💉 Rwanda's Marburg outbreak fades; Diabetes refuses to die down; Africa gets a new digihealth marketplace
#543 | CO2 is all the rage right now; Malaria becomes drug-resistant; An ode to women's health
Hello, and welcome back to The Kable to celebrate the conclusion of yet another week in which the world as we know it moved inexorably closer to a drastically reshaped future. But more on that later.
In good news from Africa, Rwanda hasn't reported any Marburg cases for two weeks and the last patient has been discharged from care. If these numbers hold for five more weeks, we can call time on this outbreak which, at last count, reported 15 deaths from 66 cases.
The other outbreak that has been ravaging Africa lately, mpox, doesn't seem to be abating just yet, though. Since the emergency was declared, cases in children in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi have gone up by over 200%. A vaccine shortage, meanwhile, is hampering DRC's response. There is a teeny-tiny but of good news. The Africa CDC authorised a new PCR test for mpox, one that was fully developed in Africa, made by Moroccan company Moldiag. The agency said that all African countries will be moving to this test. Elsewhere, Russia says it has developed a vaccine for mpox, and it is apparently in demand in Africa.
In a historic rollout, Chad launched a triple vaccine roll-out, including immunisations for pneumococcal disease, malaria and rotavirus.
The never-ending pandemic treaty talks, which were set to conclude by December, will now, for sure, be completed by May next year, says the WHO.
In a harbinger of what the future holds for us, nearly 2 million people in one province in Pakistan have fallen ill in a month, thanks to air pollution mainly.
Our favourite topic for a very long time is back again. Not that it had gone anywhere. So anyway, updates: France has upped its bird flu risk level to high, in Canada, dozens of poultry farms are dealing with bird flu outbreaks, and Canada also reported its first-ever case of bird flu in humans, in a teen with no known exposure to birds or cows and is now reported to be in critical condition. Medical tests suggest that the bird flu strain this person is infected with is not the same as the one that has been infecting cows lately.
And finally, the monkeys that escaped from a research lab in the US last week have been "recaptured" except for eight holdouts who, we're given to understand, are still plotting world domination.
Stories Of The Week
Africa first. In the past 18 months, the Africa CDC has not let up one bit on its quest to make Africa self-reliant and independent when it comes to the continent's health needs. The latest advancement on this path is its launch of a pan-continent digital health platform. The platform - The Africa HealthTech Marketplace - was launched at the Africa Health-Tech Summit 2024 in partnership with the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) and highlights trusted digital health solutions, primarily from African startups, covering everything from telemedicine platforms to health data management tools. It aims to increase visibility and help users make informed choices. The platform also encourages a community atmosphere, where users can share comments, ask questions, and provide feedback on the various solutions. Well, well-begun is half done. Now, let's hope this platform actually becomes what Africa needs.
(Africa CDC)
Eat more sugar. A new study published in The Lancet reveals a staggering rise in global diabetes cases, with over 800 million adults now living with the disease - nearly double previous estimates. Since 1990, diabetes prevalence has surged from 7% to 14%, driven by a sharp increase in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where healthcare access is often limited. Even more troubling, more than half of adults over 30 with diabetes - around 445 million people - are not receiving any treatment, exposing them to severe health risks. In some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, only 5-10% of people with diabetes have access to care. The WHO says we need immediate action to counter this trend with health policies that promote nutritious diets, regular physical activity, and robust healthcare systems. But will the processed foods industry worldwide back any such intervention?
(WHO)
Malaria resurgent. Not all resistance is good: scientists have found signs of resistance to artemisinin, a crucial malaria drug, in African children with severe malaria. This is especially concerning, as Africa accounts for the majority of malaria deaths worldwide, and children are the most vulnerable. In a study in Uganda, about 10% of children showed delayed responses to the drug, which usually acts quickly. Researchers also found genetic mutations in the malaria parasite that may be behind this resistance. Additionally, some children had recurring infections, hinting that other drugs in the treatment may also be less effective. While all the children in the study eventually recovered, the findings raise alarms about the future of malaria treatment in Africa, and around the world.
(JAMA)
Measles? More like Pleaseles keep up those vaccines! In a week where Brazil was recertified as measles-free by PAHO comes the news that in 2023, measles cases surged to over 10 million globally, marking a 20% increase from the previous year and exposing major gaps in vaccine coverage. According to a joint study by WHO and the CDC, only 83% of children received their first measles vaccine dose, with just 74% receiving the crucial second dose—both below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. This lack of coverage led to large outbreaks in 57 countries, with nearly half of them in Africa. Tragically, measles claimed over 107,000 lives last year, mostly among young children. The good news is that vaccine hesitation and denial are on the rise, fuelled by misinformation, meaning measles could keep climbing up the ranks this year.
(WHO)
Bottom line
Nature for the win. Nature is stepping up where humans have struggled: scientists have discovered that Kenyan lesser mealworms can eat polystyrene, a common type of plastic, thanks to bacteria in their guts that break it down. Unlike expensive, pollutant-heavy recycling methods, these tiny “plastic-eaters” can naturally tackle stubborn waste. The researchers tested these mealworms with different diets and found they broke down polystyrene more efficiently when they also had some nutritious food, showing potential for a practical approach to handling plastic waste. Instead of releasing mealworms in landfills, the research team plans to use the microbes and enzymes they produce to tackle plastic pollution on a larger scale in a safe, sustainable way.
(The Conversation)
CO2 on the rise. Despite Earth’s record-breaking heat and intensifying climate impacts, humanity is on track to release an astounding 41.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere this year - 330 million tons more than in 2023. This increase is driven mainly by rising emissions in countries like China and India, where coal use and economic growth keep carbon output high. With the world already at 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, scientists warn that we are dangerously close to surpassing the 1.5°C threshold, after which climate impacts could become significantly more severe and irreversible. To avoid further escalation, scientists say that global carbon emissions must be reduced by 42% by 2030, yet the necessary progress remains elusive. At least when humanity ends, we will have plastic-eating bugs to clean up some of our residue.
(Global Carbon Budget)
Long reads
Minding the gap. Much has been written about how women's health has received step-daughterly treatment through history and how that has left women around the world struggling for treatments even for illnesses that should be easily curable. However, not enough has been written yet. Over the next week, BioWorld hopes to write a little more on how to bridge this gap. A series well worth your time.
(BioWorld)
Crime of the century? Human Rights Watch released a report on the impunity with which war crimes are being committed in Gaza. One line that should be enough for you to make it mandatory reading: “The Israeli government cannot claim to be keeping Palestinians safe when it kills them along escape routes, bombs so-called safe zones, and cuts off food, water, and sanitation."
(HRW)
Oh, and Gopal Nair doesn't want you to see this.