Browsing: World Health Organization

AfriSummit 2026 to Bring Africa’s Regulatory and Healthcare Community Together in Nairobi

AfriSummit 2026, the sixth edition of the highly anticipated regulatory affairs summit for Africa’s pharmaceutical, medical device, IVD and diagnostics sectors, will take place from 28 September to 2 October 2026 at Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, Kenya, and under the patronage of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), Kenya, the five-day summit is expected to bring together 16+ National Regulatory Authorities and Notified Bodies alongside 100+ speakers and 450+ decision-makers from more than 25 countries. Regulators, ministerial representatives, industry associations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, technology providers and regulatory professionals will come together across two summits, PharmaReg AfriSummit from 28-30 September, followed by MedDevReg AfriSummit from 1-2 October, creating dedicated platforms for both pharmaceutical and medical device regulatory communities.

Congo Ebola outbreak reaches 6,250 cases in six provinces

The World Health Organization has urged a wider Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as transmission continues across several provinces. Congo had recorded 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths by Sept. 1, according to the latest government figures. The outbreak has affected 60 health zones in six provinces. Authorities have also recorded 1,439 recoveries, while the case fatality rate stands at 48.6%.

European Commission adds PCR support for Ebola outbreak

The European Commission has expanded its Ebola response with a €2.1 million purchase of PCR tests for the Bundibugyo virus outbreak. Shipments are due to start in August as health teams confront a large outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and affecting parts of the wider region. The World Health Organization will receive the tests through its Hub for Global Health Emergencies Logistics in Dubai, coordinating distribution to locations supporting the Ebola response. PCR testing allows laboratories to confirm infections and support surveillance around known cases, guiding patient care, isolation, and contact tracing.

DRC malaria cases surpass 26 million in 2025

The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 26,064,143 malaria cases in 2025. The country also reported 29,938 deaths linked to the disease during the year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, announced the figures during a campaign launch in Ituri province. Dembo said malaria remains the country’s main public health challenge. The new totals confirm a heavy disease burden across one of Africa’s most malaria-affected countries.

Moderna begins Ebola vaccine trial amid DR Congo outbreak

Moderna has started a Phase 1 trial of an experimental vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Canada. The first participant received the mRNA-1469 vaccine on August 3 at a site in Truro, Nova Scotia. The trial comes as the virus continues spreading across several provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.