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DR Congo Set to Receive 70,000 Ebola Vaccines to Fight Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been allocated 70,000 Ervebo vaccines from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile for use in the current fast spreading Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.The government requested a release of Ervebo vaccines last week from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision.In a statement, the WHO said vaccine allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to better understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, while 50,000 shots will be used for frontline and health workers, following recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.To date, no vaccine or specific treatment has been approved against the Bundibugyo virus.Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for use in outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (previously called Zaire ebolavirus).It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans, but the WHO said early laboratory and animal data suggests it may provide some protection.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the vaccine provision demonstrated "an important example of global solidarity in action."Tedros said together with partners and national authorities, the WHO remains "committed to supporting strengthened surveillance, rapid detection, community engagement and vaccination efforts to bring the outbreak under control."Deaths from Ebola in Congo has surpassed the toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak to become the deadliest in the country's history.Confirmed infections in the current Ebola outbreak have reached 5,208, including 2,476 deaths, according to the latest Health Ministry situation update. The case fatality rate stands at 47.5%.The epidemic has affected 56 health zones across six provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and Tshopo.Some 730 patients are in isolation or hospital, while 1,115 people have recovered.Earlier this week, the WHO said that the current Ebola outbreak in Congo remains a public health emergency of international concern.

21-08-2026 12:40

DR Congo Set to Receive 70,000 Ebola Vaccines to Fight Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo has been allocated 70,000 Ervebo vaccines from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile for use in the current fast spreading Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.The government requested a release of Ervebo vaccines last week from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision.In a statement, the WHO said vaccine allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to better understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, while 50,000 shots will be used for frontline and health workers, following recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.To date, no vaccine or specific treatment has been approved against the Bundibugyo virus.Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for use in outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (previously called Zaire ebolavirus).It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans, but the WHO said early laboratory and animal data suggests it may provide some protection.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the vaccine provision demonstrated "an important example of global solidarity in action."Tedros said together with partners and national authorities, the WHO remains "committed to supporting strengthened surveillance, rapid detection, community engagement and vaccination efforts to bring the outbreak under control."Deaths from Ebola in Congo has surpassed the toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak to become the deadliest in the country's history.Confirmed infections in the current Ebola outbreak have reached 5,208, including 2,476 deaths, according to the latest Health Ministry situation update. The case fatality rate stands at 47.5%.The epidemic has affected 56 health zones across six provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and Tshopo.Some 730 patients are in isolation or hospital, while 1,115 people have recovered.Earlier this week, the WHO said that the current Ebola outbreak in Congo remains a public health emergency of international concern.

21-08-2026 12:40

Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Becomes Deadliest in Country’s History

The Ebola outbreak ‌in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has killed 2,325 people, surpassing the death toll ⁠from the 2018-2020 outbreak ⁠to become the deadliest in the country’s history.The confirmed number of people infected with the virus has risen to 4,945, including 101 new cases detected in the previous ⁠24 hours, the DRC’s National Public Health Institute said in its latest report on Sunday.“The outbreak is the fastest growing on record,” Tom Fletcher, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said in a statement on Friday. “We need speed, scale, and solidarity before this virus gets even further ahead of us.”The outbreak, the DRC’s 17th, was already the biggest in the country’s history in terms of number of cases – a milestone reached in late July. The latest government data shows that the total number of deaths has ⁠surpassed the 2,299 deaths recorded in the 2018-2020 outbreak, which was previously the country’s worst on record.“Ebola is winning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We cannot let the virus outrun our response,” Fletcher said as he outlined the latest efforts to contain the virus.On Wednesday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that at its current pace, the outbreak is on track to eclipse the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2016, a crisis that killed more than 11,000 people and accelerated the push to develop a vaccine.The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. The outbreak has gained momentum since it was declared on May 15, as weak health infrastructure, the region’s remoteness, and ongoing conflict near the DRC’s borders with South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda have hindered response efforts.The proportion of people dying from the outbreak after ⁠a confirmed infection, known as the case fatality ratio, has risen from about 20 percent ⁠in early June to 46 percent, according to government data, meaning nearly one in every two confirmed cases is now deadly.“Normally, ⁠as an outbreak progresses, the case fatality ratio should fall as contact tracing improves and patients are identified and treated earlier,” said Thomas Parisch, a public health specialist ⁠deployed to the DRC with medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF.“Instead, we’re still ⁠seeing many cases detected very late, when treatment is less likely to succeed, with many identified only after they die in the community.”A small number of experimental vaccines and therapies are being evaluated, while global health authorities assess whether existing Ebola treatments could offer protection. Evidence so far ‌is limited to animal studies.

17-08-2026 11:15

WHO: We have less than half funding needed to fight Ebola

The World Health Organization has received less than half the funding it ​needs to fight the Ebola outbreak in eastern ‌Democratic Republic of Congo, a WHO official said on Tuesday, urging donors not to abandon the country at a critical ​stage of the epidemic.The global health agency has ​received about 40% of its $115 million appeal to ⁠tackle the Bundibugyo outbreak, for which there is no ​proven treatment or vaccine. At least 1,926 people have been ​infected and 702 have died, government data show."This outbreak requires resources that match the scale of the challenges that we are ​facing. And this is not a burden DRC can ​be allowed to carry alone," Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the WHO's ‌Health ⁠Emergencies Programme, told reporters in Geneva after a visit to the worst-hit province of Ituri.Ihekweazu said the response had reached a critical point, with intensified efforts needed to ​detect and isolate ​patients after ⁠cases spread this week to two new provinces."It's a bit like a marathon. You can't ​give up after the first lap or ​the second. ⁠You just have to keep pushing even when you're getting tired and exhausted," he said.He repeated estimates that the ⁠true ​number of Ebola cases in ​Congo is at least double, and possibly over four times, the official tally.

14-07-2026 14:05

France Confirms First Ebola Case in Doctor Returning From DR Congo Mission

A doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in Congo has tested positive for Ebola, the country's first case of the virus during the current outbreak, the health ministry said on Wednesday.The health ministry "confirms today the identification of a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory", it said. Contacted by AFP, the ministry specified that the case was identified in mainland France.The patient is being isolated and authorities are contact tracing, the ministry said, adding that the risk for the general European population was low.Congo's Ebola outbreak, which has infected more than 1,000 people and killed 267, has had the largest number of confirmed cases within the first month of any episode of the disease, the World Health Organisation has said.

24-06-2026 13:11

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Six Minutes of Daily Exercise Can Boost Brain Health and Delay Alzheimer’s

Vishwam Sankaran wrote this article in The Independent:Just six minutes of intense exercise every day can boost the brain’s lifespan and delay the onset of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, according to a new study.The research, published last week in The Journal of Physiology, found that a short but intense bout of cycling can increase the production of a special brain protein linked to brain formation, learning, and memory.Scientists, including those from the University of Otago in New Zealand, say the special protein named brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline.Previous studies have shown that increasing the availability of BDNF in the brain encourages the formation and storage of memories, enhances learning, and also boosts cognitive performance overall.“BDNF has shown great promise in animal models, but pharmaceutical interventions have thus far failed to safely harness the protective power of BDNF in humans,” study lead author Travis Gibbons from the University of Otago said in a statement.“We saw the need to explore non-pharmacological approaches that can preserve the brain’s capacity which humans can use to naturally increase BDNF to help with healthy aging,” Dr Gibbons said.In the new study, researchers analysed the influence of fasting and exercise on BDNF production in 12 physically active participants - six males and six females aged between 18 and 56 years.They assessed the contributing role played on this protein’s production by factors such as fasting for 20 hours, light exercise, a six-minute bout of high-intensity vigorous cycling, and the combined effects of fasting and exercise.Scientists found that brief, but vigorous, exercise was the best way to increase BDNF compared to one day of fasting with or without a lengthy session of light exercise.Researchers say BDNF increased by a factor of four to five times compared to fasting, or prolonged activity.“Six minutes of high-intensity cycling intervals increased every metric of circulating BDNF by 4 to 5 times more than prolonged low-intensity cycling,” researchers wrote in the study.However the cause for these differences remains unknown, they say, adding that more research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms involved.Scientists suspect the brain may be switching its favoured fuel source during exercise for another to ensure the body’s energy demands are met.“We are now studying how fasting for longer durations, for example up to three days, influences BDNF. We are curious whether exercising hard at the start of a fast accelerates the beneficial effects of fasting,” Dr Gibbons said.“Fasting and exercise are rarely studied together. We think fasting and exercise can be used in conjunction to optimize BDNF production in the human brain,” he added.

17-01-2023 09:42

Successful Surgery to Separate Conjoined Twins Performed, the First of Its Kind in Lebanon

L'Orient Today published this article:Caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad has presented the details of a successful surgery performed to separate conjoined twins at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in the “first surgical operation of its kind” to be conducted in Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.Abiad explained that the twins' parents contacted him six months ago to ask for help after an X-ray that then-expectant mother underwent showed the twins were conjoined.In Lebanon, in light of the economic crisis, hospitals and medical institutions are suffering from shortages of supplies and medicines, as well as medical and nursing staff.Abiad explained that he contacted AUBMC, which agreed to perform the separation operation despite the current crisis, and “succeeded in proving the ability of the American University and the medical system in Lebanon to carry out the operation.”"In fact, our hospital institutions are still able to be in the first line in providing advanced health care to citizens and residents in Lebanon and to preserve what they provided before the crisis. With the improvement of conditions, these institutions will be able to provide more," Abiad said.He added that "the health system in Lebanon, even if it faces great difficulties, is a flexible system and has the ability to present achievements.”The preparation for the surgical operation took four months, as a team of doctors and nurses prepared to accompany the twin girls, Riham and Reem, until they were discharged from the hospital.“The full coordination between the team members and planning for all the details played a key role in the success of the operation, which required 10 hours and was characterized by great accuracy and extreme sensitivity, in order not to have any negative complications on the separated organ,” the NNA reported.

25-01-2023 16:05

Women Unaware of Important Sign that Indicates Increased Breast Cancer Risk

Meredith Clark wrote this article in The Independent:Dense breast tissue poses up to four times higher risk of developing breast cancer. However, a new study has shown that many women are unaware of the risks of breast density.Dense breasts refers to breasts that are composed of more fibrous and glandular tissue compared to fatty tissue, and can be detected while undergoing a mammogram.The study, which was published in Jama Network Open on 23 January, surveyed 1,858 women ages 40 to 76 years from 2019 to 2020 who had recently undergone mammography, had no history of breast cancer, and had heard of breast density.It assessed women’s understanding of breast density as a significant breast cancer risk compared to other well known risk factors, such as having a relative with breast cancer, being overweight or obese, drinking more than one alcoholic beverage per day, never having children, and having a prior breast biopsy.Despite breast density being associated with a 1.2 to four times higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to the study, few women perceived breast density to be a strong personal risk factor. Instead, 93 per cent of women saw family history as posing the greatest risk, followed by 65 per cent of women who said that being overweight or obese was a greater risk than breast density.Of the 61 women who were interviewed, only six of them described breast density as contributing to breast cancer risk. Although, most women did correctly note that breast density could make mammograms harder to read.When asked about what they could take to reduce their breast cancer risk, roughly one-third of women said that they weren’t sure if it was possible to reduce their breast cancer risk, or they were unaware of what actions they could take.However, there are many actions people can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. A breast screening, also known as a mammogram, is an x-ray picture of the breast used to check for breast cancer in women. A mammogram can detect otherwise invisible signs or symptoms of breast cancer that cannot be felt, or can check for breast cancer after a lump or other signs of breast cancer has been detected.The American Cancer Society recommends women between the ages 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year. Women between 40 and 44 also have the option to start early screening, and those who are 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year if they choose to do so.Nearly half of all women who are 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts, per the National Cancer Institute. Breast density is often inherited, but it can also be found in women who are younger, are taking hormone replacement therapy, or have a lower body weight.While breast density can make it more difficult to interpret a mammogram, a newer type of mammogram called digital breast tomosynthesis - or 3D mammography - has recently appeared to be more helpful in women with dense breasts.Other studies have shown that imaging tests like an ultrasound or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help find some breast cancers that can’t be seen on mammograms. Experts have not yet firmly suggested women with dense breasts should receive additional screening, according to the Recommendation Statement on Breast Cancer Screening by the US Preventive Services Task Force.

30-01-2023 11:53

How Many Times Can You Wear Your Clothes Without Washing Them?

Kristen Rogers wrote this article in CNN:The number of times it’s appropriate to wear clothing items without washing them often seems based more on folklore or a person’s upbringing than professional advice.TikTok user Allison Delperdang started a heated online debate when she posted a video January 10 saying she wears the same pajamas multiple times.“When I was younger my parents always made us wear pajamas … multiple nights in a row because they weren’t dirty, and I still do that as an adult,” she said. “I need to know if, like, as adults we’re still doing that, or should I be literally making dirty clothes every single night?”The answer - for pajamas as well as other clothes - technically depends on personal aspects such as sweat level and lifestyle, though for many people other, more abstract factors may come into play, experts say.Our beliefs about clothing hygiene are largely “societal and cultural,” said Dr. Anthony Rossi, an assistant attending dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. “People tend to over wash and ‘over hygiene’ themselves, because especially in America, we have a luxury of being able to do all that stuff all the time.”Rewearing the same clothes - particularly on consecutive days - is “linked to avoiding decision fatigue, hence wearing the same clothes involves less decisions to make and less stress every morning,” said Manal Mohammed, senior lecturer of medical microbiology at the University of Westminster in London.Not knowing when to wash your clothes can have consequences on both ends of the spectrum. Washing them too seldom could lead to skin problems or infections, and washing them too often could harm your clothing. The latter can also result in unnecessary laundry and use of resources.Here are some guiding principles to help you determine when a garment can be worn again without washing and when it’s time to toss it in the hamper.The universal rule: What you must washThere’s no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.These kinds of clothes are “on a part of our body that just has a lot of natural bacteria that lives on our body, like our microbiome, (yeast) and bacteria,” Rossi said. “Then from day-to-day activities, we sweat. That just breeds moisture and an environment where this bacteria can overgrow.”Bacteria overgrowth can lead to infections, fungus and other skin issues, he added.In addition to bacteria from sweat, clothes worn in gyms or sports settings can come into contact with bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in infections common in community and hospital settings. Those infections can become serious if they enter internal tissues or the bloodstream.Some people might let their workout clothes dry via air or a dryer, intending to make them safe to wear again the next day. But that approach makes the situation worse, Rossi said.“Heat is going to make the bacteria grow. It’s not hot enough to sterilize them,” he said. “It’s really the washing with soap and water (that you need) - and with hot water, especially, because it’s going to help loosen that dirt and sebum and really get rid of bacteria.”When it comes to why you shouldn’t wear socks again without washing first, “fungal infections on the feet and toes are just rampant,” said dermatologist Dr. Jeremy Fenton, medical director for Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “Inside of our shoes is the perfect environment for breeding fungus. It’s warm, it’s humid, it’s dark.”Because of that, you should wash your shoes or at least the insoles in a washing machine at least once per month, Rossi said.Clothes you can rewearFor pajamas, outerwear, jeans and other clothes, how many times you can wear them without washing is based on the same principles for undergarments or activewear.“As far as your pants and your shirts, I think it’s all a level of comfort and how much you’re perspiring throughout the day,” Rossi said. “A lot of people wear undershirts. The undershirt would be something to wash, whereas your top shirt you don’t really need to wash.”If you don’t wear underwear, you need to wash your clothing before wearing it again since it came into contact with your genital skin, Rossi said.If you usually shower before bed, wear underwear and sweat little to none when wearing pajamas, you could wear them for a week without washing, experts said. But if you don’t do these things, you’d need to wash them every time.Outerwear - such as coats or jackets - typically doesn’t need to be washed more than once a month since it doesn’t touch your skin, Rossi said. “If you’re wearing it every day, probably (wash it) every two weeks,” he suggested.Whether and how often to wash jeans can be a hot topic, since many people want to maintain the integrity of the fabric, which is usually stiffer and more durable than others. If jeans aren’t sweaty, dirty or stained, they don’t have to be washed often, Rossi said. “I personally don’t wash my jeans,” he added.Mohammed recommended washing jeans monthly but acknowledged it depends on your lifestyle and environment.“If somebody were to tell me that they were wearing their jeans for months on end and not washing them and they hadn’t had any problems with their skin or problems with odor, I wouldn’t see any problem at all,” Fenton said.The most important questions you should ask yourself, experts say, when considering whether to wear something again without washing are these: Does it smell? Do I have any skin conditions, such as eczema, a rash or a skin lesion? Is it visibly dirty? Is it sweaty? Did I wear underwear with this?“The main point is that the answer is going to be very variable,” Fenton said.

03-02-2023 14:41

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