All articles tagged with #public health emergency
The Ituri province in DR Congo faces a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak with more than 900 suspected cases and 223 deaths; the military governor says the response is under-resourced and must include qualified personnel, secure treatment centres, and adequate food, warning that delays could lead to catastrophe as WHO raises the alarm and Africa CDC mobilizes funds and cross-border coordination continues.
The Congo outbreak has about 220 suspected Ebola deaths, with Uganda reporting two new infections bringing its total to seven, and Congo’s suspected cases surpassing 900 mainly in Ituri. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public-health emergency of international concern, while a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain has no approved treatment yet—though Oxford researchers are pursuing one that could enter trials in a couple of months. Response is hampered by fear, attacks on treatment centers, and distrust of authorities, with two Ugandan health workers and three Red Cross volunteers among those affected.
MSF urges that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is stretching relief efforts due to resource shortages, with no approved vaccines or drugs yet; WHO has declared a public health emergency, and transport disruptions and conflict hinder response as over 200 deaths and around 850 suspected cases are reported, underscoring the need for faster case confirmation and improved discharge planning.
The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo caused by the Bundibugyo virus a public health emergency of international concern. With confirmed infections and hundreds more suspected, the outbreak appears to be spreading undetected and has crossed borders to Uganda, while healthcare workers are heavily affected. There are no approved vaccines or treatments for this strain, making expanded diagnostics and cross-border surveillance a priority to prevent wider spread.
The World Health Organization has designated the Ebola outbreak in Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), calling for urgent international coordination, enhanced surveillance, vaccination and treatment efforts, and cross-border containment to prevent wider spread.
Colombia is grappling with a mosquito-borne yellow fever outbreak that has killed more than 70 people since 2024. The government declared a national health emergency last year; from 2024 to January 2026 there were 161 confirmed cases and 73 deaths, including 13 cases and 10 deaths in 2026. Yellow fever symptoms resemble flu—fever, headache and nausea—though severe cases can cause multi-organ failure and internal bleeding; about 15% of patients develop severe illness and roughly half of those die, according to the WHO. The outbreak is being monitored as part of global disease surveillance.
The Philippines is experiencing a rapid increase in HIV cases, especially among young men and transgender individuals, driven by factors like late diagnosis, limited access to testing and treatment, stigma, and aggressive HIV strains. Despite available prevention tools, awareness and testing rates are low, and international funding cuts have hampered response efforts. A comprehensive, stigma-reducing approach involving education, accessible healthcare, and community support is crucial to curb the epidemic and meet global targets.
Ontario County in the US faces a public health emergency due to a rapid increase in tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, with 296 cases reported in 2025, driven by warmer weather and increased deer populations. Local officials are implementing awareness campaigns and deer management plans to combat the spread and protect vulnerable populations, especially children and the elderly.
Despite declarations of a global health emergency in August 2024, mpox has largely faded from headlines, but the outbreak persists with over 100,000 suspected cases in Africa and a significant spread worldwide. Challenges include limited data, vaccine shortages, and delayed responses, though some progress has been made in testing capacity and vaccine approval. Experts warn that the virus could become more entrenched if global efforts remain insufficient, highlighting the need for sustained action to prevent future outbreaks.
Mississippi has declared a public health emergency due to a rise in infant mortality rates, reaching the highest in over a decade, with disparities especially affecting Black infants. The crisis is linked to factors like prematurity, low birth weight, and systemic inequities, compounded by federal funding cuts and Medicaid policy challenges. State officials aim to address these issues through expanded prenatal services and improved care systems, emphasizing that broader social determinants and healthcare access are critical to reducing infant deaths.
Senator Chuck Schumer urged Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to declare a public health emergency over the rising measles cases in the US, which have reached a record high in 2025, to mobilize federal resources and control the outbreak, but no immediate action has been taken.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. for mishandling the measles outbreak, blaming him for undermining vaccination efforts and calling for a Public Health Emergency to mobilize resources, amid the highest cases in decades and preventable deaths.
Since January, New Haven County has experienced 68 fatal opioid overdoses, prompting calls for urgent action. The APT Foundation has launched a campaign to improve access to immediate, low-barrier treatment for opioid use disorder, emphasizing the need to treat it as an urgent medical issue and eliminate systemic delays and stigma. Despite existing efforts, delays and barriers still hinder timely care, contributing to preventable deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) for the LC16m8 mpox vaccine, developed by KM Biologics in Japan, to address the ongoing mpox public health emergency. This decision aims to improve vaccine access in areas experiencing outbreaks, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which will receive 3.05 million doses from Japan. The vaccine is recommended for individuals over one year old, excluding pregnant and immunocompromised individuals. WHO emphasizes the importance of vaccines in a comprehensive response strategy, including testing, treatment, and community engagement.
Fake Botox obtained from unlicensed sources has caused at least 19 cases of vision problems and difficulty breathing and swallowing in nine states, prompting a joint investigation by the FDA, CDC, and state health departments. The counterfeit product, which may be misbranded, adulterated, or contaminated, poses serious health risks, including potential paralysis of respiratory muscles. Patients, mostly seeking cosmetic injections, received the fake Botox from untrained individuals in non-healthcare settings. The CDC is expected to issue a nationwide alert, and the FDA has provided identifying features of the counterfeit product. Authentic Botox from the drugmaker AbbVie is considered safe and effective.