Sri Lanka reported nearly 50,000 dengue cases in 2024, with 24 fatalities and a case fatality rate of 0.05%. The Western Province accounted for 44.1% of cases. In January 2025 alone, 2,045 cases have already been recorded, highlighting ongoing public health challenges.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the risk to the general population from H5N1 bird flu remains low, despite the first reported death from the virus in the United States.
The U.S. Surgeon General calls for cancer risk warnings on alcohol labels, highlighting links to seven cancers and urging updated consumption guidelines.
Cholera's global resurgence sparks alarm as WHO calls for urgent action: vaccines, clean water, and sanitation are vital to combat the deadly outbreaks spreading worldwide.
CDC finds rare mutations in U.S. bird flu case; risk to the public remains low.
Rwanda declares an end to the Marburg virus outbreak after 42 days with no new cases, reporting 66 cases, 15 deaths, and 51 recoveries, says Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana.
A new long-acting preventive HIV drug, lenacapavir, could be available in the world’s poorest countries by late 2025 or early 2026, according to Hui Yang, head of supply operations at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Britain has pledged a £50 million ($63 million) aid package to support vulnerable Syrians following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, addressing urgent humanitarian needs both within Syria and in neighboring countries.
Kazakhstan's health ministry has confirmed 30 cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) amid a surge in respiratory illnesses in Central Asia. The virus, which causes flu-like symptoms, represents 1.6% of over 8,000 samples tested this season. Nearby Kyrgyzstan and China have also reported cases.
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are actively monitoring respiratory viruses, including human metapneumovirus (HMPV), as part of their efforts to control severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). Health officials in both nations are urging preventative measures to curb the spread of illnesses.
U.S. reports first human death from H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana. Experts urge caution for those in contact with birds as the virus spreads among poultry and wildlife.
France has reported its first case of the new mpox clade 1b variant, linked to a global health emergency declared by the WHO, with health authorities investigating the source and tracing contacts in the Brittany region.
Highland Park resident Sabrina gives a firsthand account of fleeing the devastating Southern California wildfires, as fierce 80 mph winds drive the Eaton Fire toward residential areas. In an exclusive interview, Sabrina details her experience joining the other 130,000 displaced citizens.
Reports of a two-month halt in Azerbaijani gas supplies to Serbia are false. Despite a technical issue at Shah Deniz Alpha, Shah Deniz Bravo ensures steady exports, with supplies set to resume soon. BP confirms no damage or environmental impact.
A Cessna CJ1+ aircraft (PR-GFS) crashed while landing at Gastão Madeira State Airport (UBT) in Ubatuba, Brazil, on 9 January 2025, amidst adverse weather. The crash, which claimed the pilot’s life and injured seven others, has raised concerns over private aviation safety in Brazil.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry is working with Eritrean authorities to secure the release of 18 Azerbaijani citizens detained after their vessels entered Eritrean waters on November 7, 2024, due to severe weather. The crew faces charges of unauthorized entry.
WHO aims to finalise a pandemic pact by May 2025, despite uncertainty under Trump’s leadership, as nations negotiate global collaboration amid ongoing health crises.
Malaria cases soared to 263 million in 2023, with deaths steady at 597,000, highlighting stalled progress, WHO reports.
The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed confidence that a global pandemic agreement will be finalized by May 2025, despite concerns over US participation under President-elect Donald Trump.
A mystery disease is spreading in Congo’s remote Panzi health zone, mainly affecting malnourished children under five. With 406 cases and 31 deaths reported, WHO experts are investigating as limited resources and severe conditions hinder efforts.
U.S. President Joe Biden has proposed expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include anti-obesity drugs, potentially cutting out-of-pocket costs by 95%.
Neuralink to trial brain implant in Canada, aiming to help paralysed patients control devices through thought.
UNICEF has raised concerns over the toxic smog hospitalizing children in Lahore, Pakistan, the world’s most polluted city in terms of air quality, according to Swiss group IQAir’s live ratings. Schools and outdoor areas have been closed in the region.
Local hospitals are overrun by a mysterious illness. The Sudanese town of al-Hilalya has seen at least 73 deaths according to local doctors. It comes as violence and displacement in eastern El Gezira state continue to intensify. It has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
AstraZeneca’s new weight-loss pill, AZD5004, shows promise in early trials with tolerable side effects, advancing to Phase II studies focused on reducing obesity.
An analysis of U.S. health claims reveals that while GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy may aid weight loss, they significantly increase medical costs—rising to $18,507 annually—without reducing obesity-related health events, raising concerns for insurers and employers.
