Health News Of The Week

Lassa Fever Outbreak
As of March 11, Nigeria reported 535 confirmed cases of Lassa fever across 14 states, resulting in 98 deaths—a case fatality rate of 18.3%. Health authorities intensified efforts to control the outbreak, including public health advisories and contact tracing. 

Measles Outbreak in the Southwestern United States
The United States witnessed a concerning measles outbreak in the southwestern region, particularly affecting Texas and its neighboring states. Since its emergence in early 2025, the outbreak has resulted in over 500 confirmed cases and two reported deaths as of April 1. Health officials attribute the rapid spread to low vaccination rates in certain communities, misinformation about vaccine safety, and increased travel.

Ghana Develops Africa’s First Cancer Genomic Database
In a groundbreaking development, Ghanaian scientist Yaw Bediako launched Yemaachi Biotech, a pioneering genomic research initiative aimed at creating Africa’s largest cancer DNA database.

The goal is to develop cancer drugs tailored to African populations and to understand racial disparities in cancer treatment outcomes.

WHO Budget Cuts and Restructuring
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced plans to reduce its workforce and operational scale due to a 21% budget cut, influenced by the U.S. withdrawal and funding reductions from other member states. An internal memo dated March 28, signed by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, revealed that the proposed budget for 2026-27 will decrease from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion to address a nearly $600 million funding gap.