The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda is a WHO-declared global emergency. Lacking an approved vaccine, this highly fatal zoonotic virus spreads via bodily fluids, severely complicating containment efforts across conflict-affected and highly mobile regional borders.
Click to View MoreIndia's National One Health Mission integrates human, animal, and environmental health to combat emerging zoonotic threats like Nipah virus. Supported by a new multi-tiered State/UT governance framework, it prioritizes integrated surveillance, decentralized outbreak response, and robust pandemic preparedness.
Click to View MoreThe 2026 Ebola outbreak in the DRC’s Ituri province involves the Bundibugyo strain, claiming 65 lives. With no approved vaccine for this variant, the Africa CDC and WHO are leading urgent regional coordination to prevent a cross-border public health crisis.
Click to View MoreHantavirus is a severe zoonotic pathogen spread primarily through aerosolized rodent excreta. A rare, recent outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship highlighted maritime public health vulnerabilities, prompting coordinated international responses to manage cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
Click to View MoreA recent scare over counterfeit rabies vaccines has raised serious public-health concerns. Suspected fake or repackaged batches of a commonly used rabies vaccine were reported in multiple Indian cities, prompting advisories from several countries for travellers vaccinated in India. Investigations indicate that while most vials contained genuine vaccine, packaging was altered and government-supplied stock was likely diverted to the private market, revealing weaknesses in supply-chain monitoring. The incident risks creating vaccine hesitancy for a disease that is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear. The crisis underscores the need for strict regulation, better tracking systems, strong law enforcement, transparent public communication, and assured availability of authentic vaccines and immunoglobulin to maintain trust and prevent avoidable deaths.
Click to View MoreVultures are crucial for public health, serving as a sanitation system and preventing disease spread. Their near-extinction in India, due to diclofenac, underscores the link between biodiversity loss and human pandemic risk. Government efforts, such as the National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation, aim to restore this species and protect the environment.
Click to View More
© 2026 iasgyan. All right reserved
