Browsing: Health

Over 5,700 Confirmed Cases as DR Congo Initiates Ebola Vaccination Drive in Eastern Regions – The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s health authorities have launched a targeted Ebola vaccination effort in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, aiming to contain the country’s most severe outbreak ever recorded. Frontline healthcare workers, emergency response teams, and individuals with direct contact with confirmed cases are prioritized in the initial phase of vaccination deployment. Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed that the campaign uses doses of the Ervebo vaccine to protect frontline personnel across the affected eastern provinces.

EU diagnostic support expands as health authorities respond to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. These PCR testing kits will be delivered to the World Health Organization’s Logistics Hub for Global Health Emergencies in Dubai, which will oversee their distribution to Ebola-affected regions. PCR testing remains vital for confirming infections, as laboratories can analyze numerous samples swiftly and with high precision. The compatibility with existing laboratory systems ensures rapid deployment. Accurate and quick diagnosis supports health teams in identifying infected individuals, arranging suitable care and isolation measures, and conducting contact tracing around confirmed cases.

DR Congo expands its Ebola response as Bundibugyo cases spread across six provinces. The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved the release following a request from the government for doses from the global Ebola stockpile. WHO stated that 20,000 doses will be used in a Phase 3 clinical trial targeting Bundibugyo virus disease. The remaining 50,000 doses are designated for frontline health workers and those involved in current vaccination efforts. WHO and Africa CDC have welcomed the decision, which was announced on Aug. 20. Ervebo holds a license for outbreaks caused by Ebola virus, formerly known as Zaire ebolavirus. However, it has not received approval specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease. WHO notes that laboratory and animal studies suggest possible cross-protection, but the effectiveness in humans remains uncertain. The upcoming clinical trial will evaluate the vaccine’s performance during the outbreak and aim to generate additional evidence to guide public health decisions. WHO recommends that recipients be informed about known risks, potential benefits, and the vaccine’s current limitations. The outbreak now spans six provinces in Congo The epidemic originated in Mongbwalu health zone within Ituri Province, with the Congolese authorities confirming the first cases in May. Since then, the outbreak has spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, and Bas-Uele. By Aug. 12, WHO documented 4,665 cases and 2,184 deaths across

Congo Ebola response expands as health teams work to curb Bundibugyo transmission. (AI-generated image) According to WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé, the three-month containment goal hinges on securing necessary funding and resources for the response. The agency has obtained approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million it estimates is required, roughly 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams added more than 400 treatment beds and deployed 100 extra epidemiologists along with over 500 community health workers to enhance surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The response effort also demands vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel across the expanding affected region. Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth affected province. As of August 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of all reported deaths nationwide. Authorities stated that between 70% and 80% of new cases had no known links to existing patients. Efforts to broaden surveillance are underway to accelerate case detection and ensure timely transfers of patients to treatment centers. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on August 4. Expansion of Response Efforts Across the Affected Regions Since declaring the outbreak on May 15, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been leading the response. Laboratory testing in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a rarer Ebola

The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 26,064,143 malaria cases in 2025. The country also reported 29,938 deaths linked to the disease during the year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, announced the figures during a campaign launch in Ituri province. Dembo said malaria remains the country’s main public health challenge. The new totals confirm a heavy disease burden across one of Africa’s most malaria-affected countries.

Field medical teams administer supportive care treatments to patients in emergency clinics. Official epidemiological data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ministry of Health indicate that the ongoing outbreak has claimed more than 2,100 lives among over 4,500 confirmed cases. Although authorities officially declared the epidemic on May 15, genomic analyses later revealed that silent community transmission had actually begun as early as February. Public health experts point out that the death toll has been reached at a rate nearly three times faster than in previous major regional outbreaks, underscoring severe operational challenges in tracking active infection chains across remote regions.

The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has resulted in 1,916 fatalities and 4,209 confirmed infections, according to official figures updated through August 7. This marks an increase of 29 deaths from the previous report of 1,887. Health officials have also reported 595 individuals under care in isolation, while another 828 have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

Chad’s health authorities have confirmed that an urgent waterborne health crisis has resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals since public health officials announced the outbreak late last month. The Chad Ministry of Public Health’s latest surveillance data shows that the cholera outbreak has caused 13 deaths while raising the total confirmed and suspected cases across the country to 239. These figures indicate a case fatality rate of 5.4 percent, which is notably higher than international standards for emergency response to outbreaks.

The Belgian public health institute Sciensano reports that obesity was connected to 9,509 fatalities in Belgium in 2022, making up 8.2 percent of the country’s overall death toll. This marks the first occasion on which public health experts in Belgium have systematically quantified mortality directly linked to a high body mass index (BMI). The report highlights that weight-related health issues resulted in more than one death every hour nationwide. Additionally, the data indicates that high BMI led to over 150,000 years of life lost across various age groups in a single year.

EU health groups seek binding heat protection as Europe strengthens climate resilience planning. According to HEAL, national Heat Health Action Plans must incorporate ambitious, measurable objectives focused on shielding vulnerable populations from climate-induced risks, particularly during extreme heat events. The organization advocates that these plans prioritize vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic health conditions, while also addressing those facing social and economic disadvantages. Furthermore, HEAL has called on the EU to allocate funds toward health and climate resilience initiatives within its 2028 to 2034 long-term budget. The Standing Committee of European Doctors, also known as CPME, has similarly urged swift action to develop comprehensive heat-health strategies across Europe. It recommends that authorities at the EU, national, and local levels formulate, execute, and periodically update plans that address heat-related health threats. CPME warns that extreme heat can aggravate cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses and lead to premature mortality, especially among vulnerable groups. The organization has also separately advocated for binding EU-wide targets related to climate resilience and health, including national adaptation goals. Focus on prevention and readiness in heat-health strategies On June 11, 2026, WHO/Europe published updated guidelines on Heat-Health Action Plans, emphasizing the critical nature of extreme heat as a pressing public health issue. The framework encompasses eight key domains: governance, warning systems, protecting vulnerable groups, communication strategies, health-system preparedness, exposure mitigation, surveillance, and assessment. It provides a structure for authorities at all