Timely and relevant global health security news curated by GCHS
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Featured Headlines: Updates on Ebola in DR Congo
- Ebola death toll rises to 42 in southern DRC as outbreak spreads
CGTN Africa The Democratic Republic of Congo, with support from international partners, is stepping up efforts to contain the disease. - Ebola Virus Disease External Situation Report 03 (30 September 2025)
Relief Web he Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues, with signs of a notable decline in transmission. Since our last update (Situation Report #2), a total of seven new cases have been reported, comprising six confirmed and one probable cases (retrospectively validated). The new cases were detected across three… Read more: Ebola Virus Disease External Situation Report 03 (30 September 2025) - WHO AFRICA: Ebola External Situation Report 01
WHO AFRICA Download full report On 4 September 2025, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province, following laboratory confirmation by realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and GeneXpert assays at the National Institute of Biomedical Research(INRB) in the… Read more: WHO AFRICA: Ebola External Situation Report 01 - Vaccines in the DR Congo for Ebola
Africa News
Updates on ongoing disease outbreaks
- 34,800 turkeys were in Utah flock hit by avian fluWatt Poultry A commercial meat turkey flock in Sanpete County, Utah, that was struck by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) included 34,800 birds, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Earlier this week, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food reported that the presence of HPAI had been confirmed in… Read more: 34,800 turkeys were in Utah flock hit by avian flu
- Los Angeles: H5 Bird Flu in domestic cat – linked to raw pet foodLos Angeles Dept of Public Health Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) aka H5 bird flu, has again beenconfirmed in a local cat. This is the first reported case in a cat since the cluster (9confirmed and 10 suspected cases) that were infected via raw milk, raw pet food,and raw meat in December 2024–January 2025.
- Four more H9N2 avian flu cases confirmed in ChinaCIDRAP Officials have confirmed four more H9N2 avian flu cases involving boys from different provinces on mainland China, the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said today. The patients had illness onsets in late July and August. According to the CHP, the patients include a 1-year-old, two 2-year-olds, and a 6-year-old, and all patients are male. Mainland… Read more: Four more H9N2 avian flu cases confirmed in China
- Long Covid Risk for Children Doubles After a Second Infection, Study FindsNew York Times The new research provides evidence that Covid reinfections can increase the risk of long-term health consequences. Children and teenagers are twice as likely to develop long Covid after a second coronavirus infection as after an initial infection, a large new study has found. The study,… Read more: Long Covid Risk for Children Doubles After a Second Infection, Study Finds
- Mom’s COVID Shot Aided Baby, Too, Large Review ConfirmedMed Page Today Vaccination during pregnancy was safe for both mom and baby. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy conferred benefits for mother and baby without increased risk, according to an umbrella review of meta-analyses comprising more than 1.2 million women. Vaccination during pregnancy was associated with lowered… Read more: Mom’s COVID Shot Aided Baby, Too, Large Review Confirmed
- 437 hospitalized with measles, 39 in ICUs, amid outbreak that started in MayTimes of Israel At a Knesset Health Committee meeting today, Dr. Sharon Elroei-Price, head of public health services at the Health Ministry, states that approximately 1,700 patients have been confirmed with measles in the past six months, 437 have been hospitalized since the outbreak began in May, and 39 are in intensive care. Six children… Read more: 437 hospitalized with measles, 39 in ICUs, amid outbreak that started in May
- Washington State: DOH detects clade I mpox in Pierce County wastewaterPierce County Health Department On Sept. 24, 2025, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the University of Washington detected clade I mpox virus (also called monkeypox virus) in Pierce County wastewater. After consultation… Read more: Washington State: DOH detects clade I mpox in Pierce County wastewater
- Mpox Still a Continental Emergency, Africa CDC Advisory Group RecommendsAfrica CDC The Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), which advises the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on mpox, has urged that the Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS)… Read more: Mpox Still a Continental Emergency, Africa CDC Advisory Group Recommends
- Illinois Confirms First Case of Rare Tick-Borne Powassan VirusInfectious Disease Advisor Illinois health officials are warning residents to be on alert after the state’s first case of Powassan virus was confirmed in a resident who became seriously ill. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) hasn’t determined whether the person was infected in Illinois, but officials are now testing ticks statewide for the virus. “With… Read more: Illinois Confirms First Case of Rare Tick-Borne Powassan Virus
Emerging Infectious Disease Headlines
- Illinois Confirms First Case of Rare Tick-Borne Powassan VirusInfectious Disease Advisor Illinois health officials are warning residents to be on alert after the state’s first case of Powassan virus was confirmed in a resident who became seriously ill. The Illinois… Read more: Illinois Confirms First Case of Rare Tick-Borne Powassan Virus
- Pakistan: 2 new poliovirus cases in Sindh take nationwide tally for this year to 29Dawn Two new poliovirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh’s Badin and Thatta districts, taking the nationwide tally to 29 for this year and the total number of cases in… Read more: Pakistan: 2 new poliovirus cases in Sindh take nationwide tally for this year to 29
- Explosive Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in ChinaIntl Journal of Infectious Diseases The outbreak began in Foshan on July 8, 2025, with over 3,000 confirmed cases in the first two weeks and more than 10,000 by late… Read more: Explosive Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in China
- Central NY man with EEE dies; first EEE-related death here since 2015Syracuse News Sullivan, N.Y. – A Madison County man with the rare eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has died. The man is the first human death from the mosquito-borne virus in… Read more: Central NY man with EEE dies; first EEE-related death here since 2015
- Lyme Immunity Shot Prepares for Next Stage of TrialsVineyard Gazette Scientists in Massachusetts say they have produced a new shot that can prevent Lyme disease ready to go to later stage clinical trials. A team of researchers at… Read more: Lyme Immunity Shot Prepares for Next Stage of Trials
- First case of rare, tick-borne virus confirmed in IllinoisChicago Sun Times Health experts are still investigating whether the Illinois resident got the Powassan virus in the state, but in the meantime, Illinoisans are advised to check for ticks… Read more: First case of rare, tick-borne virus confirmed in Illinois
Read more Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Teaching Machines to Fight Infectious DiseasesISDE Artificial intelligence may be the hot, new, sexy term, but the subset of AI that has the most potential for improving the discovery of new antimicrobials, outbreak surveillance, diagnostic testing and other facets of managing infectious diseases is machine learning—teaching… Read more: Teaching Machines to Fight Infectious Diseases
- Understanding the Impact of Federal Cuts to mRNA Vaccine ResearchAmerican Lung Assn Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cancelled $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research and development. This decision will have devastating consequences for public health and goes… Read more: Understanding the Impact of Federal Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Research
- Chikungunya Virus Found to Infect Cartilage Cells, Offering Clues to Long-Term Joint PainGlobal Biodefense A new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases provides the first in vivo evidence that chikungunya virus (CHIKV) directly infects cartilage-producing cells known as chondrocytes. Using a genetically engineered virus that glows in infected tissues,… Read more: Chikungunya Virus Found to Infect Cartilage Cells, Offering Clues to Long-Term Joint Pain
- Amid Confusion Over US Vaccine Recommendations, States Try To ‘Restore Trust’KFF When the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met last week, confusion filled the room. Members admitted they didn’t know what they were voting on, first rejecting a combined measles-mumps-rubella-chickenpox vaccine for young toddlers, then… Read more: Amid Confusion Over US Vaccine Recommendations, States Try To ‘Restore Trust’
- This is what could happen to a child who doesn’t get vaccinatedNPR Pneumonia struck first. Then tonsillitis spiraled into sepsis. Malaria battered him next, and after treatment, the other illnesses flared back up again. This unvaccinated 2-year-old boy is trapped in a relentless cycle. “I… Read more: This is what could happen to a child who doesn’t get vaccinated
- Fighting the Pandemic of MisinformationThe Hospitalist On November 28, 2021, scrolling through Twitter, I came across a tweet by @SailingKateMD: “Checked my ICU list after being gone for a few days for the holiday…Every single one of my COVID-19 patients died while I was… Read more: Fighting the Pandemic of Misinformation
- Vaccine misinformation led to an officer’s murder at the CDC – politicians’ silence is deafeningGuardian After a gunman reportedly deceived by anti-vaccine disinformation opened fire on the CDC and fatally shot David Rose, a community grieves as Trump officials remain silent. A lie murdered David Rose. Five hundred cops packed the pews of an Atlanta megachurch… Read more: Vaccine misinformation led to an officer’s murder at the CDC – politicians’ silence is deafening
- What Was the World’s First-Known Pandemic?History.com The Plague of Justinian peaked in the year 542 and lasted for two centuries, contributing to the fall of the Roman Empire. The Plague of Justinian in the sixth century was one of the worst of times. “Now the… Read more: What Was the World’s First-Known Pandemic?
- Long COVID and Food Insecurity in US Adults, 2022-2023JAMA Importance Long COVID (ie, post–COVID-19 condition) is a substantial public health concern, and its association with health-related social needs, such as food insecurity, remains poorly understood. Identifying modifiable risk factors like food insecurity and interventions like food assistance programs is… Read more: Long COVID and Food Insecurity in US Adults, 2022-2023
Health Policy
- RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers add hurdle to getting covid shotsWashington Post CDC vaccine advisers on ACIP voted to recommend people consult a clinician before getting a coronavirus shot, shifting from a universal recommendation for people ages 6 months and older. A federal vaccine advisory panel unanimously voted Friday on a more restrictive approach to coronavirus vaccines by recommending that everyone consult a clinician before… Read more: RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers add hurdle to getting covid shots
- Western States Issue Their Own Vaccine Recommendations to Counter KennedyNYT The guidelines, from California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii, mirror those of major medical organizations. They were issued a day before an advisory panel was set to meet to review potential changes to federal recommendations. Four Democratic-controlled Western states on Wednesday issued their own recommendations on who should get three common seasonal vaccines, a sharp… Read more: Western States Issue Their Own Vaccine Recommendations to Counter Kennedy
- HHS lawyers objected to new powers for Kennedy’s COVID vaccine adviserReuters U.S. government lawyers attempted to block a vaccine skeptic appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from assuming new powers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that could be used to restrict access to COVID-19 shots, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Retsef Levi, a professor of operations management… Read more: HHS lawyers objected to new powers for Kennedy’s COVID vaccine adviser
- Fired CDC leader tells senators about pressure from RFK Jr.Washington Post Susan Monarez, who was fired last month as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told senators Wednesday that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to change the childhood vaccine schedule and told her he was also speaking to President Donald Trump about the issue. Monarez told members… Read more: Fired CDC leader tells senators about pressure from RFK Jr.
Interesting and Sometimes Funny
- I’m An Infectious Disease Doctor. Here’s What Happened When I Sat Next To A Vaccine Skeptic On A Plane.Huff Post “As someone who recently completed 15 years of training to become an infectious diseases physician-scientist, I can’t avoid these conversations.” It’s hard to believe that infectious diseases have become a political litmus test, but they are now very much part of the “with us or against us” mental sorting more and more people… Read more: I’m An Infectious Disease Doctor. Here’s What Happened When I Sat Next To A Vaccine Skeptic On A Plane.