Every week, HEADlines brings you the latest news, stories and commentaries in education and healthcare. This week, get insights on the latest developments in healthcare. image Understanding the surge behind India’s COVID-19 cases India is facing its largest COVID-19 crisis since the start of the pandemic, as infection numbers rise to more than 400,000 daily, a record high in the world. Researchers believe the surge is caused by a confluence of factors including high social mixing, less adherence to protective measures and low vaccine coverage. But an overriding reason for the explosion in spread is due to the emergence of the highly infectious “double mutant” Indian variant. What’s worrying about the Indian variant is that it has two critical mutations that make the virus bind more effectively to human cells. This results in a virus that is more transmissible and which has the ability to escape the human immune system. That means it could evade antibodies created by a prior infection or by vaccination. With the variant fast spreading to more than 17 countries, governments are once again responding with border closures and increased restrictions in order to fight back. For now, COVID-19 vaccines have been found to work on the Indian variant although experts fret that future variants could be more immune-evasive. On a brighter note, the world has achieved an unprecedented feat of one billion COVID vaccinations in four months. Scientists believe that hitting the two-billion mark could happen even faster, with hopes that widespread vaccination of 75% of the world population could finally bring the pandemic under control. Healthcare in the Spotlight ChannelNews Asia: WHO gives emergency approval to Sinopharm, first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine The vaccine is one of two main Chinese shots that has already been given to hundreds of millions of people in China and abroad. World Economic Forum: Exercise makes you 50% more likely to have higher antibodies after a vaccine Regular physical activity strengthens the human immune system, and decreases the risk of one falling ill and dying from infectious disease by 37%. The Straits Times: Two pandemics clash as US doctors find that COVID-19 spurs diabetes Though the underlying reasons are unknown, some doctors suspect that the COVID-19 virus may be damaging the pancreas, the gland that makes insulin. The New York Times: Earlier diabetes onset could raise dementia risk The younger the age at diagnosis for Type 2 diabetes, the higher the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia The Straits Times: Mobile TCM clinic brings services closer to East Coast residents in Singapore As part of a pilot programme, the mobile clinic will visit about 25 locations in East Coast on a regular basis, bringing subsidised TCM care closer to the homes of seniors. TIME: Fossil fuels, climate change and India’s COVID-19 crisis What role is India’s notorious urban air pollution playing in the country’s unfolding COVID-19 catastrophe? Photo credit: Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash STAT: Climate change and human immunity: invest now or pay more later Despite clear warning signs, governments have yet to adequately fund efforts to mitigate the escalating health threats due to climate change. Healthbytes Medical myths: All about cancer Source: Medical News Today “Cancer” is a generic term for a group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. In this article, uncover 10 myths associated with cancer to cut through the maze of misinformation.