HPV vaccine cutting cervical cancer by nearly 90%

The human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine is cutting cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90%, the first real-world data shows.

Cancer Research UK described the findings as "historic", and said it showed the vaccine was saving lives.

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by viruses, and the hope is vaccination could almost eliminate the disease.

The researchers said the success meant those who were vaccinated may need far fewer cervical smear tests too.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world, killing more than 300,000 each year.

Almost nine-in-10 deaths are in low and middle income countries where there is little access to cervical cancer screening. The hope is vaccination will have an even bigger impact in those countries than wealthier nations such as the UK.

More than 100 countries have starting using the vaccine as part of World Health Organization plans to get close to eliminating cervical cancer..

In the UK, girls are offered the vaccine between the ages of 11 and 13, depending on where they live. The vaccine has also been offered to boys since 2019.

The HPV vaccine can only prevent an infection, it cannot rid the body of the virus once it has been caught. The viruses are so widespread that immunisation has to be aimed at children before they become sexually active.

• What is the HPV vaccine and who can get it?

• Busting the myths around sex virus HPV

• 'I had no cancer symptoms but a smear saved my life'

The study, published in the Lancet, looked at what happened after the vaccine was introduced for girls in England in 2008.

Those pupils are now adults in their 20s. The study showed a reduction in both pre-cancerous growths and an 87% reduction in cervical cancer.

"The impact has been huge," said Prof Peter Sasieni, one of the researchers at King's College London.

The reductions were less dramatic when older teenagers were immunised as part of a catch-up campaign. This is because fewer older teenagers decided to have the jab and they may already have been sexually active.

Overall, the study estimated the HPV programme has prevented about 450 cancers and 17,200 pre-cancers.

Prof Sasieni said that was "just the tip of the iceberg" because those vaccinated were still young to be getting cancer, so the numbers would only grow with time.

At the moment, women are invited for a smear test every three to five years to screen for cervical cancer.

But Prof Sasieni said there "definitely" needed to be a rethink after these results.

He told me: "It should be a wake-up call to policy-makers, women will read this and think 'why should I go for screening?'.

"I would hope we'd come back with a new screening programme, two to three times a lifetime and continue screening women who have not been vaccinated."

This is not the final say on the HPV vaccination. There are still questions about how long protection lasts and whether there needs to be a mid-life booster.

There are also more than 100 types of human papillomavirus.

The UK started using a vaccine that protected against two of them and is about to introduce one that protects against nine viruses, including the main causes of genital warts.

The cancer-causing versions lead to dangerous changes to the DNA of infected cells that transform them into cancer.

This can happen in any infected tissue. The viruses can be spread through vaginal, oral and anal sex, so are also linked to anus, penis and some head and neck cancers.

However, 99% of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomaviruses.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist for the UK Health Security Agency, said the findings were "remarkable" and showed the vaccine "saves lives by dramatically reducing cervical cancer rates among women".

Michelle Mitchell, the chief executive at Cancer Research UK, said: "It's a historic moment to see the first study showing that the HPV vaccine has and will continue to protect thousands of women from developing cervical cancer."

Source: BBC

India plans to seek carbon emissions data linked to each LNG cargo

NEW DELHI, Oct 28 (Reuters) - India will seek carbon emissions data linked to each cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG), its oil minister said on Thursday, mirroring a growing trend among top Asian buyers of the cleaner fuel ahead of global climate talks in Glasgow from Sunday.

India, the world's third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States, wants to raise the share of natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030 from the current about 6%, to cut its carbon footprint.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks and a membrane-type tanker are seen at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Futtsu Thermal Power Station in Futtsu, east of Tokyo, Japan, February 20, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato

"The growing push for greener LNG over the past year is already transforming the way LNG is sold," Hardeep Singh Puri said at an industry event organised by the International Energy Forum's (IEF).

"Looking forward, I'm confident that we will look to suppliers to provide transparent and reliable data on carbon emissions associated with each cargo," he said.

Carbon-neutral LNG typically involves companies supporting projects that reduce emissions to compensate for emissions generated from exploration and production.

India imports about 85% of its oil needs and about 55% of its gas requirements, and has been repeatedly urging for enhanced global supplies to rein in prices.

High global energy prices are creating severe challenges for India, Puri said, as local fuel prices are near record highs while Asian spot LNG prices are about 500% higher from a year earlier.

He said LNG buyers and sellers should work together to create "flexible and transparent markets", which offer multiple commercial structures including flexible, shorter-duration contracts.

Tawfiq e-Elahi Chowdhury Bir Bikram, energy advisor to Bangladesh's Prime Minister, said Dhaka has plans to raise annual LNG imports to 30 million tonnes from the current 4 million, as the country plans to double power generation in 10 years.

"But the energy crisis has made the pathway uncertain," he said.

Iran praises arms deal with Russia - analysis

This is important because there was already one joint naval drill with Russia and China in the past: Now there could be more.

Iran has reached an agreement on arms purchases from Russia, according to media reports.

“Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Bagheri said [the contracts had been concluded] at a meeting with Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Vladimir Kasatonov in St. Petersburg on Wednesday,” the Russian News Agency (TASS) reported.

“The conclusion of arms agreements and their implementation in the near future will considerably deepen our relationships,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting corporation quoted the Iranian military chief as saying.

This is a new milestone in Iran-Russia relations.

“The chief of the Iranian General Staff also visited the Russian Navy’s headquarters in St. Petersburg and military facilities in Kronshtadt,” IRIB reported. Bagheri is in Russia for a four-day visit and has met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and held talks with Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the report said.

Iran desperately needs to modernize its army, navy and air force. It recently sent ships around Africa, bypassing the Suez Canal to reach Russia.

Meanwhile, Moscow, which backs the Syrian regime, has complained about this week’s terrorist attack in Damascus. In recent days, the Syrian regime has made progress in Gulf ties and with other networking in the Middle East.

Iran has agreed to more cooperation with Russia, according to Iranian media reports. This is important because there has already been one joint naval drill with Russia and China; now, there could be more.

Iran’s navy needs new ships and submarines. It has suffered many setbacks recently, including one ship that caught fire and sank.

It remains to be seen if the recent discussions in Moscow will lead to major deals. Iran doesn’t have a lot of cash, and Russia, which is dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, is busy trying to integrate a new defense plan with Belarus and also confront NATO.

Source: Jerusalem Post