The virus usually spreads by contact with the urine or feces of infected rodents like rats and mice. It can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday reported a suspected outbreak of a hantavirus infection on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. “To date, one case of hantavirus infection…
The World Health Organization said one case of hantavirus infection has been confirmed, with five more suspected cases under investigation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up Exercise Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation exercise, based around an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading across the world. Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and over 25 partners, the exercise, which took place on 22 and 23 April, allowed countries to…
WHO is testing an innovative way to improve outbreak detection, notification and response through an interactive ‘7-1-7 Strategy Game’. The 7-1-7 target calls for detecting a suspected outbreak within seven days, notifying public health authorities within one day, and mounting an effective response within seven days. Achieving these benchmarks requires coordinated action across surveillance, laboratories,…
Nipah is a highly lethal virus that causes severe illness with a high fatality rate, and there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments. Scientists are increasingly seeing it as a potential global threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Nipah infection as a high-priority pathogen. There is an urgent need for a vaccine…
A fire outbreak on Thursday has disrupted activities at the Blue zone axis of the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, forcing the temporary closure of the Blue Zone where formal negotiations are taking place. Organisers said emergency responders swiftly evacuated delegates and contained the blaze within minutes. In a joint…
Nairobi — Africa is facing the worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Jean Kaseya said in an online briefing. According to him, the continent has recorded over 300,000 cholera cases since the beginning of the year, marking a 30% rise from 2024. Kaseya attributed the situation…
UN agency confirms 48 cases since the outbreak was declared early this month, the first time in three years. Published On 18 Sep 202518 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that 31 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the…
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared a new Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province. It’s caused by the most severe strain: Zaire Ebola virus. This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital on August 20 and died five days later. Two health workers who treated her also became…
Johannesburg — The Minister of Health for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Samuel Roger Kamba, confirmed last week an outbreak of the highly infectious Zaire strain of Ebola virus disease in the country’s Central Kasai Province. He said 16 deaths and 28 suspected cases had been confirmed, including four suspected infections among health care workers. World…
