infectious disease

Health authorities have confirmed a case of mpox in a northeastern city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a city that was also the centre of a recent Ebola outbreak. The confirmation has raised concern among health officials already contending with overlapping infectious disease threats in the region, and observers are watching for signs of wider spread.

Mobile phone data is being used to help track the spread of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By analysing movement patterns from mobile networks, health authorities can better predict where the virus might travel next and target containment efforts. The approach highlights the growing role of digital data in responding to infectious disease emergencies in the region.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Anthony Fauci, the former top US infectious disease official, in contempt of Congress. The vote escalates a standoff with Republican lawmakers who have investigated his role in the federal response to Covid-19 and related research funding. Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for decades before retiring in 2022, has denied wrongdoing.

A new survey from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases finds that most US adults support vaccines, yet many remain unclear about current recommendations for respiratory vaccines. The findings point to a gap between broad public confidence in vaccination and understanding of who should get which respiratory shots and when, highlighting a need for clearer guidance from health authorities.

Researchers are highlighting efforts to combat infectious diseases and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, according to a science news release. Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health concern, as bacteria increasingly evade existing drugs, prompting calls for new treatments and better stewardship of current antibiotics.