Egypt has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) – an achievement hailed by the UN public health agency as “truly historic”.

“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Egyptian authorities launched their first efforts to stamp out the deadly mosquito-borne infectious disease nearly 100 years ago.

Certification is granted when a country proves that the transmission chain is interrupted for at least the previous three consecutive years. Malaria kills at least 600,000 people every year, nearly all of them in Africa.

In a statement on Sunday, the WHO praised “the Egyptian government and people” for their efforts to “end a disease that has been present in the country since ancient times”.

It said Egypt was the third country to be certified in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

Globally, 44 countries and one territory have reached this milestone.

But the WHO said the certification was only “the beginning of a new phase”, urging Egypt to be on the alert to preserve its malaria-free status.

To get the WHO certification, a country must demonstrate the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

The UN public health agency said first efforts to limit human-mosquito contact in Egypt began in the 1920s when it banned rice cultivation and agricultural crops near homes.

Malaria is caused by a complex parasite which is spread by mosquito bites.

Vaccines are now being used in some places – but monitoring the disease and avoiding mosquito bites are the most effective ways to prevent malaria.

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BOTOX Cosmetic is now the first and only product approved for four aesthetic treatment areas: forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet, and platysma bands, marking its expansion beyond facial applications. "Research shows millions of consumers in the U.S. are extremely or very bothered by their platysma bands.6* Until now, treatment options have been limited and with this approval, there is a nonsurgical, injectable option to temporarily improve the look of vertical bands connecting the jaw and neck," said Darin J. Messina, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Aesthetics R&D at Allergan Aesthetics. "This fourth indication for BOTOX Cosmetic represents true innovation. We're excited to open new doors for patients and providers, helping them to achieve their aesthetic goals."Read also: AbbVie seeks USFDA accelerated approval for telisotuzumab vedotin for previously treated non small cell lung cancerThe platysma is a thin muscle that stretches across the neck and lower face. When contracted, it can create visible neck bands and a less defined jawline. BOTOX Cosmetic treatment targets this muscle beneath the skin, temporarily reducing its activity to improve the appearance of the neck and jaw bands. Injections are administered along the jawline and vertical bands with one of the FDA-approved doses—26, 31, or 36 units—depending on the severity. Patients should consult a licensed aesthetic specialist to determine if this treatment is suitable for them."In my practice, the neck and lower face are always a standard part of my comprehensive aesthetic consultation. Many of my patients are often surprised by the significant impact that changes in these areas can have," said Dr. Terrence Keaney, board-certified dermatologist and pivotal clinical trial investigator. "With the approval of BOTOX Cosmetic for the treatment of platysma bands, including precise injection patterns and dosing, I can now confidently offer my patients a treatment option that can help deliver the results they are looking to achieve."Phase III clinical trials demonstrated a significant improvement in the appearance of platysma bands with BOTOX® Cosmetic compared to placebo (p<0.0001), meeting the primary endpoint. This was assessed by both investigators and participants. All secondary endpoints were also achieved, as measured by several validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools. In two studies, 65% and 62% of patients reported being "Very Satisfied" or "Satisfied" with their neck and jawline appearance 14 days after receiving 26, 31, or 36 units of BOTOX Cosmetic, compared to only 12% with placebo.Patients interested in BOTOX Cosmetic for platysma bands are encouraged to join Alle, the loyalty program from Allergan Aesthetics. Serving over seven million members across nearly 30,000 practices, Alle aims to educate consumers on aesthetic treatments and enhance practice operations. It offers a comprehensive rewards program, allowing members to earn points on over 50 treatments and brands, even beyond Allergan Aesthetics. Alle also offers flexible payment options through Alle Payment Plans, powered by Cherry, making aesthetic treatments more accessible.According to 2021 U.S. Census estimates, about 3.8% of respondents in a survey of 15,295 participants were "Very" or "Extremely Bothered" by their platysma bands, equating to nine million individuals. In clinical trials, a ≥2-grade improvement in platysma band severity was observed in 32% of patients with BOTOX Cosmetic compared to 2% with placebo in Study 1, and 31% versus 0% in Study 2, based on assessments at day 14.Payment options through Cherry Technologies are provided by various lenders, with terms, approval amounts, and promotional rates depending on eligibility. Iowa-specific loans are subject to unique criteria, with APR capped at 20.99%.Read also: AbbVie, FutureGen ink pact to develop Next-Generation Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The Accure Laser System unlocks the unique selectivity of the 1726 nm laser wavelength, adding proprietary and first-in-class technology to precisely control thermal gradient depth to have maximum impact on the sebaceous gland. This treat-to-temperature mechanism of action has been validated through multiple IRB-approved clinical trials in the United States, achieving an average inflammatory lesion count reduction of 70% at 6 months after a series of four treatments spaced about one month apart. This was observed for all skin types and severities of acne.

Accure Acne recently completed a limited commercial release earlier this year in the United States, delivering significant clinical outcomes, as well as consistent provider and patient satisfaction scores of over 4.4 out of 5. Since then, Accure has expanded the availability of the Accure Laser System in multiple regions, with first adopters in the Middle East, Europe, The Caribbean, and Asia Pacific, where patients of all severities and skin types can benefit from a safe, effective, and now durable clinical outcome.

"This accomplishment is a testament to the relentless pursuit of this goal by Accure, Quanta System, and the team of clinicians and researchers who have spent many years together to bring the Accure Laser to the world", added Emil Tanghetti, MD, Founder of The Center for Dermatology and Laser Surgery in Sacramento, CA, and the first Accure Laser investigator in the world. "Our journey in understanding the unique nature of this wavelength and the clinical requirements needed to deliver significant clinical outcomes was certainly challenging. The technical innovations of using temperature as an endpoint, combined with forced air cooling and real-time monitoring algorithms has produced a solution that stands alone from more traditional power-based methods. This unique laser has a platform that can be modified and adjusted to possibly treat a number of other skin conditions. I am excited about the future of this device and technology."

CVS Health to remove AbbVie rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira from some drug reimbursement lists in AprilCVS cut its financial expectations for the third time in August with all major pharmacy chains attempting to navigate a drastically changed landscape, facing competition online and elsewhere.Joyner, who will also join the company's board, most recently served as executive vice president of CVS Health, and president of CVS Caremark. He led the pharmacy services business, which provides solutions to employers, health plans and government entities and serves approximately 90 million members through Caremark, CVS Specialty, and other areas. Joyner has 37 years of health care and pharmacy benefit management experience.CVS Health also announced on Friday that Chairman Roger Farah will now be executive chairman."We believe David and his deep understanding of our integrated business can help us more directly address the challenges our industry faces, more rapidly advance the operational improvements our company requires, and fully realize the value we can uniquely create," Farah said in a statement.The Woonsocket, Rhode Island company's preliminary forecast is for third-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.05 to $1.10 per share, citing higher-than-expected medical cost trends. Analysts polled by FactSet predict earnings of $1.69 per share.Back in August CVS Health changed the leadership of its health insurance business as it continued to deal with escalating costs. At the time, the company named Lynch to lead its insurance segment, replacing Executive Vice President Brian Kane, who is left the company about a year after arriving.Rising claims from the company's Medicare Advantage coverage have hurt CVS Health for much of this year and contributed to repeated trimmings of its outlook for 2024. Medicare Advantage plans are privately run versions of the federal government's coverage program mainly for people age 65 and older.CVS Health also said in August that it has been hurt by a drop in quality ratings for those plans and pressure from Medicaid coverage it manages in several states.CVS Health's stock is down nearly 13% before the market open on Friday.Read also: Impact of Regular Aspirin Use on ASCVD Mortality in Adults with Elevated Lipoprotein(a) Levels