Topic
TOPIC
Ebola is a disease of humans and other primates caused by ebola viruses that typically occurs in outbreaks in tropical regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. The death rate for humans with the disease could be as high as 90 per cent.
- The World Health Organization said Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia were not fully prepared for an Ebola outbreak
- Guinea has vaccinated over 1,600 people but the shots, like Covid-19 vaccines, require ultra-cold storage and present logistical challenges
The World Health Organization is warning that an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea poses a regional risk that requires “exceptional vigilance.” The West African country of Guinea declared a new Ebola outbreak on February 14, while the Democratic Republic of Congo announced a resurgence of the Ebola virus on February 7 in the eastern city of Butembo, the epicentre of a previous outbreak that was declared over last year.
The World Health Organization is warning that an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea poses a regional risk that requires “exceptional vigilance.” The West African country of Guinea declared a new Ebola outbreak on February 14, while the Democratic Republic of Congo announced a resurgence of the Ebola virus on February 7 in the eastern city of Butembo, the epicentre of a previous outbreak that was declared over last year.
The West African country was the epicentre of an Ebola epidemic five years ago that left over 11,000 dead across the region.
The West African country was the epicentre of an Ebola epidemic five years ago that left over 11,000 dead across the region.
Two of the currently available vaccinations against Covid-19 use a relatively new technology which has not been approved before.
Two of the currently available vaccinations against Covid-19 use a relatively new technology which has not been approved before.
Investigation in China ‘not about finding a guilty country … [but] trying to understand what happened’, German scientist says.
Investigation in China ‘not about finding a guilty country … [but] trying to understand what happened’, German scientist says.
The company’s phase three trial of its Ad5-nCoV vaccine candidate is being tested on some 40,000 participants in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Mexico.
The company’s phase three trial of its Ad5-nCoV vaccine candidate is being tested on some 40,000 participants in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Mexico.
They handle disease pathogens capable of killing millions of people, so how safe are the world's Biosafety Level 4 research laboratories?
They handle disease pathogens capable of killing millions of people, so how safe are the world's Biosafety Level 4 research laboratories?
United States is eighth-largest donor to pandemic fighting fund while China’s contributions put it in tenth place.
United States is eighth-largest donor to pandemic fighting fund while China’s contributions put it in tenth place.
Recovery plans for economies across the world must include the development of a new strategic approach to prevent the health, climate and environmental disasters caused by human activity
Recovery plans for economies across the world must include the development of a new strategic approach to prevent the health, climate and environmental disasters caused by human activity
Health officials have confirmed a second Ebola outbreak in Congo, adding yet another health crisis for a country already battling Covid-19.
Health officials have confirmed a second Ebola outbreak in Congo, adding yet another health crisis for a country already battling Covid-19.
The Chinese institute did not encounter the pandemic pathogen until December 30 when it was sent a clinical sample, director says.
The Chinese institute did not encounter the pandemic pathogen until December 30 when it was sent a clinical sample, director says.
The international community has failed to agree on obligations countries have to share genetic sequence data, the authors of a paper in Science magazine say.
The international community has failed to agree on obligations countries have to share genetic sequence data, the authors of a paper in Science magazine say.
The head of the biosafety laboratory tells a scientific daily that it follows strict measures to ensure no virus can leave.
The head of the biosafety laboratory tells a scientific daily that it follows strict measures to ensure no virus can leave.
WHO-EIB pact follows a freeze in funding from WHO’s largest contributor – the US – over allegations that it is too deferential to China.
WHO-EIB pact follows a freeze in funding from WHO’s largest contributor – the US – over allegations that it is too deferential to China.
The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been at the centre of a number of Covid-19 conspiracy theories, including one that the virus accidentally escaped.
The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been at the centre of a number of Covid-19 conspiracy theories, including one that the virus accidentally escaped.
French and US expertise behind establishment of China’s top-level research facility into deadly and easily transmittable pathogens.
French and US expertise behind establishment of China’s top-level research facility into deadly and easily transmittable pathogens.
Experts say it is ‘highly unlikely’ the new coronavirus behind the Covid-19 pandemic was accidentally released from the virology institute, but it continues to draw attention as a possible origin.
Experts say it is ‘highly unlikely’ the new coronavirus behind the Covid-19 pandemic was accidentally released from the virology institute, but it continues to draw attention as a possible origin.
Effectiveness of Gilead’s remdesivir and other repurposed drugs may be proven in 3 to 4 months, a leading coronavirus expert says.
Effectiveness of Gilead’s remdesivir and other repurposed drugs may be proven in 3 to 4 months, a leading coronavirus expert says.
Scientists and engineers are working on robotic solutions that could help stem the spread of Covid-19.
Scientists and engineers are working on robotic solutions that could help stem the spread of Covid-19.
Outbreak has exposed surprising paradox: some of the top health care systems are remarkably ill-equipped to deal with a pandemic.
Outbreak has exposed surprising paradox: some of the top health care systems are remarkably ill-equipped to deal with a pandemic.
Although Covid-19 has a lower mortality rate than Ebola, it still threatens to overwhelm vulnerable health care systems
Although Covid-19 has a lower mortality rate than Ebola, it still threatens to overwhelm vulnerable health care systems
The history of medicine abounds with ‘examples of drugs that worked on paper or in a test tube but were actually harmful’, WHO chief says as cases of the respiratory ailment caused by the coronavirus surge worldwide.
The history of medicine abounds with ‘examples of drugs that worked on paper or in a test tube but were actually harmful’, WHO chief says as cases of the respiratory ailment caused by the coronavirus surge worldwide.
Spanish flu, swine flu, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Ebola virus. And now: 2019-nCoV? Pardon the pun, but it’s hardly a catchy name - and for good reason.
Spanish flu, swine flu, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, Ebola virus. And now: 2019-nCoV? Pardon the pun, but it’s hardly a catchy name - and for good reason.
Public health professionals might focus on ethnic Chinese because of where the new coronavirus outbreak originated, but this should not lead to the entire race being stigmatised.
Public health professionals might focus on ethnic Chinese because of where the new coronavirus outbreak originated, but this should not lead to the entire race being stigmatised.
World Health Organisation committee will meet on Thursday for third time in a week to decide scale of threat posed by outbreak.
World Health Organisation committee will meet on Thursday for third time in a week to decide scale of threat posed by outbreak.
Documentary series airing as China battles coronavirus outbreak warns a new flu pandemic is inevitable, and points out it is the country where ‘virtually all of the deadly influenza viruses’ of past 50 years have emerged.
Documentary series airing as China battles coronavirus outbreak warns a new flu pandemic is inevitable, and points out it is the country where ‘virtually all of the deadly influenza viruses’ of past 50 years have emerged.
The Soviet-era biological weapons facility in Siberia, which now serves as a state-run virus and biotechnology research centre, is one of only two locations in the world to hold the smallpox virus.
The Soviet-era biological weapons facility in Siberia, which now serves as a state-run virus and biotechnology research centre, is one of only two locations in the world to hold the smallpox virus.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is due in the country to conduct a first-hand assessment of the efforts to combat the virus.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is due in the country to conduct a first-hand assessment of the efforts to combat the virus.
The drugs, tested in a nearly nine-month clinical trial, have performed so well that health professionals will now administer them to every patient in Congo.
The drugs, tested in a nearly nine-month clinical trial, have performed so well that health professionals will now administer them to every patient in Congo.