Tackling Ebola, head on, and other stories

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Health workers wearing protective equipment get ready to disinfect a boat at the port of Bende-Bende, one of the main gateways to the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. | Photo Credit: AFP

This past week, the top health story, without any doubt, is the huge crisis that is brewing out of proportions in Africa - the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was first announced as an outbreak on May 15, this year.As per latest data, it has reached over 5,000 cases, making this the one of the worst Ebola outbreaks in history . The outbreak has clearly outpaced response efforts.

Data from Congo’s Ministry of Health showed the outbreak had so far recorded 5,021 cases, including 2,378 deaths as of August 16, 2026, as it rages in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable fuelled by insecurity, displacement and intense population movements. It has officially infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other outbreak in history. Starting from the first detected case, it has spread about three times faster than an outbreak from 2014 to 2016 across West Africa, which was the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record with more than 11,000 deaths.

The dire situation was underlined as World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced: “We must be frank: the epidemic is far from being under control.” Safety concerns have limited the response as health workers are targeted, particularly in Ituri, the province that has been hit the worst by the outbreak. Residents recently attacked a health team in the territory of Aru after a suspected case was reported there. A mob set fire to an ambulance and damaged two other vehicles, according to Michael Wani, president of the Union of Cultural Associations for the Development of Ituri.

Meanwhile, more than 16,000 doses of the new Ebola vaccine Ervebo arrived in the DRC. WHO experts still do not know whether Ervebo protects humans against the Bundibugyo strain, but early data, notably from animal trials, suggest it could offer some protection.The Ervebo vaccine “has already been used several times, and in particular on a very large scale during the 2018-2020 outbreak”, Samuel Roger Kamba, the DRC’s Minister of Health, told the press.

The other big story in India was also about an infectious disease - H1N1. As the cases continue to surge , experts assure that there is no cause for alarm yet. However they do advise that a large number of children were being affected, and that children with asthma and other chronic conditions might require special intervention.

The H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, is a subtype of influenza A, and can cause respiratory illness, with symptoms including fever or chills, cough, sore throat, a runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness, and muscle or body aches. In some cases, patients may also experience vomiting and diarrhoea.