The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for an end to the boom in e-cigarette use, as research has found that children aged 13 to 15 are using the products at higher rates than adults. The UN health agency also warned that the products generate carcinogenic substances, increase the risk of heart and lung disorders, and can affect brain development. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that kids are being targeted by e-cigarette companies, and may become addicted to nicotine.
In addition, WHO also reported a 3,200 percent increase in measles cases in Europe and Central Asia this year compared to last. The agency attributed the rise in cases to gaps in immunity due to drops in vaccination rates, as well as misinformation and mistrust of vaccines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, UNICEF warned that the ongoing crisis in Lebanon is worsening, resulting in children missing out on education and being forced into child labor. Skyrocketing prices and widespread poverty have forced families to take desperate measures to afford basic necessities, while the emotional burden is particularly heavy in conflict-affected areas. The agency said the crisis is crushing children’s dreams, and taking away their learning, happiness, and future.