New Zealand Confirms First H5N1 Case in Migratory Seabird New Zealand has reported its first case of the H5N1 bird flu strain after a brown skua seabird tested positive near Wellington, according to Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. The discovery marks the virus’s spread to the Pacific nation, which had previously remained unaffected despite outbreaks in … Read more
Global childhood vaccination rates rose slightly in 2025, with 90% of infants receiving at least one dose of the DTP vaccine, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. Despite this, 13.5 million children remain “zero-dose,” leaving millions vulnerable to preventable diseases amid funding cuts and active conflicts. The Gap Between First … Read more
Michigan health officials recently reported 2,640 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite, marking a significant rise from previous figures. The outbreak, which began in May, has led to 44 hospitalizations in the state. While investigators suspect contaminated lettuce or salad greens, no specific supplier or grower has been definitively linked … Read more
The AFC/M23 rebel group in eastern Congo used a small Ebola outbreak to demonstrate its administrative capacity, operating a health response separate from the government in Kinshasa. According to Reuters, the group declared the outbreak over in its territory after monitoring 400 contacts, while the rest of the country continued to see transmission. AFC/M23 Health … Read more
The Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached over 1,100 confirmed cases and nearly 300 deaths, according to government reports. Health officials, including the World Health Organization (WHO), state that a lack of diagnostic tools, limited clinical data, and community mistrust regarding the virus’s atypical symptoms are currently hindering containment efforts … Read more
The U.S. government has begun shipping stockpiled doses of an experimental antibody drug, MBP134, from Mapp Biopharmaceutical to the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat a widening Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this shift in policy marks the first time Washington has released the treatment for clinical … Read more
Sri Lanka is currently managing a major outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever, recording over 44,000 cases and 28 deaths since January 2026. According to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU), the surge is linked to post-cyclone environmental debris providing new breeding grounds, with public health officials warning that hospitals face severe strain as infection rates … Read more
Australian authorities are investigating the country’s first suspected mainland case of H5N1 avian influenza after a brown skua found in Western Australia’s Cape Le Grand National Park tested positive for the virus. State Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis confirmed that further testing is underway to verify the strain, with results expected shortly. While Australia remains the … Read more
Distrust and civil unrest are severely hampering Ebola contact tracing in displacement camps across the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to Dr. Jean-Claude Lonzama, chief doctor for the Nizi health zone, health workers are unable to monitor potential transmission chains because local residents, skeptical of the virus’s existence, have blocked aid teams from entering sites … Read more
The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported a surge in confirmed Ebola cases to 598, with 115 deaths recorded as of June 9, 2026. The outbreak, centered in Ituri province, involves the Bundibugyo strain and has spread across 25 health zones in three provinces. Aid agencies, including the International Rescue Committee, are currently intensifying efforts … Read more