First Check > Articles by: First Check Team
covid-19
27
Nov

    COVID-19 vaccine not the cause of unexplained sudden death among young adults: ICMR Study

    • First Check Team / 4 days
    • 0
    • 3 min read

    Certain high-risk behavioural factors such as binge drinking, smoking and strenuous physical activity were found to be positively associated with unexplained sudden death. COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India, states the latest Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study. On the contrary, the study finds […]

    umbilical cord
    20
    Nov

      Delay umbilical cord clamping by two minutes to reduce premature baby deaths, says study

      • First Check Team / 2 weeks
      • 0
      • 2 min read

      It allows blood to flow from the placenta to the baby whilst the baby’s lungs fill with air, potentially easing the transition into breathing. Waiting for two minutes or longer to clamp the umbilical cord of a premature baby likely reduces the risk of death soon after birth, according to two companion systematic reviews and […]

      Climate Change
      16
      Nov

        370% rise in heat-related deaths by 2050 if climate goals unmet: The Lancet report

        • First Check Team / 2 weeks
        • 0
        • 3 min read

        The 2023 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change highlights how the health of humanity is at grave risk. The 2023 report of the ‘Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: the imperative for a health-centred response in a world facing irreversible harms’, released earlier this week, provides a disturbing glimpse of […]

        UNESCO disinformation
        07
        Nov

          UNESCO unveils action plan to regulate social media platforms to fight disinformation

          • First Check Team / 3 weeks
          • 0
          • 3 min read

          The first World Conference of Regulators to be held in mid-2024; to mobilise dedicated funding, including one million Euros pledged by the European Commission. While unveiling an action plan to tackle online disinformation on November 6, 2023, UNESCO made a strong comment on the escalating proliferation of online disinformation and hate speech becoming “a major […]

          Emergency contraceptive pills
          01
          Nov

            Fact-check: Emergency contraceptive pills are safe

            • First Check Team / 1 month
            • 0
            • 2 min read

            While they can be a powerful tool of women empowerment, there’s an urgent need for public awareness and access, coupled with efforts to promote gender equality in the reproductive sphere. A viral tweet – with three million views at the time of this writing – on the perils of using emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) claims […]

            AI
            25
            Oct

              AI can perpetuate harmful, debunked, racist ideas in healthcare: Study

              • First Check Team / 1 month
              • 0
              • 2 min read

              A recent study highlights the potential dangers of integrating Large Language Models in healthcare systems without addressing inherent biases. A recent study published on npj Digital Medicine (Nature) highlights the potential dangers of integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) in healthcare systems without addressing inherent biases. At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly getting […]

              The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science
              19
              Oct

                Rise of anti-science movement claims millions of lives, warns researcher

                • First Check Team / 1 month
                • 0
                • 2 min read

                In his book ‘The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: a Scientist’s Warning’, Peter Hotez notes that health misinformation is organised, well-financed, and politically motivated. ‘The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: a Scientist’s Warning’ by Peter Hotez, Dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA, is essential reading for out […]

                Vitamin-C
                13
                Oct

                  Fact-check: Vitamin C can’t ward off the flu

                  • First Check Team / 2 months
                  • 0
                  • 2 min read

                  Vitamin C has long been of interest to medical experts and researchers for its role in supporting the immune system and its potential in preventing and treating infections. As the cold and flu season approaches, many individuals arm themselves with a familiar defense: pills, powders, and various forms of vitamin C. Does vitamin C actually […]

                  Nipah-virus-infection
                  12
                  Oct

                    Nipah virus infection: 10 facts

                    • First Check Team / 2 months
                    • 0
                    • 3 min read

                    It’s important to be informed about the infection; don’t be swayed by fear mongering and misinformation. By First Check team Nipah virus infection is suspected to be the cause of two recent deaths due to fever in Kozhikode, Kerala. While the suspicion can only be confirmed once the test results from the National Institute of Virology […]

                    Hypertension
                    21
                    Sep

                      Hypertension affects one in three adults globally: WHO global report on hypertension

                      • First Check Team / 2 months
                      • 0
                      • 4 min read

                      The first-of-its-kind, comprehensive analysis finds that currently, only one in five individuals with hypertension has their condition under control. Strengthening hypertension control programmes is crucial.  The World Health Organization (WHO) recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind report highlighting the devastating global impact of high blood pressure, a pervasive health issue often referred to as the “silent killer”. […]

                      Mis Information
                      16
                      Aug

                        A good start: YouTube’s long-term vision for medical misinformation policies

                        • First Check Team / 4 months
                        • 0
                        • 2 min read

                        The platform will streamline existing guidelines to fall under three categories – Prevention, Treatment, and Denial. By First Check team  As the threat of health misinformation continues to loom large across the globe, YouTube recently announced its long-term vision for medical misinformation policies on the platform. The video platform will start by removing content that […]

                        First Check
                        01
                        Jul

                          First Check bags Global Fact Check Fund award

                          • First Check Team / 5 months
                          • 0
                          • 2 min read

                          IFCN awarded 35 organisations serving 45 countries with $25,000 each to strengthen the impact of their fact-checking projects. The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) on Thursday announced grant recipients from the Global Fact Check Fund’s BUILD phase, which aims to help fact-checking organisations scale or upgrade their online presence. First Check, DataLEADS’s flagship health fact-checking initiative, […]

                          25
                          Jan

                            The Mercury Project: Call for proposals

                            • First Check Team / 10 months
                            • 0
                            • 2 min read

                            The Social Science Research Council announces USD $2 million grant for projects designed to increase demand for childhood vaccines, HPV, polio, measles, and COVID-19 in low- and lower-middle income countries. 

                            15
                            Mar

                              Are DIY disinfectants safe?

                              • First Check Team / 3 years
                              • 0
                              • 4 min read

                              Youtube is awash with how to disinfect surfaces and many people have resorted to trying to make their own disinfectants by watching viral do-it-yourself (DIY) videos and YouTube tutorials. But mixing chemicals in the wrong proportion can at best create an ineffective product – and at worst result in poisoning. 

                              01
                              Nov

                                Debunking 6 viral claims about COVID-19 remedies

                                • First Check Team / 3 years
                                • 0
                                • 2 min read

                                There’s no dearth of posts on social media platforms claiming to have found the cure for the coronavirus. Here’s one in Hindi that makes not one, but several claims about COVID-19 cures and prevention.