#COVID-19

A recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reveals that individuals who contract COVID-19 are at an increased risk of developing various other infections for at least a year after their initial infection. The research highlights significant long-term impacts of COVID-19 on patients’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, including sepsis and respiratory illnesses. For Thai readers, this research underscores the potential enduring effects of COVID-19 beyond its acute phase and stresses the importance of continued vigilance even for those who have recovered from mild cases.

The global rise in mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, has sparked a critical conversation about the roots of this crisis. A recent piece by Patrick West at Spiked Online titled “How the age of emotion gave us the mental-health crisis” explores this phenomenon, arguing that societal changes and cultural shifts over the past decades have fundamentally altered how we perceive and address mental health.

West highlights a troubling stat from the Netherlands, where a staggering 60% increase in euthanasia cases tied to psychological suffering has been reported. This startling figure is emblematic of a broader crisis where mental anguish is driving individuals to extreme ends. In 2024, of the 10,000 Dutch patients who chose euthanasia, 10% did so due to mental distress. Such statistics underscore an escalating public health emergency that transcends borders.

As the COVID-19 pandemic gradually becomes a chapter in history rather than a current crisis, its profound impact on public health and public perception continues to echo globally, including in Thailand. A recent NPR report discusses how the pandemic, despite fostering incredible advances in public health, has simultaneously fueled science skepticism, particularly in relation to vaccines. This dual legacy poses challenges that resonate deeply within Thai society as well.

In the early days of the pandemic, rapid development and widespread distribution of COVID-19 vaccines marked a significant public health achievement. Initiatives such as the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed ensured vaccines were available faster than any previously developed. According to experts, such as University of Washington’s Carl Bergstrom, these vaccines saved millions of lives and demonstrated unprecedented scientific achievement. The mere possibility of mRNA technology, used in COVID vaccines, being applied to other infectious diseases represents a substantial leap forward for global health (NPR).