wire - news in brief

The hay fever situation in Switzerland is deteriorating because of climate change: the hay fever season is becoming longer, pollen concentrations are increasing, and highly allergenic invasive plants are becoming widespread. Researchers at the Swiss Commission for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP) of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and the Swiss Federal Office for Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) have issued a new fact sheet that summarises the latest findings about the hay fever and pollen situation, and how it is being impacted by climate change.

On behalf of the federal government, Swiss TPH conducted the first nationally representative population survey in Switzerland about heat and its effects on health.

With over 600,000 deaths in 2022, malaria remains one of the biggest health threats particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Recent analyses by Swiss TPH show that not only heat waves, but also moderately hot temperatures, contribute to heat-related fatalities. On behalf of the Swiss federal government, Swiss TPH now monitors heat-related deaths in Switzerland on an annual basis. This monitoring provides a long-term record of the effects of climate change on health and helps to identify adaptation measures.

A new home-based midwife care model has shown promise in improving the well-being of women in vulnerable family situations and preventing early chronic childhood stress according to a new study published recently in BMC Health Services Research.

Global progress against malaria has stagnated and novel medical interventions are urgently needed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the world's global health security networks. A global -One Health- approach is crucial for preventing, monitoring and responding to future public health emergencies.

Researchers Lorenz Hofer and Mgeni Tambwe are trying to stop malaria transmission in Tanzania. Astrid Knoblauch is distributing drugs to combat tuberculosis with the help of drones in Madagascar.

Diabetes affects about half a billion people worldwide, most of them in lowand middle-income countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Swiss TPH as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Verbal Autopsy.

Co-authored by over 30 international experts, a new policy brief has been published which recommends leveraging Switzerland's scientific and diplomatic role in One Health.

The SOPHYA study of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) investigated the physical activity and sports behaviour of children and adolescents throughout Switzerland over a period of five years. Physical activity did not decrease during the COVID 19 pandemic. Results show that the living environment and physical activity of the parents have a significant influence on physical activity behaviour during childhood and thus have a long-term impact on the health of children and later adults.

Climate change is an imminent threat to human health and well-being and to our planet. Urgent action is needed in order to reduce climate risks and secure a liveable future.

Swiss TPH has been awarded four out of six new research grants from the Principal Investigator Initiative of the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH).