Influenza kills hundreds of thousands around the world each year while the threat of a global pandemic remains omnipresent Contracting influenza, or the ‘flu’, as it is often referred to, sounds fairly innocuous in comparison to certain other more exotic … Continue reading →

Is it a case of one step forward, two steps back? The manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) have been recognized since antiquity, with evidence of spinal TB found in Egyptian mummies dating from around 1000 BC. Yet one hundred and thirty … Continue reading →

In this third instalment in our series on malaria, we examine the phenomenon of resistance to anti-malarial agents. Growing resistance to anti-malarial medications represents a major challenge to global efforts to control malaria.[1] Drug resistance is the ability of the … Continue reading →

Malaria vaccine represents for public health what the moonwalk was for space exploration  In our first instalment on malaria, we reported on new research suggesting that malaria was responsible for 1.2 million deaths in 2010. The second part in our … Continue reading →

When it comes to the spread of antibiotic resistance, there is no shortage of dire predictions.  Phrases such as “a global public health and environmental catastrophe” (US Institute of Medicine) and “a doomsday scenario” (WHO) are commonplace.  Indeed, ever since … Continue reading →

In an era when the marvels of modern medicine continue to inspire and awe, focusing on the threat to health posed by microorganisms might seem somewhat anachronistic. It shouldn’t. Arguably among humankind’s oldest foes, pathogenic microorganisms are far from being … Continue reading →

As you read this, new drugs are being developed. Modern time has witnessed hundreds of miracles in the pharmaceutical industry and the list of pharmacological drugs continues to grow longer each year. The 17th edition of the WHO List of … Continue reading →

Information technology (IT) is rapidly changing the face of modern medicine. Its proponents have long touted the potential benefits of IT in terms of the quality and efficiency of healthcare. Yet along with these advances in IT come various new … Continue reading →

21st century technological magic in medicine If you think robots belong to science fiction books and movies, think again. Robotics and novel technologies are making their way into operating theatres, consulting rooms and patients’ bodies. Astounding advances have been made in … Continue reading →