Browsing: Public Health

As the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to develop, the country is set to receive 70,000 Ervebo Ebola vaccine doses. Congolese authorities reported a total of 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths by August 18. The outbreak has spread across 56 health zones in six provinces located in the eastern and northeastern regions. Officials also recorded 1,115 recoveries, while 730 patients remained under isolation or hospital care.

Chad’s health authorities have confirmed that an acute waterborne health crisis has resulted in 13 deaths since the official public declarations were made late last month. The Ministry of Public Health of Chad published updated surveillance data indicating that the cholera outbreak in Chad has claimed 13 lives, with the total number of confirmed and suspected cases rising to 239 across the country. The official data show a case fatality rate of 5.4 percent nationwide, which significantly surpasses international public health standards for emergency outbreak responses.

In 2022, obesity was associated with 9,509 fatalities in Belgium, accounting for 8.2 percent of the country’s total mortality, according to recent data published by the Belgian public health institute Sciensano. This marks the first instance where public health researchers in Belgium have systematically quantified deaths directly linked to a high body mass index (BMI). The report indicates that weight-related health issues led to more than one death every hour nationwide. The statistical analysis also highlights that elevated BMI contributed to over 150,000 years of life lost across all demographic groups within a single year.

During the first seven months of 2026, Germany has documented an estimated 9,800 deaths associated with extreme heat, marking the highest summer mortality rate since systematic records began in 2016. Data published by the Robert Koch Institute reveals that prolonged elevated temperatures from early April through July 19 contributed to this spike. Operating under the Federal Ministry of Health, the federal agency noted that the total number for 2026 has already surpassed the annual death counts of any year over the past decade.

South Korea issued its first emergency heat warnings for Gyeongsan and Pohang after temperatures neared 40 C under the new alert system.

A clinical trial in DRC is testing Ebola therapies while health teams track rising Bundibugyo cases and strained treatment centers.

Congo’s Ebola cases have risen to 1,333 as UNDP warns the outbreak could deepen poverty, threaten jobs and strain health services.

DR Congo confirmed 1,307 Ebola cases and 377 deaths as the Bundibugyo outbreak spread across three eastern provinces while testing guides care.

DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has reached 1,048 confirmed cases and 267 deaths, with eastern provinces and Uganda tied to the response.

Ebola cases in eastern Congo have climbed to 896, with officials reporting 232 deaths and wider spread across 33 health zones.