Browsing: Health

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has secured an allocation of 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses amid the expanding Bundibugyo outbreak. As of Aug. 18, health authorities reported 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths. The epidemic now affects 56 health zones across six provinces. Additionally, officials have recorded 1,115 recoveries. Currently, 730 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, as response teams work across affected communities in eastern and northeastern DR Congo.

Efforts to control the Congo Ebola crisis have led to over 5,000 confirmed cases and growing response efforts. WHO reports that the outbreak might be contained within three months with adequate resources. The virus has spread across six provinces and 55 health zones, with a case fatality rate of approximately 47%. Response efforts have secured around $69.3 million of the $115 million needed, adding more treatment beds and deploying additional staff. The Ministry of Public Health announced the outbreak in May, with no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available for the Bundibugyo virus.

In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported a total of 26,064,143 malaria cases, highlighting the extensive spread of the disease nationwide. Health officials also documented 29,938 fatalities linked to malaria during that year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, revealed these figures during the launch of a mass treatment campaign in Ituri province. The initiative targets areas where malaria continues to be a leading cause of illness and puts significant pressure on health services.

Global health authorities issued a warning on Friday, indicating that the emergency situation in Central Africa is escalating swiftly. The World Health Organization reported that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is on course to become the deadliest in history if ongoing community transmission and logistical hurdles in remote areas are not addressed. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus alerted journalists that at its current trajectory, the outbreak could surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa crisis, which resulted in over 11,000 fatalities across multiple countries.

Health teams track Ebola infections across affected communities in eastern DR Congo. Ituri remains the most severely impacted province, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 fatalities. North Kivu follows with 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele has reported 91 infections and 44 deaths, while Tshopo has recorded nine cases and five deaths. South Kivu’s figures include three cases and one death. Overall, the outbreak has now affected 53 of 140 health zones across the five provinces with confirmed infections.

Chad’s health authorities have confirmed an urgent waterborne health emergency that has resulted in 13 deaths since official alerts were issued late last month. The Chad Ministry of Public Health’s latest surveillance data indicates that the cholera outbreak has caused 13 deaths and increased the total confirmed and suspected cases to 239 nationwide. The official statistics show a case fatality rate of 5.4 percent, which is well above international standards for managing emergency outbreaks.

According to data released by Belgian public health institute Sciensano, obesity was associated with 9,509 fatalities in Belgium during 2022. This figure accounts for 8.2 percent of the total deaths recorded that year. The official report marks a milestone as it is the first time public health experts in the country have systematically quantified mortality directly linked to an excessively high body mass index across the population. Statistical analysis suggests that weight-related health issues caused more than one death every hour nationwide, leading to over 150,000 years of life lost across all demographic groups.

Heat-health action plans move higher on the EU public health and climate resilience agenda. The campaign emphasizes the importance of Heat-Health Action Plans that establish clear responsibilities and quantifiable standards to protect populations during extreme heat events. These plans should prioritize vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, and pregnant women. People with chronic illnesses and those facing social or economic hardships also require targeted protections. Health experts argue that coordinated planning can enable authorities to issue timely warnings, prepare healthcare services, and minimize exposure before and during dangerous heat waves. The Standing Committee of European Doctors, or CPME, has also called for stronger measures at the EU, national, and local levels. It urges governments to develop, enforce, and routinely update comprehensive heat-health strategies. The organization highlights that extreme heat can worsen cardiovascular and respiratory conditions and lead to an increase in premature deaths. It has also supported the adoption of binding EU-wide targets aimed at improving climate resilience and public health. Such targets would include national adaptation actions designed to enhance preparedness for the mounting health impacts of climate change. Strategies focus on early warnings, healthcare infrastructure, and vulnerable populations.

Moderna has initiated a preliminary clinical trial for a vaccine targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus. This development comes as an outbreak intensifies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first dose of the mRNA-1469 vaccine was administered to a volunteer on August 3 in Truro, Nova Scotia. This marks the vaccine’s debut in human testing. The World Health Organization has declared the Congolese outbreak an international public health emergency.

Michigan health officials have verified two deaths associated with the state’s 2026 cyclosporiasis outbreak. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported a total of 11,234 cases as of Aug. 3. Through July 30, the state also recorded 193 hospitalizations. Both individuals had significant underlying health conditions. Officials noted that cyclosporiasis and dehydration could have worsened their health issues, but they provided no additional personal details.