In recent decades global life expectancy has risen. This is in large part due to technological developments meaning people live for longer. However, in a surprise to health experts and officials alike, global life expectancy has fallen for the first time. While Covid is believed to have played a role, other factors have also influenced this drop.
The shocking analysis was published by the ONE Campaign.
It found global life expectancy fell 1.64 years between 2019 and 2021, a downward progression believed to be fuelled by COVID-19 and soon to be exacerbated by climate change and a global food security crisis.
On Covid, UK director for the ONE Campaign said: “The [UK] public get that this pandemic hasn’t ended. They get that the convergence of crises affects us all.
“If we want to protect ourselves and the economy, the government must listen to the public and lead global response to ending the pandemic.”
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Results from the ONE Campaign come at a time when a new wave of coronavirus is beginning.
This new wave is being driven in large part by two subvariants of Omicron known as BA.4 and BA5.
This is combined with the lifting of restrictions and mass gatherings, such as those seen over the Jubilee weekend. Furthermore, another factor to consider in this new wave is the waning of population immunity.
While Covid remains a threat, it isn’t the only bug going viral this summer.
DON’T MISS
Polio
Earlier this week, Polio was detected in the UK for the first time since 1984.
The virus, known to cause paralysis or death in some cases, was found in North London Wednesday evening.
In a statement, the UKHSA (United Kingdom Health Security Agency) said: “We are urgently investigating to better understand the extent of this transmission and the NHS has been asked to swiftly report any suspected cases to the UKHSA, though no cases have been reported or confirmed so far.”
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Hepatitis
This is the virus with the lowest proportional threat level.
Earlier this year a new mysterious form of hepatitis was detected in Scotland; mainly affecting the under-fives it has now spread around the world to over 30 countries.
Fewer than 300 cases have been detected in the UK and, so far, no children have died as a result.
