Articles tagged with Africa
Ecologists have identified 21 bat species that are likeliest to harbor Ebola and other filoviruses, primarily found in Southeast Asia and Central and South America. The study suggests targeted disease surveillance efforts in these regions to prevent future outbreaks.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests climate shifts influenced human subsistence strategies but not the driving factor behind cultural and technological innovations during Middle Stone Age. Researchers found that environmental variation did not coincide with these innovations, implying other factors drove human innovation.
A study in Uganda found that increasing community medical male circumcision and antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage was associated with reduced community HIV incidence. Median community HIV incidence declined from 1.25 to 0.84 per 100 person-years in males, and from 1.25 to 0.99 per 100 person-years in females.
Research suggests that increasing male circumcision rates and ART coverage significantly reduces new male HIV infections in rural Ugandan communities. Communities with higher circumcision coverage saw a 39% decline in new infections, while those with higher ART coverage among women saw a 23% reduction.
A study reveals that rapid TB tests in West Africa have low accuracy due to the presence of other mycobacterial species like Mycobacterium africanum. The tests miss a substantial fraction of cases, leading to dire consequences for patients and TB control efforts.
Key findings highlight the need for national palliative care policies in African countries, where many lack such guidelines. The article discusses the evolution of palliative care policy on the continent, raising awareness and promoting education to address these challenges.
Researchers analyzed fossil records and ostrich eggshell stable isotope measurements from two Middle Stone Age sites, finding no correlation between climate shifts and technological or cultural innovations. The study challenges the idea that climate change drove early human experimentation.
The study identified two groups of drought-resistant bean lines: 'water savers' and 'water spenders'. The former are suitable for semi-arid regions with limited moisture, while the latter have deep roots to maximize water extraction. These findings contribute to improving bean productivity in areas affected by drought.
The Quatro Study will inform ongoing product development efforts by gathering end-user input on four vaginal delivery systems for HIV and multipurpose prevention. The study, recruiting 200 healthy women ages 18-30 in South Africa and Zimbabwe, assesses user experiences of placebos with no active ingredients.
Researchers have developed paper strips that can detect diseases like cancer and malaria at home using a cost of 50 cents per strip. These tests are accurate even after a month and can be sent via mail, making them ideal for rural communities where access to healthcare is limited.
A new analysis published in Nature finds that country pledges under the Paris Agreement would lead to a global temperature rise of 2.6-3.1°C by 2100, exceeding the 2°C limit. The study suggests that additional measures are necessary after 2030 to limit warming to 2°C or even 1.5°C.
A new solar-powered oxygen delivery system, developed by UAlberta, is providing concentrated oxygen to children with severe pneumonia in Ugandan hospitals. The system, which uses solar energy and batteries, has shown to be as effective as conventional oxygen delivery methods.
The 1976 Ebola outbreak highlighted the importance of rapid clinical recognition, international notification, and specimen provision. Researchers recommend strengthened preparation, detection, response, control mechanisms, and international cooperation to manage future outbreaks promptly.
A new study finds that converting forests into monoculture palm plantations will cause significant climate-warming carbon emissions. Converting just 11,500 hectares of forest could release 1.5 million metric tons of carbon, equivalent to small developing countries. However, these emissions can be offset over 25 years if development is ...
Scientists found 25 million-year-old fossil termite nests in East Africa with evidence of fungus gardens, a form of agriculture not by humans but by insects. This discovery provides the oldest known examples of agricultural practices and sheds light on how termites evolved to cultivate fungi.
The global mapping of artemisinin resistance, led by Institut Pasteur researchers, has confirmed that resistance to the main malaria drug is confined to Southeast Asia. The study identified 70 new mutations, including those in Cambodia and Vietnam-Laos, which were not associated with resistance.
Researchers have uncovered signatures of historical DNA mixing events in sub-Saharan Africa, shaping the continent's recent genetic history. The study provides insights into admixture events that may contribute to non-communicable and infectious diseases like malaria.
New studies find exclusive breastfeeding for six months reduces conduct disorders in children, while enriched play/stimulation by age two boosts cognitive development. Additionally, 'responsive stimulation' improves emotional-behavioral problems in impoverished rural children.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon University will benefit 125 students from Sub-Saharan Africa, providing globally recognized degree programs in ICT. The program aims to expand future career options and support growth and development of the technology sector in Africa.
A 700-year-old West African soil technique converts nutrient-poor rainforest soil into fertile farmland, potentially offsetting CO2 emissions and preventing food shortages. Researchers discovered that this method creates 'African Dark Earths' containing 200-300% more organic carbon than other soils.
Kenya's ivory burn has increased by over 600% since 2011, with a recent record-breaking burn valued at up to $220 million. The scientists argue that tracking the impact of these burns is crucial to reduce poaching and illegal ivory trade.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is home to a rich biodiversity of water beetles, with 68 species collected from temporary freshwater ponds. These tiny ecosystems are crucial for maintaining wetland health and can serve as indicators of pollution levels.
A 24-million-year-old record of vegetation trends suggests that humans developed key traits like flexible diets and large brains while adapting to the spread of open grasslands. The study provides a comprehensive timeline for the development of grasses, which were part of human evolution from the very beginning.
Researchers identified Asian crop remains in Madagascar, providing archaeological evidence of Southeast Asian colonization over 1,000 years ago. Genetic research confirms the connection between Malagasy speakers and Austronesian language families.
Achieving the 90-90-90 targets for HIV diagnosis, treatment and virologic suppression in South Africa would have a transformative impact, averting millions of new infections, saving millions of lives and preventing orphanages. The initiative is estimated to yield enormous population and clinical benefits.
The study retrieved the complete sequence of a fossil's mitogenome, confirming its Eurasian origin and supporting a Palaeolithic back-migration to Africa. This migration suggests that some populations embarked on a journey from Eurasia to Africa around 40,000 years ago.
A research team sequenced the first complete mitochondrial genome of a 2500-year-old Phoenician, revealing rare European haplogroup U5b2cl in North Africa. The findings date the arrival of this haplogroup to at least late sixth century BC.
The WHO has convened an emergency committee due to the risk of a YF outbreak in unvaccinated populations in Asia. The World Health Organization is concerned about the limited supply of vaccine, but experts warn that this poses a strong risk of epidemics.
A Fulbright Scholar will conduct research on women's sexual health literacy in Sierra Leone with a focus on HIV incidence, contraceptive use, and prenatal health. The study aims to enhance understanding of women's health literacy among unmarried women in the region.
Researchers found that hornbills' beaks account for up to 20% of their non-evaporative heat loss, helping conserve water in hot desert environments. This unique adaptation may provide an advantage over panting, a method used by birds to cool off.
New research from North Carolina State University finds cribra orbitalia, a condition with porous bone inside the eye sockets, is common in both North America and South Africa, affecting 12.35% of modern North Americans and 16.8% of modern South Africans. The high rates may be linked to iron-poor diet and intestinal parasites.
New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that poor countries will experience more frequent heat extremes before wealthier nations, despite emitting less CO2. The study shows that the poorest fifth of the global population will be the first to feel the effects of climate change.
A study by researchers from the University of Exeter found that marine turtle trade continues despite conservation efforts, with a shift towards commercial harvesting in certain islands. The study suggests refining conservation interventions and focusing on suppliers and consumers for more robust solutions.
Scientists found that an early Arctic spring in Africa is killing red knots by disrupting their food supply. The birds' short beaks limit their access to shellfish, essential for survival.
A new study by Eric Akobeng reveals that international remittances have a significant impact on reducing poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest a 10% increase in remittances as share of GDP leads to a decline in the number of people living on less than $1.25 per day, extreme poverty, and inequality.
Climate scientists warn that Africa's vulnerability to climate change could lead to longer, hotter heat waves affecting life expectancy and crop production. The study found that unusual heat waves could occur four times per year towards the end of the century.
A recent study highlights the persistence of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa, where rates have remained higher than in other regions. The research suggests that common risk factors, such as HIV prevalence and connected sexual networks, may be underlying causes of the spread of syphilis in these populations.
The discovery of diverse Oligocene primates from southern China sheds light on the evolution of primates during the Eocene-Oligocene transition. The Asian fauna is dominated by strepsirhines, contrasting with Afro-Arabian primate faunas that diversified anthropoids after the climate crisis.
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) sent ten students to the PanAfrican Legume Conference in Zambia to learn about pulses and grain legumes. The conference, which drew over 500 participants from 46 countries, focused on sustainable systems for food, income, and nutritional security.
A study by American University Economics Professor Boris Gershman found a negative correlation between witchcraft beliefs and trust, eroding social capital and cooperation. In regions with widespread witchcraft beliefs, mistrust and property destruction are common, stifling economic progress.
A deadly fungus has been found to be threatening African frog species, with at least five species declining due to chytrid and habitat destruction. Climate change may also be exacerbating the issue.
A decade-long fieldwork project in southern China has uncovered six new fossil species of primates, which survived the Eocene-Oligocene transition due to their tough enamel surfaces. The discovery sheds light on the vulnerability of primates to climate change and provides a unique snapshot of early primate evolution.
A new parasitic wasp species, Conobregma bradpitti, has been discovered in South Africa, measuring less than 2 mm and bearing a striking resemblance to Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The species belongs to a large group of wasps that lay eggs in moth or butterfly caterpillars.
The Middle East and North Africa may become uninhabitable due to climate change, with temperatures expected to rise by over two degrees Celsius by mid-century. Heat waves could occur ten times more often, with prolonged periods of extreme heat becoming the norm.
The NIH has created an atlas of human malformation syndromes in diverse populations to help diagnose genomic diseases. The atlas features photos and descriptions of people with different inherited conditions, allowing healthcare providers to diagnose patients from non-European ancestry more accurately.
Research suggests that child homicide is responsible for approximately 1% of all neonatal deaths in South Africa. The majority of these deaths occur among infants aged 0-6 days, with abandonment being the most common method of homicide.
A lesser-known South African mountain endemic, Macowania revoluta, has been rediscovered and found to be an exceptionally important keystone species. Its ecological role in wetland functioning and soil protection is crucial for the ecosystem's balance.
A rare South African plant, Mrs Barber's Beauty, was rediscovered in the Great Winterberg mountains after 147 years. The plant is now recognized as Critically Endangered due to limited ecological conditions.
A new study predicts that global health spending will increase to $18.28 trillion by 2040, but persistent inequities are expected to worsen. Low- and lower-middle-income countries will spend the least on health, while high-income countries will allocate a significant portion of their GDP to healthcare.
A new species of extinct rodent, Sayimys negevensis, has been discovered in Israel's Negev desert, providing insights into the early dispersal route of mammals from Asia to Africa. The discovery bridges the gap between primitive ctenodactylines and gundis, highlighting Israel's unique paleogeographic position.
Researchers suggest that Neanderthals across Europe were infected with diseases carried out of Africa by waves of anatomically modern humans. This could have weakened the hunter-gathering Neanderthals and contributed to their extinction.
Researchers tracked female turtles by satellite from Cyprus, finding that they are dying in fishing nets used by small-scale operations. The study highlights an 11% mortality rate per year, a higher rate than expected for this long-lived species.
Chronic diseases like hypertension and heart disease are rising in Africa due to infectious disease spread, healthcare worker shortage, and lack of investment. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to address the growing epidemic and promote health equity.
Researchers in South Africa are conducting a medical trial focused on controlling tuberculosis (TB) epidemics. The trial uses a novel approach that combines intensified household tracing and screening for TB and HIV using rapid molecular technologies.
Anthropologists at the University of Oregon have discovered evidence of shea tree harvesting dating back to A.D. 100 in western Burkina Faso, challenging previous estimates of around A.D. 1100. The study reveals a long history of sustainable farming practices and the importance of wild foods in early agricultural diets.
The University of California, Riverside, has received a nearly $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation to sequence the genome of the cowpea, a legume crop crucial for global food security. The research aims to develop high-yielding and disease-resistant cowpea varieties using genetically informed breeding strategies.
The Zika virus poses a significant threat to West Africa, particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, due to the recent Ebola outbreak. Rapid testing for Zika is crucial to prevent confusion between Zika and early Ebola symptoms.
The Cornell University-led project will develop heat-tolerant wheat strains using modern tools of comparative genomics and big data. The four-year grant aims to improve wheat resistance to stem and yellow rust, increasing global yields for smallholder farmers in vulnerable regions.
A study published in The BMJ found that refugees have a substantially higher risk of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. Refugees were up to 3.6 times more likely to develop psychosis than the Swedish-born population, with incidence rates of 1264 per million.
The African Postharvest Losses information System (APHLIS) will be upgraded to monitor other crops, improving postharvest management. The new system will provide data on crop quality, income, and nutrition, enabling strategic targeting of investment in loss mitigation and R&D programmes.