Coronavirus

Health news

Five years after COVID appeared, mysteries remain. Here’s what we know

The pandemic’s origins, the complete death toll, and why some people are more likely to get long COVID are among the unknowns.

03/01/2025

Health news

What we know about XEC, the new COVID variant on the rise in Europe

The subvariant has been reported in at least 11 European countries after emerging in Germany, but so far doesn't meet the criteria for being a variant of concern or interest.

17/09/2024

Health news

COVID still 'very much with us' amid summertime surge, WHO warns

The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments to strengthen vaccine campaigns.

07/08/2024

Health news

COVID antiviral drug linked to mutations that may have infected others

The use of molnupiravir to treat at-risk COVID patients coincides with mutations of the virus, scientists say.

25/09/2023

Health news

COVID: Should we fear a new winter wave?

Since mid-July, Europe has been experiencing a resurgence in cases of COVID due in part to the emergence of new variants.

11/09/2023

World News

Experts urge more testing as new COVID-19 variant emerges

With another COVID-19 ‘variant of interest’, the World Health Organization is warning countries around the world not to dismantle their surveillance measures. The health body says the new variant EG5 is a mutation of Omicron and is similar in its effects.

15/08/2023

Health news

Vaccines led to 84% cut in COVID deaths for cancer patients - study

In a first of its kind study, researchers found the rollout of vaccines led to a huge drop in hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 amid cancer patients.

25/07/2023

No Comment

Homes fumigated in Peru to eradicate mosquitoes spreading dengue virus

For the past two weeks, health workers have been fumigating homes in Peru in a bid to eradicate mosquitoes that spread the dengue virus.

12/05/2023

Health news

Arcturus: Should we be worried about the latest COVID variant?

First detected in India, Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 - also known as "Arcturus" - has already been reported in over 30 countries. This is what we know about it so far.

04/05/2023

Health news

Child vaccinations are down: How do European countries compare?

Over the first two months of 2022 alone, reported cases of measles - a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease - jumped by 80 per cent worldwide.

28/04/2023

China

China lashes out at WHO over accusations it withheld COVID-19 data

China lashed out at the World Health Organization for its latest accusation that China withheld crucial data concerning the origin of COVID-19.

08/04/2023

Health news

‘We need to know’: WHO says China has more on COVID origin

Lab leak or animal origin? More than three years after COVID first surfaced, the origins of the pandemic are still a mystery.

07/04/2023

Health news

COVID lab leak theory: Biden signs bill declassifying intelligence

The bill instructs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19.

21/03/2023

Health news

New York rats are catching multiple COVID variants

The study authors warn more research is needed to see if new strains of COVID could be evolving within rat populations that could one day pose a risk to humans.

09/03/2023

Health news

‘A real risk’: COVID raises chances of getting diabetes

The researchers said their study will help to understand and better prepare for the post-COVID-19 era of cardiovascular risk.

14/02/2023

Health news

Following healthy lifestyle halves risk of long COVID, study suggests

Millions of Europeans have suffered with long COVID.

07/02/2023

China

Wuhan getting back to normal but caution remains

Three years after becoming what many regard as the ground zero of the pandemic, the Chinese city of Wuhan is returning to normal but caution remains as COVID cases rise

23/01/2023

Germany

Germany drops mask rule on long-distance public transport

The German health minister has announced that as of February 2, masks will no longer be required on long-distance trains and buses as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

13/01/2023

Health news

New virus surveillance system could predict the next major pandemic

The Wellcome Sanger Institute’s programme will build on its work sequencing millions of COVID genomes during the pandemic.

12/01/2023

Europe News

EU 'strongly' encourages COVID-19 test for travellers from China

China is struggling to contain a mass outbreak of coronavirus infections after the Communist Party relaxed its draconian "zero-COVID" policies.

04/01/2023