Tackling Ebola, head on, and other stories
On the Ebola crisis in the DRC, the H1N1 situation in India, eye health, what’s new and what’s missing in the field of genetics, and more
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached alarming levels, with over 5,000 cases and 2,378 deaths as of August 16, 2026. This is one of the worst Ebola outbreaks in history, spreading about three times faster than the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, which claimed over 11,000 lives. The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that the epidemic is far from being under control.
The situation has been exacerbated by insecurity, displacement, and intense population movements. Safety concerns have limited the response, as health workers have been targeted, especially in Ituri province, which has been hit the hardest by the outbreak. Residents attacked a health team in Aru after a suspected case was reported, setting fire to an ambulance and damaging two other vehicles.
Despite the challenges, more than 16,000 doses of the new Ebola vaccine Ervebo arrived in the DRC, though it is unclear if the vaccine protects against the Bundibugyo strain. Meanwhile, India is grappling with a surge in H1N1 cases, affecting a large number of children, particularly those with asthma and chronic conditions. Union Health Minister J.P.
Nadda reviewed the situation and called for early testing to ensure proper healthcare preparedness. Other stories covered include lazy eye in children, squints, the use of AI in detecting eye diseases, the challenges of fertility and breastfeeding after surviving cancer, and the underrepresentation of South Asians in global health databases.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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