A pill every day for decades or two injections a year… is this the new breakthrough of science for people suffering from hypertension, writes salute.eu. It’s not science fiction. It’s zilebesiran, and the results of the KARDIA-2 study published in JAMA on July 1, 2025 have just changed what we thought we knew about hypertension. Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide. The problem is not diagnosis. The problem is that almost no one manages to take medication every day fo

Even the healthiest people usually carry viruses in their bodies, which may or may not cause symptoms. In many cases, these viruses remain latent, avoiding detection and therefore not being completely eliminated. A new study sheds more light on these hidden viruses, their prevalence, and how genetics and other factors influence the body’s ability to control them, reports Science Alert. A research team led by scientists from Harvard Medical School analyzed data from blood and

1 in 2,000 people in Albania is affected by a rare genetic disease, and in our country diagnosing them is very difficult; as a result, some of these patients do not receive any treatment. The most widespread is cystic fibrosis, which affects the lungs and digestive system, but blood disorders such as hemophilia, thalassemia, and muscular atrophy are no less common. An estimated 150,000 individuals are affected by rare genetic diseases, many of whom are unaware that they have

Although they fight for their lives every day, six medications have been missing at the Oncology Hospital in QSUT. These include drugs used to treat breast cancer patients as well as other forms of this serious disease. In a live report for News24, journalist Osman Stafa, reporting from outside the Oncology Hospital, stated that one of these medications has been missing for about two months, while others have been unavailable for around a month. “For several weeks, the Oncolo

The Council of Ministers has approved a package of changes to the salary scheme and financial treatment for employees of the healthcare system, modifying the base salary, seniority bonuses, emergency and critical service allowances, as well as compensation for working away from one’s place of residence. One of the main changes concerns the reformulation of the seniority bonus, which will now be calculated based on the position salary and will increase progressively according

Albania ranks among the countries with the highest burden of out-of-pocket health spending, also reflecting a lack of stability in the financial protection the state provides to families for basic services, according to the results of the “SecuriMeter 2025” survey by the Regional Cooperation Council. According to the survey’s official figures, about 57% of Albanian households say they spend between 1% and 10% of their total income on medical visits and medicines. This group r

During the season of viral infections and flu, many parents face rising temperatures in young children. According to pediatrician Zerina Sheme, fever is a protective response of the body to infections and should not immediately be seen as alarming. However, it must be monitored carefully. In an interview on the program “Dita jonë” on A2 CNN, she explained that compresses, airing the room, and light clothing help reduce temperature, while showers are not recommended. “Compress

Former LSI minister Edmond Panariti has stated that the viral infection circulating in the country in recent days is the most dangerous flu of this century. Panariti says that this flu is a super-aggressive mutation of the H3N2 influenza virus. According to him, this ultra-aggressive virus affects most severely the elderly, children, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, and anyone undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. Alarming statement from Edmond Panariti: “This is

Around 1,000 patients have visited the emergency room in the past 20 days. The drop in temperatures has caused a noticeable increase in cases of viral infections and seasonal flu among children in Lezhë. In just the last 20 days, around 1,000 children have sought medical assistance at the Pediatric Emergency Department, with 93 of them admitted for specialized treatment. According to pediatrician Bardhok Gjoka, three cases were in serious condition and were transferred to Tir

The flu is at the peak of circulation and infection rates. The last days of January have significantly increased illness in the population, as well as severe forms caused by the AH3N2 and AH1N1 subtypes. The Institute of Public Health reports 18,500 cases affected in the past week alone, but the real figures are much higher, as not everyone turns to health centers and family doctors. “We are at the peak of flu circulation and upper and lower respiratory infections. The circul

The first signs of seasonal flu appear with fatigue, body aches, fever, and cough. Doctors explain that the situation is not alarming, but they advise that symptoms should not be ignored, and special attention should be given to the elderly. This winter period is accompanied by an increase in cases of viral infections and flu, putting additional pressure on health centers and emergency services. Symptoms initially appear as pronounced fatigue, body aches, and fever, while by

The flu season is heading toward its peak. Every day, dozens of patients show up at the doors of family doctors or infectious disease specialists seeking help, as the symptoms of viral illnesses have worsened. Doctors report that flu symptoms are numerous, but the most pronounced has been high fever that does not subside. Infectious disease specialist Alma Hoxhaj told “Euronews Albania” that this year the flu presents with symptoms such as cough, sore throat, difficulty breat

The significant drop in temperatures in many areas, several degrees below zero, also increases the risk of a heart attack. According to experts, cold weather puts pressure on the heart and constricts blood vessels. Cardiologist Ermir Tafaj stated that patients with existing heart problems are the most at risk. Under these conditions, the doctor urges all patients with heart and blood vessel problems to be cautious and to stay in warm environments. However, even those who beli

Respiratory viruses are circulating widely across the country. In Albania, the dominant virus at the moment is AH3N2, which is mainly associated with general body aches, fatigue, and fever. Although the epidemiological situation is considered normal for this time of year, pediatrician Bektash Mandri calls for increased caution, especially for children and vulnerable age groups. Meanwhile, Covid-19 continues to circulate as well, but according to the doctor, the current varian

The winter season also increases viral infections in children, while doctors advise parents on how to act when symptoms appear and when it is necessary to visit the hospital emergency room. Pediatrician Dr. Albert Lama shared some practical advice for parents on how to handle these cases. “Currently, in the winter season, the most common problems are viral infections affecting mainly the respiratory tract, with symptoms such as cough and fever. In some cases, children may als

The Institute of Public Health, during the presentation of its weekly bulletin, stated that the country is currently experiencing a moderate level of influenza circulation. Around 13,000 cases were reported in just the first week of January, but according to specialists, the real figures are much higher, as not everyone seeks care at health centers. Artan Simaku, a specialist at the Institute of Public Health, told A2 CNN that during this period the flu is mainly affecting th

A 14-year-old girl underwent a marathon surgery lasting about 17 hours to remove her left leg, which had been affected by a very rare disease since she was 2 years old. Her leg had grown abnormally and reached a weight of around 79 kg. Due to a life-threatening infection, doctors determined that amputation was the safest option, removing approximately 90% of the leg's mass. The girl is now in the recovery phase and gaining strength, although she faces a long rehabilitation jo

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that a special fund of 15 million euros has been allocated for the health sector initially, aimed at treating patients with tumor-related diseases. During the end-of-year press conference, Rama stated that two main steps will be taken: the creation of the National Institute of Tumors and the networking of the chemotherapy system in other hospitals, with the goal of reducing the patient flow at the Main Hospital of Tirana and increasing servic

After a confirmed measles case in a 3-year-old child in Tirana, the Institute of Public Health is calling on parents not to avoid vaccination. Rovena Daja, head of vaccination programming at the Institute of Public Health, told A2 CNN that the only way to prevent measles is vaccination. However, delaying the vaccine due to fears of autism or completely refusing it has led to 18 children being affected by measles during 2025. There have been severe cases of this highly contagi

A story of hope and a medical miracle comes from Peru, just ahead of the year-end holidays. A hospital in the capital, Lima, has announced the successful separation of twin girls who were born conjoined, a highly rare and complex procedure that doctors have described as a “medical miracle.” The twins, Ailani and Alif Palacios Picon, were born on October 5 in the city of Huanuco, in central-eastern Peru. They were born prematurely and joined at the spine, with some of their vi