Urban Malaria Threat Looms as Invasive Mosquito Nears Southern Africa
Michael Gwarisa Malaria experts have raised alarm over an emerging invasive mosquito species capable of thriving in hot, densely populated urban environments, warning that it could complicate already fragile malaria control efforts across Africa, HealthTimes has learnt. The mosquito, known as Anopheles stephensi, originates from Southeast Asia and has, over the past decade, been detected
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Africa CDC Appoints Four Senior Advisors to Advance Health Strategy
Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has appointed four senior advisors, a move aimed at strengthening the organisation’s capacity to respond to public health threats across the continent. The four include Ambassador Troy Fitrell (USA) as Senior Advisor on International Cooperation, Ambassador Pierre Delsaux (Belgium) as Senior Advisor on Strategic Partnership,
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Ethiopia to Host 5th CPHIA Conference, Drawing 30,000 Public Health Experts
Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that Ethiopia will host the 2026 edition of the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), one of the continent’s premier gatherings for health professionals and policymakers. The fifth CPHIA conference will take place from November 1 to 5 in Addis Ababa,
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Middle East War Pushes Up Mosquito Net Production Costs, Threatening Africa’s Malaria Fight
Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned of a looming malaria crisis, driven by rising costs of polyester, a key raw material used in the production of mosquito nets. Across Africa, where malaria remains endemic, long-lasting insecticidal nets are a primary line of defence against the anopheles mosquito,
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Zimbabwe Hosts COHESA Conference to Design Regional One Health Network
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe is hosting a regional conference under the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration and designing a regional One Health network. The meeting has brought together experts from across Eastern and Southern Africa to improve coordination in addressing health threats affecting humans, animals, and the
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Senegal Signs US Bilateral Health Deal
Michael Gwarisa Senegal has joined the growing list of African countries to sign a Bilateral Health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States, the US Department of State has announced. The agreement, valued at US$90 million, will cover a five-year period from 2026 to 2030. According to the US Embassy in Senegal, the deal
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No New Cholera Cases in Zimbabwe, but Africa CDC Urges Stronger Case Management
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has not recorded any confirmed cholera cases in the past 15 days, a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said, signalling progress in containing the latest outbreak. Recent cases were largely confined to Rushinga, a community along the Zimbabwe Mozambique border. The index case involved a male
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Leaked Memo Shows U.S. May Cut HIV Aid to Zambia to Secure Mineral Access
Michael Gwarisa A report in The New York Times reveals that the U.S. State Department is considering a significant reduction in health assistance to Zambia as a negotiating tool to gain greater access to the country’s critical minerals. According to The New York Times, a draft memo prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggests
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Rare HIV ‘Breakthrough’ Cases Reported in Lenacapavir PrEP Trials Across Africa
Michael Gwarisa As more African countries begin to introduce lenacapavir into their HIV prevention programmes, scientists are examining new data showing that a small number of people became infected with HIV while using the medication. The drug’s rollout now extends beyond just one or two nations. Countries that have started distributing the twice-yearly injectable or
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South Africa Urged to Secure Better Lenacapavir License Terms With Gilead Before Local Manufacturing
Michael Gwarisa Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has urged South Africa not to rush into local manufacturing of lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention drug, without first negotiating stronger, more equitable license terms or using a compulsory license to bypass patent restrictions. Their call follows a recent announcement by the South African government that it is negotiating
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