take a deeper dive into Nigeria’s gains against polio and what they could mean for the country’s routine vaccine systems.

Germany, like the U.S., has a largely private healthcare system that relies on private doctors and private insurers. Like Americans, many Germans enroll in a health plan through work, splitting the cost with their employer. But Germany strictly limits how much patients have to pay out of their own pockets for a trip to the doctor, the hospital, or the pharmacy, making medical debt practically nonexistent.

Considering the increase in antimicrobial resistance or AMR in patients hospitalized with severe infections, Thika Level 5 Hospital is one of a number of medical centers that are using antimicrobial sensitivity testing to ensure effective treatment and quicker recovery. As the uptake of testing slowly improves, it is also contributing to increased data and research on the issue, which will help experts to come up with better strategies and plans for treatment in the future.

China’s path to officially eliminating malaria began in the 1950s when a scientist in a government-funded program discovered the ancient Chinese herb Wormwood had been used to treat symptoms for centuries and went on to make the world’s top treatment. Effective coordination across many agencies, treating stagnant water, and widespread use of insecticide nets also limited cases. Today China uses the “1-3-7” method where local agencies are told of any likely case within one day, the case is confirmed within three days, and measures are taken to treat the patient and prevent further spread within seven days.

An app that uses A.I. to scans lung X-rays is helping two hospitals in rural and remote parts of India to identify cases of tuberculosis that they otherwise would have been likely to misdiagnose. Medical professionals caution that the app is not a replacement for a clinician's diagnosis but say when used in conjunction with a clinical assessment, the interpretation of a chest X-ray is likely to be more accurate.