All articles tagged with #epidemics
Public health officials warn the latest Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could be extraordinarily difficult to contain due to a fast-spreading virus in a war‑torn region, the absence of an approved vaccine for this strain, and a globally weakened health infrastructure from funding cuts and political upheaval.
The CDC is boosting health screenings and traveler monitoring amid an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. Non-U.S. passport holders who recently traveled to those countries within 21 days may be barred from entering under a Title 42 order, as the U.S. coordinates with airlines and port officials. The WHO has declared a public health emergency, with hundreds of suspected cases and dozens of deaths; the Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine and high mortality. U.S. officials say the immediate risk to the general public remains low while continuing to monitor and adjust measures as needed.
Epidemiologists warn that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is reaching catastrophic levels of starvation, with the daily caloric intake per person currently below the minimum during the worst days of the Somali famine. If the amount of food entering Gaza does not significantly increase, the death toll could reach 100,000 or even top 120,000, leading to epidemics, untreated wounds, and a dire situation that is about to get much worse.
Several European countries, including Denmark and France, are experiencing a rise in cases of mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes "walking pneumonia." This infection can range from mild respiratory symptoms to severe pneumonia and is a common cause of pneumonia in school-aged children. The increase in cases may be due to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the delayed resurgence of the bacterium. While concerning, it is not unexpected, as epidemics of mycoplasma pneumoniae historically occur every few years. The current rise in cases primarily affects children and schoolchildren, with hospitalization rates remaining low.