Africa Featured World 

WHO recommends COVID-19 remains public health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee for COVID-19 has advised that COVID-19 continue to be categorized a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Committee, which is established under the International Health Regulations (IHR) and convened by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, cited the continued detrimental impact of SARS-CoV-2 on health and health systems around the… Read More
Africa World 

Global deaths from Malaria stabilize

– – The World Health Organization has said that malaria cases and deaths remained stable last year, after a worrying rise during the first year of the Covid pandemic. The WHO has however warned of new challenges including mosquito resistance to insecticides and parasite resistance to drugs used to treat malaria. Ninety-five per cent of all malaria cases are in… Read More
Africa World 

COVID-19 burden lessens in Africa but vigilance is crucial

– – While Africa is witnessing its lowest level of new COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic, a recent four-week rise—the first such sustained increase in four months—underscores the criticality of maintaining vigilance as the end-year holiday seasons sets in. The continent recorded a four-week long rise until 20 November, but the number of new cases dropped slightly… Read More
Africa World 

Climate-related health crisis worsens in the greater horn of Africa

– – New analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that the number of reported disease outbreaks and climate-related health emergencies in the greater Horn Africa have reached their highest-ever level this century, deepening a health crisis in a region where 47 million people are already facing acute hunger. Most parts of the region are battling the worst… Read More
Africa World 

WHO switches to one dose of cholera vaccine as outbreaks surge

– – The World Health Organization is moving to replace its standard two-dose vaccination regimen for cholera with a single dose due to vaccine shortages and rising outbreaks worldwide. The one-dose strategy is effective as a response to cholera outbreaks but the duration of protection is limited and appears to be much lower in children, the agency said. Countries like… Read More
Africa Gambia West Africa World 

Gambia: WHO issues alert over  66 cough syrup related deaths 

– – The World Health Organisation(WHO) has issued an alert over the use of some Indian manufactured cough syrup following the death of some 66 children in the Gambia. According to the WHO, the syrups have been “potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children”. The products were manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had… Read More
Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana declares end of Marburg outbreak

– – Health officials in Ghana have declared that the recent outbreak of the Marburg virus is now over following no positive case in 42 days. In July, an alert over the outbreak of the highly infectious disease related to Ebola was issued  after two deaths were recorded. One of those later turned out to have been incorrectly diagnosed. In… Read More
Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana confirms outbreak of Marburg virus

Ghanaian health officials have confirmed the outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the country. Samples on these two cases had been taken to the Institut Pasteur in Senegal for further tests this month. The cases were found in Ghana’s Ashanti Region with the person who had the suspected virus already reported dead. The highly infectious disease was recorded in… Read More
Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana confirms two suspected cases of Marburg virus

– – Ghanaian health officials have confirmed that two suspected cases of Marburg virus have been recorded in the country. Samples on these two cases though have been taken to the Institut Pasteur in Senegal for further tests. The cases were found in Ghana’s Ashanti Region with the person who had the suspected virus already reported dead. In a statement… Read More
Africa World 

WHO to rename Monkeypox to remove African stigma

– – The World Health Organization is working with experts to come up with a new name for Monkeypox. It comes after more than 30 scientists wrote last week about the “urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising” name for the virus and the disease it causes. According to the effects, the continuous reference to the virus as African is both inaccurate… Read More