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Africa Cdc

All articles tagged with #africa cdc

world1 month ago•3 min saved

Africa CDC Defends Sovereignty Over US-Backed Infant Vaccine Trial

Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya rebuked a US-backed plan to run an infant hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau, insisting any study must be authorized by Guinea-Bissau’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority, National Ethics Committee, local IRBs, and the Ministry of Health, underscoring Africa’s sovereignty. The proposed trial would have enrolled about 14,000 newborns (7,000 vaccinated, 7,000 controls) and was funded with $1.6 million from the US HHS. Critics say such research should serve Africans’ needs and ensure standard care for controls, while the US has criticized Africa CDC as “fake and powerless.” The flare-up exposes tensions between Western funders and African health authorities over governance of research.

via Futurism|

#africa-cdc #clinical-trials #guinea-bissau

world1 month ago•5 min saved

Guinea-Bissau halts US-backed hepatitis B vaccine trial amid ethical and sovereignty concerns

Guinea-Bissau suspended a US-funded, Denmark-led hepatitis B vaccine trial after ethics-review gaps and concerns about consent, with the health ministry citing sovereignty as the deciding factor. The Africa CDC will review the protocol alongside invited US and Danish officials, amid criticism from some experts and a political shift following a coup. The trial design—with 7,000 infants vaccinated at birth and 7,000 withheld for comparison—raised ethical alarms, contrasting with WHO guidance that recommends newborn vaccination within 24 hours and Guinea-Bissau’s current six-week schedule; the outcome will hinge on the ministry’s decision.

via The Guardian|

#africa-cdc #ethics #guinea-bissau

world1 month ago•3 min saved

HHS Faces Backlash Over Controversial Guinea-Bissau Vaccine Trial and Africa CDC Clash

The article reports that a U.S. HHS-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau—budgeted at $1.6 million and enrolling 14,000 infants, with only half receiving the vaccine—has sparked ethics concerns and comparisons to the Tuskegee study; Africa CDC says the trial is not affiliated with the US CDC and claims it has been halted, while HHS asserts the study will proceed; the affair unfolds amid a broader WHO-Africa CDC collaboration and an anticipated press conference, keeping the situation in flux.

via Futurism|

#africa-cdc #ethics #guinea-bissau

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Ethics questions halt US-backed hepatitis B birth-vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau

An Africa CDC-backed US-funded birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been cancelled due to ethical concerns over its design; officials say it will only resume after a redesign to meet ethical norms, with ongoing talks between Guinea-Bissau and the US. Critics argued the trial could deprive thousands of children of vaccination for the sake of a coin-toss allocation, while supporters say it could improve access if properly implemented.

via The Guardian|

#africa-cdc #guinea-bissau #health

health6 months ago•7 min saved

Is mpox still a threat?

Despite declarations of a global health emergency in August 2024, mpox has largely faded from headlines, but the outbreak persists with over 100,000 suspected cases in Africa and a significant spread worldwide. Challenges include limited data, vaccine shortages, and delayed responses, though some progress has been made in testing capacity and vaccine approval. Experts warn that the virus could become more entrenched if global efforts remain insufficient, highlighting the need for sustained action to prevent future outbreaks.

via NPR|

#africa-cdc #health #mpox

health1 year ago•7 min saved

Unexplained 'Disease X' Outbreak in Congo Sparks Global Concern

An unexplained outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has seen a rise in cases, with 147 new reports this week, up from 111 the previous week, according to the Africa CDC. The outbreak, affecting mainly children under five, has resulted in 32 confirmed deaths, with investigations ongoing into additional community-reported deaths. Challenges in testing, including poor sample quality and difficult logistics, are hindering efforts to identify the outbreak's cause. More samples are being sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for further analysis.

via University of Minnesota Twin Cities|

#africa-cdc #drc #health

health1 year ago•2 min saved

Experts Investigate Mysterious 'Disease X' Outbreak in DR Congo

Africa CDC has deployed experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate an outbreak of an unknown disease, referred to as "Disease X," which has a high mortality rate among children. The agency is collaborating with local health authorities and international partners to enhance disease monitoring and laboratory capabilities, focusing on genomic surveillance and decentralized infrastructure. This effort aims to improve outbreak response and preparedness, with Africa CDC providing advanced diagnostic tools and expertise to support the investigation and control measures.

via africacdc.org|

#africa-cdc #democratic-republic-of-congo #disease-x

health1 year ago•5 min saved

Unraveling the Mystery of 'Disease X' in Congo: What We Know So Far

A mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in 79 deaths and 376 cases, primarily affecting children under five. The disease, which presents flu-like symptoms and anemia, was first reported in late October in the Kwango province. The Africa CDC and WHO are investigating the outbreak, with laboratory results pending. The situation highlights challenges in disease detection and response in remote areas, and experts emphasize the importance of global surveillance and support to prevent potential spread.

via ABC News|

#africa-cdc #congo #health

health1 year ago•0 min saved

Congo's Deadly 'Disease X' Sparks Urgent Investigation

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are investigating an outbreak of a mysterious flu-like illness, termed 'Disease X,' which has killed at least 79 people and sickened hundreds since late October. The disease has predominantly affected children under five and presents symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing, and anemia. The outbreak was first reported in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province, with national authorities being alerted on December 1.

via Bloomberg|

#africa-cdc #congo #disease-x

health1 year ago•1 min saved

Mystery Disease Claims 143 Lives in Southwest Congo

An unknown disease has claimed at least 67 lives in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province, Democratic Republic of Congo, over a two-week period. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Local authorities are urging caution and have requested medical supplies from national and international partners. An epidemiological team is set to investigate the outbreak, which coincides with an ongoing mpox epidemic in the country.

via Euronews|

#africa-cdc #drc #epidemic

health2 years ago•2 min saved

Africa CDC and NCDC Address New COVID-19 Variants Spreading in Africa

The Africa CDC has issued a statement on the new COVID-19 strain, EG.5, which has been designated as a variant of interest by the WHO. Over 13,000 sequences of EG.5 have been reported in 59 countries across five regions. While there has been an increase in hospitalizations in certain countries, there is currently no evidence of an association between EG.5 and severity or hospitalization of COVID-19 cases. The Africa CDC recommends accelerating the immunization of high-risk populations, strengthening surveillance systems, reinforcing genomic surveillance, conducting epidemiological investigations, and sharing data on emerging variants. The Africa CDC will continue to monitor the situation and provide further guidance as more information becomes available.

via africacdc.org|

#africa-cdc #covid-19 #eg5-variant