Angry French farmers are calling for more protests over the government-backed slaughter of cattle herds affected by so-called Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD). On Thursday there were clashes between riot police and demonstrators in the southern Ariège department, after vets were called in to destroy potentially contaminated cattle at a farm. Elsewhere in the south, farmers…
Gaborone, Botswana — Eight Southern African countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are joining forces to Prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks before they spread to communities. The three-year, USD 35.8 million initiative, Strengthening One Health Disease Surveillance and Response in Southern Africa, coordinated by the World Health…
The authoritative World Health Organization (WHO) World Malaria Report, published on Thursday, shows that resistance to antimalarial drugs now poses one of the most acute risks to control efforts across Africa and beyond. The parasitic mosquito-borne disease is both preventable and curable but it remains a serious and deadly global health threat – claiming hundreds…
Over the past decade or so, the world has witnessed epidemics, one after another: SARS, Bird flu, Swine flu, Ebola, Marburg virus, and the deadly Covid pandemic. About a century ago, there was devastation due to infectious diseases, as there were no effective measures or medicines to check or cure infections. ALSO READ: From heart…
New York — Africa’s health agency has called for urgent action on sickle cell disease, warning that most of the 300,000 babies born with the condition each year on the continent die before their fifth birthday, despite cheap and effective treatments. “Sickle cell disease has silently devastated families across Africa for generations,” said H.E. Dr….
Wegovy injection pens arranged in Waterbury, Vermont, US, on Monday, April 28, 2025. Shelby Knowles | Bloomberg | Getty Images Shares of Novo Nordisk climbed almost 5% Monday after the company’s blockbuster Wegovy obesity drug received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a serious liver disease. The company on Friday…
The first malaria treatment for babies and very young children of 2 months up to 5 years was approved for use by Swiss agency for therapeutic products, Swissmedic, in early July 2025. Until now, babies and very young children have been treated with medicines formulated for older children. The Conversation Africa asked Fortunate Mokoena, about…
Geneva — Researchers at Burnet Institute, in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have provided the world’s first ever look at the historical impact of emergency vaccination efforts on public health and global health security, with a comprehensive study of 210 outbreaks of five infectious diseases – cholera, Ebola, measles, meningitis and yellow fever –…
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | June 26, 2025 — Fifty African Union Member States have endorsed a ground-breaking digital micro-planning portal co-created by Africa CDC to accelerate the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases — a diverse group of infectious diseases that primarily affect impoverished communities in tropical and subtropical areas. This innovative platform developed with inputs…
Addis Ababa, — – In a powerful display of regional unity and commitment to strengthening public health systems, senior health officials, government leaders, and public health professionals from across Southern Africa convened in Harare, Zimbabwe, for the Fourth Annual Southern African National Public Health Institute (NPHI) Meeting. Hosted under the theme “Strengthened Information, Knowledge Sharing…
