Japan could become one of the first countries in the world to end the HIV epidemic, says the president of Gilead Sciences Japan, Kennet Brysting. The idea for now could seem a little too ambitious, but it is not entirely unrealistic, given that the availability of medicines that can prevent transmission of HIV. Drugs are not the cure, but control over the spread of virus to the point where the disease is no longer a major public health threat.

What Is The Role Of Preventative HIV Medicines?

Gilead's have two key drugs, Truvada and lenacapavir. These two are playing a crucial role in prevention. Truvada is taken as a daily pill, while lenacapavir requires two injections per year. It can make the virus undetectable in infected individuals and prevent transmission to those who are not infected yet. In trials, lenacapavir showed 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infections. This is why it is describe as "almost a vaccine".

In 2024, Japan also approved Truvada for HIV prevention, but the country has yet to approve lenacapavir for the same. Until now, people in Japan had been importing generic versions of Truvada or purchasing it from clinics that source it from overseas.

HIV In Japan

Up until now, Japan reported around 25,000 HIV infections, whereas 669 new cases were reported in 2023. For seven consecutive years, the number of new infections remained under 1,000. The downward trend thus shows that the virus has been controlled, however, getting to zero new infections remains the ultimate goal.

Brysting too acknowledged that simply having effective drug is not enough. What is important is to have a proper implementation, access and healthcare support to make sure that these treatments are widely available and effective.

What Are The Challenges In Implementation?

The biggest challenges is testing rates. There is a need to increase testing rates. At this very moment, around 86% people infective with Japan have been tested, but the goal is to increase it up to 95%, with an ideal goal of 100%. Without widespread testing, many infected people may not even know that they are infected and it could transmit the virus.

Another measure issue is the cost of preventative medication. While Japan's health insurance covers treatments for diseases, it does not cover preventative drugs. Those who purchase Truvada for prevention, pay around $470 per month. Some clinics in Tokyo offer generic alternatives too, which is cheaper, but they are not ideal.

Better Healthcare Support

Brysting expressed concern that individuals importing medications might not be consulting doctors regularly, which is essential for monitoring HIV status and overall health. Truvada users need to be tested for HIV initially and every three months, along with screenings for other infections and kidney function checks. Without proper medical supervision, there is a risk of misuse and inadequate protection.

Gilead is in discussions with Japanese authorities to improve access and insurance coverage for Truvada, and progress is being made. Japan has shown efficiency in approving critical medicines, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gilead’s remdesivir was approved in just three days.

What Is The Way Ahead?

Gilead at this moment is not only focused on HIV and hepatitis C, but also expanding into oncology with innovative treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, which strengthens a patient's immune system to fight cancer.

However, Japan’s strict approval processes can slow down drug availability. Phase 3 clinical trials often need to be conducted within the country, and Japan tends to approve medicines much later than other regions. For instance, Truvada was approved for prevention in Japan 12 years after the U.S. and nearly 20 years after its approval for treatment. inancial factors also play a role. The Japanese government adjusts drug prices annually, often reducing them, which can make long-term investment challenging for pharmaceutical companies.

A new study published in the European Medical Journal recently found a link between seasonal changes in salt intake and chronic kidney disease risk. Furthermore, according to the study, seasonal changes in salt intake can influence blood pressure differently in men and women. However, it turns out that the effect is stronger in men during summer. For this, researchers followed 168 CKD patients for a year and analysed detailed daily urine collections to estimate salt intake, along with other clinical measurements. Researchers found that 147 patients had complete data for both winter and summer, which enabled a direct comparison of seasonal variations within the same individuals.

Seasonal patterns in blood pressure, salt intake

Consistent with previously existing knowledge, experts found that blood pressure was generally higher in winter than in summer. The study, however, found that salt intake had a similar seasonal pattern—its intake increased during winter. Male participants who had more salt in winter saw higher BMI, body weight, and blood pressure; meanwhile, cholinesterase and LDL were relatively lower. In female participants, there were fewer changes in the body as per the season—only blood pressure readings rose along with a few biochemical markers.

The most notable finding of the study came from regression analyses that examined the relationship between systolic blood pressure and salt intake. In men, there was a strong correlation where higher salt intake was linked to higher systolic BP. The association, however, was stronger during summer. Despite overall salt intake being lower in summer, the association was strong. In women, however, no such correlation was observed. In order to be certain about the potential effects of medication, researchers conducted another analysis of 90 people who were not taking drugs that may affect sodium excretion. The results were consistent, reinforcing the relevance of the findings.

Can this influence CKD management techniques?

Researchers suggested that gender-specific differences could influence diet and hypertension management strategies in kidney disease patients. The heightened sensitivity of systolic BP to salt intake in men during summer is an area of concern—while further research is required on the subject, it can still go a long way in the better management and treatment of chronic kidney disease.

How much salt can a CKD patient have safely?

According to experts, one must consume around 2,300 mg to maintain healthy blood pressure. However, for patients with CKD or high BP, 1,500 mg is more appropriate. Eating more salt than this in your daily diet can lead to water retention and blood pressure fluctuations. Over time, these can worsen heart health in the long run. Salt is 40 per cent sodium, and this component is found in high amounts in condiments like ketchup. It silently raises blood pressure and may even damage the kidneys.

Long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment claim more than 840,000 lives each year, according to a new global report by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The report noted that the work-related psychosocial risks—including long working hours, job insecurity, high demands with low control, and workplace bullying and harassment—are surging heart diseases and mental disorders, including suicide.

In addition to deaths, these risks account for nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually, reflecting years of healthy life lost due to illness, disability, or premature death, and are estimated to result in economic losses equivalent to 1.37 per cent of global GDP each year.

“Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges for occupational safety and health in the modern world of work,” said Manal Azzi, Team Lead on OSH Policy and Systems at the ILO.

“Improving the psychosocial working environment is essential not only for protecting workers’ mental and physical health, but also for strengthening productivity, organizational performance, and sustainable economic development,” Azzi added.

The report highlights the growing impact of how work is designed, organized, and managed on workers’ safety and health.

How Psychosocial Risks Can Be Prevented in Workplaces?

Read: Not Diabetes or Obesity: Expert Says Chronic Stress Is The New Lifestyle Disease

There is a broad body of evidence showing that psychosocial risks are linked to a wide range of mental and physical health conditions among workers, including depression and anxiety, as well as metabolic diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and sleep disturbances.

The report identified five major psychosocial risk factors at work:

• job strain (high demands combined with low control),
• effort–reward imbalance,
• job insecurity,
• long working hours,
• workplace bullying and harassment.

The report emphasized the need for organizational approaches that address their root causes. It also highlighted the importance of integrating psychosocial risk management into occupational safety and health systems, supported by social dialogue between governments, employers, and workers.

Also read: Why Women Feel More Fatigued In Extreme Heat: Doctors Explain

Further, the report introduced the psychosocial working environment as the elements of work and workplace interactions related to how jobs are designed, how work is organized and managed, and the broader policies, practices, and procedures that govern work. These elements, both individually and in combination, affect workers’ health and well-being, as well as organizational performance.

“While many psychosocial risks are not new, major transformations in the world of work, including digitalization, artificial intelligence, remote work, and new employment arrangements, are reshaping the psychosocial working environment. These changes may intensify existing risks or create new ones if not properly addressed,” the ILO noted.

It added that the changes can also “offer opportunities for improved work organization and greater flexibility, highlighting the need for proactive action”.

By addressing these risks proactively, the report said that countries and enterprises can create healthier workplaces that benefit both workers and organizations while strengthening productivity and economic resilience.

Almost 50 years after being eradicated, the vaccine-preventable diphtheria is causing infections in Australia.

The country’s health officials have reported outbreaks of diphtheria in the Northern Territory (NT) and Western Australia (WA).

As per the latest NT CDC report on April 22, 17 cases of respiratory diphtheria have been notified since 23 March 2026, and 60 cases of cutaneous diphtheria, which affects the skin, have been reported since May 2025.

As per figures published on WA’s notifiable disease dashboard in April, 34 cases have been reported in the state so far this year, including 29 in the Kimberley, two each in the Goldfields and Pilbara regions, as well as one case registered in metro Perth.

In the region, diphtheria cases have more than tripled since December 2025. The cases range in age profile, from 0–4 years to a resident aged 70–74.

Five of the initial reported cases were cutaneous, while two were respiratory, the first such cases to be notified in the state for more than 50 years.

"Clinicians are advised to be vigilant for patients presenting with clinically suspicious skin sores, infected wounds, or upper respiratory illness in or from the Kimberley, and potentially the Pilbara or Goldfields regions," the alert reads. Cases have also been found in Queensland (2) and South Australia (1) this year.

In response to the rising cases, the government has launched a contact tracing system, and at-risk people are being supported to get booster vaccinations, a State Government spokesperson told the ABC. One patient reportedly had a life-threatening case and was flown to Perth for treatment.

What Is Diphtheria? Why The Infection Is Rising in Australia After Five Decades

As per the WHO, Diphtheria is a disease caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium that affects the upper respiratory tract and, less often, the skin. It also produces a toxin that damages the heart and the nerves. While it is a vaccine-preventable disease, multiple doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity.

Diphtheria has remained a leading cause of childhood death globally. But vaccination has long prevented mortality among children.

Those who are not immunized remain at risk. WHO also mentions that diphtheria can be fatal in 30 per cent of cases, with young children at higher risk of dying if they are unvaccinated and are not receiving proper treatment.

In 2023, an estimated 84 per cent of children worldwide received the recommended 3 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccine during infancy, leaving 16 per cent with no or incomplete coverage.

According to Australia’s Department of Health, between 1926 and 1935, more than 4,000 Australians died from diphtheria. Vaccination started in Australia in the 1930s, and the disease has rarely been seen since the 1950s. But vaccine coverage has waned since the COVID pandemic, leading to a rising number of cases.

Read: Indigenous Td Vaccine Rollout In India To Boost Immunity In Children, Adults, Say Experts

Diphtheria: Signs And Symptoms

Within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms include

• a sore throat,
• fever,
• swollen neck glands,
• weakness.

Severe cases happen as a result of the diphtheria toxin and its effects.

Diphtheria: How the Disease Is Treated

It is usually treated with diphtheria antitoxin as well as antibiotics. Antitoxin neutralizes the circulating toxin in the blood. Antibiotics stop bacterial replication and thereby toxin production, speed up getting rid of the bacteria, and prevent transmission to others.

Also read: UK Parliament Bans Smoking For People Born After 2008: Know All About It

How To Prevent Diphtheria

Diphtheria can be prevented by vaccines and routine immunization. The vaccine is given most often combined with vaccines for diseases such as tetanus, pertussis, Hemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, and inactivated polio.