Disease

Ebola - DR Congo

The ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces saw a stabilization in the number of new cases this past week, with 19 confirmed cases reported in the past week (23–29 October), essentially equivalent to the 20 confirmed cases the week before.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus - UAE

Earlier this month, officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported a confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection the first in 17 months.

Dengue Fever - Brazil

The number of dengue fever cases and deaths are up sharply this year in Araguaína, northern Tocantins, according to a local report. 1,553 cases of dengue were confirmed from January to September this year, an increase of 352% over the same period last year.

Measles - Wipes Out Immune System

A bout of measles may devastate children’s immune system and leave them open to other serious diseases, say scientists.

Most youngsters who die from measles are killed by complications such as pneumonia or swelling of the brain.

While white blood cells needed to fight infections are destroyed by measles, the cells do come back in force once the rash disappears.

This has left scientists struggling to understand why those who have had measles then suffer with other health problems.

However researchers have now discovered measles "resets" the immune system, wiping out the immunity children have developed to other illnesses, effectively leaving them with the same scant protection they had as newborns.

Vaping - USA

The number of cases of a deadly vaping illness continues to rise with 37 confirmed deaths and more than 1,800 sickened throughout the U.S.