COVID-19

A report released Tuesday by the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) shows executions in North Korea surged during the COVID-19 pandemic for offenses including watching South Korean cultural content. Of 144 confirmed executions over Kim Jong-un's 13-year rule from 2011 to 2024, 65 occurred after the border closure at the pandemic's start. The findings draw from testimonies of 265 North Korean defectors and reporting by five media organizations with in-country contacts.

15 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Fifteen patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, requested blood transfusions from donors unvaccinated against covid-19, leading to dangerous delays in care. One patient suffered a life-threatening drop in haemoglobin levels. Researchers warn that such requests stem from misinformation despite the safety of the regulated blood supply.

A drop in air pollution during COVID-19 lockdowns altered atmospheric chemistry, leading to a sharp rise in methane concentrations from 2020 to 2022. Researchers attribute most of this surge to fewer hydroxyl radicals that normally break down the potent greenhouse gas. The findings highlight potential risks as countries reduce emissions further.

28 Mwezi wa kwanza, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI Imethibitishwa ukweli

A Northwestern Medicine-led study of more than 3,100 adults with long COVID found that non-hospitalized participants in the United States reported substantially higher rates of brain fog, depression/anxiety and insomnia than participants in Colombia, Nigeria and India—differences the researchers say likely reflect cultural factors and access to care as much as biology.

Argentina's Formosa province saw a rise in COVID-19 cases last week, with a 24% positivity rate. The Ministry of Human Development urged residents to resume preventive measures, including mask use in enclosed spaces. No hospitalizations from the disease are reported currently.

14 Mwezi wa kumi na moja, 2025 Imeripotiwa na AI

Scientists are launching a nationwide trial to evaluate whether the weight-loss drug Zepbound can alleviate long Covid symptoms. The study focuses on the drug's anti-inflammatory properties. Tirzepatide, Zepbound's active ingredient, has already shown benefits in reducing risks of cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases beyond weight loss.