Browsing: Health

WHO maps three-month path for Congo Ebola containment

WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé said the three-month timeline depends on securing the resources required for the response. The agency has received about $69.3 million of the $115 million it says it needs, or roughly 60%. Teams added more than 400 treatment beds during the past two weeks. They also deployed 100 additional epidemiologists and more than 500 community health workers for surveillance and contact tracing. The response requires vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies and personnel across a growing affected area. Transmission has reached Bas-Uélé, making it the sixth affected province. As of Aug. 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of reported deaths nationwide. Officials said 70% to 80% of new cases had no known link to existing patients. Health teams are expanding surveillance to identify cases faster and transfer patients into treatment centers. Bas-Uélé’s first confirmed case had traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms began on Aug. 4.

DRC malaria cases surpass 26 million in 2025

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.

DR Congo Ebola death toll tops 1,900 as cases rise

Ituri remains the center of the epidemic, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 deaths. North Kivu has recorded 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele has reported 91 cases and 44 deaths, while Tshopo has nine cases and five deaths. South Kivu has recorded three cases and one death. Overall, the outbreak has reached 53 of 140 health zones across the five affected provinces. The latest daily increase added 89 confirmed cases and 21 deaths to the national totals. Ituri accounted for 73 of those new infections. North Kivu recorded 12, while Haut Uele recorded four. Authorities said 83.4% of identified contacts were under follow-up across the affected provinces. Health teams continue to review and harmonize case and mortality figures as surveillance records are updated.

Obesity linked to 8.2% of Belgium deaths in new health report

The statistical findings also show that high BMI resulted in over 150,000 lost years of life across all demographic groups in a single year. The comprehensive epidemiological investigation examined underlying causes of death to determine how elevated body mass index contributes to chronic health conditions. Research findings identified cardiovascular complications as the primary contributor to mortality, with coronary heart diseases accounting for 2,009 deaths. Gender analysis revealed that male mortality rates exceeded female rates across most age brackets. Geographical evaluation across the federal territory highlighted pronounced regional disparities in mortality rates tied to excessive weight.

Michigan reports first deaths tied to cyclospora outbreak

Michigan health officials have confirmed two deaths connected to the state’s 2026 cyclosporiasis outbreak. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 11,234 cases as of Aug. 3. The state also recorded 193 hospitalizations through July 30. Both patients had serious underlying medical conditions. Officials said cyclosporiasis and dehydration may have affected those conditions, but they released no additional personal information.

DR Congo Ebola outbreak reaches record scale

The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has become the country’s largest recorded epidemic. Health authorities counted 3,605 confirmed cases through July 30, including 1,587 deaths. Teams logged 567 infections and 296 deaths during the latest full reporting week. Those figures marked the highest weekly totals since the outbreak began. The surge placed further pressure on surveillance, treatment and community response operations. Cases now span 49 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé and Tshopo. Thirty-three zones reported active transmission during the latest seven-day period. They registered 641 cases and 282 deaths. Ituri remained the outbreak’s center, with 3,176 infections, or 88% of the national total. The World Health Organization rates the risk inside DR Congo as very high. It also considers the threat high for Uganda and other countries bordering affected areas. The wider African and global risk levels remain low. Conflict, displacement and regular population movement continue to hinder disease control work. Response teams also face damaged facilities, staffing shortages and restricted access to some communities. Contact tracing falls short of needs as response teams actively monitored 13,455 contacts, leaving thousands outside regular follow-up. The outbreak has infected 151 health workers and killed 44. Another 68 health workers have recovered. Bundibugyo virus disease spreads through contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, organs or contaminated materials. Symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after