Kicking off this week, an interview with a Syrian physician examines a war strategy used in Syria—and now in Ukraine—that involved attacks on medical facilities, personnel, and patients, and explores the extraordinary measures care providers are taking in response. Children caught in the crossfire of conflict in Ukraine deserve protection, as do the youngest victims of all wars, say the authors of another piece who have tracked rising conflict-related deaths over the last decade in those under twenty years old.
Before the next biothreat emerges, the U.S. government should transform its leadership and command structure for health security, writes a biodefense and health security expert, retired U.S. Public Health Service rear admiral, and former special assistant to Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
China is arriving at a dangerous breaking point in its zero-COVID strategy, say the authors of our next piece, who argue the world can help China contain and manage the impending crisis. A final essay looks at a neglected tropical disease that affects many women and girls in Africa. Although schistosomiasis is straightforward to treat, it is chronically misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.
As we mark World Health Day this week—themed "Our Planet, Our Health"—we encourage you to visit the environment section of our site, where stories explore new policy and health-care approaches to mitigating climate change and pollution's effects on health.
As always, thank you for reading, and be well. —Thomas J. Bollyky and Mary Brophy Marcus, Editors
