Public Health News - Latest Updates & Headlines
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Syndrome: Mumbai reports first death, Total 8 deaths in Maharashtra
Mumbai, February 12,: A 53-year-old patient died at the Nair Hospital in Mumbai of the Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Wednesday. With this the number of fatalities from the rare neurological disorder has gone up to 8 in Maharashtra.
Cholera outbreak kills over 110 people in Angola
Luanda, Feb 12: Angola has recorded 3,402 cholera cases and 114 deaths since the outbreak began in early January, according to the Health Ministry's daily press release.
GBS outbreak: Mumbai reports first death
Mumbai, Feb 12: A 53-year-old man, a resident of Wadala, who working as a ward attendant at the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation's VN Desai Hospital, died of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) at Nair Hospital. This is the first death reported in Mumbai due to GBS.
192 Guillain-Barre Syndrome cases detected in Maharashtra, death toll rises to 7
Pune, February 12: Maharashtra's Health Department on Tuesday reported a Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS) outbreak. As of now, 192 suspected patients have been identified, with 172 diagnosed with GBS and 7 deaths recorded.
Maharashtra: 167 Guillain-Barre Syndrome cases detected
Pune, February 11: The Maharashtra Health Department on Monday reported that a total of 192 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) have been detected in the state so far, with 167 confirmed cases, confirmed the Maharashtra Health Department.
UK: PM Keir Starmer becomes first serving PM to take public HIV test
London, February 11: Keir Starmer became the first serving UK Prime Minister and G7 leader to take a "public HIV test," the UK Prime Minister's Office shared on Monday.
WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund
New Delhi, February 10: The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region on Monday thanked Nepal's Ministry of Health and Populationfor contributing Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 1,500,000, approximately USD 11,000, to the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF), a unique funding mechanism to support Member countries in the Region prepare for and respond to health emergencies, an official statement said.
Gujarat: Union Health Minister kickstarts initiative to combat lymphatic filariasis
Gandhinagar, Feb 10: In a step towards eradicating Lymphatic Filariasis (commonly known as Elephantiasis), Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda virtually launched the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program on Monday in the presence of Gujarat Health Minister Rishikesh Patel and senior health officials.
Nadda launches National Mass Drug Administration Round for Lymphatic Filariasis elimination
New Delhi, February 10: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday launched the National Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Round for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis across 13 states.
Lymphatic Filariasis: Centre rolls out mass drug administration campaign in 13 endemic states
New Delhi, Feb 10: Reiterating its commitment to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda on Monday launched the annual nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign in 13 identified endemic States.
Mpox deaths in Africa exceed 100 since beginning of 2025
Addis Ababa, Feb 8: A total of 107 people have died in the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa since the beginning of 2025, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
South Sudan declares mpox outbreak with first case confirmed
Juba, Feb 8: South Sudan confirmed its first mpox case, with authorities pledging heightened vigilance to prevent further transmission.
New York live poultry markets shut down for five days to rein in bird flu
New York, Feb 8: New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that live poultry markets in New York City, and Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties would be shut down for five days to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Flu cases surge across US
Los Angeles, Feb 8: Flu cases are surging across the United States, forcing some schools to cancel classes or pivot to remote learning.
Union Health Ministry provides technical, financial support to States/UTs to strengthen public healthcare system
New Delhi, February 7: Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system including recruitment of health care professionals in rural areas and to bridge the infrastructure gaps in rural healthcare facilities based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission, according to a release.
TB Mukt Bharat campaign screens 5.63 cr people, notifies 1.59 lakh new TB patients: Nadda
New Delhi, Feb 7: The health ministry's 100-day intensified campaign on tuberculosis Mukt Bharat has screened 5.63 crore vulnerable people and notified 1.59 lakh new TB patients from 347 districts, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda in Parliament on Friday.
Romania faces surge in respiratory infections, flu cases
Bucharest, Feb 7: Romania has registered a 'record' number of respiratory infections and flu cases, exceeding 170,000 nationwide between January 27 and February 2, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila announced.
Study shows how PM2.5 raises health, economic costs for elderly
New Delhi, Feb 7: While air pollution is becoming a growing health issue worldwide, a new study focussed on its health and economic costs in the elderly.
Number of suspected cases of GBS rises to 166 with 130 confirmed cases: Maharashtra Health Department
Pune, February 4: The total number of suspected cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has risen to 166, with 130 confirmed cases, according to a press release from the Maharashtra Health Department on Saturday.
Bill with provisions for penalty for pan masala spitting to be passed in Bengal Assembly
Kolkata, Feb 4: Tough days are ahead for those who are habitual offenders in West Bengal of spitting chewing tobacco or pan masala in public places as a Bill will be introduced in the forthcoming Budget Assembly session with provisions for a hefty financial penalty for such offences.
Zambia to launch vaccination campaign in cholera-affected town
Lusaka, Feb 4: Health authorities in Zambia will commence an oral cholera vaccination campaign in Chililabombwe Town in Copperbelt Province currently hard-hit by a cholera outbreak, a senior government official said.
Union Health Minister Nadda chairs meeting on GBS condition in Maharashtra
New Delhi, February 3: Union Health Minister JP Nadda chaired a high-level video conference meeting on Monday with Maharashtra's key health and medical ministers to review the situation regarding the outbreak of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in the state, as per a release.
Maha reports 163 suspected GBS patients, five deaths
Mumbai, Feb 3: The number of suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) patients has increased to 163 with five suspected deaths in Maharashtra as of Monday.
Over 200 people fell ill due to food poisoning in MP
Bhopal, Feb 3: More than 200 people fell ill due to food poisoning in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district and were rushed to hospitals, police said on Monday.
Cancer accounts for 12 pc of annual deaths in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Feb 3: One hundred and six people out of 100,000 people in Bangladesh suffer from cancer, with the disease currently causing 12 per cent of the total deaths in the country, said a Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) study report released here.
Pakistan kicks off nationwide anti-polio campaign for 2025
Islamabad, Feb 3: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif kicked off a nationwide anti-polio campaign for the year 2025, reaffirming his government's determination to completely eliminate the polio disease from the South Asian country.
85 pc increase in cancer cases, deaths expected by 2050 in S. E Asia: WHO
New Delhi, Feb 3: South-East Asia region is expected to witness an 85 per cent increase in the number of new Cancer cases and deaths, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, ahead of World Cancer Day.
WHO donates over 2000 doses of Ebola trial vaccine to Uganda following new outbreak
Kampala, Feb 1: The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated 2,160 doses of Ebola trial vaccine to Uganda to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine in combating the virus which in the recent outbreak has killed a health worker in Kampala, the country's capital.
Kenya on high alert over Sudan Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda
Nairobi, Feb 1: Kenya's Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance at all entry points across the country following an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in neighbouring Uganda.
PM Modi's push for obesity fight, oil reduction draws praise from medical fraternity
Nagpur February 1: The clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight obesity and reduce oil consumption has received wide support as people from the medical fraternity lauded the message to follow a healthy routine.
Africa CDC calls for immediate action amid escalating health crises across Africa
Addis Ababa, Feb 1: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called for "immediate action" to address the "unprecedented convergence of crises" that threaten to undo the decades of progress in Africa's health security.
Economic Survey calls for strict labelling rules on Ultra-Processed Foods
New Delhi, January 31: The Economic Survey has emphasized the need for stringent front-of-the-pack labelling rules on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to protect the mental and physical well-being of people in the country.
Conflict in Congo hampers monkeypox fight: Africa CDC
Addis Ababa, Jan 31: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned that the worsening humanitarian situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) hampers the fight against the spread of monkeypox in the region.
Collective action needed to fight malnutrition, reduce infant and maternal mortality: Gujarat minister
Gandhinagar, Jan 31: Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Friday stressed the need for collective action to curb malnutrition, reduce infant and maternal mortality and eliminate anaemia.
AAP shifts blame as Delhi suffers: Investigation reveals contaminated water, including Kejriwal, Atishi's seats
New Delhi, Jan 31: Water being supplied in several Delhi Assembly constituencies represented by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs is not fit for consumption. “New Delhi, Shahdara, and Kalkaji -- represented by Arvind Kejriwal (former CM), Ram Niwas Goel (Speaker - 2020 & 2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly), and Atishi Marlena (current CM and Water Minister) -- emerge as the epicentres of contamination,” says a report “Citizen's Guide: Decoding Delhi's Water Woes 2025”.
Niger becomes first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis
Niamey, Jan 31: Niger's Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs Garba Hakimi officially declared that the country is free of onchocerciasis.
Romania faces surge in respiratory infections
Bucharest, Jan 31: Romania recorded 133,635 cases of acute respiratory infections and eight flu-related deaths in the week from January 20 to 26, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) announced.
Niger becomes first African country to eliminate onchocerciasis
Niamey, Jan 31: Niger's Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs Garba Hakimi officially declared at a ceremony that the country is free of onchocerciasis.
India making tremendous strides in tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases: Health Ministry
New Delhi, Jan 30: India is making tremendous strides in tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday on the occasion of World NTD Day.
India reported 151 Zika virus disease in 2024, highest in Maharashtra: WHO
New Delhi, Jan 30: India has reported a total of 151 Zika virus disease (ZVD) between January 1 and December 31, 2024, according to the latest update by the World Health Organization (WHO).