US and EU push back on parts of UN pandemic declaration
28/9/2026: A UN meeting intended to demonstrate global commitment to preparing for the next pandemic instead exposed lingering divisions over technology transfer and financing. Any delay in agreement will extend more than three years of negotiations sparked by the inequities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Devex
Lives could be saved in next pandemic if vaccines are shared more fairly
21/9/2026: Researchers modelling a hypothetical global outbreak of flu found that 2.7 million additional lives could be saved through distribution based on population size, rather than purchasing power. However, in high-income countries, that solidarity-based approach would result in extra deaths.
Source: The Guardian
Ebola: DR Congo outbreak is not slowing, MSF warns
18/9/2026: Doctors Without Borders has warned against premature optimism after DRC's government and the World Health Organization had both reported slowing transmission in some places. No effective treatment for the Bundibugyo variant has been found and it may be spreading into new areas. Almost 3,500 people have died.
Source: DW
AI promises judgment-free sexual health advice. What could go wrong?
3/9/2026: Across Africa, organizations and funders are increasingly exploring whether artificial intelligence can help overcome barriers that have long made it difficult for young people to access sexual and reproductive health information. But as AI carries the risk of inaccurate answers, the experiment raises serious questions.
Source: Devex
DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreading exponentially
21/8/2026: The UN's Senior Ebola Coordinator has warned that the number of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo has doubled in the last 20 days. Efforts to contain the outbreak have been impeded by lack of funds, violence, and deaths of health workers from the disease.
Source: UN News
An attack on healthcare every six hours, and no one held to account
14/8/2026: Across the world, healthcare venues and personnel have suffered more than 10,000 attacks in the past eight years, resulting in approximately 5,700 deaths and over 8,000 injuries. Most incidents occurred in Ukraine, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory, but other locations include Myanmar, Iran, Sudan, the DRC, South Sudan, Russia, Syria and Nigeria
Source: UN News
DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes world’s second-largest ever
31/7/2026: The current outbreak of Ebola has proven unusually deadly, killing five times more people in its first three months than previous outbreaks had by the same stage. Health officials say the true scale of the epidemic remains unclear. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment.
Source: DW
US finally moves to release $600 million to Gavi
29/7/2026: The US has moved to release funding to the Vaccine Alliance, the public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. This concludes a year-and-a-half of uncertainty for Gavi, following sceptical comments by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Source: Devex
Global HIV response falters as resurgence looms
27/7/2026: A report by UNAIDS shows that reductions to international funding are likely to lead to a resurgence of the epidemic. Many low-income countries in Africa were more than 90% dependent on foreign aid for their HIV programmes. Without urgent action to meet the 2030 goals, more than 3 million could become infected with HIV by 2030.
Source: UNAIDS
Trump’s HIV funding cuts have severe impact around the world
21/7/2026: A survey by the Aids research foundation, Amfar, finds that cuts to the funding of the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief have caused “severe and devastating” disruption globally, with thousands of staff laid off and many clinics closed. Combined with imposition of Trump's refusal to accept diversity, equity and inclusion policies, the changes risk reversing progress in the fight against HIV/Aids.
Source: The Guardian