Infection
CDC warns of “alarming” threat from Candida auris
In March 2023 the CDC commented on data that revealed an “alarming” spread of the emerging fungus Candida auris in healthcare facilities
WHO offers update on Marburg cases in Equatorial Guinea
Just under a month after the confirmation of an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Equatorial Guinea, WHO has issued an update confirming further cases
Marking World TB Day 2023: “Yes! We can end TB!”
On Friday 24th March 2023 the WHO and other organisations and individuals observe ‘World Tuberculosis Day’ with the theme “Yes! We can end TB!”.
Africa CDC confirms outbreak of Marburg virus in Tanzania
Africa CDC has confirmed that the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) on 21st March 2023
WHO weighs in on new SARS-CoV-2 data from China
In March 2023 new metagenomics data and SARS-CoV-2 sequences appeared on GISAID and were available to researchers across the world for a short period of time.
Vaccine-derived polio: Burundi and DRC start investigations
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and WHO Africa confirmed in March 2023 that cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) had been detected in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These cases have been linked to the...
Uganda’s plan to vaccinate children against yellow fever
In March 2023 WHO Africa reported that the Ugandan Ministry of Health is planning to vaccinate over 1.9 million children against yellow fever in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi. Uganda was one of 14 African countries that reported confirmed cases of yellow...
Researchers in Israel develop mRNA vaccine against bacteria
In March 2023 researchers at Tel Aviv University and the Israel Institute for Biological Research announced that they have developed an mRNA-based vaccine that is “100% effective against a type of bacteria that is lethal to humans”. With results published in Science...
WHO issues update on avian flu in Cambodia
After the news of the death of a child from avian influenza A (H5N1) in Cambodia in February 2023, the WHO has published an update on the situation with recommendations and risk assessments. This statement also confirmed that a second case, a family contact of the...
Ghana confirms two cases of Lassa fever in Accra
Just months after the conclusion of an outbreak of Marburg virus in the Ashanti region of Ghana, the Ghana Health Service has issued a statement to confirm two cases of Lassa fever in the capital, Accra. The first confirmed case has sadly died, but the second, a...
WHO issues update on Marburg in Equatorial Guinea
Following the announcement of an outbreak of Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea in February 2023, WHO has issued a situation update from the limited information available. This includes advice to the country itself and other countries about the risk posed by travel to...
Concern after avian influenza kills child in Cambodia
With growing concern at the increasing cases of avian influenza in mammals across the world, the spread has taken a tragic turn with the death of an 11-year-old girl in Prey Veng province, Cambodia. After her death, samples were sent to the National Institute of...
The Measles and Rubella Initiative enters “new era”
After an update from WHO in November 2022 that almost 40 million children are “dangerously susceptible” to measles, the Measles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI) released a statement on the future of the fight. Founded in 2001 as the Measles Initiative, it was...
BactiVac secures £1 million in Wellcome funding
In February 2023 BactiVac, the Bacterial Vaccines Network, announced that it had secured £1 million in funding from Wellcome to “accelerate the development of bacterial vaccines” and “combat the threat” of AMR. BactiVac BactiVac comprises 1,400 members across 78...
Mpox: still a PHEIC, says IHR Emergency Committee
During a meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee in February 2023 on the mpox outbreak, the current infection rates and containment measures were considered alongside plans for the future. Although the Committee commended global...
WHO responds to Nature “error in reporting” article
After an article in Nature in February 2023 in which it was suggested that WHO had “quietly” abandoned plans to continue the investigation into the origins of COVID-19, senior members of the organisation responded on Twitter and in a press conference. Dr Maria van...
Nature: WHO investigation into pandemic origin dropped
In February 2023 an article in Nature announced that the WHO has “quietly shelved the second phase” of the “much-anticipated scientific investigation” into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Referring to political challenges, the team of experts will not conduct...
Equatorial Guinea confirms outbreak of Marburg virus
In February 2023, WHO Africa confirmed that Equatorial Guinea had announced an outbreak of Marburg virus disease following the deaths of at least nine people. Preliminary tests after these deaths in the western Kie Ntem Province were positive for the viral...
Concern grows as avian flu affects more mammals
With reports of avian flu sweeping through minks in Spain, foxes in the UK, and now other mammals across the world, concern is growing about the threat both to human and animal health from H5N1. Although the position from WHO is that the risk to humans is “low”,...
Maternal Tdap vaccine reduces pertussis in infants
In findings published in Jama Pediatrics in February 2023 a CDC study revealed that the maternal Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diptheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccine decreases incidence of pertussis in infants younger than 2 months. Infants younger than a...
