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NCDC Warns Cholera Outbreak Continues in Nigeria, Urges Sustained Response

NCDC Warns Cholera Outbreak Continues in Nigeria, Urges Sustained Response

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a warning that the cholera outbreak in Nigeria is not yet over, despite a decline in weekly cases and a lower fatality rate compared to the previous year. Dr. Jide Idris, the NCDC Director-General, stated that over 65,000 suspected cases of cholera have been recorded across 35 states and approximately 195 local government areas this year. The NCDC emphasizes that while progress has been made, the risk of transmission remains, particularly with the ongoing rainy season and potential for flooding to contaminate water sources. The agency is concerned about conditions such as unsafe water, open defecation, damaged water distribution systems, poor hygiene infrastructure, and inadequate sanitation in public institutions that continue to expose communities to cholera. National Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to affected states to support investigation and response activities, focusing on early access to treatment and addressing water,...

Why is the Spanish Flu Name a Misnomer

Why is the Spanish Flu Name a Misnomer

The 1918–1920 flu pandemic, commonly known as the Spanish flu, stands as one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, infecting an estimated 50...

WHO Releases Guidelines for Emergency Risk Communication in Public Health Crises

WHO Releases Guidelines for Emergency Risk Communication in Public Health Crises

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published new guidelines for emergency risk communication (ERC) policy and practice. These guidelines are designed to provide evidence-based, up-to-date, and systems-focused guidance for managing public health emergencies. The primary objective is to assist WHO Member States, partners, and stakeholders involved in emergency preparedness and response. The guidelines cover various aspects, including building trust and engaging with communities, integrating risk communication into existing national and local emergency structures, and practical ERC strategies from planning and messaging to monitoring and evaluation. They are intended for a broad audience, including policy- and decision-makers, practitioners, frontline responders, and various development partners and organizations.

Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected

Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo spreads to 2 new health zones with a total of 60 areas now affected

Congo government figures show that the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo

Haitian Gang Releases Women and Children After Mass Kidnapping Near Port-au-Prince

Haitian Gang Releases Women and Children After Mass Kidnapping Near Port-au-Prince

A Haitian gang has released six children and seven women who were part of a group of over 50 people kidnapped following a deadly attack on Kenscoff, a community near Port-au-Prince. UNICEF confirmed the release, noting that among those freed were three children under the age of two, a seven-year-old, and two teenage girls. The United Nations children’s agency collaborated with community leaders to secure their release. The mass abduction occurred after the gang killed at least 47 people during an attack on Kenscoff. A gang leader known as Izo 2 had threatened to execute all hostages if police engaged any gang members. This incident has sparked international outcry, with the U.N. Security Council holding an emergency meeting where diplomats, including those from the United States, Panama, and Colombia, expressed horror and called for the swift deployment of a U.N.-backed gang-fighting force.

Measles deaths reported in Pennsylvania spark fight among politicians and health officials

Measles deaths reported in Pennsylvania spark fight among politicians and health officials

The recent announcement of Pennsylvania’s first measles-related deaths in decades has ignited a public feud among politicians and health officials who disagree over the role of the contagious disease in the fatalities

Funding Cuts Threaten Malnutrition Treatment for Afghan Children

Funding Cuts Threaten Malnutrition Treatment for Afghan Children

Funding cuts to humanitarian aid have led to the closure of over 100 sites in Afghanistan that were treating children suffering from severe wasting, a dangerous form of malnutrition. Currently, 3.7 million children in Afghanistan are affected by wasting, with approximately 1 million experiencing life-threatening severe acute cases. Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, has issued an urgent appeal for intervention, emphasizing the critical need for early action to save lives. The closures of these treatment centers exacerbate an already dire situation, leaving a significant number of vulnerable children without access to essential medical care and nutritional support. This development underscores the severe impact of reduced humanitarian funding on the health and survival of children in crisis-affected regions.

Africa's male midwives are rare but increasing in the fight against pregnancy deaths

Africa's male midwives are rare but increasing in the fight against pregnancy deaths

The southern African kingdom is seeing more men becoming midwives

Sengenge Women's Group in West Pokot Enhances Food Security and Resilience Through Climate-Smart Agriculture

Sengenge Women's Group in West Pokot Enhances Food Security and Resilience Through Climate-Smart Agriculture

In West Pokot County, Kenya, the Sengenge Mother-to-Mother Support Group, comprising 15 women with children under five, is significantly improving food security and resilience. This initiative, supported by Action Against Hunger and funded by the Field Foundation, began in 2024 in Lopsienikou Village, a region previously struggling with malnutrition and limited access to safe water. Action Against Hunger's Food Security and Livelihood Program promotes climate-smart agriculture and supports vulnerable communities. Key interventions include the installation of a solar-powered water system, providing safe water to 750 households, two primary schools, and the group's kitchen garden. Two 10,000-liter overhead water tanks were also installed, and a water management committee was established and trained to oversee operations and maintenance through user fees. This improved water access has led to a significant reduction in waterborne diseases. The group has also established a communal vegetable farm, serving as b...

World Food Programme and OCHA Warn of Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe Due to El Niño-Induced Drought

World Food Programme and OCHA Warn of Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe Due to El Niño-Induced Drought

Zimbabwe is facing a severe and underreported humanitarian crisis, primarily driven by a devastating El Niño-induced drought that struck southern Africa in 2024. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have issued warnings that millions of Zimbabweans will require humanitarian assistance to survive until future harvests. The drought has led to the destruction of over half of Zimbabwe’s harvest due to prolonged dry spells, below-average rainfall, and extreme temperatures. The Government of Zimbabwe declared a national state of disaster in April 2024, estimating that over seven million people would face severe food insecurity. Currently, approximately 7.6 million people, nearly half the country’s population, are at risk of acute hunger. Children are particularly vulnerable, with UNICEF reporting a significant increase in child wasting (low weight for height) in 2024, affecting an estimated 3.5 million children. The crisis is compounded ...

Parents and teachers in Congo urge delay of school resumption as Ebola outbreak rages on

Parents and teachers in Congo urge delay of school resumption as Ebola outbreak rages on

Teachers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak are calling for a delayed reopening of schools due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Diarrhea-causing parasite cases top 1,000 in New York. What to know

Diarrhea-causing parasite cases top 1,000 in New York. What to know

New York has reported 1,014 cases so far in 2026, roughly double the number typically reported in a full year, as health officials continue tracking the illness.