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 Can we finally put an end to dengue? Dengue fever causes up to 400 million infections a year and has become the fastest spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world. A new modelling study predicts that an additional 4.7 billion people will be affected by dengue by the end of the century, if carbon emissions continue to rise at current levels. The increasing risks lead one to ask: is there a way to curb the spread of dengue beyond the current prevention methods? The solution, interestingly, can be found in the insect that spreads it. In a trial by the World Mosquito Program (WMP) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the city saw a 77% drop in dengue fever cases after Aedes mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria were released into the community. The Wolbachia bacteria reduces a mosquito’s ability to spread dengue by making it harder for the virus to replicate. This success has been replicated in a number of countries including Australia, Brazil, Colombia and Vietnam. Back in Singapore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has also seen its own share of success. It has reduced dengue cases by up to 88% in some study sites after releasing male Wolbachia-mosquitoes into the site. While it is uncertain if dengue fever can be completely eradicated, we are certainly making steady strides towards reducing infections significantly. Healthcare in the Spotlight Mashable SE Asia: COVID-19: Super-viral Lambda variant detected in over 30 countries The Lambda strain was reported to have originated from Peru, the country with the highest mortality rate in the world. It is currently classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the WHO. The Guardian: Why living with COVID would not be the same as flu Coronavirus is more contagious and more lethal than influenza, and we lack the same global protection mechanism to manage COVID in the same manner as influenza. ChannelNews Asia: WHO recommends Roche, Sanofi’s arthritis drugs with corticosteroids for COVID-19 treatment to cut death risk A study of 11,000 patients showed that the treatment reduces the risk of death and the need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients with severe and critical conditions. Medical News Today: Deep sleep may help clear the brain of Alzheimer’s-related toxins A new study confirms that low-frequency brain waves produced during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep phase play a vital role in clearing brain waste. South China Morning Post (Opinion): Hong Kong traditional medicine hospital just the tonic Hong Kong’s first Chinese medicine hospital will bring together Chinese and Western medicine practitioners to diagnose and treat diseases, with the former playing a predominant role. Healthcare IT News: Telehealth may help reduce medicine’s carbon footprint A wide-ranging study recently found that an increase in telehealth over the past six years corresponded with a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions due to transportation. The Economist: The danger posed by heatwaves deserves to be taken more seriously They will become more frequent and deadly in the years to come. What can be done? Healthbytes Exercises for your body type Source: Raffles Medical Group Choosing the right exercise for your body type may be the more effective way of achieving your weight loss or weight gain goals. Find out which exercises work best for your body type. Upcoming Webinars image Happening at 1pm (GMT +8) today! Join us at our second webinar of this series and learn about the complexities and exciting progress made in the water dimension of the water-energy-food nexus! Register now image Chinese Medicine Webinar Series by UTAR (Malaysia) Want to know more about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and how it can benefit your health? Tune in to the monthly webinar series by TCM lecturers at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia. In the month of July, they will be covering “Chinese Medicine Health Preservation and Tuina Exercises”. Click here to register. *Please note that the UTAR webinar will be conducted in Mandarin.