Ebola Disease: Current Situation
As of May 25, the DRC and Uganda Ministries of Health report the following:
A new confirmed case in Sud-Kivu Province; previously, cases had been confirmed in Ituri and Nord-Kivu provinces only.
DRC: A total of 906 suspected cases, 105 confirmed cases, 223 suspected deaths, and 10 confirmed deaths.
Uganda: A total of 7 confirmed cases and 1 confirmed death; 5 cases have clear links to the first 2 confirmed cases.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and case counts are subject to change.
Ebola outbreak: UN says women die disproportionately from Ebola
2048 views May 31, 2026 #Ebola #DRCongo #DemocraticRepublicOfCongo
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded the most Ebola outbreaks since the deadly virus was discovered in the 1970s. The UN says women are the most affected every time. There is no vaccine for the strain responsible for the current outbreak. And with hospitals short of protective gear, there are fears that women will once again suffer the most.
Al Jazeera’s Imogen Kimber reports.
Ebola Outbreak Puts Frontline Health Workers at Growing Risk in DR Congo
2,265 views May 30, 2026
Medical workers battling an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say they are facing worsening conditions, shortages of protective equipment and growing hostility from some communities.
Several healthcare professionals have died after becoming infected while treating patients, raising fears about the ability of hospitals and clinics to contain the virus.
Doctors say many facilities lack isolation units, gloves, masks and basic medical supplies, forcing some hospitals to shut down to prevent further infections among staff and patients.
The World Health Organization says it is expanding operations across affected regions, including Ituri and North Kivu provinces, while sending additional personnel, medicines and protective equipment.
But attacks on treatment centres and distrust among local communities are complicating efforts to control the outbreak.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani reports from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
DR Congo battles Ebola: Health workers try to reduce deep public mistrust
3431 views May 27, 2026 #DRCongo #Ebola #EbolaOutbreak
Health workers fighting Ebola in eastern DRC are trying to reduce public mistrust by involving families in safe burials. Authorities are racing to contain the fast-moving outbreak. But unsafe funerals, misinformation, and attacks on treatment centers hamper response efforts.
Al Jazeera’s Julide Ayger reports.
Libya’s public healthcare crisis, dinar crash fuel Misrata’s private hospital boom
1,582 views May 27, 2026 #MedicalTourism #NorthAfrica #Libya
Libya’s healthcare system has struggled for decades. In the past, many Libyans traveled to Tunisia or Egypt for serious treatment. But with the sharp decline in the value of the Libyan dinar in recent years, many can no longer afford medical travel abroad.
That’s created opportunities for private healthcare providers in the country.
Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina reports from Misrata, Libya
How misinformation is fueling the Ebola crisis
931 views May 27, 2026 #Ebola #DRC #EbolaOutbreak2026
An Ebola outbreak that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province has spread into neighbouring Uganda, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control listing 10 countries as being at risk. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is travelling to the DRC to assess the situation.
Aid organisations warn that major funding cuts — including a nearly 70 percent reduction in US assistance to the DRC between 2024 and 2025 — have severely weakened the response.
The dismantling of USAID, once one of the region’s largest supporters of Ebola prevention programmes, has left a significant gap. Containment efforts are further complicated by widespread mistrust and misinformation; aid agencies say one in three people in Ituri province does not believe Ebola is real.
Al Jazeera’s Lina Abu Akleh reports.
More than 500 children die in measles outbreak in Bangladesh
2,921 views May 26, 2026 #InfectiousDisease #Vaccination #AlJazeeraEnglish
Bangladesh is experiencing its deadliest measles outbreak in almost twenty years.
More than 500 children have died while tens of thousands of suspected cases have been recorded.
Hospitals are struggling to cope with the surge in patients.
Health experts say the crisis has exposed major gaps in vaccination programmes.
Al Jazeera’s Tanvir Chowdhury reports from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
South Africa’s foot-and-mouth outbreak deepens amid slow government vaccine rollout
2,345 views May 26, 2026 #SouthAfrica #foodsecurity #footandmouthdisease
South Africa is experiencing one of its worst outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, with cases confirmed across all nine provinces affecting cattle, sheep and pigs.
Farmers blame a slow government vaccination drive, partly caused by a halt in vaccine imports from Botswana in November last year. By the end of April, only around 2.5 million of 14 million animals had been vaccinated. The outbreak has cost the industry an estimated $108m and triggered export restrictions, disrupting beef and dairy production.
Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller reports from South Africa.
Africa CDC chief says Ebola outbreak can be contained despite lack of vaccines
4,234 views May 26, 2026 #Ebola #DRC #EbolaOutbreak2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a rapidly growing Ebola outbreak, with more than 100 confirmed cases reported across several eastern provinces.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said health authorities were working urgently to contain the spread despite the absence of approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
He said more than 1,800 contacts were being monitored as clusters spread across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
Kaseya described the outbreak as one of the largest Ebola emergencies since the 2014 West Africa epidemic and warned that years of underinvestment had left African countries without the medical tools needed to combat the disease.
He also said cuts in international funding had weakened surveillance, testing and response systems across affected areas. However, Kaseya said the Africa CDC had received nearly $498m in pledges towards a $319m response plan, calling it a sign of growing commitment to African health sovereignty.
Despite attacks on treatment centres and growing fear among communities, Kaseya insisted African governments and health agencies were mobilising resources and strengthening public health measures to stop transmission.
He said authorities remained optimistic the outbreak could eventually be brought under control through testing, isolation, safe burials and community engagement.
WHO raises Ebola risk to ‘very high’ as outbreak spreads in DRC
8,077 views May 25, 2026 #Ebola #DRCongo #M23
A new Ebola outbreak centred in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been rated “very high” risk by the World Health Organization, with the Bundibugyo strain — for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments — recording a mortality rate of 30–50 percent. The outbreak, first confirmed on 15 May in Ituri province, has spread to South Kivu, North Kivu and neighbouring Uganda, which has reported its first three locally transmitted cases.
Conflict across eastern DRC is hampering containment efforts, while community distrust has complicated the response. The WHO and Africa CDC have launched a six-month, $319m response plan covering surveillance, treatment and preparedness across ten high-risk countries.
Uganda-DRC border on high alert as Ebola fears rise at Mpondwe crossing
2,137 views May 23, 2026 #EbolaOutbreak #BorderControl #Ebola
Health authorities at the busy Mpondwe border crossing between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are on high alert as concerns grow over the spread of Ebola from eastern DRC.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports from the border crossing.
Ebola outbreak rapid spread: Health authorities in DRC struggle to contain virus
2,434 views May 23, 2026 #EbolaOutbreak #Ebola #Beni
An Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly across eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with health authorities struggling to contain new cases amid ongoing insecurity and community unrest.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Alain Uaykani reports from Goma in eastern DRC.
DR Congo battles Ebola outbreak: Emergency medical supplies arrive as death toll rises
10,984 views May 22, 2026 #EbolaOutbreak #AlJazeeraEnglish #DRC
Years of insecurity and economic hardship in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are complicating efforts to contain a new Ebola outbreak. In Goma, schools are urging families to adopt preventive measures, but many residents say they cannot afford masks, soap or hand sanitiser amid unemployment and displacement following the M23 rebel takeover of the city last year. Health authorities and the World Health Organization plan to reopen a treatment centre nearby.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani reports from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda tightens Ebola checks at DRC border crossings
2,684 views May 22, 2026 #Ebola #DRCongo #Uganda
Uganda has stepped up screening measures at its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid an Ebola outbreak in the neighbouring country. Health workers at the Busanga crossing are checking temperatures and sanitising everyone entering Uganda. Authorities say additional precautions are in place at formal border points along the 800-kilometre frontier, though concerns remain over informal crossings. Schools and churches have been given guidance on reducing transmission risk, and Uganda plans to send health experts to the affected DRC region.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports from Busoga, Uganda.
Managing Ebola in Africa: Health officials reflect on the response to the 2014 outbreak
1,507 views May 21, 2026 #EbolaOutbreak #Ebola #SierraLeone
In 2014, an Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people and infected over 28,000 across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It was the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded and led to border closures, quarantines, and major international health responses across the region.
Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque reports.
DR Congo battles Ebola outbreak: 130 people have been confirmed dead
5,415 views May 21, 2026 #EbolaOutbreak #Ebola #VirusOutbreak
Health authorities and aid agencies are racing to curb the spread of Ebola in one of Africa’s most unstable regions. Emergency medical supplies have started arriving in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 130 people have been confirmed dead, and hundreds of people are being monitored. Officials say they plan to reopen former COVID-19 treatment centres to handle the increase in suspected cases.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani reports from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Aid cuts deepen Sudan’s health crisis as displaced struggle for care
2,554 views May 21, 2026 #MSF #AlJazeeraEnglish #Sudan
Displaced people living in camps in Sudan’s Blue Nile state are struggling to access healthcare as aid agencies face severe funding cuts. The state hosts more than 300,000 displaced people, including over 50,000 newly displaced this year alone. Reduced funding has forced programmes to shut down, leaving clinics near shelters without medicines or vaccines. Patients must now travel long distances to reach functioning facilities, often unable to afford transportation.
One clinic run by Doctors Without Borders receives more than 1,000 cases per week, with doctors warning that approaching rainy season conditions will increase demand and further strain the few remaining services responding to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan reports from Baw, Blue Nile state, Sudan.
Ebola outbreak : Uganda has protocols in place to deal with outbreak
12,939 views May 20, 2026 #EbolaOutbreak #Ebola #UgandaNews
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are reporting new Ebola cases in the latest outbreak in the country’s east. Authorities say there have been more than 500 suspected cases and over 100 deaths so far.
Neighbouring Uganda has confirmed two Ebola cases, including one death, prompting authorities to activate emergency response measures and screening protocols.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports from Uganda on how officials are dealing with the outbreak and trying to prevent further infections.
Aid agencies step in as Ebola case confirmed in rebel-hit eastern DRC city
3,723 views May 20, 2026 #DRCongo #Ebola #M23
In the rebel-held town of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities and partners are preparing a treatment centre as worry grows over an Ebola outbreak.
One case has been confirmed in the town, which is controlled by the M23 rebel group.
Health officials are renovating a facility that served during COVID and previous Ebola outbreaks, planning to open 120 beds in the coming days.
Electricity is already available, and water is being connected.
M23 leaders say they have activated all measures to face the outbreak, but residents question their capacity.
There is no connection between the DRC government in Kinshasa and the leaders running Goma since the town fell under rebel control.
The airport is out of service, meaning ministers cannot arrive from Kinshasa.
North Kivu province has a deadly history with Ebola, where nearly 3,000 people died in past outbreaks.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani reports from Goma, eastern DRC.
Ugandan scientists say Ebola outbreak exposes dangerous research gaps
2,340 views May 19, 2026 #HealthEmergency #Ebola #DRCongo
There is growing concern about this latest outbreak in Uganda where two cases have been found and one person has died.
Researchers say not enough is known about this strain.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports from Entebbe, Uganda.
Scientists race to contain Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Uganda
3,572 views May 19, 2026 #DRCongo #Ebola #Uganda
At the Uganda Virus Research Institute, scientists are working around the clock to test samples for Ebola amid a growing outbreak.
Samples confirmed at least one fatality and two cases. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which originated in Uganda and has caused three outbreaks since.
Unlike the Zaire strain, for which a vaccine exists, Bundibugyo-specific treatments remain in development.
Researchers say time is critical as infections and deaths mount across the border.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports from Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda.
WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DRC ‘rampant for weeks’ as response faces funding shortfall
4,766 views May 19, 2026 #Ebola #DRCongo #M23
The World Health Organization is racing to contain an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that has been “rampant and transmitting silently for days” before being properly diagnosed, according to Anne Ancia, WHO representative in the DRC. Speaking from Bunia, the epicenter in Ituri province, Ancia said the situation is “complex and really difficult.” The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which there is no approved vaccine. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle pain, but the virus can progress to severe dehydration, hemorrhages and death.
Ancia explained that the outbreak went undetected for weeks because the local laboratory lacked the right reagent to diagnose the Bundibugyo subtype. The response is now underway, with 40 health experts and 12 tons of supplies deployed, but challenges remain. Authorities say insecurity, armed conflict, and high population movement are accelerating the spread of the virus. The outbreak has also spread to North Kivu province and has reached Goma, which is controlled by de facto authorities. Two confirmed cases have been reported on the border with Rwanda, which has closed its border except for humanitarian response. Uganda has also reported two cases from people crossing from Bunia.
Ancia said the WHO needs an estimated $30m for the response but currently has only $2m to $5m, relying on its own contingency fund and a $1m contribution from the UK’s FCDO. She noted that the US withdrawal from the WHO has impacted financing. “The lack of US financing might hurt us,” she said, adding that other donors need to step in to contain the outbreak and prevent it from spreading to Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda or beyond. She described the affected population as “extremely vulnerable, fragilized by years of communal conflict.”
Ebola case in Goma triggers border closure as fears grow in eastern DR Congo
4,602 views May 18, 2026 #Ebola #AfricaNews #Outbreak
Fear is spreading across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo after authorities confirmed an Ebola case in the city of Goma.
Rwanda has temporarily closed its main border crossing with Goma as a precautionary measure to prevent possible cross-border transmission, impacting one of the region’s busiest trade and travel routes.
The outbreak, first reported in Ituri province, has prompted increased surveillance and emergency health measures, as medical teams work to contain infections in Bunia and surrounding areas.
Residents say they are worried about the spread of the virus in a region already affected by ongoing insecurity and humanitarian challenges, with memories of past deadly Ebola outbreaks still fresh.
Health authorities say contact tracing and screening efforts are being reinforced, but concerns remain over response capacity in conflict-affected areas.
Will the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda spread further? | Inside Story
132,917 views May 18, 2026 #Ebola #DRCongo #M23
A global health crisis – not a pandemic.
But the World Health Organization is warning the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda could be much larger than what has been detected so far.
The global health body is advising the countries to activate national disaster mechanisms and introduce cross-border and internal screening.
Presenter: James Bays
Guests:
Ariel Kestens, Head of the Kinshasa Delegation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Dr Margaret Harris, Lecturer at United Nations Institute for Training and Research
Dr Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Former Deputy Director-General of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
What is driving the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri region?
1,940 views May 18, 2026 #Ebola #DRCongo #M23
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading beyond its epicentre in the remote mining region of Ituri province. The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency, though the virus remains contained to central Africa. This outbreak is caused by a more lethal strain than previous ones, and cases have been reported thousands of kilometres away, including in the capital Kinshasa and neighbouring Uganda. Weak healthcare infrastructure, ongoing armed conflict, and cross-border movement are hampering containment efforts.
Al Jazeera’s Lina Abu Akleh explains.
WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri could be wider than reported
24,788 views May 17, 2026 #HealthEmergency #Ebola #DRCongo
Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire, an Emergency Director with WHO Africa and a specialist in epidemiology, public health and infectious disease outbreaks, speaks to Al Jazeera about the Ebola situation in DR Congo’s Ituri province.
WHO declares global health emergency over the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, Uganda
29,467 views May 17, 2026 #HealthEmergency #Ebola #DRCongo
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency over a new Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
At least 88 people have died so far, and hundreds of suspected cases have been reported.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi is in the Ugandan capital Kampala and Alain Uaykani is in Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for the latest updates.
Hantavirus: how scared should we be? | The Take
31,563 views May 16, 2026 🎙️The Take
Three people have died after a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, which provoked global concern and revived memories of COVID-19. Experts stress it is not the same virus, but after the pandemic, trust is fragile. What does this cruise ship outbreak reveal?
In this episode:
Dylan Scott (@dylanlscott), Senior Correspondent for Vox
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili with Chloe K. Li, Catherine Nouhan, Tuleen Barakat and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.
Hantavirus cruise passengers evacuated as countries impose quarantine measures
19,962 views May 12, 2026 #Hantavirus #MVHondius #Spain
Passengers from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius are finally returning home after weeks stranded on board the luxury expedition vessel.
In the first round of evacuations from the Canary Islands, 94 people from 16 nationalities were repatriated, though some may carry the rare respiratory virus spread through contact with rat droppings.
The World Health Organisation recommends a 42-day quarantine for anyone exposed, but quarantine protocols vary by country, ranging from 45 days in Greece to just 72 hours in the UK.
Despite precautions, specialists stress the risk of wider transmission is extremely low, unlike COVID-19, and authorities say the outbreak is under control.
Al Jazeera’s Imogen Kimber reports.
What is hantavirus and how does it spread? Al Jazeera explains
6,491 views May 11, 2026 #AndesVirus #Hantavirus #MVHondius
So what exactly is hantavirus? And why is it causing so much concern worldwide?
Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan explains.
How hantavirus spread aboard an Antarctic cruise ship: Explainer
5,579 views May 11, 2026 #Hantavirus #MVHondius #Spain
The hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius began after a Dutch couple travelled through Argentina and Chile before boarding the Antarctic cruise ship in Ushuaia on April 1.
Ten days later, the 70-year-old Dutch man developed respiratory distress and died onboard. His body was removed at St Helena in the South Atlantic on April 24, where his wife also disembarked. She later collapsed while attempting to board a flight to Amsterdam from Johannesburg and died on April 26.
A British passenger was evacuated from the ship via Ascension Island on April 27 and later tested positive for hantavirus in South Africa. On May 2, a German woman died onboard near Cape Verde.
Three more people were evacuated on May 6, prompting the World Health Organization to classify the situation as an outbreak.
The vessel later reached Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, where authorities began screening and repatriating around 140 passengers and crew from about 20 countries.
Al Jazeera’s Laura Khan explains.
Evacuations begin for passengers on Hantavirus-hit MV Hondius cruise ship off Tenerife
14,920 views May 11, 2026 #Hantavirus #MVHondius #Spain
A Spanish-led evacuation is underway in the Canary Islands to remove around 140 passengers and crew from a cruise ship struck by a hantavirus outbreak.
At least three people have died from the respiratory disease, and five infections have been confirmed among passengers who disembarked during the voyage.
Evacuees are being flown out on charter flights to their home countries, with strict biosecurity measures in place.
The World Health Organization has stressed that the virus is not easily spread and the risk to the public remains low.
Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull reports.
Should we be worried about the Hantavirus outbreak? | Inside Story
74,804 views May 10, 2026 #Hantavirus #HealthEmergency #VirusOutbreak
The World Health Organization says public health risks from hantavirus are low.
Arrangements are being made to repatriate passengers from a cruise ship, after three people who’d been on board, died. How’s the experience from the Covid-19 pandemic being used?
Presenter: James Bays
Guests:
Dr. Mukesh Kapila — Professor Emeritus of Global Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the University of Manchester
Dr. Margaret Harris — Lecturer at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, former W.H.O. spokesperson
Nicholas Locker — Professor of Virology at the Pirbright Institute, near Guildford, UK
Hantavirus back in focus in Argentina: Fatal cases raise alarm after port departure
41,731 views May 9, 2026 #Hantavirus #VirusOutbreak #AlJazeeraEnglish
A hantavirus outbreak in Argentina has raised concern after rising cases and challenges in early diagnosis led to deaths, including a 14-year-old boy. Health officials warn the disease is hard to detect early and call for greater awareness and better testing access.
Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo report.
Tenerife to receive cruise ship after hantavirus scare; passengers to disembark
1,403 views May 9, 2026 #Hantavirus #AlJazeeraEnglish #CruiseShip
Passengers on a monitored KLM flight were cleared of immediate risk after a Dutch flight attendant tested negative for hantavirus, as a cruise ship heads to Tenerife where 84 passengers will disembark.
Hantavirus is mainly rodent-borne; only the Andes strain spreads person to person. With incubation up to eight weeks and a fatality rate near 30%, monitoring continues, though WHO says pandemic risk is very low. Dutch and Spanish hospitals are prepared amid scrutiny of the operator’s initial response.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Airport screening resume at Asian airports after Nipah virus cases in India
45,014 views Jan 30, 2026 #India #Indonesia #NipahVirus
Thermal screenings have been reinstated at airports in Indonesia and other Asian countries following confirmation of Nipah virus cases in eastern India. Two cases were reported in West Bengal in late December, prompting the quarantine of nearly 200 people. The World Health Organisation warns the virus, transmitted from infected animals to humans, has a fatality rate of 40 to 75 per cent with no cure or vaccine currently available.
Experts caution that airport screenings may prove ineffective due to the virus’s incubation period, which can extend up to 45 days, making detection at borders challenging.
Al Jazeera’s Um-e-Kulsoom Shariff reports.
Cholera cases surge in Sudan, outbreak centered in conflict-hit Darfur
1,038 views Aug 30, 2025 #Sudan #CholeraOutbreak #Darfur
Sudan is battling a deadly cholera outbreak, with the United Nations reporting more than 94,170 cases and over 2,370 deaths since last year. The epicenter is Darfur, a region already devastated by conflict, food shortages, and severe rains. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and aid access is limited.
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall reports from Khartoum.
CDC directors resign: Trio quits in protest of new vaccine policies
2,915 views Aug 29, 2025 #CDC #LeadershipResignations #VaccineAccess
A dramatic exit at the center for disease control and prevention in the United States as 3 of its top leaders quit in protest.
At the heart of the issue – whether major changes will be made to who gets access to critical vaccines in the country.
Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane has the latest from Washington.
Gaza health crisis: Autoimmune diseases spread amid Israeli siege and shortages
6,254 views Aug 25, 2025 #Palestine #Israel #Gaza
Sanitation crisis: Israeli attacks on sewage systems risk mass disease
5,529 views Aug 17, 2025 #InfectiousDiseases #WarCrimes #AlJazeeraEnglish
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has destroyed most of the strip’s sewage and water treatment facilities.
Health authorities warn the dire sanitation situation could cause outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reports from Khan Younis.
DRC conflict leaves diabetics struggling for insulin amid soaring prices and shortages
2,518 views Aug 15, 2025 #Congo #Kinshasa #Goma
In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, ongoing conflict between government forces and M23 rebels is exacerbating a healthcare crisis for people with diabetes. The fighting has disrupted supply chains, leading to severe shortages and skyrocketing prices of insulin, a life-saving medication for diabetics. Pharmacists report widespread scarcity of drugs, with some forced to seek supplies from neighbouring countries. The closure of Goma airport has further complicated the delivery of medicines from the capital, Kinshasa.
Despite a US-brokered deal signed in July, renewed fighting has dashed hopes for stability and prompted US sanctions against the rebels. For diabetics caught in the crossfire, accessing essential medication has become as perilous as dodging bullets. The conflict’s impact on healthcare systems underscores the far-reaching consequences of political instability on vulnerable populations.
Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reports.
What’s driving Sudan’s worst cholera outbreak in years? | Inside Story
2,709 views Aug 15, 2025 #MSF #AlJazeeraEnglish #Sudan
Sudan’s worst cholera outbreak in years — spreading in a country ravaged by conflict.
Health and aid workers are battling desperately to stop it from escalating and crossing into neighbouring countries.
What’s driving the outbreak – and how serious is it?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Mathilde Vu — Advocacy Manager for Sudan at the Norwegian Refugee Council
Simon Mane — Sudan National Director at the humanitarian organisation World Vision International
Mitch Rhyner — Deputy Head of Mission at Doctors Without Borders Sudan
‘Absolutely dystopian, horrendous’ toll on patients in Gaza: Aid worker
9,740 views Aug 5, 2025 #GazaStarvation #IsraelGazaWar #GazaWar
Caroline Willemen, a Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) project coordinator working in Gaza City, has told Al Jazeera that every day she sees the physical and mental health ravages of the war.
She noted that while prosthetic limbs and other medical equipment for amputees were limited before the war, the situation has reached “absolutely dystopian, horrendous” numbers. Those who have recently lost limbs struggle to heal amid the malnutrition and lack of clean water.
“They are not healing the way they should, because on top of everything, people are not just wounded, they also don’t have access to sufficient food,” Willemen said. “Many of them are living in tents without access to water.”
Willemen also discussed the mental health toll the ongoing fighting has taken on those in Gaza, describing a recent conversation she had with an 11-year-old patient.
“We were joking together, and then she tells me, very seriously, ‘I wish a very big bomb would fall all over Gaza and we could die all at the same time, instead of dying very slowly, one day at a time,’” she said. “For me, that encapsulates what is happening to the soul, the spirit of people here.”
While Willemen explained the dire conditions and acknowledged how far off future reconstruction and rehabilitation remain, she said she is given hope every day by her Palestinian colleagues.
“I have never seen more humanity than I have encountered in Gaza, and that is the one thing that gives me hope that, yes, it is possible,” she said.
“We need the international community to step up to their moral obligation to make this stop and to help the recovery. But I have an unwavering belief in the fact that it is possible when I see Palestinian colleagues work every single day.”
Cholera outbreak spreads in Sudan’s conflict-hit Darfur as UN warns of public health catastrophe
1,515 views Aug 5, 2025 #AlJazeeraEnglish #Sudan #UNICEF
Cholera is spreading rapidly in Sudan’s conflict zones, with 4,000 cases and 191 deaths reported in North Darfur alone, where nearly 500,000 displaced people endure dire sanitation.
Over 223,000 lack proper latrines, and only 45% of households have hygiene kits, creating what UNICEF calls a “perfect storm” for the preventable disease.
Half a million displaced people in the North Darfur region face catastrophic risks, with 640,000 children particularly vulnerable as cholera spreads “like ground fire.”
Sheldon Yatte of UNICEF warns that without urgent vaccines, clean water, and nutrition support, the outbreak will escalate.
Despite cholera being easily treatable, conflict and funding gaps hinder aid delivery, forcing families to live without basic sanitation or protection.
UNICEF is coordinating with Chad and others to accelerate vaccine access but stresses that a “holistic package” of safety and healthcare is critical.
The crisis highlights how war and displacement have turned a curable disease into a lethal threat for Sudan’s most vulnerable
Infectious diseases spreading due to lack of clean water, food: Gaza doctor
8,813 views Jul 19, 2025 #GazaStarvation #InfectiousDiseases #GazaWar
Dr Khaleel al-Deqran, spokesperson of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, joins Al Jazeera’s live and talks about the worsening starvation crisis in the Strip.
Al-Deqran told Al Jazeera that infectious diseases, such as meningitis, are spreading due to a lack of clean water, food and medicine.
“Survivors [of Israeli attacks] are living within the ruins of their destroyed homes amid unhealthy conditions and a total absence of hygiene. As a result, their immune systems have been deeply impacted,” he said.
“It is really dire, it is catastrophic,” al-Deqran said of the overall situation.
“The whole world must act now to salvage what is left of the Gaza Strip.”
Meningitis cases surge among Gaza’s children as Israeli blockade fuels health crisis
9,121 views Jul 14, 2025 #Meningitis #IsraelGazaWar #GazaWar
Mexico confirms more than 3,000 measles infections, largest outbreak in decades
4,597 views Jul 9, 2025 #AlJazeeraEnglish #Measles #MexicoNews
Childhood vaccines: Lack of food and medicine threatens Gaza’s youngest
2,218 views Apr 25, 2025 #AlJazeeraEnglish #GazaHealthCrisis #VaccinesForChildren
Doctors recommend multiple rounds of vaccines for babies and children to keep them healthy as they grow.
But inoculation shots are becoming harder to find in Gaza,
and health officials warn a lack of vaccination is putting vulnerable lives at risk.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum has this report from the front lines of a growing crisis.
Risk of polio outbreak: Israeli blockade halts vaccination campaign
6,600 views Apr 11, 2025 #Polio #AlJazeeraEnglish #Vaccination
Urgent concerns arise as Gaza’s fourth round of polio vaccinations faces delays due to Israel’s blockade. Over 600,000 children remain unvaccinated, risking paralysis and chronic disabilities amidst deteriorating health and sanitation systems. Families express fear for their children’s safety as vaccine access is denied, jeopardizing a crucial campaign to prevent the spread of polio.
Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al Khalili reports from Gaza City.
US reports first measles death since 2015
2,285 views Feb 27, 2025 #RobertFKennedyJr #Measles #Texas
The US has recorded its first measles death in a decade.
The victim was a child in Texas who was not vaccinated.
The number of cases in the state has doubled in the last week – raising concerns that the highly contagious disease is making a resurgence.
Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey reports from New York.
Cholera in Angola: Cases spread to 21 provinces across the country
2,775 views Feb 7, 2025 #AlJazeeraEnglish #CholeraOutbreak #CholeraCases
Angola is struggling to contain a cholera outbreak that’s killed 65 people in a month.
The first cases were detected in the capital in early January.
Since then it’s spread to six of the country’s 21 provinces.
Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports.
Mental health crisis amongst Gaza children ‘unparalleled and unprecedented’: Analysis
7,054 views Jan 13, 2025 #GazaWar #GazaStrip #AlJazeeraEnglish
UNICEF says that nearly all of Gaza’s 1.1 million children need mental health and psychosocial support amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment, displacement and dire living conditions.
Children suffer from nightmares, anxiety and paralyzing fear due to air strikes and the loss of family members.
Many become aggressive, withdrawn, or stop speaking.
The United Nations estimates that at least 19,000 Palestinian children have been orphaned since the war began.
Mental health experts caution that the scars inflicted on these young minds could persist for generations.
Liz Allcock is the head of protection at Medical Aid for Palestinians. She calls the situation “an unprecedented crisis” in Gaza, where children had already been traumatized even before the war.
Suffering of children: War impacting mental health of Palestinian children
21,547 views Jan 3, 2025 #GazaWar #AlJazeeraEnglish #IsraelHamasWar
A recent study by the Community Training Centre for Crisis Management paints a devastating picture: 96% of Gaza’s children believe their death is imminent. For children like Leith, life is unrecognizable from what it was before the war.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reports from Deir Al Balah.
Low risk to the public from h5n1 virus: Expert
3,429 views Dec 19, 2024 #H5N1 #VirusOutbreak #BirdFlu
Doctor Colin Butter, Associate Professor of Bio-Veterinary Science at the University of Lincoln, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Lincoln. He stated that while the situation is extremely concerning for the patients and their families, the risk to the general public remains low. Butter explained that the strain of H5N1 is known to be aggressive in people, but infections typically occur through direct contact with birds, such as chickens, rather than human-to-human transmission.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett joins live from the White House. She says there is concern surrounding the new virus, particularly with a new administration set to take office next month.
‘On the worst days, we’ve seen less than 10’ aid trucks a day enter Gaza: Analysis
6,413 views Nov 13, 2024 #IsraelHamasWar #Israel #IsraelWar
A group of eight humanitarian organizations says Israel has failed to meet Washington’s demands for increased humanitarian access to Gaza. Last month the Biden administration gave Israel a 30-day deadline to get 350 aid trucks into Gaza every day. Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo reports from the UN headquarters in New York.
Alicia Phillips Mandaville, chief operating officer at the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), has said that aid is not getting into the Gaza Strip “at the levels that we need to see to meet really basic human needs”.
‘Extremely grave situation’: OXFAM warns famine imminent in northern Gaza
14,882 views Nov 10, 2024 #IsraelHamasWar #Israel #IsraelWar
Palestinians across Gaza are struggling to cope with almost no food due to Israel’s continued blockade on humanitarian supplies. People are lining up for what little food does get in. A committee of global experts has warned famine is imminent in northern Gaza, and action is needed within days to avert a catastrophe. Mahmoud Alsaqqa is Oxfam’s Food Security and Livelihood Lead in Gaza and he says many people are at risk of dying from hunger and malnutrition.
Oxfam’s Mahmoud al-Saqqa warns of critical food shortage, limited aid amid Israeli strikes on Gaza
7,672 views Oct 28, 2024 #IsraelHamasWar #Israel #AlJazeeraEnglish
Disease X: Are we ready for the next killer pandemic? | Flatten the Curve | EP 2
7,886 views Oct 17, 2024 #coronavirus #diseasex #disease
Watch EP1: • Can a pandemic treaty end vaccine ine…
COVID-19 killed seven million people and brought the planet to a standstill.
Five years since it was discovered, our greatest disease experts say far worse pandemics are imminent and the world is unprepared.
Not enough research has been done into many of the organisms that cause infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization is particularly concerned about Disease X, an unknown pathogen that could cause a catastrophic outbreak.
Societal apathy and anti-vaccination attitudes have skyrocketed due to a tide of conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Episode 2 of Flatten the Curve examines the challenges in pandemic-proofing our world from Disease X.
Credits:
Presenter and Series Producer: Drew Ambrose
Supervising Producer: Nick Olle
Associate Producer: Medhavi Arora
Producers: Sophie Pizzimenti, Siwaporn Kingston, Paula Dupraz-Dobias
Translations: Pauline Caclin
Cinematographer and Drone Operator: Lee Ali
Production Manager: Susanna Low
Digital Producer: Susan Kim
Color Grading: Gazi Nela
Archive: Shella Costales
Opening Titles: The Bureau
Theme Music: Vicki Hansen
Footage courtesy of: University of Oxford
Picture Editor: Badrul Hisham
Executive Producer: Sharon Roobol
Palestinians in Gaza face asbestos danger from war rubble | Al Jazeera Newsfeed
1,520 views Oct 15, 2024 #Aljazeeraenglish #News
Nigeria cholera outbreak: Infections are 300% higher this year than in 2022
707 views Oct 11, 2024 #AlJazeeraEnglish #ExtremeWeather #DisasterRelief
In this episode: -Alain Uaykani, Al Jazeera journalist
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li and Ashish Malhotra with Amy Walters, Hisham Abu Salah, Hagir Saleh, Duha Mosaad, Shraddha Joshi, and Natasha Del Toro, in for Malika Bilal.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.
Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Israeli attacks in Gaza kill 35 people as polio vaccinations continue
6,982 views Sep 4, 2024 #UNRWA #Polio #AlJazeeraEnglish
Israeli forces have killed at least 35 people across Gaza, according to Palestinian officials, as brief and partial pauses in fighting in central Gaza have allowed medics to conduct a further day of polio vaccinations for children. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reports from Deir al Balah.
Mpox vaccines are expected to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi this week. The WHO says 230,000 doses will be dispatched to the most affected areas. The distribution has been delayed for weeks because of logistical problems. including sourcing for funding. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it needs 10 million doses across Africa to combat the outbreak. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi reports.
Polio in tent camp for the displaced: Child infected with polio cannot walk nor crawl
2,178 views Sep 2, 2024 #Palestine #Gaza #UnitedNations
Polio vaccination programme ‘imperative’ in Gaza: UNICEF
2,340 views Sep 1, 2024 #UNICEF #Palestine #Gaza
First children in Gaza given polio vaccines a day before planned UN rollout.
2,618 views Sep 1, 2024 #Gaza #PolioVaccination #HealthCampaign
The fact that the “international community is begging Israel to vaccine children tells you to what extent this war has become immoral and genocidal”, Dr Tamer Qarmout, an associate professor in public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera.
Rather than allow temporary pauses for polio vaccinations, he said Israel’s war on Gaza needs to end he said. “The health sector in Gaza has been systematically destroyed and targeted,” he said, adding that a three-day pause “will never be enough to vaccinate 30 or 40 percent of Gaza’s population, which are young and children”.
He described it as “a sick joke by the Israelis to say, we offer you three days to vaccine children, knowing that the entire health sector has been destroyed” with no clinics and “no basic conditions whatsoever to provide this vaccine.”
WHO says Israel agrees to 3 days of pause in fighting for polio campaign in Gaza
9,179 views Aug 30, 2024 #IsraelHamasWar #IsraelWar #Polio
On July 30, the Health Ministry in Gaza declared the Palestinian territory to be a “polio epidemic zone”, blaming the reappearance of the virus on Israel’s 10-month military offensive and the resulting destruction of health facilities. Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey joins us live from the United Nations.
10-month-old boy is Gaza’s first confirmed polio case | Al Jazeera Newsfeed
4,517 views Aug 29, 2024 #Aljazeeraenglish #News
DR Congo no longer expects to receive mpox vaccines this week
1,401 views Aug 28, 2024 #mpoxOutbreak #mpox #DRCongo
WHO Africa chief on mpox and the continent’s health crises | Talk to Al Jazeera
4,806 views Aug 26, 2024 #mpox #aljazeeraenglish #pandemic
Pakistan prepares for mpox threat with isolation wards, screenings amid healthcare strain concerns
7,786 views Aug 21, 2024 #AlJazeeraEnglish #Pakistan #PublicHealthEmergency
Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Centre, originally established for COVID-19, is now focused on monitoring the mpox virus. The government is taking the threat seriously, with hospitals setting up isolation wards and airport screenings in place.
Despite financial challenges, authorities claim they are prepared to manage the virus, although experts warn that a major outbreak could place severe strain on the already overburdened healthcare system. Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder reports from Islamabad.
DRC still awaits vaccines as mpox spreads.
1,691 views
Aug 21, 2024 #MpoxOutbreak #VaccineAccess #WHOResponse
4,748 views
Aug 20, 2024 #Aljazeeraenglish #News
The Philippines has detected its first case of mpox this year—in a man with no history of traveling outside the country. The virus has spread to several countries since the current outbreak began last year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. David Munkley, the World Vision Director in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Goma.
What risks does the mpox virus pose? | Inside Story
50,717 views
Aug 19, 2024 #GlobalHealth #DRCongo #Sweden
The Mpox virus triggers the World Health Organization’s highest state of alert. Democratic Republic of Congo has reported the majority of cases. But infections have been recorded in Sweden and Pakistan. So, who’s at risk? And is the world prepared for another global health emergency? Presenter: Sohail Rahman
Africa Mpox emergency: More than 500 people have died since start of year
4,625 views
Aug 18, 2024 #aljazeera #Africa #al
Gaza’s first polio case confirmed: UN appeals for ceasefire to rollout vaccination plan
8,397 views
Aug 18, 2024 #IsraelHamasWar #KhanYounis #IsraelWar
Mpox cases confirmed in Europe, Asia amid global ‘public health emergency’
WHO declares global public health emergency
3,123 views
Aug 15, 2024 #WHOAlert #GlobalHealthEmergency #mpoxVirus
The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the mpox virus that’s spreading in Africa. This is the highest alert level the WHO can designate. The virus has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda. AL Jazeera’s Michael Appel reports.
WHO calls emergency meeting to discuss jump in mpox cases from DRC
33,046 views
Aug 9, 2024 #WHO #MpoxOutbreak #DRC
A surge in the number of cases of mpox in Africa is alarming health chiefs. The infectious disease has been detected in 10 countries on the continent – including the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has the most cases. The World Health Organization has called an emergency meeting to determine if the outbreak constitutes a global emergency. Al Jazeera’s Victoria Gatenby reports.
Without a ceasefire for vaccines, polio could spread throughout the region: WHO specialist
2.346,764 views
The UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate a mass polio vaccination campaign for 600,000 children under the age of eight, following the detection of polio in the enclave’s wastewater. WHO polio specialist Hamid Jafari warned that without a ceasefire and adequate freedom of movement for healthcare workers, the risk of a polio outbreak in Gaza and the region is “very high.” Jafari emphasized that the disease could spread rapidly, posing a direct threat to Gaza’s children and potentially leading to a public health emergency in Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and other nearby countries.
11,650 views
Aug 5, 2024 #Palestine #Gaza #GazaHealthCrisis
The United Nations is warning of what it calls a ‘frightening increase’ in Hepatitis A infections among Palestinian children in Gaza. It’s reported 40,000 cases since the start of the war, compared to 85 in the 10 months before the conflict began. Health facilities are struggling to cope.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reports from Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, Gaza.
Gaza health officials declare polio ‘epidemic’ as virus spreads | Al Jazeera Newsfeed
3,295 views
Aug 1, 2024 #Aljazeeraenglish #News
A polio ‘epidemic’ is sweeping through Gaza according to local health officials. The disease is easily prevented through vaccination, but Israel’s war has made that difficult.
19,285 views
Jul 31, 2024 #IsraelHamasWar #Polio #Israel
Children in Gaza are suffering from body sores and infections due to poor hygiene in overcrowded tent camps. Lack of cleaning supplies, destroyed sanitation systems, and scarce water exacerbate the spread of disease.
The health crisis is dire, with a polio epidemic and increasing bacterial infections. Israeli attacks have worsened conditions, killing many children and leaving survivors vulnerable to famine and disease. Al Jazeera’s Michael Appel reports.
Dr Mukesh Kapila was the emergencies director for the World Health Organizaton as well as a Medical Doctor. He is now professor emeritus of Global Health & Humanitarian Affairs at University of Manchester. He joins us live from Geneva to discuss the latest updates.
Polio epidemic declared in Gaza in latest sign of worsening health crisis
14,567 views
Jul 30, 2024 #Palestine #Gaza #GazaDisplacment
Polio epidemic declared in Gaza.
Where is The World Health Organisation?
Poliovirus was eradicated in 1999 & 2020.
Israel has a #BSL-4 highest level.
Israel Institute for Biological Research.
The institute is widely suspected of being involved in developing chemical and biological weapons.
Gaza’s health ministry has declared a polio epidemic across the Palestinian enclave, blaming Israel’s devastating military offensive for the spread of the deadly virus. In a statement on Telegram, the ministry on Monday said the situation “poses a health threat to the residents of Gaza and neighbouring countries” – the latest sign of a worsening public health emergency caused by Israel’s genocidal war since October.
Calling the epidemic a “setback” to the global polio eradication programme, the ministry called for an “immediate intervention to end the [Israeli] aggression and find radical solutions” to lack of potable water and personal hygiene, damaged sewage networks and removal of tonnes of rubbish and solid waste. On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was sending more than one million polio vaccines to Gaza to be administered over the coming weeks to prevent children from being infected after the virus was detected in sewage samples.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reports from Deir Al Balah in Central Gaza. Margaret Harris is the spokesperson for World Health Organization. She joins us live from Geneva to discuss the latest developments.
Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) is an Israeli research and development laboratory [1] It is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office
26,596 views
Jul 7, 2024 #StopTheWar #GazaUnderAttack #Gaza
Infectious diseases are spreading at an alarming rate in Gaza, exacerbated by nine months of ongoing conflict. The war has decimated medical facilities and severely compromised sanitation systems. The situation is further deteriorated by the lack of clean water and the scarcity of basic hygiene products such as soap and shampoo. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reports from Deir Al Balah in central Gaza.
Diseases spread in Gaza amid water and sewage crisis
16,835 views
Jul 3, 2024 #Palestine #Gaza #GazaDisplacment
A lack of clean water and sanitation combined with the heat of summer is fuelling the spread of infectious diseases.
It’s putting additional pressure on the few hospitals still able to offer services.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reports from Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, Palestine.
