733 million faced hunger last year, and other health stories to read

Around 733 million people faced hunger last year, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report. This is the equivalent of 1 in 11 globally and 1 in 5 in Africa.

The SOFI report is produced by 5 United Nations specialized agencies and found that the world is falling short in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger – by 2030. Indeed, levels of undernourishment are now comparable to those in 2008-2009.

Global hunger levels have plateaued for the past 3 years, with between 713 and 757 million people undernourished in 2023, and approximately 152 million more people undernourished compared to 2019.

"The progress we have made on reducing stunting and improving exclusive breastfeeding shows that the challenges we face are not insurmountable," said World Health Organization Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "We must use those gains as motivation to alleviate the suffering that millions of people around the world endure every day from hunger, food insecurity, unhealthy diets and malnutrition."

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for an urgent response to an 'alarming' rise in avian influenza in both humans and animals across the Asia-Pacific region.

"Since late 2023, we have observed a rise in human cases and the virus spreading to new animal species," said Kachen Wongsathapornchai, regional manager of the FAO's Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases.

"The emergence of novel A/H5N1 strains, which are more easily transmissible, increases the pandemic threat. Immediate, coordinated preventive measures are essential."

The FAO has counted 13 new human infections in Cambodia since late last year, while there were also cases in China and Viet Nam.

It follows a warning from scientists in interviews with Reuters that gaps in surveillance could leave the world several steps behind a new pandemic.

New research suggests that a recently approved shingles vaccine is also linked to a reduction in diagnoses of dementia in the six years after getting the shot. A team at Oxford University studied the records of 200,000 US citizens vaccinated for singles – around half of whom received the new shot.

A drug has extended the lifespan of laboratory animals by nearly 25%, according to new research published in Nature. The mice that had been treated in the lab were known as 'supermodel grannies' because of their youthful appearance and were healthier, stronger and developed fewer cancers than unmedicated mice. Research is now underway to see whether the drug will have the same anti-ageing impact in humans.

A new method for identifying the type of bacteria causing a blood infection and the correct antibiotics to treat it could significantly speed up the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening conditions like sepsis.

The United States has pledged $667 million in the latest round of funding for a global fund to prevent pandemics and prepare should they happen. The pledge represents a third of a $2 billion direct funding goal and requires approval from Congress.

A study published in Nature has identified brain circuits in mice that might help explain how placebos can relieve pain. The findings could lead to future advances in ways to treat pain.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new blood test to screen for colorectal cancer in adults aged over 45. The test is not as effective as existing methods, such as colonoscopies and faecal sample tests. However, it has been approved as an alternative for those who are resistant to those existing methods.

One-in-seven young people globally faces a mental health issue. Youth-led solutions are essential in addressing the complex and varied causes of these mental health problems, writes Elisha London, Founder and CEO of Prospira Global.

Progress continues to be made in developing new treatments for cancer. Read about 11 recent breakthroughs in our rolling explainer.

To address healthcare funding gaps, there's a role for both sovereign and private investments, writes Hamad Al Hammadi, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer at ADQ.