Science in 5

Why is hypertension called a silent killer ? What happens in your body when your blood pressure is high? Learn about the 4 “S”s to protect yourself from hypertension. Dr Taskeen Khan explains today in Science in 5.

Did you know that social isolation or loneliness could increase your risk of early death by up to 32%? How would you know if you are socially isolated and how does it impact your health? Alana Officer explains and gives tips to overcome social isolation in Science in 5 this week.

Did you know that putting on your sunglasses is one of the ways to protect your eyes from cataract ? Learn about ways to protect yourself from UV radiation from Dr Cornelia Baldermann, Scientific Senior Consultant, at the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection. Dr Baldermann explains where UV radiation comes from and how it impact our health in Science in 5.

Why is WHO concerned about Avian Influenza or Bird Flu? Who is at risk? How can you protect yourself and which foods are safe to eat during an outbreak ? Dr Wenqing Zhang explains in Science in 5.

Did you know that chronic low back pain is a major cause of disability across the world impacting people’s physical capabilities, sleep, participation in work, school and relationships?  What kind of treatment should you ask for? Which treatments do not work? Learn to manage your low back pain from Dr Yuka Sumi in Science in 5

In this WHO Science in 5-episode Dr Etienne Krug, Director of Social Determinants of Health, shares examples of cities that are taking action on greener more sustainable transport that can also help keep people healthier and safe. 

For example, Mexico City, Mexico has increased cycling lanes while making roads safer Cali, Colombia has sent out bike doctors to help repair bikes and Lusaka, Zambia created safer routes for children to get to school.

Why is Dengue fever spreading to places it did not exist before? What are the symptoms and treatments? What about vaccines? Dr Raman Velayudhan explains in Science in 5.

Disease X

How are scientists working to prevent the next pandemic? What do countries need to do to prepare? Dr Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo outlines the R&D needs that the world needs to invest in to prevent and prepare for the next pandemic.

WHO's Science in 5 / Episode# 113 -- Did you know that where you live, the food systems around you and your opportunities to be active increase your risk of developing obesity? How big is this issue? How can you reduce your risk and protect yourself? WHO’s Dr Francesco Branca explains in Science in 5.

If you have suffered from COIVID and are still feeling the symptoms, could it be Long COVID? What are the symptoms? Are treatments available? WHO’s Dr Jamie Rylance explains in science in 5.

WHO and the International Labor Organization (ILO) recently released estimates on how many workers are exposed to intense sunlight at work and how many of them develop non melanoma skin cancer. How does long exposure to sunlight cause skin cancer? Who is at risk? How can you, your employer and your Government protect you? Dr Frank Pega explains in Science in 5

You may have heard about substandard or falsified syrup harming children and even causing deaths. There have been reports of falsified diabetes and weight loss treatments. How can you protect yourself? How does WHO keep you safe from substandard or falsified medical products ? WHO’s Pernette Bourdillon Esteve explains in Science in 5.

Did you know that 70% of the people who need eye glasses do not have access to them? What are the leading causes of blindness? Who is at risk and how can you prevent it? Dr Stuart Keel explains in Science in 5 this week.

Did you know that more and more children are having trouble seeing things that are at a distance? What are the early signs? How would you know if your child is at risk and what can you do to protect your child’s vision? Dr Stuart Keel explains in Science in 5

Climate change is affecting your health every day. What are the future scenarios for health? How can you cope and protect your health? Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum explains in Science in 5.

Why should you care about data? what can data do for you? How does WHO work with data? Dr Samira Asma explains how data works to protect your health in Science in 5.

Are you a parent, teacher or just someone who cares about sexuality education? Dr. Chandra-Mauli Venkataraman answers the important questions on sexuality education in the latest episode of Science in 5. Tune in to learn why it is crucial for our overall health and when, how and by whom it should be provided.

Indoor smoke-free spaces are becoming more commonplace, and for good reason. Did you know that over a million people die every year due to second-hand smoke? One in three countries now have policies in place to create 100% smoke-free spaces, according to a recent WHO report. How do indoor smoke-free spaces help our health and our economies? Dr Kerstin Schotte explains in Science in 5.

How can you keep your brain healthy and who is at risk of poor brain health? Dr Tarun Dua explains all you need to know about brain health in Science in 5.

As parts of the world experience record breaking temperatures, learn how heat harms us, who is at risk and what you can do to protect yourself. Dr Joy Shumake-Guillemot explains in Science in 5.

Do non-sugar sweeteners help with weight loss? Do they pose a risk to your health? What about so called “natural” sweetness like Stevia? Jason Montez explains the findings from the new WHO report in Science in 5 

One in 2 children in the world suffers from violence which could be sexual, emotional or physical. This includes online violence.  How can you recognize signs of violence and prevent it? WHO’s Sabine Rakotomalala explains in Science in 5 this week.

WHO has been urging rational use of antibiotics for decades now. Why is that? What is at risk? And what can governments and individuals do to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics for future generations? Dr Hanan Balkhy explains on Science in 5

Why are we seeing rising number of COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world? How is the SARS CoV 2 virus evolving? What do Governments and the public need to do to live with COVID-19 safely? Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5. 

WHO and partners are aiming to interrupt all remaining transmission of poliovirus in 2023. Will the world eradicate this debilitating  disease in 2023? How far have we come in our efforts and what will it take to bring the cases down to zero? WHO’s Aidan O’Leary explains in Science in 5 .

WHO has declared that the Public Health Emergency of International Concern for Mpox remains in effect. Dr Rosamund Lewis provides a status update, lessons learned from the response so far and elaborates on who is at risk in Science in 5 this week.

WHO's technical lead on COVID-19 talks to us about the status of the scientific work needed to find the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove provides an update, explains why it is important to understand the origins of pandemics, what WHO's role is in achieving this and how WHO works to prevent future pandemics.

WHO’s latest report is urging everyone to reduce salt in our diet. What happens when we consume too much salt? How would we know if we are consuming too much salt and what can we do to reduce it? WHO’s Dr Francesco Branca explains in Science in 5.

What are the early signs of hearing loss? Can it be cured? What can you do to prevent hearing loss? Dr Shelly Chadha explains in Science in 5 

WHO 's latest report highlights that one in six people in the world have significant disability and experience inequity. What are these inequities and how can we address them? WHO’s Darryl Barrett explains in Science in 5

WHO is urging action by Governments and the food industry to remove trans fats from our food chain. Which foods contain trans fats? How do they harm us? WHO’s Dr Farncesco Branca explains in Science in 5

How does the vaccine combat the Influenza virus? How does WHO track influenza across the world to decide the composition of the vaccine? WHO expert Dr Sylvie Briand also explains why we are seeing a spike in respiratory diseases in Science in 5 

Why are we seeing a spike in respiratory diseases in children. What are the symptoms and red flags for parents? How can we protect our children and grown from these infections? WHO’s Dr Wilson Were explains in Science in 5.

As we enter the 4th year of the Pandemic, what do we know about Omicron so far? Are there settings where you are more at risk? What does it mean to live with COVID-19 ? Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5. 

Microbes like bacteria, fungus and viruses are becoming resistant to medicines like antibiotics. WHO has declared antimicrobial resistance as a global health and developmental threat. How can we stop antimicrobial resistance?  Dr Hanan Balkhy explains in Science in 5.

A new WHO report shows that half of world’s population suffers from diseases of teeth, gums or the mouth. Why is oral health important for everyone? What conditions can result from poor oral health? How can we maintain and improve oral health? Dr Benoit Varenne explains in Science in 5. 

2023 will mark the 75th year of the World Health Organization. The world has achieved many public health milestones in these 75 years. In Science in 5 today we will take a look into the future - to understand what are the innovations we can expect and what will be some of our biggest challenges. Here to paint us a picture of what Health for All would look like in the future is WHO's Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan. 

Half the health care facilities in the world do not have basic hygiene services. What are the points when you are most at risk of infection at a healthcare facility? How can you lower your risk of infection? WHO’s Dr Richard Johnston explains in Science in 5.

What do we know so far about older adults and COVID-19 vaccines? How long does the effect of the vaccine last and how successful have countries been in vaccinating older adults? WHO’s Dr Katherine O’Brien explains in Science in 5 

How does WHO determine that an outbreak or an event constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern? What actions does it trigger in countries? How does WHO decide that an outbreak no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern? WHO’s Dr Carmen Dolea explains in Science in 5.

What are safe abortions? What makes abortions unsafe? When access to abortion is blocked legally does that impact the number of abortions? WHO’s Dr Bela Ganatra explains in a Science in 5

What does it mean when polio virus is detected in the sewage of a City? Dr Zubair Wadood explains what it will take to eradicate polio from the planet in Science in 5.

What is the scope and future of mRNA technologies? Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains the challenges in rolling the technology out and safety of mRNA vaccines in Science in 5.

WHO’s Dr Philippa Easterbrook gives a situation update on the recent hepatitis outbreak affecting children including possible causes and steps parents, caregivers and countries should take.

Which communities are most at risk of Monkeypox in the current outbreak and why? WHO’s Andy Seale explains how we can support the communities at risk in Science in 5.

What do we know about sub variants of Omicron so far? Are they more transmissible? Do they cause more severe disease? How is the risk of infection being perceived by the experts and the public? WHO’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5.

WHO’s World Mental Health Report says that mental health is the leading cause of disability. How did the pandemic impact our mental health? What are the signs and how can we keep ourselves mentally healthy? Dr Mark Van Ommeren explains in Science in 5.

What are the symptoms of Monkeypox? Who is at risk and how can we protect ourselves? Why is WHO concerned about it? WHO’s Dr Rosamund Lewis explains in Science in 5. 

What is genome sequencing and how does it help us track diseases? Why do countries need to continue genome sequencing in this phase of the pandemic? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5 . 

What is WHO’s recommendation for COVID-19 vaccines for children? What does the evidence tell us about safety of these vaccines for children? If you live in a country where this vaccine is not available to children, how can you keep your child safe from COVID-19? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

What are the new vaccines in the pipeline? What are the challenges to turning vaccines into vaccination ? What timelines can we expect for future vaccines? WHO’s Dr Katherine O’Brien explains in Science in 5

How does WHO track variants for SARS CoV 2 , the virus that causes COVID-19? what are the challenges on the ground? What are variants WHO is tracking at this time? WHO’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5. 

What have we learned about the symptoms of Long COVID or Post COVID-19 condition so far? How long does it last, when should you worry, and what treatments are recommended? WHO’s Dr Janet Diaz explains in Science in 5.

WHO’s Chief Scientists Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains how our body develops immunity against a new virus. How is immunity developed when we are infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus? How is it different from vaccine derived immunity? Why is it important to continue to wear masks, ventilate closed spaces, avoid crowds, wash hands and observe all other precautions?  

Why does WHO consider air pollution a public health emergency? If you live in highly polluted areas does COVID-19 affect you differently? WHO’s Dr Maria Neira explains in science 5.

Are you aware of the medical waste generated during the pandemic? How does it impact your health and what can you do to reduce it? WHO’s Dr Margaret Montgomery explains in Science in 5.

If Omicron is less severe, why are people ending up in the hospital and dying from it? Is it true that everyone will eventually get Omicron? Why is it important to reduce transmission? WHO's Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5. 

What do we know about Omicron variant so far? WHO's Dr Maria Van Kerkhove updates on the transmissibility, severity, symptoms and ways to protect yourself in Science in 5.

How has the pandemic impacted the fight against Polio? How has the polio infrastructure helped the fight against COVID-19? Why is it important that the world doesn’t take its eyes off polio? Sona Bari explains in Science in 5 this week.

What have we learned about COVID-19 and antibiotics so far? What happens when antibiotics are not taken according to prescription or are used irrationally? When are antibiotics prescribed in the course of COVID-19 treatment? Dr Hanan Balkhy explains in Science in 5 this week.

How big a public health problem is lead poisoning? What are the sources of lead poisoning and who are at risk? What can you do to protect yourself? WHO's Lesley Onyon explains in Science in 5 this week. 

How would you know if you have the flu or COVID-19? Should you take both flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine if these are available to you? How does WHO decide on the composition of the flu vaccine? Dr Sylvie Briand explains in Science in 5 this week.

If you have Tuberculosis, what is your risk from COVID-19? How can you keep yourself safe during the pandemic? Why is it important that the world does not take its eyes off TB during the Pandemic? Dr Tereza Kasaeva explains in Science in 5 this week.

Learn about the first Malaria vaccine. Who should receive this vaccine? What are the challenges of rolling out a Malaria vaccine in the midst of a pandemic? Dr Pedro Alonso explains in Science in 5 this week.

What have we learned about air pollution and COVID-19? Learn about six air pollutants that are harming your health. Dr Maria Neira explains findings from WHO’s new air quality guidelines in Science in 5.

What steps should a school take to keep students and staff safe from COVID-19? What about vaccination? How can families and communities keep themselves safe as schools reopen? Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5 this week.

Many countries are using the approach of mixing vaccine doses from different manufacturers. What do we know about the safety and efficacy of this approach? What does the evidence tell us about using a fraction of the vaccine dose ? Dr Katherine O’Brien explains in Science in 5 this week.

What does evidence say so far about safety and effectiveness of booster shots? Are their groups who may need them? Should the world be considering booster shots at this stage of the pandemic? Dr Katherine O’Brian explains in Science in 5 this week.

Are you planning to quit tobacco during the pandemic? What risk does COVID-19 pose to a tobacco user? Learn how the tobacco industry lured people to consume tobacco during the pandemic. Dr Hebe Gouda explains the health benefits of quitting tobacco in Science in 5.

If you have COVID-19, is it safe to breastfeed your baby? Is it safe to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you are breastfeeding? How can you keep your baby safe while breastfeeding if you have COVID-19? Dr Laurence Grummer- Strawn explains in Science in 5.

If you had COVID -19 do you still need the vaccine? How long should you wait after recovery to get vaccinated? What do we know about natural immunity vs vaccine induced immunity? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5 this week. 

If you are fully vaccinated can you still get COVID-19? How frequent are breakthrough infections and what does COVID-19 look like if you are fully vaccinated. WHO’s Dr Kate O’Brien explains in Science in 5.

If you are living with HIV, what are your risks? Should you be prioritized for vaccination? Are vaccines safe for you? WHO’s Dr Meg Doherty explains in Science in 5.

If you have recovered from COVID-19 but are still experiencing certain symptoms you could have post COVID-19 condition or "long COVID". What are these symptoms? How long do they last and are there any treatment options? Dr Janet Diaz explains in Science in 5.

If you are living with diabetes, what is the risk that COVID-19 poses to you and how can you stay safe and healthy during the pandemic? 

WHO’s Dr. Gojka Roglic explains in Science in 5.

What do we know about the Delta variant so far? How can we assess our risk? What strategies should we apply to protect ourselves whether we are in a low vaccination or high vaccination setting? WHO’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5.

Do the current batch of approved vaccines protect us from the Delta variant? What is the level of protection? If you can still get infected even after being fully vaccinated, then why should we vaccinate? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

What advice does WHO have for women who are pregnant or are planning pregnancy during the pandemic? What should a woman expect for her care during childbirth and pregnancy at this time? What if a woman gets COVID during her pregnancy? Are there any additional risks to her or her baby? WHO’s Dr. Özge Tunçalp explains in Science in 5.

Why does WHO recommend at this time, in June 2021,  that vaccinating children is not a priority? When would their vaccination be prioritized? How is safety of these vaccines ensured? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

What is the guidance for vaccination of women with breastfeeding infants, women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant and women who are menstruating? What about vaccines and fertility? WHO’s Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

How does SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , spread from one person to another? How can you keep yourself safe indoors and outdoors? WHO’s Dr Oliver Morgan explains in Science in 5.

What are the variants circulating at this time? How are variants classified as variants of interest or concern? What does this mean for the public? Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5 this week.

What is data telling us about the spread of COVID-19 around the world? What does evidence tell us about transmission in populations that are vaccinated? WHO’s Dr Oliver Morgan explains in Science in 5 this week.

If you have COVID-19 and are caring for someone or yourself at home, what is the treatment protocol? What is WHO’s guidance on Remdesivir and convalescent plasma therapy? How to monitor oxygen at home and what are the red flags when you should call the doctor? WHO’s Dr Janet Diaz explains in Science in 5.

If you are caring for yourself or a loved one at home, how can you keep everyone safe? Who should be cared for at home? How to prevent COVID-19 infection to other family members? What red flags should you look for that tell you it is time to contact the health care provider? WHO’s Dr April Baller explains in Science in 5.

If you have the choice of more than one vaccine and are wondering which one to take and how to assess the risk of side effects, this episode of Science in 5 with WHO’s Dr Katherine O’Brien is for you.

How much protection does the current batch of COVID-19 vaccines provide us? Would you need a booster shot for new variants? What do science and evidence tell us about mass gatherings and the spread of COVID-19? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5 this week.

Medical oxygen is an essential medicine in the treatment of COVID-19. How is it used? Why is there a shortage in some countries and what are WHO, partners and Governments doing about it? WHO’s Dr Janet Diaz explains in Science in 5 

In our unequal world, how is inequity impacting our fight against COVID-19? How can we address it? WHO’s Dr Mariângela Simao explains in Science in 5 this week.

If you have already had COVID-19 do you still need both doses of the vaccine? Do these vaccines protect you against infection? Do they protect us against variants? WHO’s Dr Katherine O’Brien answers these questions in Science in 5 this week.

If you have been wondering when you would receive your vaccine, why you should get vaccinated and are concerned about what your are hearing about side effects, this episode of Science with 5 with WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan is for you.

In this week’s episode, WHO’s Dr. John Grove explains how the World Health Organization brings the best evidence together to develop health guidance for the world.

What is the latest information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants? How is WHO tracking these virus mutations globally and how do we know which ones are important? Answering these questions in this episode of Science in 5 is WHO's expert Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove. 

As new variants emerge people are wondering if they should wait until a more efficacious vaccine is available or if they should go ahead and get vaccinated now? Answering your questions on COVID-19 vaccines and variants in this episode of Science in 5 is WHO's Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan.

How far apart should the doses of vaccines be? What if I miss my second dose? Can I get two doses from two different manufacturers? How was safety of vaccines ensured? WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

If you have had COVID-19, should you still get vaccinated ? Why are we not vaccinating children under 16? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains these and other vaccine related questions in Science in 5 this week.

WHO expert Dr Katherine O’Brien busts some vaccine myths related to infertility, DNA and composition of vaccines in this week’s Science in 5.

If you already got your COVID-19 vaccine, are you wondering when the immunity kicks in and how long it lasts? Can you still catch COVID-19 and can you infect others? How long do you need to take precautions after vaccination? WHO’s Dr Kate O’ Brien answers all this and more in this week's Science in 5.

 Are the symptoms of COVID-19 different in children? Do the new variants impact children differently? What can parents do to keep children safe from COVID-19. WHO's Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in Science in 5.   Science in 5 is WHO’s conversations in science. 

Why is it important for scientists to look for the origins of the virus? How do scientists look at the claim that the virus originated in a laboratory? More about the team which is looking for the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19. Dr Peter Ben Embarek leads this team and explains in Science in 5.

Science in 5 is WHO’s conversations in science. Watch WHO experts explain science related to COVID-19.

How concerned should we be about the new variants of SARS CoV 2 which cause COVID-19? Is it unusual for viruses to change and mutate? Do vaccines protect against these variants and what can you do to protect yourself? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

Are you experiencing symptoms after recovery from COVID-19? WHO expert Dr Janet Diaz explains what we know so for about prolonged symptoms in Science in 5.

How long does your immunity last after you recover from COVID-19? Can you get reinfected? Why do you need to continue with preventative measures? WHO expert Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains on Science in 5.

 As vaccines get approved by national authorities, learn about National and WHO approval processes for vaccines and how safety is ensured during emergency approval of vaccines. WHO expert Dr Mariângela Simão explains in Science in 5.

How do vaccines work to protect us? What are the vaccine technologies in the pipeline and how do we ensure safe vaccines? WHO Expert Dr Katherine O’ Brien explains in Science in 5 !

How will the COVID-19 vaccine reach you? Why is it important to keep observing public health measures? WHO’s Dr Katherine O’Brien explains in Science in 5 this week.

What kind of COVID-19 tests are available? What are antigens and antibodies? What about the accuracy of these tests? WHO’s Dr Hanan Balkhy explains COVID-19 tests in Science in 5

Science in 5 is WHO’s conversations in science, WHO experts explain science related to COVID-19. In this episode, how can we celebrate the Holidays safely? Who are the high risk members in our families and communities and how can we keep them safe? What about travel during the holidays? WHO’s Chief Scientist explains all in Science in 5.

Why are experts concerned about COVID-19 and antibiotics? And what can you do about it? Learn about antibiotics and COVID-19 from WHO’s Dr Hanan Balkhy in Science in 5.

How important is ventilation and how does it keep you safe from COVID-19? WHO’s Dr Maria Neira explains in Science in 5.

How does air pollution affect our body during the pandemic ? Learn about air pollution and COVID-19 from WHO expert Dr Maria Neira in this episode of Science in 5.

In this video and audio series WHO experts explain the science related to COVID-19. In this episode, Dr Sylvie Briand busts myths about COVID-19 and antibiotics, alcohol and garlic.

What are serological surveys? How do they help you assess your risk of COVID -19? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in Science in 5.

Flu season is starting in many parts of the world. How can you protect yourself from flu and COVID-19? How would you know if you have flu or COVID-19? What precautions should pregnant women take? WHO’s Dr Sylvie Briand explains in Science in 5.

When can we expect a vaccine for COVID-19? How will we ensure that it is safe? Who should be vaccinated first and why? WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains in this edition of Science in 5.

How should schools assess their risk before reopening? What do we know about children and COVID-19? Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains in this episode of Science in 5, WHO’s conversations in science.

Can COVID -19 be transmitted through water? Or Mosquitoes? Is transmission affected by weather? Dr Sylvie Briand busts popular myths about COVID-19 in this edition of Science in 5, WHO’s conversations in science.

Science in 5 is WHO’s conversations in science - WHO experts explain science related to COVID-19. In this episode, published on 4 September 2020, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove explains how the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects the body and how our body’s immune system reacts.