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Marc Silver Marc Silver edits NPR's global health blog.
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Marc Silver

Saturday

Health

Advice for cold, flu and COVID-19: Wear a mask and wash your hands

Flus and colds could be more prevalent this year because they didn't spread as much last year due to pandemic restrictions. We answer questions about the flu vaccine and how to stay protected.

Advice for cold, flu and COVID-19: Wear a mask and wash your hands

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Thursday

'Sex Education's' Eric Effiong is inspiration to Nigeria's gays, says activist

The character Eric Effiong (portrayed by actor Ncuti Gatwa) is an openly gay British teen in the Netflix series Sex Education. In a storyline in the new season, Eric travels to his mother's homeland of Nigeria — where sex between men and sex between women are against the law — for a family wedding. Sam Taylor/Netflix hide caption

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Sam Taylor/Netflix

Goats and Soda

'Sex Education's' Eric Effiong is inspiration to Nigeria's gays, says activist

We asked Bisi Alimi, who came out on TV in Nigeria and is an advocate for LGBTQ rights in his homeland, to weigh in on the plotline of the popular Netflix series.

Sunday

Health

Is it still too risky to hug? We answer that question and more

At the start of the pandemic, greeting someone with a hug, handshake or a peck on the cheek was considered high risk for the spread of the virus. But now, post vaccine, what are the rules?

Is it still too risky to hug? We answer that question and more

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Friday

Coronavirus FAQ: Should I humor my friend's request for a pointless COVID precaution?

A friend's invitation to fly in for a visit at their vacation cabin came with a request for a COVID-19 precaution that seemed ... not very helpful. Michael Fox/EyeEm/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Fox/EyeEm/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: Should I humor my friend's request for a pointless COVID precaution?

Fly in and stay with us at our cabin, they said. And get a COVID test right after your flight to see if you picked up an infection while traveling. But that's too soon for a meaningful test result.

Friday

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm vaccinated. Can I give a hug — or a handshake — without risk?

To hug or not to hug? Experts say it depends on where you've been and your personal tolerance for risk. Malaka Gharib/ NPR hide caption

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Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm vaccinated. Can I give a hug — or a handshake — without risk?

In the vaccine era, people are wondering if it's (relatively) safe to resume hugs, exchange handshakes, kiss on the cheek or air-kiss.

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm vaccinated. Can I give a hug — or a handshake — without risk?

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Friday

Friday

Thursday

Whatever Happened To ... The Woman Whose Mission Is To Get African Girls In School?

Angeline Murimirwa, executive director of the girls' education group CAMFED in Africa, at a pub in Oxford, England, in 2018. In August, CAMFED was awarded the $2.5 million 2021 Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Marc Silver/NPR hide caption

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Marc Silver/NPR

Goats and Soda

Whatever Happened To ... The Woman Whose Mission Is To Get African Girls In School?

Angeline Murimirwa leads CAMFED, a group that has given scholarships to 4.8 million girls in Africa. And now the group has been awarded the $2.5 million Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Thursday

Tuesday

India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count

Performing last rites before the cremation of a family member who died of COVID-19. Anupam Nath/AP hide caption

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Anupam Nath/AP

Goats and Soda

India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count

That's the number of "excess deaths" from January 2020 to June 2021, reflecting the true toll of COVID-19, say researchers in a new study. Why the big disparity?

India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count

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Saturday

Thursday

New U.S. Malaria Czar: Why We Should Care About The Disease, Even In A Pandemic

Dr. Raj Panjabi, the newly named head of the President's Malaria Initiative, treating patients during a visit to Liberia, where he was born and lived until 1990. He'll lead the effort to prevent and treat malaria around the world. Each year, some 400,000 people die of a disease that, he notes, is "preventable and treatable." Gabriel Diamond/Skoll Foundation hide caption

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Gabriel Diamond/Skoll Foundation

Goats and Soda

New U.S. Malaria Czar: Why We Should Care About The Disease, Even In A Pandemic

Did you even know the U.S. has a malaria czar? Who himself had malaria as a kid? We interview Dr. Raj Panjabi, newly appointed by President Joe Biden.

Saturday

How Goats (And Perhaps People) Make Up Their Minds

A herd of goats in Russia ponders ... well, we can't really know what they're pondering, but it's a safe bet they're interested in finding something to eat. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

How Goats (And Perhaps People) Make Up Their Minds

How does a herd decide which direction to head in? Researchers put GPS collars on a gathering of goats to find out. Here's what they learned — and how it might apply to humans.

Friday

Friday