The Democratic Republic of Congo received its first shipment of 99,000 mpox vaccine doses on September 5, 2024. The vaccines, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic and donated by the EU, arrived in Kinshasa and are aimed at combating a severe outbreak that led the U.N. to declare a global health emergency. Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba announced plans to target high-affected areas such as Equateur and South Kivu. A second delivery on September 7 will bring the total to 200,000 doses. Congo’s vaccination campaign is set to start on October 8.

Six-year-old John-Henry from the United States, born with a rare heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), joyfully announced he was getting a new heart after waiting six months for a transplant. The Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital patient shared the happy news with staff, saying, "I'm getting a new heart!" John-Henry had undergone multiple surgeries due to his condition, but a heart transplant became his only option. In May 2024, after being placed on the transplant list in December 2023, a donor match was found. John-Henry’s transplant was successful, and he was released from the hospital on August 23.

The FDA has approved a new COVID-19 vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and up. However, experts suggest that healthy individuals who have already been vaccinated or previously infected may want to wait before getting the shot. Immunity from previous vaccines and infections could still offer protection. Those at high risk, like older adults or those with chronic conditions, are encouraged to get the vaccine sooner. The new vaccine targets a recent Omicron variant, but concerns about its effectiveness against future variants remain.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) has been detected in Odisha’s Puri district, leading to the culling of approximately 20,000 chickens in the Pipli and Satyabadi areas over the past three days. The state's health department has ordered increased surveillance to protect human health, emphasizing the virus can spread from infected birds to humans through inhalation, though there's no confirmed human-to-human transmission. Director of Public Health, Nilakantha Mishra, directed Puri’s chief district medical officer to closely coordinate with other departments to monitor any unexplained bird deaths. The culling was initiated after reports of chicken deaths at a poultry farm in Pipli emerged, with 13 state government teams involved in the operation.

Monkeypox is spreading globally, and India's concern grows as the virus reaches Pakistan. Originating in Africa, it has now been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization. Dr. Baset Hakim from Apollo Clinic outlines key safety measures for India: monitor symptoms like fever, rashes, and exhaustion, and take swift action. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets or direct contact with fluids. To stay safe, isolation of infected individuals, covering lesions, and wearing masks are crucial. India must act quickly, as children are particularly vulnerable to severe cases.

The NHS in England will not fund Lecanemab, the first drug shown to slow early-stage Alzheimer's, due to cost concerns, according to NICE. While the drug, licensed by MHRA, demonstrated a 25% reduction in cognitive decline over 18 months, NICE argues that its high cost and required intensive monitoring outweigh the benefits. Approximately 70,000 adults in England were potential candidates. Although available privately, Lecanemab's approval in Great Britain contrasts with the European Medicines Agency's rejection. NICE's final decision will follow a public consultation later this year.

Asia's first confirmed case of the new deadlier mpox Clade 1b strain has been detected in Thailand. The patient, a sixty-six-year-old European man, traveled from Africa to the United Kingdom before landing in Bangkok on August fourteenth. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control confirmed the case after multiple lab tests. Authorities are monitoring forty-three individuals who were in close contact with the patient, showing no symptoms so far. Thailand has detected over eight hundred mpox Clade 2 cases since 2022. India's AIIMS has issued protocols, and the government has directed increased vigilance at airports, ports, and borders.

Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's Europe regional director, has stated that Mpox should not be considered the new Covid. He emphasized that health authorities are equipped to manage its spread effectively. Despite concerns about a new variant, Clade Ib, identified in Sweden and linked to an outbreak in Africa, Kluge assured that decisive actions, including the distribution of vaccines to high-risk areas, could prevent widespread panic and further neglect. His remarks come amid a global alert over Mpox, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts to address the virus without causing unnecessary alarm.

Mpox deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo have risen to over 570, as the country awaits vaccines from the United States and Japan. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba highlighted that the virus, which now affects children more severely, has spread across all 26 provinces. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global public health emergency and urged increased vaccination efforts. Japan has pledged 3.5 million doses, while the U.S. promised 50,000. The new strain, clade 1b, has a mortality rate of 3.6%.

Dr. Ashwin Nandakumar, a Kerala-based doctor, has made a significant discovery in cancer treatment. Along with Dr. Ashwin Jainarayanan and Prof. Michael Dustin, he has identified "attack particles" that can fight cancer, autoimmunity, and infections. Their biotech startup, Granza Bio, has received $7.14 million in funding from Felicis, Refactor, Y Combinator, and others. The investment will support clinical trials and bring their innovative therapeutics to market. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. Granza Bio's research focuses on harnessing the power of the immune system to combat cancer, offering new hope for patients.