Advanced Search Close Search
A new variant of COVID-19 may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says
National

A new variant of COVID-19 may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says

  • By CARLA K. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer

A new variant of COVID-19 is circulating in parts of the world and may be driving an increase in cases in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions. The World Health Organization said Wednesday the new variant called NB.1.8.1 is increasing globally and in mid-May had reached nearly 11% of sequenced samples. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective and there's nothing to suggest that the disease associated with the variant is more severe. Airport screening in the United States has detected the new variant in international travelers arriving in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York.

Majority of the world's population breathes dirty air, report says
World

Majority of the world's population breathes dirty air, report says

  • By SIBI ARASU Associated Press

Most of the world has dirty air, with just 17% of global cities meeting WHO air pollution guidelines, a report Tuesday found. The report, from the air quality monitoring database IQAir, looked at data from 138 countries and found that India is home to the greatest number of polluted cities, and Los Angeles ranked as the most polluted city in the United States. Air pollution is a major killer, with studies estimating it kills 9 million people worldwide a year and sickens millions more.