AGP Executive Report

Ebola Emergency: DR Congo’s outbreak has exceeded 10,274 confirmed cases and 4,992 deaths, spreading across eight provinces and beyond the country’s borders. African Medicines: Nigeria has ratified the African Medicines Agency treaty, becoming its 34th member state and strengthening efforts to coordinate medicine regulation across the continent. Outbreak Watch: U.S. measles cases have topped 4,800 this year, while Canada has declared its outbreak over after more than 6,400 cases; RSV immunization has also been linked to fewer infant hospitalizations. Care Access: Sanford Health will end planned births at its Luverne, Minnesota, hospital in April 2027, leaving families to travel about 30 miles for delivery, though prenatal and emergency care will remain. Patient Safety: More than 11,000 bottles of blood pressure medicine have been recalled after failing FDA quality standards. Climate and Health: Researchers are urging global recognition of a climate health emergency, as studies highlight risks from extreme heat and humidity during pregnancy.

Ebola Emergency: DR Congo has recorded 10,274 cases and 4,992 deaths as of Oct. 28, with the outbreak affecting eight provinces; health agencies are also warning of grave risks to frontline workers. Mental Health: Pakistan’s National Assembly was told that more than 32 million people live with mental health conditions, while the country has just 1,050 registered psychiatrists — roughly one for every 245,000 people. Medicine Access: Patients at a South African clinic report repeated visits and long waits amid medicine shortages, prompting calls for national support. Online Harm: A Lancet report says the manosphere can damage mental health and fuel violence against women, and urges governments to treat it as a public health issue. Heart Failure Care: A pharmacist-led clinic in England raised the share of patients receiving recommended treatment from 17.7% to 94.5% over two years, while reducing GP workload. Climate and Health: A Lancet Countdown report warns climate change is escalating into a global health emergency.

Liver Disease: Two major international studies identify reliable blood and imaging tests to diagnose and assess the severity of fatty liver disease, potentially reducing the need for biopsies. Climate and Health: UN officials warn that El Niño could expose up to 50 million people to increased hunger as floods, heat and drought threaten food supplies and essential services. Pandemic Readiness: Europe’s medicines regulator warns that preparedness can weaken when emergencies fade and political attention and funding decline. Medicine Safety: Nigeria’s NAFDAC destroyed more than ₦8 billion in counterfeit, banned and adulterated products, mostly small-pack alcoholic drinks linked to misuse among young people. Nutrition and Waste: New research finds discarded peels, stalks and other produce parts often contain more fiber than the portions people eat, offering a potential boost to diets while reducing food waste.

Ebola Outbreak: The Bundibugyo outbreak has surpassed 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths, with reports of spread beyond the DRC. Africa CDC urges countries to prepare, while experts say the risk to the UK remains low. Climate and Health: A Lancet Countdown estimate links nearly 3 million heat deaths from 2016 to 2023 to climate change, intensifying calls for stronger global action. Cancer Screening: A new HHS initiative will work with more than 40 health systems to improve breast-density education, screening access and follow-up care. Food Safety: Bangladesh is seeking JICA’s help to establish food-testing labs in all 64 districts to curb adulteration and foodborne illness. Vaccination: WHO’s immunization advisers reviewed vaccine policy across several diseases and considered vaccination’s role in the Ebola response, as officials warn that gaps in coverage leave communities exposed.

Measles Alert: A BMJ study says 90% of Ontario’s 2,377 measles cases in the outbreak that cost Canada its elimination status involved historically under-vaccinated communities, with cross-border social ties helping the virus spread. Researchers urge culturally tailored efforts to build vaccine confidence. Ebola Preparedness: Nigeria approved ₦45.8 billion for disease surveillance at five airports as it monitors contacts; in the DRC, the outbreak has surpassed 10,000 cases and approaches 4,900 deaths. Children’s Health: A Qatar study found RSV caused more severe illness in children than influenza or COVID-19, bolstering calls for wider access to vaccination and preventive antibodies. Climate and Clean Air: Researchers are urging urgent action on climate-related health risks as heat deaths rise worldwide. Separately, 46% of EU cities exceed upcoming clean-air limits, according to a new report. Stroke Awareness: Stroke Action Nigeria is taking its #ActFAST campaign to the streets, urging people to recognize symptoms and seek emergency care without delay.

Climate & Health: Lancet experts are urging governments to treat climate change as a global health emergency, warning that heat, food insecurity and disease are adding to the toll. Vaccination: A Canadian survey points to weak flu-shot uptake: just 26% say they have received or plan to get vaccinated this season; only 20% intend to get a COVID-19 shot. Healthcare Costs: U.S. employers expect costs to rise 11.1% in 2027 before plan changes, the steepest increase in more than two decades. The AMA is also challenging federal rules that could make it harder for medically vulnerable people to qualify for Medicaid work-rule exemptions. Health Technology: The Trump administration is dropping requirements for health AI “nutrition labels,” removing information hospitals and doctors use to assess how tools were developed and tested. Outbreak Response: WHO reports Ebola cases in the DRC have topped 10,000, with deaths nearing 5,000; in Kenya, 20 contacts have completed 21 days without symptoms and returned home. Workforce: Nigeria’s House advanced a bill to establish a nursing and midwifery college in Lagos, as lawmakers warn that staff migration is worsening shortages.

HIV Care: In the Philippines, just 56% of an estimated 288,000 people living with HIV had been diagnosed by June; only 57% of those on treatment had documented viral suppression. Climate and Health: The Lancet Countdown reports climate impacts are worsening, with nearly 3 million heat-related deaths since 2016; researchers are urging governments to declare a global health emergency. Outbreaks: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reported four new mpox cases with no travel history, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded more than 10,000 Ebola cases and nearly 5,000 deaths. Vaccine Policy: Florida’s proposed repeal of school vaccine requirements faces a growing legal challenge from doctors, patients and families. Health System Strain: Malawi health unions gave the government 14 days to address severe staffing shortages and hospital conditions or face a nationwide strike. Lead Prevention: Health authorities in Hawaii and Illinois are urging families to test children and check homes for lead hazards.

Ebola Response: Nigeria is tracking Ebola after an imported case was evacuated to Switzerland; the NCDC says an election delay would only be considered if the outbreak spreads significantly. Vaccine Support: Nepal secured Rs 8.59 billion in Gavi funding through 2030 to sustain routine immunisation, with a repayment of about $308,000 waived. Outbreak Readiness: CEPI is providing up to $8.2 million to help Africa CDC build a West African clinical-trial network for faster research during future epidemics. Pregnancy and Air Quality: A study of nearly 893,000 mother-child pairs linked greater wildfire-smoke exposure during pregnancy with higher odds of an autism diagnosis, especially after week 15; researchers say the findings show an association, not proof of cause. HPV Prevention: A trial found children whose doctors recommended HPV vaccination at ages 9–10 had more than twice the odds of starting and completing the series by age 13 compared with those advised to begin at 11–12.

Ebola Response: An Ebola patient evacuated from Nigeria to Switzerland was reported stable but infectious; WHO says Nigeria has no confirmed cases, while surveillance and contact tracing continue across the region. Bird Flu: Washington quarantined a Benton County dairy herd after routine testing detected H5N1, prompting enhanced biosecurity measures. Racism in Healthcare: Australia’s GP survey found one in three doctors had witnessed racism toward patients, renewing calls for stronger government action and better monitoring. Youth Mental Health: A US study found severe anxiety symptoms in 7.2% of adolescents; about four in 10 in that group received no mental health treatment in the past year. Cancer Treatment: The FDA approved talazoparib with enzalutamide for certain men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and HRR gene mutations, after trials showed a lower risk of disease progression. Dementia: The condition accounted for more than one in 10 deaths in Australia in 2025, highlighting growing pressure for services and support for families. Child Safety: Health officials are urging families to test young children for lead during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

Ebola Response: Nigeria evacuated an Ebola patient to Switzerland as authorities reported 53 contacts under monitoring and tightened screening for international travelers. Health officials are calling for a coordinated African response. Maternal and Child Health: Qatar designated four more primary-care centers Baby-Friendly, bringing its total to nine facilities supporting breastfeeding and care for mothers and children. Vaccine Confidence: A new U.S. poll found broad confidence in established childhood vaccines, but partisan divides and confusion over vaccine schedules pose challenges for public-health messaging. Access to Care: Guyana has begun offering free dialysis at six regional hospitals, easing costs for kidney patients, though limited capacity may restrict access. Health System Governance: Trinidad and Tobago’s nurses’ association is seeking an independent inquiry into resignations that dissolved the South-West Regional Health Authority board, warning that prolonged uncertainty could disrupt care.

Ebola Alert: Nigeria is tracking 53 contacts linked to a confirmed imported Bundibugyo case, while Lagos strengthens airport screening and infection-control readiness. Child Dental Care: A Phase III trial involving 830 children under six found silver diamine fluoride can stop many cavities from worsening, offering a quick treatment without drilling or sedation. Extreme Heat: India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan are joining forces to prepare for rising heat risks, with experts warning that alerts must lead to protection for outdoor workers and other vulnerable people. Healthcare Costs: U.S. employer health premiums rose 5% in 2026; family coverage averaged $28,303, while workers’ contributions increased 9%. Disease Prevention: India reports a 21% decline in new TB cases from 2015 to 2024, while Ukraine has received 232,500 polio vaccine doses for children.

Ebola Alert: Kenya has reported nine cases linked to one cluster, while Nigeria confirmed an imported case. Investigators are examining whether patients crossed paths at Uganda’s Entebbe airport; a vaccine-candidate trial has begun in the DRC. Cancer Screening: More than 5,700 women in Malaysia’s Terengganu state have received free mammograms since 2007, with 11 cancers detected; mobile services aim to reach more women. Digital Care: India’s e-Sanjeevani telemedicine service has recorded nearly 500 million consultations, extending specialist advice to remote communities. Climate & Health: A new California report identifies health and labor among the biggest economic costs of climate change, including heat-related illness and deaths. Health-System Resilience: A WHO survey found that 90% of countries reported disruptions to essential health services since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ebola Response: WHO has begun vaccine trials in DR Congo as the regional outbreak spreads. Kenya reports a second death, and Nigeria has linked its imported case to Kenya through genomic analysis. Liberia has imposed 21-day isolation for arrivals from the DRC and monitoring for travelers from Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria. Healthcare Costs: U.S. employer health coverage is getting costlier: workers’ average family contribution rose 9% to $7,471 this year, while premiums reached $28,303. Hypertension: WHO says four in five people with high blood pressure are inadequately treated; improving detection and care could avert 76 million deaths by 2050. Snakebite Risks: A new model suggests deaths are severely undercounted, potentially reaching 513,000 a year, strengthening calls for better surveillance and antivenom access. Breast Cancer: A Norwegian AI model could estimate a person’s risk one to five years ahead, potentially helping doctors detect cancer earlier.

Ebola Alert: The outbreak has spread across five countries, with nearly 9,700 cases and 4,687 deaths reported in the DRC by Oct. 20. A vaccine trial has begun there as health officials warn of cross-border surveillance gaps. Measles Surge: The U.S. has recorded 4,588 cases this year—more than double 2025’s total—with 96% of patients unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status. Cancer Treatment: A global Phase 3 trial found durvalumab plus olaparib extended median overall survival in advanced endometrial cancer by 11.5 months compared with chemotherapy alone. Air Quality: India has opened a Delhi-NCR laboratory designed to identify pollution sources and assess potential health effects in real time. Eye Care Access: A new service in China offers Bangladeshi patients priority appointments, interpreters and follow-up care for advanced eye treatment. Hospital Oversight: Maine plans a public hearing on staffing and care standards at Central Maine Healthcare amid concerns that its new operator may not be meeting state commitments.

Ebola Outbreak: WHO says a vaccine trial has begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak has caused more than 4,600 deaths. The trial will test whether the Ervebo vaccine, approved for another Ebola strain, can protect against Bundibugyo virus. Nigeria is tightening screening and surveillance after confirming an imported case, while Kenya has reported a second death. Polio Prevention: More than 168 million children across 22 African countries received at least one polio vaccine dose this year, WHO reports, but funding shortfalls threaten eradication efforts. TB Care: Nagaland health officials urged private doctors to follow national treatment guidelines and coordinate with public services, as Dimapur reports the state’s highest number of TB cases.

Conflict and Care: A BBC investigation identified at least 43 attacks on hospitals and health sites in Sudan’s el-Fasher between 2024 and 2025. The UN human rights chief said the attacks may amount to war crimes; the RSF rejects the findings. Ebola Watch: Nigeria is tracing 44 contacts after its first case in the current African outbreak. The patient’s travel history has not explained how she became infected, as authorities work to prevent further spread. Infection Prevention: A review of hospital handbasin guidance in 39 countries found conflicting recommendations and limited research on designs that could reduce the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Vaccine Access: UNICEF and Gavi agreed to cut the price of a malaria vaccine by 40%, potentially easing access for countries battling the disease. Health Workforce: A new leadership programme aims to help nurses and midwives shape policy and improve care across Africa and beyond.