Truent magazine

In 2020, amidst the wildfires in Sonoma County, California, Maria Salinas persisted in harvesting grapes as ash descended and smoke enveloped the surroundings. His saliva turned black from inhaling the toxic fumes, leading him to seek emergency medical care on one occasion due to breathing difficulties. Upon recuperating, he promptly returned to work, undeterred by the ongoing fires. “The compulsion to work stems from necessity,” remarked Salinas, hailing from Oaxaca, Mexico. “Out of necessity, we constantly put ourselves in peril, be it from fire, disaster, changing weather conditions, whether hot or cold.” In the United States, the frequency and severity of forest fires are escalating due to climate change. Recent studies indicate that wildfires pose health hazards to migrant agricultura...

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has increased its support to combat a substantial surge in dengue cases in Central America. Compared to the previous year, the region has seen a 98% rise in dengue incidence. Across the entire American continent in 2024, a record-breaking number of over 11 million reported cases and more than 5,900 related deaths have been recorded. To tackle this situation, PAHO has implemented various strategies. Since 2023, a comprehensive plan in partnership with the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (SE-COMISCA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States has been initiated. This plan involves training in management, diagnosis, clinical care, and vector ...

A recent study published by Lancet Public Health has revealed a concerning trend – younger generations are facing a higher risk of certain types of cancer. Dr. Jonathan Villena, a breast cancer surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine Center and spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, highlighted that cancers such as breast, prostate, melanoma, kidney, endometrial, and pancreatic cancer have seen an increase in incidence among individuals under 55 years old. While the exact factors behind this surge remain unknown, experts suggest that obesity could be a contributing factor. Dr. Nathalie Mantilla, a specialist in colon and rectal surgery, pointed out the potential role of processed foods and lack of fiber in the diet as potential risk factors. The study also noted a significant rise in colo...

Twenty years after the discovery of “hobbit” fossils on an Indonesian island, a recent study has unveiled surprising findings about their ancestors’ diminutive size. Researchers, including Yousuke Kaifu from the University of Tokyo, were amazed to uncover smaller individuals at the ancient Mata Menge site, located near where the original “hobbit” fossils were unearthed between 60,000 and 100,000 years ago. Analysis of arm bones and teeth dating back 700,000 years indicates that these predecessors were approximately 6 centimeters shorter than the well-known “hobbits,” shedding new light on the evolutionary lineage of Homo floresiensis. Published in Nature Communications, the study adds depth to the ongoing debate surrounding the origins of these unique early humans, suggesting they may have...

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced plans to convene a panel of experts to assess the escalating spread of the monkeypox virus in Africa and determine if it warrants a declaration of a global emergency. During a press briefing in Geneva, Tedros highlighted the need for expert advice given the expanding reach of monkeypox cases across multiple African countries beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo. Recent reports from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed a significant rise in monkeypox cases in 10 African nations this year, with the majority concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa CDC noted a notable increase in both cases and fatalities compared to the same period last year. In response to the sit...