What is Nipah virus?

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen carried by fruit bats. It can jump to humans via infected animals or contaminated food (notably raw date palm sap), and it can spread between people through close contact. The World Health Organization lists it as a high-priority pathogen because of its severity and outbreak potential.

Symptoms to watch for

Infection ranges from mild or asymptomatic to severe:

How does it spread?

Nipah reaches humans in three main ways:

No cure, no vaccine

Where has it appeared before?

What it is

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a slow-growing bacterium that primarily targets the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract, and eyes.

Symptoms include pale or reddish skin patches with loss of sensation, thickened nerves, and muscle weakness.

If untreated, it can lead to permanent disabilities, such as deformed hands, feet, or blindness.

Beyond physical effects, leprosy carries a heavy social burden, with affected individuals often facing discrimination and exclusion.

“The stigma can be as debilitating as the disease itself,” says Dr. Erwin Cooreman of the World Health Organization (WHO), which has prioritised eliminating leprosy’s social and medical impacts.

Causes

Leprosy spreads through prolonged, close contact with an untreated infected person through respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth.

It is not transmitted through casual interactions like handshakes, hugs, or shared meals.

The bacterium’s slow replication, taking up to 20 years to manifest symptoms, makes early detection challenging.

Risk factors include malnutrition, poverty, and poor sanitation, which weaken immune responses.

“Where living conditions improve, leprosy tends to vanish within a generation or two,” notes Dr. Paul Saunderson of the American Leprosy Missions, highlighting the link between socio-economic factors and disease prevalence.

History

Leprosy’s history stretches back over 4,000 years, with evidence found in ancient Egyptian skeletons and texts from India and China.

Once widespread, including in medieval Europe, it was feared and misunderstood, leading to the isolation of sufferers in leper colonies.

In Europe, improved nutrition and hygiene largely eradicated the disease by the 19th century, but it persisted in poorer regions.

The introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT) in the 1980s, combining dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine, marked a turning point, curing millions and reducing global cases dramatically. “MDT was a game-changer,” says Saunderson.

“It turned a lifelong sentence into a treatable condition.”

Today’s fight against leprosy

Today, leprosy is reported in all six WHO regions, with South-East Asia accounting for the majority of cases.

In 2023, India, Brazil, and Indonesia each reported over 10,000 new cases, while 12 other countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Nigeria reported 1,000–10,000, per the WHO’s Weekly Epidemiological Record.

Globally, the disease was declared eliminated as a public health problem in 2000 (prevalence below 1 per 10,000 population), but progress has since plateaued.

Egypt aims to eliminate leprosy by 2030 through the launch of its national strategy, which aligns with top international healthcare standards. Counselor Mohamed El-Homsany, spokesperson for the Cabinet, revealed the initiative’s medical, psychological, and social dimensions in an interview.

The strategy includes free, comprehensive care, insurance pensions, and social reintegration programs. As part of reducing stigma, the government plans to rename leprosy clinics as “specialised dermatology clinics.”

Egypt is confident in achieving its goal, building on past successes like the eradication of hepatitis C and malaria.

Disclaimer: The image for the article was AI-generated

Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris has dissolved the existing government, assigning ministry secretaries and undersecretaries to manage affairs until a new cabinet is formed, according to state media SUNA. The decision followed a meeting with outgoing ministers, during which Idris commended their service amid the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

Sudan’s transitional prime minister to form new government after Eid 

Sudan’s transitional Prime Minister Kamil Idris plans to form a new government after Eid al-Adha, with expected military involvement in selecting key sovereign ministers and allocating seats to armed groups that signed the Juba Peace Agreement. Idris dissolved the existing government following a closed meeting in Port Sudan, delegating ministry functions to general secretaries and undersecretaries to maintain essential services. 

Cholera outbreak worsens in Omdurman as isolation centre closes

The health situation in Omdurman, west of Sudan’s capital Khartoum, has deteriorated further after the Federal Ministry of Health closed the hospital’s isolation centre on May 28 due to the rising outbreak of choler a in the area and concerns about disease spread within the facility. 

Sudan’s new prime minister to prioritise national security, unity, and foreign relations

Sudan’s new Prime Minister, Kamil Idris, announced on Sunday, June 1, that his government will prioritise national security and the restoration of state authority. In his first address broadcast on state-run Sudan TV, he emphasised the need for comprehensive national recovery, an inclusive Sudanese-led dialogue, and the rejection of regionalism and racism. He also pledged to strengthen Sudan’s foreign relations, especially within the Arab and African regions, and called on the international community to support the country’s reconstruction. Osman Mirghani, editor-in-chief of Al-Tayyar, described the prime minister’s speech as promising, highlighting Idris’s commitment to inclusive dialogue as a potential foundation for progress.

Cholera deaths decline in Sudan’s Khartoum state as health interventions expand

Sudan’s Health Ministry reported on Monday, June 2, that cholera deaths in Khartoum State decreased to six on Sunday, down from 12 the previous day. A total of 605 cases were recorded in Karrari, Omdurman, and Ombada. The ministry attributed the decline to expanded field clinics, sanitation teams, and targeted health interventions. Last Thursday, the ministry reported 1,375 new cases and 23 deaths in Khartoum and 2,729 infections with 172 deaths nationwide.

Sudan’s new prime minister urges foreign backers to end support for RSF militias

Newly appointed Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris has called on countries supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to halt what he described as “criminal operations”. In an address delivered in Port Sudan on Sunday, Idris stated that national security and state authority depend on defeating the rebellion and dismantling insurgent militias. He urged foreign states to cease support and warned of consequences for those planning, financing, or cooperating in such actions. The Sudanese government has accused the United Arab Emirates, Chad, Libya, and South Sudan of backing the RSF during the ongoing conflict. Sudan’s civil war began on April 15, 2023, when clashes erupted between the military and RSF. More than 24,000 people have been reported killed, with actual figures likely higher.

Formally approved by the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment , the second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance will run from 2025 to 2029.

The plan was first introduced in December 2024 during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, happens when bacteria and other germs become stronger than the drugs meant to kill them.

According to health experts, this could make common infections, surgeries, and even childbirth more dangerous if action isn’t taken.

“This marks another important step in our journey to safeguard the effectiveness of life-saving medicines for future generations,” Dr Claude Muvunyi, Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, told The New Times .

The new strategy builds on Rwanda’s first AMR plan, which ran from 2020 to 2024 but takes a broader approach by focusing not just on human health, but also on animals and the environment.

The plan was developed by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre with help from local groups and international partners, including the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and several health NGOS.

It focuses on raising awareness about AMR, improving hygiene to stop infections, and using antibiotics more carefully in hospitals, farms, and communities.

The plan also pushes for new tools like better tests, vaccines , and treatments.

Rwanda is the first country in Africa to use a tool called the Smart Choice Process to help decide which actions to take. The full plan is expected to cost around $29.6 million.

Officials believe the plan will help protect the country’s health system, reduce the cost of treating drug-resistant infections, and support international goals to make medicine safer and more effective worldwide.

According to the latest figures from IHME Global Burden of Disease and Global Terrorism Database, 74% of global deaths are caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—long-term, often lifestyle-related illnesses that receive relatively little attention in public discourse compared to infectious diseases or violent conflict.

A breakdown of global mortality

The data segments the primary causes of death into three categories:

1. Noncommunicable Diseases (74%)

Leading this category:

This overwhelming majority underscores the need for urgent investment in public health systems, prevention campaigns, and healthier living initiatives to address the rising burden of chronic diseases—particularly in aging populations and increasingly urbanized societies.

2. Infectious diseases (14%)

Despite considerable progress in combating infectious diseases globally, they still represent a significant portion of deaths:

These diseases predominantly affect low- and middle-income countries and remain a top concern for global health organizations working to reduce mortality through vaccination, sanitation, and access to medical care.

3. Injuries, accidents , and other causes (12%)

This category includes both preventable and external factors:

Despite media focus, deaths from war, terrorism, and violence account for only a tiny fraction of global mortality.

A scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Happyness Mpanda, emphasised the importance of proactive measures to contain the disease.

"The only effective control measure is to encourage affected farmers to uproot and destroy all infected banana plants and allow a fallow period before replanting with disease-free banana seedlings," she explained .

To develop a long-term solution, researchers are screening 72 banana varieties from their parental breeding program for BBTV resistance.

"Those found to be resistant will advance to the banana product development phase," Mpanda said.

Initially confined to Kigoma, BBTV has now spread to other regions, causing severe losses for banana farmers.

"While breeding resistant varieties takes time, it is the most sustainable solution. Meanwhile, farmers must uproot and destroy infected banana plants to curb the spread of the disease," Mpanda noted.

BBTV is not just a Tanzanian problem; it has been reported in several African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia.

In 2023, the world saw nearly 62 million deaths, averaging about 7,000 per hour. China led with 1,334 deaths per hour, followed by India with 1,085. Combined, these two countries accounted for almost one-third of all global deaths.

The United States sees about 340 deaths per hour. Factors such as chronic diseases, lifestyle-related health issues, and an ageing population play a significant role in this figure, while Nigeria experiences approximately 305 deaths per hour.

High mortality rates in Nigeria are often linked to infectious diseases, maternal and child health issues, and limited access to quality healthcare. Efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure are critical to reducing these numbers.

Indonesia on the other hand, records around 242 deaths per hour. The country's mortality rate is influenced by factors such as infectious diseases, natural disasters, and healthcare accessibility. Ongoing public health initiatives aim to address these issues.

The declining birth rate and an ageing population contribute to Russia's high mortality rate. The country has about 205 deaths per hour. Additionally, the impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has escalated these issues.

An additional 882 cases and six deaths were reported as of November 2, bringing the death toll to 494.

This is the highest-ever annual dengue death toll in Bangladesh, with 1,705 fatalities reported. 

The figures indicate a rise compared to 281 deaths in 2022 and 179 in 2019.

Meanwhile, local reports indicate that Bangladeshi health authorities are intensifying mosquito control efforts. Officials are conducting anti-larval operations and urging people to clear stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding.

Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms include high fever, severe body pain, vomiting, and skin rashes.

Kamala Harris' ancestral village in Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state, is excited and planning celebrations as she gets closer to potentially becoming the US President. The village has been celebrating her political ascent and hopes for a larger celebration if she wins. Some villagers had hoped for a mention from Harris, but understand that she may not be aware of their excitement as an American, the Hindustan Times reports.

Nipah virus kills 14-year-old

A 14-year-old boy in Kerala, India, who tested positive for the Nipah virus has passed away. The virus is known to be deadly and there is concern about its spread. According to the Times of India , this is the fifth Nipah infection reported in Kerala since 2018. Health minister Veena George said 330 contacts of the boy had been identified so far, with 68 of them being health workers. As many as 101 of his contacts have been classified as high-risk, and seven are under observation at government health facilities. Nipah is a "zoonotic illness" transmitted from animals like pigs and fruit bats to humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) . It can also be transmitted through contaminated food and contact with an infected person.

Thwarted terrorist attack

A fresh terrorist attack was thwarted in Jammu's Rajouri district in the disputed Kashmir region, with one soldier injured. The attack occurred after Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi's visit to discuss the rise in terrorist attacks in the region, according to NDTV . The army has deployed additional troops to combat the increasing threat of terrorism in Jammu. Despite extensive search operations, the attacks continue to occur, resulting in the death of 48 soldiers in the last 32 months.

Anti-TB drug for kids

India has rejected Johnson & Johnson’s patent for a children's version of its anti-TB drug, bedaquiline, paving the way for a cheaper generic version to enter the market. This is expected to make TB treatment more affordable and accessible. According to the Hindustan Times , concerns over the evergreening of patents have led to several such rejections, ensuring the availability of affordable generic medicines. India notified nearly 2.55 million cases of TB last year, with a 64% improvement in the overall notification of TB cases over the last 9 years.

Indian students return from violent-hit Bangladesh

Over 4,500 Indian students have returned home from Bangladesh due to violent clashes that have killed over 100 people. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka and other missions are coordinating the return of Indian nationals and ensuring their safety and security. The total number of Indian nationals in Bangladesh is estimated to be around 15,000, including 8,500 students, the Hindu reports. Law enforcement authorities in Bangladesh have imposed a nationwide curfew as clashes between protesters and police continue.

The U.S. has approved the sale of Basler BT-67 aircraft to Argentina , including logistical support, at an estimated cost of $143 million. The sale aims to improve Argentina's security and national defence without affecting the military balance in the region.  The Latin American nation is seeking several Basler BT-67 aircraft, spare engines, parts, repair services, and major modifications. The package includes support services like aircraft and ground handling equipment, technical documentation, personnel training, and U.S. Government engineering services. The aircraft will enhance Argentina's airdrop and airlift operations, particularly in Antarctica.

‘Covid-like' flu affects dozens

A mystery flu-like illness in Argentina with symptoms similar to Covid-19 has left dozens critically ill with 60 cases reported in Buenos Aires. According to the Mirror , ProMed, the international public health surveillance system, issued an alert on April 17, stating an increase in severe atypical pneumonia requiring critical care. While no official reports have been made by Argentine officials, reports indicate that some have required mechanical ventilation. Most affected individuals are young without major risk factors. Over a third of those affected showed symptoms of psittacosis, a bird-borne disease, although many had no history of contact with birds, the Mirror reports.

President Milei eyes NATO partnership

Argentina has submitted a request to join NATO to deepen political and security collaboration with Western powers. The request was put forward during a discussion on regional security problems between Argentina's Defense Minister Luis Petri and NATO Deputy General Secretary Mircea Geoana in Brussels. Geoana welcomed Argentina’s bid to become an accredited partner in the alliance stating “Argentina plays an important role in Latin America,” she said at NATO headquarters. President Milei's administration is seeking to secure advanced technology, security systems, and training through the partnership. The request requires consensus from all 32 NATO members, and if approved, Argentina would become a global partner of the alliance.

Dispute as Brazil 'helps UK' get tourists to Falkands

Argentina has issued a furious complaint to Brazil over the UK's promotion of tourism to the Falkland Islands. The diplomatic dispute started when the UK was granted permission to have a display at the WTM Latin America trade show in São Paulo that promoted travel to the Falklands, the Express reports. Argentina's Secretary for the Malvinas, Andres Dachary accused the British government of attempting to gain support for its sovereignty over the disputed islands in the South Atlantic in a letter to the Brazilian ambassador in Buenos Aires. Dachary stated that Argentina has rejected "this new provocation," which he defined as an attempt to use economic measures to "consolidate the illegal British presence in our Islands."

La Rioja province sued in New York over missed bond payment

Creditors filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court against the Argentine province of La Rioja located in northwestern Argentina, intensifying the legal dispute over almost $10 million in missed bond payments. The province missed a main payment on its 8.5% dollar note due in 2028 on February 24. This is the subject of the action, which was filed on April 18 in a federal court in New York. The majority of the interest that was due in late March was paid by provincial officials, but the bond trustee kept some of that money, Bloomberg reports.

The distribution of cases indicates that 65 percent of all confirmed instances were concentrated in Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi, while the remaining 35 percent were reported from 17 states, Premium Times NG reports.

The predominant age group affected by Lassa fever remains in the 21–30 age bracket, and the report highlights the concerning addition of two new health workers being affected during the reporting week.

The NCDC has activated the National Lassa Fever Multi-Partner, Multi-Sectoral Incident Management System to coordinate responses at all levels through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Despite efforts, the agency faces challenges in its fight against Lassa fever, citing the late presentation of cases leading to an increased Case Fatality Rate (CFR). Additionally, poor health-seeking behaviour is attributed to the high cost of treatment and clinical management.

Environmental factors also contribute to the challenges, with poor sanitation conditions identified, along with a lack of awareness observed in high-burden communities.

Individuals infected with Lassa fever may experience symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pains. In more severe cases, the illness can lead to chest pain and unexplained bleeding from various parts of the body, including the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Lassa fever is an acute viral illness classified as a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. The primary carrier of the Lassa virus is the common African rat. This infectious disease is endemic in various regions of West Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria

Annually, Lassa fever results in a considerable number of infections, estimated to range from 100,000 to 300,000 cases. The disease is associated with a significant mortality rate, with approximately 5,000 deaths reported each year, the Centre for Disease Control Prevention has reported.