Public health consultant Dr Ike Anya discusses the third human case of bird flu in the US and the spread from dairy cows, alongside a discussion on pregnancy allegations linked to weight loss drugs. Author David Robson highlights the impact of social connections on health, and a South Korean stress awareness competition involving resting heart rates is explored.
Bird flu now transmits from cows to humans, demanding intensified surveillance and vaccine deployment.
Social connections significantly impact health, highlighting benefits against diseases and suggesting strategies for improvement.
Deep dives
Bird Flu Concerns and Transmission
A farm worker in Michigan tests positive for bird flu, the third case in the US connected to dairy cows. The significant shift is the virus's ability to transmit from mammal to mammal, posing a greater risk due to respiratory symptoms. Surveillance is being heightened, vaccines stockpiled, and global awareness is urged to monitor the virus's evolution.
Global Pandemic Preparedness Talks
Discussions at the World Health Assembly extend the deadline to May 2025 for a pandemic treaty agreement. A definition of a pandemic emergency is established to streamline global response. The challenge lies in aligning different countries' priorities and ensuring compliance with pandemic protocols.
Impact of Social Connections on Health
Research shows strong links between social connections and health outcomes, comparable to lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. Evidence suggests that having friends and socializing can protect against various diseases such as the common cold, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. Strategies to enhance social connections include the Benjamin Franklin effect and the importance of compliments for building relationships.
A third human case of bird flu has been reported in the US in a farmworker in Michigan who experienced respiratory symptoms. It follows a recent rapid spread of the virus among dairy cows across the country.
Claudia Hammond is joined by public health consultant Dr Ike Anya to discuss the latest developments, as half of the nation’s stockpile of the H5N1 vaccine is made ready to deploy.
We also hear from the women who’ve posted on social media that they’ve become pregnant after using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for weight loss. Claudia speaks to Dr Charlotte Moffat from the University of Ulster about whether the drugs could be interfering with birth control and boosting fertility.
We also hear from author David Robson about his new book ‘The Laws of Connection’, which explores the science and health effects of our social connections, and discuss what social strategies we can all take to improve how we socialise.
And Claudia and Ike take a look at a competition in South Korea trying to raise awareness of stress where the person with the lowest resting heart rate wins.
Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Dan Welsh
Editor: Holly Squire
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