#YouAsked Covid-19 Health What is the rate of false-positives results when testing for Covid-19? Source Harvard Health Publishing – ”Which test is best for COVID-19?" Short answer What is the rate of false-positives results when testing for Covid-19? In a statement issued on 4 January 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted patients and health care providers of the risk of false results, particularly false-negative results –a test that says you don’t have the virus when you actually do have the virus –with the C... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health #YouAsked Can dogs get COVID-19? Source U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - COVID-19 and pets Short answer Can dogs get COVID-19? According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a few pets — including cats and dogs — have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. This happened mostly after the animals were in close contact with people infected with the COVID-19 virus. Based on the limited availa... Back Full answer
Covid-19 Health #YouAsked Can the use of ivermectin as a prophylactic drastically reduce the risk of getting COVID-19? Source SAHPRA Press Release: Update on the use of ivermectin in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 Short answer Can the use of ivermectin as a prophylactic drastically reduce the risk of getting COVID-19? The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has said more research is needed before it could approve ivermectin for use in humans. “To date there is insufficient evidence for or against the use of ivermectin in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19,” SAHPRAsaid in a 2... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Health Is Ebola from Africa? Source World Health Organization Short answer Is Ebola from Africa? Ebola virus disease is a deadly disease that affects mostly people and non-human primates such as monkeys and chimpanzees, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains. Symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, body aches and “unexplained bleeding”. According to the World Health Org... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Health Does the cervical cancer vaccine cause infertility? Source World Health Organization Short answer Does the cervical cancer vaccine cause infertility? Cervical cancer develops in the cervix, which “attaches the uterus to the vagina”. The World Health Organization says cervical cancer is almost always linked to sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses (HPV). The fear that HPV vaccines could cause infertility has been linked to the low sha... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Sex & gender Which country has the lowest femicide rate? Source World Health Organization Short answer Which country has the lowest femicide rate? According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, there is “no commonly agreed definition of what constitutes ‘femicide’”. It has historically been defined as the killing of women and girls because they are female. Collecting data on the motive for a killing can be difficult. Because o... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Is Madagascar’s Covid-19 solution effective? Source World Health Organization Short answer Is Madagascar’s Covid-19 solution effective? Malagasy president Andry Rajoelina has claimed that a herbal tonic, made from the artemisia plant, could cure Covid-19. The beverage, Covid Organics, was reportedly tested on fewer than 20 patients. In April, the National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar warned against the use of the tonic based... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Is it safe to use hand sanitisers that contain alcohol in the long term? Source U.S. Food & Drug Administration Short answer Is it safe to use hand sanitisers that contain alcohol in the long term? Hand hygiene plays a crucial part in the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, research has shown that nurses who regularly used alcohol hand rubs had less skin irritation and dryness than those using soap and water. As a result of the cor... Back Full answer
#YouAsked Covid-19 Does smoking have an impact on recovery from Covid-19? Source World Health Organization Short answer Does smoking have an impact on recovery from Covid-19? Smoking is known to impair lung function, affect the immune system and can increase the severity of respiratory diseases such as influenza. Although no randomised controlled studies that have directly investigated the effect of smoking on people with Covid-19 are available at present, according to t... Back Full answer