AimCOVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had a profound impact on global health, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which faced unique challenges due to limited testing and high mortality rates. This analysis aimed to identify mutations and detect different SARS-CoV-2 lineages across four pandemic waves.MethodologyA total of 127 SARS-CoV-2 samples were collected and sequenced from patients from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing a comprehensive overview of the viral genetic diversity in this region. Two sequencing platforms, Ion Torrent and Illumina, were used, whereby 37 samples were sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform, while others were sequenced on the Illumina platform.ResultsThis study presents a genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina over four distinct pandemic waves, spanning from March 2020 to April 2023. Examination of genomic variations across these waves revealed key mutations associated with transmission and potential virulence.ConclusionThese genomic insights into SARS-CoV-2 evolution in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina emphasizes the importance of continuous surveillance to understand viral evolution and strengthen public health responses to future pandemics.

Abstract Mental health is deteriorating quickly and significantly globally post-COVID. Though there were already over 1 billion people living with mental disorders pre-pandemic, in the first year of COVID-19 alone, the prevalence of anxiety and depression soared by 25% worldwide. In light of the chronic shortages of mental health provider and resources, along with disruptions of available health services caused by the pandemic and COVID-related restrictions, technology is widely believed to hold the key to addressing rising mental health crises. However, hurdles such as fragmented and often suboptimal patient protection measures substantially undermine technology’s potential to address the global mental health crises effectively, reliably, and at scale. To shed light on these issues, this paper aims to discuss the post-pandemic challenges and opportunities the global community could leverage to improve society’s mental health en masse.

Worldwide, women face a disproportionately heavy health burden than their male counterparts. Yet there is a chronic lack of research attention and investment in women's health, which may explain the absence of women-inclusive, let alone women-centred, understanding of the causes, consequences, and confounding factors that shape individuals' health and quality of life. In this manuscript, by analysing the U.S. National Health Expenditure data, we show how ingrained the issue of poor investment in women's health even in the 0-18 years age group in terms of per capita health expenditure. We hope this manuscript sheds light on how early-life poor health investment in women's health might be a potential cause for women's poor health in adulthood, and in turn, underscores the importance of investing resources into better understanding and improving women's health.

Mental health is deteriorating far and fast globally post-COVID. Though there were already over one billion people living with mental disorders pre-pandemic, in the first year of COVID-19 alone, the prevalence of anxiety and depression soared by 25% worldwide. In light of the chronic shortages of mental health resources and talents, along with disruptions of available health services caused by pandemic-related restrictions, technology is widely believed to hold the key to addressing the rising mental health crises. However, hurdles such as fragmented and oftentimes suboptimal patient protection measures substantially undermine technology’s potential to address the global mental health crises reliably and at scale. To shed light on these issues, this paper aims to discuss the post-pandemic mental health challenges and opportunities, and the strategies and solutions the global mental health community could leverage to protect and elevate society’s mental health in the long run.

Abstract Avoidable disasters are both saddening and baffling. In 2022, 159 people, mostly in their 20s, and 30s were crushed to death in Itaewon’s narrow alleyway amid South Korea’s first pandemic-restrictions-free Halloween celebration. What is particularly sobering about this tragedy is that although many people called police hotlines as crowds became cramped and static, their calls went unheeded for hours. Rather than order independent investigations into the catastrophe (as of January 2024), the President of South Korea at the time focused on superficial issues such as asking the public to refer to the disaster as an “accident” (which it was not, it was an avoidable disaster) and the casualties as “the dead” (who are casualties indeed, instead of victims of a preventable tragedy). In this paper, we examine how officials’ complacency about public health and safety dangers, ineffective disaster prevention, and preparedness systems, as well as the government’s chronic lack of prioritization of public health and safety may have contributed to the disaster. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of creating integrated public health and safety protection systems to prevent similar tragedies from happening.

Abstract Background: Alcohol use and abuse remain prevalent in China, though mounting evidence shows that even drinking in moderation is detrimental to health. While many countries’ intake is on the decline, China’s alcohol consumption is rising fast and is on the path to overtaking countries like the United States, even on a per capita level. Objectives: This paper aims to analyze the danger of lax enforcement of laws and regulations against alcohol use and abuse and underscores the imperative for effective health interventions to curb problematic alcohol consumption in China. Results: Different from their Western counterparts, Chinese drinkers often consume more spirit with a high percentage of alcohol in social settings that encourage the “ganbei culture”—making toasts with alcohol filled to the brim and downed in one go to show respect—which perpetuates excessive drinking at a fast pace. Though the country has various laws and regulations in place to curb problematic alcohol consumption, like workplace drinking, their impacts are dismal. Considering that China has 1.4 billion people, the country’s uncurbed alcohol consumption trend could have a detrimental effect on national strategic objectives like “Healthy China 2030” and international ones like the Sustainable Development Goals. To further compound the situation, prevalent campaigns promoted by liquor companies—like alcohol-infused coffee, chocolate, and ice cream—may groom young people to develop alcohol consumption habits, if not addictions, for generations to come. Conclusions: We developed the Framework of 5Vs of China’s “Ganbei Culture to shed light on the issue, with the hope that it, along with the overarching insights of this paper, can assist health professionals and policymakers in better guarding and improving public health against the harms of alcohol use and abuse in China and beyond.