cases

FILE - A man works on a computer, cyber codes cascading over him, in this imaginative illustration dated May 13, 2017. Today, a startling report reveals a troubling spike in the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children in Kenya. Consider young Winnie Muyam. Digital platforms were once her gateway to a vibrant social life and a universe of entertainment. Last year, everything changed for the 17-year-old. She started receiving messages from strangers, at first innocuous, then alarmingly intrusive. "They began by…

With the addition of two newly confirmed cases, Kenya's mpox tally now stands at a concerning 33. It's a number that keeps health officials on their toes, perhaps reaching for the antacid more often these days. But where do these cases come from? As of this Friday, they hail from the counties of Kericho and Taita Taveta, marking the virus's unwelcome trek across 12 counties. Mary Muriuki, the unflappable principal secretary from the Health Ministry, delivered this sobering reality check during a recent press…

NAIROBI, Kenya - In a rather unwelcome update, Kenya announced the confirmation of two additional mpox cases this past Friday. That pushes the nation's total count to a less-than-comforting number of 33. Picture this: in a brief yet sobering press release, Mary Muriuki, who helms the reins as principal secretary at the Health Ministry, informed the public. It’s a tale of viral spread across two picturesque locales, Kericho and Taita Taveta. These counties are now unwittingly part of a broader, unnerving tapestry spanning…

Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is on the rise across Africa, and health officials are sounding the alarm about the risks of becoming too relaxed. According to a recent update from the World Health Organization (WHO), numerous regions on the continent are grappling with outbreaks linked to several virus variants, or clades. As of December 1, 2024, WHO reported that over 13,000 cases have been confirmed in 20 distinct nations. This report sheds light on the fact that different clades have different modes of transmission. For…

Rwanda’s Health Minister, Sabin Nsanzimana, recently announced some promising news regarding the country's battle against the Marburg virus. Since the outbreak first emerged in September, there’s been a notable decrease in the rate of new infections, a sign that has the nation hopeful. Nsanzimana described this trend as "very encouraging." Reflecting on the initial phase of the outbreak, he mentioned, "The first two weeks felt somewhat stagnant; we were still unearthing the nature of this virus." However, he expressed…

Zimbabwe has recently confirmed its inaugural two cases of mpox, coming on the heels of Zambia’s declaration of its own first instance of the disease. While the specific strains of the virus in Zimbabwe remain unidentified, it appears that the individuals who tested positive either traveled to or made visits from Tanzania and South Africa. Just days prior, Zambia reported its initial mpox case, although the particulars about the viral strain were not disclosed. The health ministry of Zambia revealed that a 32-year-old…

Law enforcement agencies across six European nations, along with Interpol, have initiated the reopening of investigations into the tragic cases of 46 women whose lives were abruptly taken or whose deaths remain shrouded in mystery. This effort aims to finally identify the remains of these individuals, according to statements from the international police organization. “Our mission is clear: we strive to provide closure to families and uphold justice for the victims,” declared Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock in an…

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reports that fortifying bouillon cubes in Nigeria with iron, folic acid, zinc, and vitamin B12 could prevent up to 16,6 million cases of anemia and save 11,000 children from neural tube defect-related deaths by 2050. The foundation calls on world leaders to increase investments in global health, focusing on child nutrition and well-being amid the growing climate crisis. The World Health Organization estimates that 148 million children are stunted, while 45 million are affected by…

Several countries around Asia and the Pacific that are experiencing their first major waves of the coronavirus rushed to impose severe restrictions, a year and a half into a pandemic that many initially did well. Against the rapidly increasing number of infections in recent months, authorities in countries such as Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam announced or…

In Senegal, cases tested positive for Covid-19 are soaring with 121 new cases registered on Tuesday, July 6, a positivity rate of almost 10%. Authorities warn of "a third wave". During the last Council of Ministers, on Monday 5 July, the head of state demanded that the restrictions on the meetings be limited. The Ministry of Health still trusts vaccination to cope with the pandemic, but the doses are…