Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the name given to the new coronavirus of 2019. COVID-19 is the name given to the disease associated with the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. Next table shows european countries with reported laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. Data […]
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Allergenicity assessment of GM plants: stakeholders to support working group
EFSA is setting up a stakeholder consultative group to support its upcoming work on the allergenicity assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants. The group will be consulted at various stages during the process and will provide input to the EFSA scientific working group in charge of the activity. Nominations for membership of the stakeholder group […]
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How COVID-19 damages the lungs
A team of EU-backed researchers has compared the lungs of coronavirus victims and patients dead from influenza-associated respiratory failure. Why does the coronavirus impact the lungs so brutally? Partially supported by the EU-funded XHaLe project, a team of researchers set out to help answer this question and achieved new insights into the effects of SARS-CoV-2 […]
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Covid-19: Support for vaccine research with additional €100 million
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership created in 2017 to develop vaccines to prevent future epidemics, has launched a call to support the rapid development and global manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines. The EU will co-fund the call with €100 million. The EU support is part of the pledge to invest €1 billion from Horizon […]
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COVID-19: how the EU is fighting youth unemployment
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the pandemic is having a “devastating and disproportionate” impact on youth employment, while recent figures show that young people face major obstacles in continuing their training and education, changing jobs and accessing the labour market. Before the pandemic, youth unemployment in the EU (15-24 years old) was 14.9%, […]
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Coronavirus: How to prepare for future outbreaks
The Commission has presented immediate short-term measures to strengthen EU health preparedness for COVID-19 outbreaks. The Commission has from the outset coordinated the exchange of information and recommendations with regard to cross border health actions and measures. A continued vigilance and fast response from the Commission and the Member States is essential to ensure that the […]
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Air pollution affects brain development
90% of brain development happens by the age of four, so scientists want to understand the effects of air pollution at the earliest stages of life. Barcelona as an example Between 1981 and 1989, 26 outbreaks of asthma were reported in the Spanish city with many cases centred around the harbour. Local scientists eventually […]
Read MoreEuropean Commission unveils EU vaccines strategy
The European Commission has presented a European strategy to accelerate the development, manufacture and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19. An effective and safe vaccine against the virus is our best bet for a permanent solution to the pandemic. The Commission will support efforts to accelerate the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines within […]
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Statistics: COVID-19 evolution in Eastern Mediterranean – May
Infections by country As of 29 May 2020, the countries with the highest number of registered cases are Iran (1,721,926 cases), Saudi Arabia (438,238), Pakistan (141,779), Qatar (89,976) and the United Arab Emirates (86,943). However, in terms of population, the countries with the highest number of infections are Qatar (2342 cases per 100,000 population), Kuwait […]
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