Explore

Ebola tops 11,000 cases in Congo's deadliest outbreak

Ebola tops 11,000 cases in Congo's deadliest outbreak

Congo's Ebola outbreak has topped 11,000 cases, highlighting the severity of the situation

Kenya Hosts First Africa Health Data Forum Amidst Critical Gaps in Health Information Systems

Kenya Hosts First Africa Health Data Forum Amidst Critical Gaps in Health Information Systems

Nairobi, Kenya, is currently hosting the First Africa Health Data Forum, a three-day event running from November 10 to 12, 2026. The forum, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Kenya Digital Health Agency, and the Ministry of Health, brings together over 300 participants from 51 countries. Its theme is 'Better Data, Better Health for All.' During the forum's opening, a new WHO report was launched, revealing significant weaknesses in Africa's health information systems. These gaps include inadequate recording of deaths, insufficient tracking of health needs, and a lack of reliable health information, which could impede timely interventions and access to essential healthcare. Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, emphasized the country's commitment to leveraging digital technology and reliable health data to transform healthcare delivery and improve accountability.

Alaska Public Health Officials Report Four New Mpox Cases in Anchorage

Alaska Public Health Officials Report Four New Mpox Cases in Anchorage

Alaska public health officials have reported four new confirmed cases of mpox (monkeypox) in Anchorage. Three cases were identified in October 2026, all involving male patients. An epidemiological link has been established between the first two cases, and none of the individuals reported recent out-of-state travel. The initial two cases were caused by clade Ib mpox, marking the first reported instances of clade I mpox in Alaska. The clade determination for the third case is still pending. One patient required brief hospitalization, and all three are currently isolating and recovering. A fourth case was reported to state officials on Thursday, bringing the total to four mpox cases in Anchorage. The investigation into these cases is ongoing, as reported by Outbreak News Today.

Wildlife Imports Linked to Higher Risk of Animal-Human Disease Outbreaks, Study Finds

Wildlife Imports Linked to Higher Risk of Animal-Human Disease Outbreaks, Study Finds

A comprehensive 39-year study across 214 countries has revealed a significant link between higher wildlife import volumes and an increased risk of zoonotic emerging infectious disease (EID) occurrences. The research, published in the journal One Health by scientists from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), indicates that a one-unit increase in wildlife import volume is associated with approximately 23% higher odds of zoonotic EID occurrence. Conversely, wildlife exports showed no significant association with these outbreaks. Kai Wang, a PhD student at XJTLU, explained that imported wildlife can introduce novel pathogens into a country, potentially leading to outbreaks. Dr. Chengxiu Ling, a corresponding author, further noted that extreme zoonotic EID events are 40% more likely to co-occur with high wildlife import volumes. The study also identified other contributing factors such as mammalian richness, population density, and population growth. This research marks the first global measurement of h...

WHO Recommends Two New Vaccine Candidates for Bundibugyo Ebola Trial

WHO Recommends Two New Vaccine Candidates for Bundibugyo Ebola Trial

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two experimental vaccine candidates, ChAdOx1 BDBV from the University of Oxford and mRNA-1469 from Moderna, for inclusion in the ongoing Phase 2/3 Tumaini trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This trial aims to assess the effectiveness of these vaccines against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for a significant Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The candidates will join Ervebo, an existing Ebola vaccine whose efficacy against Bundibugyo virus is currently unknown. Both new candidates have demonstrated encouraging results in animal studies and early clinical trials in the UK and Canada, showing their ability to safely stimulate immune responses in humans. The ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine utilizes a modified chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver genetic instructions for a Bundibugyo virus protein, while mRNA-1469 uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. These technologies were previously used in COVID-19 vaccines, providing insights into their safety prof...

US faces loss of measles-free status as experts meet for review

US faces loss of measles-free status as experts meet for review

By Jennifer Rigby and Julie Steenhuysen LONDON/CHICAGO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Global health experts will determine in the coming days whether the United States has lost its official measles-free status, a public health achievement it has held since 2000 now in jeopardy after outbreaks across the

Congo's Ebola outbreak tops 11,000 cases as disease keeps spreading

Congo's Ebola outbreak tops 11,000 cases as disease keeps spreading

Congo's Ebola outbreak has topped 11,000 cases, highlighting the severity of the situation

Unitaid Launches $10.9 Million Initiative to Protect Health Products from Climate Change Impacts

Unitaid Launches $10.9 Million Initiative to Protect Health Products from Climate Change Impacts

Unitaid has announced a US$10.9 million investment to safeguard essential medicines, diagnostics, and other health products from the increasing threats of rising temperatures and humidity. This initiative, known as the Safeguarding Heat Stability in Essential Life-Saving Drugs and Diagnostics (SHIELD) project, will run from 2027 to 2030. It aims to address a critical, often overlooked aspect of preparing health systems for climate change: ensuring the efficacy of health products throughout global supply chains. The project, led by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), will investigate which essential health products are currently vulnerable to heat and humidity and which could become vulnerable over the next 20-30 years. Researchers will measure temperature and humidity exposures during storage, transport, and delivery in India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal, with validation in Brazil and South Africa. Laboratory testing will assess product responses to these conditions, and climate projections will help ant...

Measles Cases Surge in the Americas, U.S. Reports Significant Increase

Measles Cases Surge in the Americas, U.S. Reports Significant Increase

Between epidemiological weeks 1 and 43 of 2026, the Region of the Americas recorded 57,666 confirmed cases of measles across 17 countries and territories. This represents a 4.7-fold increase compared to the total cases reported in 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, Peru, and Canada collectively account for 99.5% of these cases. During this period, 81 deaths were attributed to measles. In weeks 41 and 42 of 2026, there were 547 new confirmed cases reported in six countries, indicating a 38% decrease compared to the preceding period. The United States alone reported 332 of these new cases, highlighting its significant contribution to the regional total. The overall surge in measles cases across the Americas points to a concerning trend in public health.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Seeks Physicians for Public Health Roles in Atlanta

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Seeks Physicians for Public Health Roles in Atlanta

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is actively recruiting physicians for public health positions within the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, located in Atlanta, Georgia. The job announcement specifies stringent qualification requirements, including a Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian school, or a foreign medical school degree with demonstrated equivalency. Candidates must also possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted physician's license from a U.S. state or territory, and at least one year of supervised clinical experience. The roles involve leading clinical and scientific research programs, providing epidemiological expertise for disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, and serving as subject matter experts for public health initiatives. The announcement will close once 50 applications are received or by the specified closing date, whichever comes first.

Wastewater Surveillance Proposed as Key Tool for Detecting Deadly Fungal Infections Amid Growing Global Threat

Wastewater Surveillance Proposed as Key Tool for Detecting Deadly Fungal Infections Amid Growing Global Threat

Researchers are advocating for the use of wastewater surveillance as a crucial method for detecting deadly fungal infections, a threat that is escalating due to a warming climate, an increase in immunocompromised individuals, and a limited number of effective antifungal drugs. Fungi like Candida auris, first identified in Japan in 2009, have spread globally, exhibiting resistance to multiple drugs and causing difficult-to-control hospital outbreaks. Despite fungal infections causing approximately 2.5 million deaths worldwide annually—surpassing tuberculosis and malaria combined—they receive little attention, often viewed as complications of existing illnesses rather than public health threats. Current hospital-based monitoring systems frequently miss the true spread of these pathogens due to biological factors, such as many people carrying fungi asymptomatically, and technical limitations in testing. Wastewater monitoring offers a community-wide snapshot, with studies in southern Nevada and Florida demonst...

Kenya Implements Coordinated National Response to Cholera Outbreaks and El Niño Impacts

Kenya Implements Coordinated National Response to Cholera Outbreaks and El Niño Impacts

Kenya has adopted an all-of-government approach, led by the National Disaster Operations Centre, to address cholera outbreaks and prepare for the anticipated strong El Niño event. Risks have been identified across 18 priority counties, with relief supplies pre-positioned and the Northern Corridor under monitoring. Cholera kits have been deployed to high-risk areas. This national strategy is part of a broader regional effort, as East African Community (EAC) ministers have adopted a regional El Niño Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. The plan emphasizes the need for real-time data sharing, faster border clearance for emergency supplies, and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor across the region. The EAC Joint Sectoral Council has directed its Secretariat to mobilize resources and develop an implementation plan by November 30, 2026, and to collaborate with Kenya on a regional disaster information-sharing dashboard by November 25, 2026. Partner States are urged to implement their contingency pla...