分类： health

A new public health alliance has launched to advance critical health equity goals across the Americas and the Caribbean, as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has formalized a technical cooperation agreement with Spain-based Mundo Sano Foundation to accelerate progress on eliminating mother-to-child disease transmission and strengthening regional cervical cancer prevention.

The official signing ceremony took place at the Mundo Sano Foundation’s Madrid headquarters, where PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa and foundation President Silvia Gold put their signatures to the collaborative framework.

In remarks following the signing, Dr. Barbosa emphasized that the partnership grows out of a shared core belief: the most intractable public health challenges of our time can only be overcome through long-term strategic planning and a holistic, community-centered approach that centers the needs of people.

The collaboration will center its early work on the development and cross-sharing of specialized technical knowledge tied to integrated health service delivery, aligned with PAHO’s flagship EMTCT Plus+ regional initiative. This effort targets the complete elimination of vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of four major pathogens: HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease. Beyond this core focus, the new agreement lays out a flexible framework to gradually expand and test new strategies for strengthening cervical cancer prevention access across the region.

Under the terms of the partnership, Fundación Mundo Sano will contribute its specialized technical expertise on vertical disease transmission, while also supporting efforts to weave cervical cancer prevention actions into existing maternal and public health programs. For its part, PAHO will coordinate structured spaces for cross-regional technical exchange, share its established regional and global clinical guidance, and lead work to analyze and broadly disseminate evidence and lessons generated through the collaboration.

Dr. Barbosa noted that the inaugural phase of work marks the start of what both organizations hope will become a far broader long-term collaboration. “We hope this first phase of work will be the beginning of an even broader collaboration capable of generating evidence, inspiring new solutions and contributing to our shared goal of building a healthier and more equitable Americas for all,” he said.

PAHO’s EMTCT Plus+ initiative, launched to coordinate regional action, works across all 35 nations of the Americas to eliminate vertical transmission of the four targeted diseases while simultaneously strengthening core maternal and child health systems. The initiative prioritizes integrated, people-centered service models to expand equitable access to prevention, diagnostic testing, treatment, and ongoing care for at-risk populations.

Cervical cancer continues to rank as one of the most pressing unmet public health priorities in the region. Current regional elimination strategies center on expanding broad access to life-saving HPV vaccination, routine screening, early detection protocols, and timely treatment—all core components of the global goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a major public health threat within the coming decades.

GENEVA, Switzerland – In a small but notable breakthrough amid a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization announced Friday the first laboratory-confirmed recovery of an infected patient who has now been discharged from care.

WHO viral haemorrhagic fever technical officer Anais Legand confirmed to reporters that the recovered patient, who tested negative twice for the virus following treatment, was released from hospital and returned to their community on May 27. While this marks the first confirmed recovery among officially validated cases, Legand noted that additional unconfirmed recoveries are likely among individuals whose test results have not yet been processed by laboratories.

As of the WHO’s latest update, the outbreak, which was formally declared on May 15, has been linked to 17 confirmed deaths and 223 suspected fatalities across the DRC. Out of 125 confirmed infections and more than 900 suspected cases recorded, 16 of the confirmed cases have been among frontline healthcare workers – a group uniquely vulnerable to the virus, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, symptomatic patients, and the remains of people who have died from Ebola.

“It is a terrible disease,” Legand commented, adding that healthcare workers often contract the virus while stepping in to care for infected community members. Responding to the outbreak is further complicated by the cultural and emotional challenges of asking communities to avoid close contact with sick loved ones, a critical measure to stop transmission from spreading.

The outbreak has also spilled over into neighboring Uganda, where seven cases have been confirmed – one of which has ended in death. Three of the Ugandan cases were imported directly from the DRC, and all remaining confirmed cases are linked to those initial imports. At present, WHO officials have found no evidence of sustained community transmission within Uganda’s borders.

This current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which no targeted vaccine or specific antiviral treatment currently exists. The strain can carry a case fatality rate as high as 50%, though the current outbreak’s recorded fatality rate sits below 25% as of latest data, a figure that continues to evolve as more cases are confirmed.

Over the past half-century, Ebola outbreaks across Africa have claimed more than 15,000 lives. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak the DRC has faced; the deadliest of the country’s previous outbreaks, recorded between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people out of 3,500 confirmed cases.

Despite the grim context of the outbreak, Legand emphasized that there is significant room to reduce mortality. Expanding access to optimized intensive care, supporting communities to identify early symptoms and pursue rapid diagnostic testing, and connecting patients to appropriate care early in their infection can drastically improve survival odds. “The most important thing is that we can support them to get early access to care,” Legand said. “Access to care can help save life.”

Alongside early care access, WHO officials note that robust infection prevention protocols and safe burial practices for Ebola victims are critical to halting transmission, given the high infectiousness of deceased patients’ remains.

On the global front, the agency has not called for any international travel or trade restrictions targeting the DRC or Uganda. The organization does recommend that infected individuals and close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases from affected areas avoid travel, and both the DRC and Uganda are required under International Health Regulations to implement exit screening for people leaving affected regions. But based on current epidemiological data, Legand confirmed that “WHO does not recommend any restriction on travel or trade with the Democratic Republic of the Congo or with Uganda.”

ST JAMES, Jamaica — On a bright Friday at Harmony Beach Park, hundreds of senior residents gathered to mark the official launch of the Park Walker Initiative for Older Adults, a new public health programme spearheaded by Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The island-wide scheme kicked off with a leisurely group stroll around the park’s scenic pathways, built around a core mission to motivate older Jamaicans to integrate regular physical activity into their daily routines and embrace long-term healthy lifestyle habits.

Dr Simone Spence, director of the ministry’s Health Promotion and Protection Branch, used the launch event to reframe popular narratives around growing older, shifting focus away from common stereotypes of ageing as a period of only decline and challenge.

“For far too long, society has fixated only on the difficulties that come with getting older, but today is all about highlighting the opportunities this stage of life brings,” Spence told attendees. “This is a chance to stay active, to build new friendships, to share joy and laughter together, and most importantly, to put our health at the top of our priority list right now.”

Spence emphasized that the programme was intentionally designed around inclusivity, not competition, to welcome seniors of all mobility levels. “This initiative is not about racing or clocking fast walking times – it’s simply about moving our bodies, staying active, and building a connected, supportive community around shared wellness goals,” she explained.

She added that taking that first step to join a group activity is often the biggest barrier for many older adults, whether out of habit or uncertainty. But when seniors walk together, they create a system of mutual encouragement that keeps everyone connected, making the journey toward better health both easier and far more enjoyable.

Addressing common health and social challenges faced by Jamaica’s older population, Spence noted that many seniors struggle with chronic conditions including high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as widespread issues of loneliness and chronic stress. The Park Walker Initiative addresses all these needs by providing dedicated, safe, and welcoming public spaces for regular exercise and social connection.

Beyond the opening group walk, the launch day featured a full schedule of wellness-focused activities, including energetic dance aerobics sessions, an educational presentation on diabetes prevention and management, free on-site health screenings, informational booths sharing public health resources, and multiple talks focused on supporting long-term wellness for older adults. Organizers expect participation from senior groups across every parish in Jamaica in the coming months as the programme rolls out island-wide.

GENEVA, Switzerland — As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grapples with a fast-spreading, deadly Ebola outbreak, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus departed for the African nation Thursday, making a public pledge to deploy every resource at his disposal to curb the epidemic.

In a detailed public address shared on social platform X ahead of his trip, Tedros extended solidarity to Congolese communities affected by the outbreak, emphasizing that “together, we will overcome this outbreak.”

Latest official data compiled by WHO, updated to May 24, shows that since the outbreak was formally declared on May 15, the country has recorded over 1,000 combined confirmed and suspected Ebola cases, with 10 confirmed deaths and 223 deaths among suspected cases.

The outbreak is disproportionately concentrated in the country’s northeast, with more than 90% of all cases recorded in Ituri province. Smaller clusters of infections have also been identified in the adjacent North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

“I want to be with you in these moments. And I want you to know that you are not alone,” Tedros stated, acknowledging the fear and strain the outbreak has placed on local populations. “I know how frightening that is, and I know that the people of Ituri are bearing a burden that is not easy to carry.”
He added that the regions impacted by Ebola were already confronting multiple overlapping crises before the outbreak, including endemic malaria, widespread food insecurity, and chronic armed conflict. “It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise,” he said.

Tedros outlined that the international response to the outbreak will center on lifting up and supporting the existing resilience of local communities. “We do not come to Ituri with only medicine and expertise. We come to join a community that already knows how to fight for its survival,” he explained.

A key barrier to containment efforts, Tedros noted, is the decades-long conflict and persistent insecurity that has destabilized eastern DRC for generations. Ongoing violence has blocked access to affected communities, slowing the rollout of response measures.

Complicating the response further, the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently exists. WHO has also warned that the virus circulated undetected for an unknown period before being declared, meaning the actual scope of infections is almost certainly far larger than the current confirmed and suspected case count suggests.

An unseasonal early heatwave pushing across Southern Europe has prompted Italian health authorities to activate the nation’s highest heat warning for five major Italian urban centers, marking the first red-level heat alert of 2025 for the Mediterranean country.

On Thursday, Italy’s Ministry of Health rolled out the red heatwave alert for Rome, Florence, Bologna, Brescia and Turin. The country’s top-tier red warning is specifically designed to flag elevated risks of heat-related health impacts even for otherwise healthy people who regularly engage in outdoor activity, and public health officials are urging all residents and visitors to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during peak temperature hours.

On the ground in Rome Thursday, crowds of international tourists gathered near the iconic Colosseum reported struggling with oppressive, muggy conditions, even as temperatures hit 32 degrees Celsius – a reading well above the seasonal average for this time of year. Many visitors shared their personal strategies to beat the early-season heat, prioritizing hydration and shade to avoid heat exhaustion.

Spanish visitor Nana Martinez Garcia told reporters her group was drinking large volumes of cool water to regulate body temperature. Her friend, Maria Angeles Mellinas Tello, added that the pair makes a point of staying in shaded areas whenever possible while sightseeing. American tourist Josh Ren explained he had adjusted his entire travel itinerary to avoid the hottest midday window: “We get up early to knock out outdoor attractions before temperatures spike, take frequent rest breaks, and spend peak heat hours in air-conditioned spaces like restaurants and museums,” he said.

So far, Italy has avoided the extreme record-breaking temperatures that have already hit Northern Europe in recent days. The United Kingdom logged its hottest May temperature on record earlier this week, when a reading of 35.1 degrees Celsius was recorded, breaking a decades-long national record for the month. France has also seen unseasonal high temperatures across much of the country, prompting early heat warnings there as well.

Climate scientists have repeatedly emphasized that human-caused climate change is driving the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across the globe. Early-season unseasonal heatwaves, alongside prolonged droughts, catastrophic flooding, and severe storm systems, are becoming far more common as global average temperatures continue to rise, researchers note.