Global health authorities delivered assessments on Friday indicating that the public health emergency in Central Africa is advancing at an unprecedented pace. The World Health Organization confirmed that if community transmission remains unchecked and regional supply chains continue to face disruptions, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak will surpass all previous death tolls. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that the epidemic’s current path risks exceeding the devastating 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which claimed more than 11,000 lives.

According to official figures through August 7, the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has resulted in 1,916 fatalities and confirmed 4,209 cases. This marks an increase of 29 deaths compared to the 1,887 reported in the previous update. Health authorities also reported 595 patients currently receiving treatment in isolation, while 828 individuals have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

Chad’s health authorities have confirmed that an acute waterborne health emergency has resulted in 13 deaths since official public declarations were made late last month. Updated surveillance data from the Ministry of Public Health of Chad reveal that epidemiological monitoring indicates a cholera outbreak has claimed 13 lives, raising the total confirmed and suspected cases to 239 across the country. The official statistics show a nationwide case fatality rate of 5.4 percent, which significantly surpasses international public health standards for managing emergency outbreaks.

In 2022, obesity was associated with 9,509 fatalities in Belgium, accounting for 8.2 percent of the country’s overall death toll, according to fresh data from the Belgian public health institute Sciensano. This marks the first occasion on which public health researchers in Belgium have systematically measured deaths directly linked to a high body mass index (BMI). The report indicates that weight-related health issues caused more than one death every hour across the nation. The data also show that excess BMI led to over 150,000 years of life lost across all age groups within a single year.

EU health groups seek binding heat protection as Europe strengthens climate resilience planning. HEAL emphasizes that national Heat Health Action Plans should incorporate clear, achievable objectives aimed at shielding populations from climate-related dangers, especially extreme heat. Prioritization should be given to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions. The organization also draws attention to populations facing social and economic hardships. Furthermore, HEAL urges the EU to allocate funding towards health and climate resilience initiatives within the framework of the bloc’s 2028 to 2034 long-term budget. The Standing Committee of European Doctors, known as CPME, has also pressed for immediate action regarding heat-health planning throughout Europe. It calls on authorities at the EU, national, and local levels to develop, put into practice, and routinely update comprehensive strategies. CPME points out that extreme heat can exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, leading to higher premature mortality rates, especially among vulnerable populations. The group of physicians has separately advocated for binding EU-wide targets related to climate resilience and health, including national adaptation objectives. Focus on Prevention and Readiness in Heat-Health Strategies Updated guidance from WHO/Europe on Heat-Health Action Plans was released on June 11, 2026, identifying extreme heat as a critical threat to public health. The framework covers eight key areas: governance, warning systems, at-risk groups, communication, health system preparedness, exposure mitigation, surveillance, and evaluation. It provides a structured approach for national,

Moderna begins human testing of a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine during the DR Congo outbreak. The research will be conducted at three locations in Canada, enrolling approximately 80 healthy adults. The primary objectives are to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immune response induced by the vaccine. Because this is a Phase 1 study, it will not establish whether the vaccine prevents infection, as the focus is on early safety data. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has allocated up to $50 million to support preclinical development, the clinical trial itself, and the production of additional research doses. As of July 30, WHO reported 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths in DR Congo. By that date, at least 651 patients had recovered. Updated figures provided by CEPI on August 4 indicated the number of infections had surpassed 3,800, with death tolls exceeding 1,700. Cases have been reported in 49 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo provinces. Recent infections have been documented in 33 health zones, with Ituri accounting for 88% of all confirmed cases. Vaccine gap highlighted by outbreak On May 17, WHO declared the outbreak an international public health emergency. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo since the virus was first identified in 1976. The ongoing epidemic involves the Bundibugyo species, which