The assembly "noted" the communication received by UN chief Antonio Guterres on March 17, 2025 notifying him that Argentina withdraws from the WHO, "effective one year after the receipt of that letter". The assembly "resolves that while the World Health Organization will always welcome the Argentine Republic's full co-operation... it is not considered that any further action at this stage is desirable", the approved, brief resolution said. Norway and Paraguay were the main drivers behind the compromise.

Buenos Aires was a minor contributor to the WHO's budget. The G20 country's membership fees for 2024 and 2025 were around $4.1 million a year. A report by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in January recalled that in 1949-1950, seven member states -- including the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria -- issued notice saying they no longer considered themselves members.

When they resumed participation, the assembly decided they would pay a "token payment" for the period when their membership was inactive. The resolution adopted Friday used exactly the same language as member states did in 1950.

- WHO 'not a social club' -

Sigrid Kranawetter, the WHO's governing bodies director, said: "I don't like to use the word withdrawal because it's legally not correct". The WHO is "not a social club" and "you don't stop your membership," Kranawetter said. "There is no need for anyone who accepts the WHO constitution to withdraw from it, because you do not give up any part of your sovereignty when you accept the WHO constitution. "If you stop engaging, if you stop working, that is the prerogative of a sovereign state. You can do that any time."

She noted that with the recent hantavirus outbreak, "WHO is there to support", and had been "working with Argentina on hantavirus very closely". In the assembly, China asked whether departing members could still participate in WHO frameworks. "Global public health is a whole and cannot be divided; no country can stay out of it," its representative said. The African group, represented by Sierra Leone, said it "regrets any development that diminishes WHO's universality, and encourages continued dialogue with the member states concerned". Argentina's neighbours Bolivia and Chile said they recognised and respected Buenos Aires' sovereign decision.

- Uganda situation 'stable' -

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the situation was "especially challenging" as health workers scramble to catch up with the spread of the virus and track down contacts of everyone thought to be infected, in highly insecure areas. "We know the epidemic in DRC is much larger" than the confirmed cases, he told journalists at the WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Tedros said the situation in neighbouring Uganda was "stable", with two cases confirmed in people who travelled from DRC and one death. Intense contact tracing appeared to have prevented further spread, he added. While a US national who was working in the DRC has tested positive and been transferred to Germany for care, Tedros said another US national deemed to be a high-risk contact had been transferred to the Czech Republic.

Rwanda's health ministry announced Friday that any foreign nationals who had travelled through the neighbouring DRC would be refused entry. Rwandan nationals and foreigners with Rwandan residency would be allowed in, subject to a mandatory quarantine period "in line with public health protocols". In the Netherlands, Radboud University Hospital said Friday it had admitted a patient with a "low suspicion" of Ebola and had put him in isolation pending the result of diagnostic tests.

- Virus 'rampant' -

Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. It can cause severe bleeding and organ failure. The WHO upgraded its risk assessment level from high to very high for the DRC, while keeping the regional risk level at high and the global risk level at low. The assessment determines the potential impact of a public health threat and the necessary response measures, with WHO advice set to follow.

"The potential of this virus spreading rapidly is very high, and that changed the whole dynamic," said the WHO's emergency alert and response director Abdi Rahman Mahamud. Speaking from the field, Anne Ancia, the WHO's representative in the DRC, said the case numbers would keep rising until all the response operations could be put in place. The virus has been "rampant and silently disseminating for a few weeks already", she said.

"We are sprinting behind" playing catch-up, with the spread "not yet under control", she added. With no treatments or vaccines available, finding contacts and isolating them for 21 days was the only way to disrupt transmission, she said. WHO's Africa regional director Mohamed Yakub Janabi said Ebola had had a silent early phase, when symptoms resemble malaria or typhoid, meaning transmission can remain undetected. Ancia said rising case numbers at this stage was a "good sign" because it showed that surveillance and active discovery of cases were working.

- Treatment trials planned -

There have only been two previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo, in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012. With no approved treatments or vaccines for Bundibugyo, WHO chief scientist Sylvie Briand said the UN agency was prioritising all existing tools that might be useful in combating the outbreak. The WHO research and development branch's technical advisory group on treatments has prioritised two monoclonal antibodies for clinical trials: Regeneron 3479 and Mapp Biopharmaceutical's MBP134.

It also recommended evaluating the oral antiviral obeldesivir in clinical trials as post-exposure prophylaxis for people who are high-risk contacts. Briand said it looked "promising" as something that might be able to prevent infected contacts from going on to develop disease from that infection. As for vaccines, the Ervebo vaccine works against the Zaire strain of Ebola but there is "very little evidence of cross-protection for Bundibugyo", said Briand. While a Bundibugyo-specific equivalent has been worked on, even if prioritised it could take six to nine months to develop.

The number of confirmed measles patients was 165 in the last 24 hours while the number of confirmed measles patients was 8,494 during the last three months,  From March 15, a total of 49,389 suspected measles patients so far took admission in the hospital whereas 45,011 were recovered and released from the hospital during the same period. In last 24 hours,  a total of 12 children reported dead due to suspected measles cases while suspected death toll rose 426 between March 15 to May 23.

In Dhaka division, the highest 29,630 children so far have been infected with suspected measles, out of them 5,883 were confirmed infected with measles, the DGHS release added.

He made the remarks today while responding to a question from journalists after receiving medical equipment and saline supplied by the Red Cross and Red Crescent for the treatment of measles patients at the conference room of the Health Ministry at the Secretariat. He urged the people to remain careful during bus and train journeys as well as visits to relatives’ homes. The minuster further said healthy children must be kept away from children infected with measles. Likewise, infected patients should not be allowed to mix with others.  He stressed the need for greater public awareness regarding the issue.

As residents awaited medical supplies in the DRC's conflict-torn east, aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it had tried to send the sick in Ituri province to local hospitals, but was told: "We are full of suspected cases. We don't have any space." "This gives you a vision of how crazy it is right now," said MSF aid worker Trish Newport. No vaccine or therapeutic treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the outbreak -- the 17th in the vast central African country of more than 100 million people.

Tonnes of emergency medical supplies, including infection prevention kits and tents, as well as experts have arrived in recent days, local WHO footage showed. With the recent cases largely concentrated in hard-to-reach areas, few samples have been laboratory-tested and figures are based mostly on suspected cases.

Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters on Tuesday there had been 136 deaths suspected to be linked to Ebola and about 543 suspected cases, calling for international aid to help combat the spread. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was "deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic". The agency's representative in the DRC, Anne Ancia, said a vaccine candidate called Ervebo was being considered -- but that it would likely take at least two months to be available.

"I don't think that in two months we will be done with this outbreak," she added. At the hospital in Rwampara in northeastern Ituri province -- the epicentre of the outbreak, near the border with Uganda and South Sudan -- the response was slow, despite the surge in cases. A simple strip of plastic marked off the site reserved for receiving patients. "We dig graves and bury people who died without gloves or any protection. We're so exposed," Salama Bamunoba, from a local youth organisation, told AFP.

"We're already at about 100 cases. We didn't have an appropriate place to do triage and isolate suspected cases" until Monday, said one local hospital official. The DRC's deadliest Ebola outbreak, between 2018 and 2020, claimed nearly 2,300 lives from 3,500 cases. The east is a gold-mining hub with people regularly crisscrossing the region, and has been plagued by clashes between local militias for years.

The virus has already spread into neighbouring provinces, as well as beyond the DRC's borders into Uganda. Vaccines are only available for the Zaire strain of the disease, which has caused the biggest recorded outbreaks. The Bundibugyo strain has previously been responsible for outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and in the DRC in 2012. The mortality rate was 30 to 50 percent.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi urged citizens to keep "calm" and take precautions, the presidency said on X. Suspected cases have been reported in the commercial hub of Butembo in North Kivu province, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the epidemic's ground zero, Kamba said. Another case has been recorded in Goma, the North Kivu provincial capital, which was seized by fighters from anti-government militia M23 in January last year.

Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018, appealed to the Rwanda-backed group to reopen the city's airport to help combat the outbreak. Aid organisations are struggling with a drop in international aid, particularly from the United States since President Donald Trump's second term. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had released $13 million in aid to combat Ebola in the DRC, after sweeping US aid cuts last year, and claimed the WHO had been "a little late" identifying the outbreak.

Uganda said two Ebola cases -- one infection and one death -- had been recorded there, involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border. Germany meanwhile said it was readying to receive and treat a US citizen who has contracted the virus -- a doctor from an American Christian NGO. The United States announced it was screening air passengers from outbreak-hit areas and temporarily suspending visa services. But a State Department official said Washington would allow the DRC's national football team to travel to the United States for the World Cup.

Bahrain meanwhile announced a 30-day ban on visitors from the DRC, South Sudan and Uganda. Trump in one of his first acts on returning to office last year set in motion a US withdrawal from the WHO, which he attacked bitterly over its response to Covid.

A diplomatic source, who asked not to be identified, said it would be interesting to see how such outbreaks are used by WHO "to promote other things", including "to pressure (the United States and Argentina) not to go". The meeting of the WHO's annual decision-making assembly, which runs through Saturday, comes after a difficult year for the organisation. It has been weakened by the announced US withdrawal and by funding cuts that have forced it to slash its budget and staff numbers.

"We are stable now and moving forward," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted at the end of April. Diplomats and observers agreed. The situation is "still fragile, but they've been successful in mobilising most of the funds" required for the next two years, Surie Moon, co-director of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told AFP. And the hantavirus crisis provided "a clear illustration of why the world needs an effective, trusted, impartial, reliably-funded WHO", she added. But significant divisions persist. Continued disagreement between wealthy and developing nations has for instance blocked progress on the key missing piece of the WHO's landmark 2025 pandemic treaty, with negotiations now expected to be extended for another year.

It also remains unclear what, if anything, would be decided on the US and Argentinian announced withdrawals. US President Donald Trump, on his first day back in office in January 2025, handed the WHO his country's one-year withdrawal notice, with Argentina soon following suit. The WHO, whose constitution does not include a withdrawal clause, has not confirmed either withdrawal.

The United States reserved the right to withdraw when it joined the WHO in 1948 -- on condition of giving one year's notice and meeting its financial obligations in full for that fiscal year. While the notice period has expired, Washington has still not paid its 2024 or 2025 dues, owing around $260 million. When WHO's executive board met in January, Israel submitted a resolution to approve Argentina's withdrawal -- something countries are expected to discuss during the assembly -- but not a word was said about the US leaving.

Diplomats and observers indicated there was broad agreement that it would be better to maintain a grey zone around whether the US was effectively out. "We hope that it will go past quietly on the US," a European diplomat said on condition of anonymity. The assembly will take place as the process towards next year's election of a new WHO chief heats up. No one has yet declared their candidacy, but announcements are possible this week ahead of the nomination deadline of September 24.

A number of sensitive resolutions are also on the table, including on Ukraine, the Palestinian territories and Iran, which could spark heated debate. Much of this week's discussions will centre on whether to launch a formal reform process for the so-called "global health architecture" -- a mishmash of organisations that do not always work together and often overlap. "Among the issues to be explored are what is best done at the global and regional levels... and what is a national responsibility?" Helen Clark, co-chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and a former New Zealand prime minister, told AFP.

Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel told AFP that "this current crisis, with the departure of key players, also allows ... the WHO to re-examine its strategy with its members". A key focus will be to ensure the process does not see "controversial" issues, such as climate and sexual and reproductive health rights, sacrificed in the context of dwindling international aid funding. "The objective is to ensure better coordination among health actors, so that no activities or populations are left behind," said a diplomatic source, who asked not to be named. But Thiru Balasubramaniam of the Knowledge Ecology International NGO, told AFP the WHO had already "scaled down some of their activities, including in terms of sexual and reproductive health".

hese observations were made today at a public awareness seminar organised by the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority with technical assistance from the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, marking World Salt Awareness Week 2026. Faruq Ahmed, Director General of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department attended the event as the chief guest. He said excessive salt consumption has now become a silent public health threat. The overuse of salt in food is increasing the risk unknowingly of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

He further said that to ensure safe and healthy food, it is essential to clearly state accurate nutritional information on food packaging and effectively enforce it. Simultaneously, the government and all relevant parties must work in a coordinated manner to increase public awareness, strengthen food labelling systems, and promote healthy eating habits. The seminar was chaired by Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar, Chairman of the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority. The welcome address was delivered by Professor Dr. Mohammad Shoaib, Member (Food Industry and Production) of the Bangladesh Safe Food Authority.

Three people from the ship have died since it set sail from Argentina on April 1 for a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean. Two of the victims had confirmed Andes virus infections, and the third is listed as a "probable" case, according to the WHO. Hantavirus typically spreads from the urine, faeces and saliva of infected rodents.

There are no vaccines or specific treatments for the rare disease. All known cases in the current outbreak were people aboard the cruise ship. The case listed as inconclusive is an American passenger repatriated to the United States, who is "currently asymptomatic" and undergoing further testing after one positive and one negative result, the WHO said.

It maintained its assessment of the public-health risk from the outbreak at "moderate" for those who were on the ship and "low" for the rest of the world. The origin of the outbreak is still unknown. The WHO says the original infection happened before the cruise, because the first victim, a 70-year-old Dutch man, started showing symptoms on April 6, while the virus' incubation period is one to six weeks.

The vaccine was donated at a simple ceremony at the ministry conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning. Health and Family Affairs Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Li Shaopeng and Chief Business Director of Sinovac Biotech Limited LI Ning were present on the occasion. 

The polio (Poliomyelitis Vaccine, Vero Cell, Inactivated Sabin Strain - sIPV) vaccine manufactured by Sinovac has achieved pre-qualification from the WHO in 2022. As part of the global polio eradication efforts, Sinovac has already been successfully supplying this same vaccine to various international organisations including the United Nations (UN). Speaking on the occasion, the health minister expressed gratitude to China for donating the vaccine from the Sinovac Foundation during this difficult time of Bangladesh.

He said China has once again proven that it remains beside Bangladesh as a development partner. The health minister said although measles vaccines have been managed, many diseases including dengue, polio, and hanta virus are now looming. “Dealing with these diseases is now a challenge for the government. However, there is no shortage of vaccines for diseases such as polio and tuberculosis. Vaccination programmes for those are underway,” he said.

So far, almost all children from 6 months to 5 years have been vaccinated against measles, the health minister said, adding that the remaining children will be vaccinated soon. He said the "Vitamin A Capsule Campaign" will start soon.  Sakhawat Husain said various field hospitals are ready as a preparation for dengue and this number will be increased, if necessary.

Chinese Embassy Cultural Counselor Li Shaopeng also spoke on the occasion. LI Ning, Chief Business Director of Sinovac Biotech Limited said, "We are happy to be able to support Bangladesh's national vaccination programme. Sinovac is very proud. Today, we are pleased to donate 383,084 doses of WHO-prequalified polio (sIPV) vaccine manufactured by Sinovac to the Ministry of Health.”

Stating that polio is an infectious disease for children and vaccination is the most effective way to prevent polio, LI Ning said, “We hope that this donated vaccine will further strengthen the EPI programme in Bangladesh, ensure the safety of children and make an important contribution to the country’s polio eradication programme.” The Sinovac official said Sinovac is committed to working with Bangladesh in future to protect the health of the people of Bangladesh and improve the public health system, and further strengthen the friendship between China and Bangladesh.

The event was also attended by Second Secretary of the Chinese Embassy Huang Moucong, Head of International Regulatory of Sinovac Biotech Limited Wang Peng and senior officials from the ministry, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Department of Drug Administration and other relevant departments. 

Dr. Barua, former Line Director of TB and Leprosy at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), emphasized that community healthcare workers must lead the response. Dr Barua said evidence-based policymaking will be key to protecting the country’s most vulnerable children and ensuring long-term public health resilience. “Strengthening community-based surveillance and early detection is the most effective way to break that chain,” he said.

Dr Barua, also former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Chattogram, also suggested operating a robust epidemiological surveillance at the community level, where cases first appeared.  Public health specialists highlighted that community healthcare providers—including health assistants and family welfare workers—are stepping up efforts through door-to-door visits, early symptom identification, and real-time reporting. These frontline workers are also playing a role in raising awareness, encouraging vaccination, and ensuring timely referrals.

Strengthening these services is essential not only for surveillance but also for improving vaccination outcomes, according to the experts, “Community health workers are the bridge between the system and the people,” said Dr Barua, also former head of the department of community medicine at Chittagong Medical College. Experts also pointed to deeper structural issues driving the resurgence, including maternal under nutrition, low birth weight, and inadequate infant feeding practices, all of which weaken immunity and increase the severity of infection in children.

Dr. Barua noted that many affected families face overlapping vulnerabilities such as early marriage, poor maternal health, and lack of access to reliable primary healthcare services. “These are not just medical issues—they are social determinants of health,” he said. “Community-based healthcare services are uniquely positioned to address them through direct engagement with families.”

The government launched an emergency, nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign in April 2026, aiming to immunize 1.8 crore (18 million) children aged 6 to 59 months. The drive, supported by UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi, began in 30 high-risk upazilas on April 5, expanding nationwide by April 20 to combat a surge in cases. Over 96 percent children have already been vaccinated out of total target of vaccinating 18 million.

Experts also stressed the need to modernize epidemiological surveillance through digital reporting tools, active case detection, and continuous data analysis at the local level. Health officials said the spike in infections- now reported in 58 districts- is largely linked to disruptions in routine vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns, supply constraints during the previous government tenures and vaccine hesitancy caused many families to miss scheduled doses. “We are now seeing the consequences of that gap,” said Paediatric Medicine and Neonatology Professor Dr Begum Sharifun Naher, noting that cases are reported even among infants younger than the recommended vaccination age.

Health experts warn that single infected one can transmit the virus to as many as 18 others, underscoring the urgency of containment efforts. Doctors say common symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and inflamed eyes, followed by a red rash that typically begins behind the ears and spreads across the body.

While many cases resolve without complications, severe infections can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness and ear infections. “Breathing difficulties are a critical warning sign,” Dr Naher said, urging parents to seek immediate medical care if symptoms worsen.

Malnourished children are at high risk of severe illness and death, raising concerns among public health officials as nutritional deficiencies and delayed immunisation compound the threat. Bangladesh’s routine immunisation schedule provides measles vaccines at nine and 15 months. However, during the current outbreak, officials are encouraging additional doses, maintaining at least a one-month interval between shots.

Alongside vaccination, authorities are stressing preventive measures such as isolating infected children, wearing masks and maintaining hygiene to reduce household transmission. On May 6, a fresh consignment of vaccines, including 1.5 million doses of measles rubella (MR) vaccine and 9,00,000 doses of tetanus-diphtheria (Td), has arrived in the country as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the nationwide immunization programme. After receiving the shipment, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain expressed optimism that there will be no vaccine shortage in the coming days.

Husain said the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) had been affected by some decisions of the previous government, but the present administration has given it the highest priority. According to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), from March 15 to May 9, a total of 33,631 people have been admitted to hospitals with suspected measles.  At the same time, 29,746 people have recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

The DGHS data showed that 65 children have so far died from confirmed measles infections while 344 have died from suspected measles infections since March 15. A total of 34,909 suspected measles patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country during the period. Of them, 30,862 have recovered and been discharged after taking treatment in various health facilities in the country.

The cumulative number of suspected measles patients admitted to hospitals has reached 27,816 so far. Among the suspected measles patients, a total of 24,090 have recovered and left hospitals to date. Since March 15, a total of 244 suspected measles patients have died.

She noted that if detected at an early stage, the chances of successful treatment of cervical cancer are much higher. However, due to lack of awareness and social stigma, most patients seek medical care at a later stage, making treatment more complicated, she added. She further said that cervical cancer generally develops gradually over about 10 years and often shows no symptoms in its early stages. As a result, without regular screening, the disease may progress unnoticed, she said. When symptoms do appear, they may include abnormal vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding, especially after intercourse or post-menopause, and, in advanced stages, lower abdominal or back pain, said Dr Nargis.

She also said the main cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly types 16 and 18. It is usually transmitted through sexual contact, and persistent infection can gradually lead to abnormal changes in cervical cells, she noted. Women aged between 35 and 55 are at higher risk, she added. Early marriage and sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, repeated pregnancies, poor personal hygiene and smoking increase the risk of the disease, she said.

According to health experts, strengthening three pillars, regular screening, vaccination and widespread awareness, can significantly reduce the burden of cervical cancer in the country. As the first pillar of prevention, experts stressed the importance of regular screening. Deputy Chief Medical Officer of BIRDEM General Hospital and former Senior Medical Officer (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) Dr Syeda Riffat Binta Habib said the low-cost VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) method is being used in the country, which is recommended for women aged 30 to 60.

Pap smear and HPV DNA tests are also available. However, many women are unaware that these tests are accessible and often affordable, she added. Even when aware, many are reluctant to undergo screening due to shame, fear and misconceptions, she said. The second pillar is vaccination. According to experts, the HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing cervical cancer, especially among girls aged 9 to 13.

In Bangladesh, the vaccine has been introduced under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) since 2023 and its coverage is gradually expanding, said Dr Syeda Riffat. However, misconceptions about the vaccine persist, with some believing it to be harmful or unnecessary, which is hindering progress in vaccination efforts, she added. The third and most important pillar is public awareness. A clear lack of awareness exists in both urban and rural areas.

Many women are not even familiar with the disease, while others have only partial knowledge. As a result, they delay seeking necessary screening or treatment. According to physicians, this delay remains the biggest challenge. Dr Nargis believes that awareness cannot be increased without coordinated efforts from the media, educational institutions, families and the healthcare sector.

Introducing health education at the school level, regular media campaigns, community-based awareness programmes and open discussions on women's health are essential, she added. Families also need to encourage women to overcome fear and stigma and seek regular health check-ups, she said. Dr Syeda Riffat said local health workers can play a crucial role in raising awareness. If they engage directly with women at the community level and explain the issue in simple terms, fear and misconceptions can be reduced. Involving religious and community leaders can also be effective, as people tend to value their guidance. 

The notification said that from March 15 to April 19, the total number of confirmed measles patients was 3,443 and the number of suspected measles cases was 23,606. During the same period, 12,396 people have recovered from the hospital and returned home. Since March 15, 36 people have died from confirmed measles. At the same time, 181 people have died from suspected measles. 

During this time, the highest number of suspected measles cases was reported in Dhaka Division, where 10,343 people have been infected. Of these, 2,194 have been confirmed to have measles.  The DGHS is keeping a close watch on the situation and is regularly collecting and analyzing information through the Integrated Control Center. In addition to ensuring necessary medical care for patients, the people have been advised to remain aware.

Earlier, in response to the rising incidence of measles, the government on April 5 launched the first phase of a special measles-rubella vaccination campaign at 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts.During the period from April 5 to April 19, a total of 1,487,192 children were vaccinated in those upazilas, achieving 100 per cent of the target coverage. Under the first phase, 116,863 children were vaccinated in Barishal division, 166,478 in Chattogram, 600,134 in Dhaka, 74,585 in Khulna, 129,389 in Mymensingh and 399,743 in Rajshahi division. The government had set a target to vaccinate 2,180,105 children in these 30 upazilas, according to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

In the second phase, launched on April 12, the government carried out simultaneous vaccination in four major city corporations—Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal and Mymensingh. From April 12 to April 19, a total of 466,651 children received measles-rubella vaccines in the city corporations. Of them, 16,044 were vaccinated in Barishal City Corporation, 244,810 in Dhaka North, 188,902 in Dhaka South and 16,895 in Mymensingh City Corporation.

The government had set a target to vaccinate 976,838 children in the four city corporations and has so far achieved 93 per cent coverage. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said the measles situation has already improved due to timely government intervention. “There is no shortage of vaccines. We have sufficient stock to continue vaccination activities smoothly until June,” he said.

Public health experts said measles vaccines are highly effective and outbreaks usually decline within two to three weeks of campaign rollout if properly implemented. According to health authorities, the nationwide campaign will cover all children aged between six and 59 months with a single dose of the measles-rubella vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccination status. Vaccination will be carried out at nursery schools, kindergartens, ibtedayi institutions, maktabs, orphanages and child care centres for children under five years of age. Children who are not enrolled in educational institutions will receive vaccines at their nearest routine immunisation centres.

During the campaign, permanent vaccination centres will be set up at upazila health complexes, municipalities and city corporation hospitals, and in each ward of city corporations. Routine immunisation services will also continue alongside the campaign. Additional centres will be arranged for high-risk and hard-to-reach children, including those accompanying mothers at markets, factories and rice mills, as well as street children, slum children, children from nomadic communities, those staying with mothers in hospitals and prisons. These centres will provide vaccinations at convenient times, including in the afternoon or evening.

According to official data, as of April 19, a total of 3,443 confirmed measles cases and 23,606 suspected cases have been reported. During this period, 12,396 patients have recovered and returned home from hospitals. So far, 36 deaths from confirmed measles and 181 from suspected cases have been recorded. The highest number of suspected infections has been reported in Dhaka division, with 10,343 cases.

PIMS Onco-Surgery Services Director Dr Quresh Bambora said the institution is ready to extend direct support by sending skilled medical teams if requested by the Bangladesh government. He added that PIMS could also provide consultations and run awareness programs through digital platforms. Dr Bambora noted that PIMS offers comprehensive treatment packages for Bangladeshi patients -- covering accommodation, meals and diagnostic services -- at more affordable rates compared to many other hospitals in India.

He highlighted the institute's cost-effective care in areas such as cancer, gastroenterology and complex liver diseases, without hidden charges. Meanwhile, Director of Gastroenterology Surgery Services Dr Kamal Kishore Bishnoi emphasized that PIMS is not limited to patient care alone. He said the institute is also prepared to provide specialized training programs for Bangladeshi doctors, which would help them deliver modern, internationally standardized treatment services in the country.

At the same time, 151 people have died from suspected measles. During this time, the highest number of suspected measles cases was in Dhaka Division, where 6,658 people were infected. Of these, 1,473 people have been confirmed to have measles. The DGHS is continuously monitoring the situation and is regularly collecting and analyzing information through the Integrated Control Center. In addition to ensuring necessary medical care for patients, the people has been advised to remain vigilant.

The health minister said the government aims to bring 95 percent of children aged between six months and five years under measles vaccination coverage, expressing hope that achieving this target would significantly curb the spread of the disease. “Success in this campaign requires collective cooperation. With united efforts, we will be able to protect future generations from measles,” he added.

Highlighting the ongoing programme, the minister said vaccination activities have already started in 30 high-risk upazilas since April 5 and are now being expanded to key urban areas. “I believe that if the campaign is properly implemented in the two Dhaka city corporations over the next six months, we can achieve lasting success in controlling measles,” he said. Calling for cooperation from all levels of city corporation officials, he urged them to utilize their experience and organizational capacity to ensure the campaign’s success.

The health minister also stressed the need for stronger public engagement at the grassroots level to ensure full participation of eligible children aged between six and 59 months. “If necessary, awareness campaigns should be carried out in every lane and neighborhood to make the programme popular and ensure spontaneous participation,” he said, adding that special attention must be given to Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations.

He said that the government had already undertaken dengue prevention initiatives to safeguard future generations from epidemics and reiterated its commitment to building a healthy and safe population. The minister also mentioned the rapid establishment of an ICU unit at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Mohakhali and expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the World Health Organization for their support.

He urged city dwellers to remain vigilant and take preventive measures against dengue. Speaking as special guest, State Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid Habib said the rise in measles cases is concerning and called on the media to play a proactive role in raising awareness, particularly among working-class parents.

DSCC Administrator Freedom Fighter Md. Abdus Salam said the current measles situation is partly due to past negligence but reaffirmed their commitment to bringing every child under vaccination coverage through intensified field-level awareness. UNICEF Deputy Representative Emmanuelle Abrioux and other relevant officials were present at the event. Under the campaign in DSCC areas, a total of 402,456 children are targeted for vaccination. To achieve this, 540 vaccination centres—90 permanent and 450 temporary—have been set up. The month-long campaign will continue till May 11, with vaccinations administered daily from 9:00am to 4:00pm for all children aged between six months and under five years.

BNP National Executive Committee member Abdus Sattar Patwari, Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan, DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas, and DNCC Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Asaduzzaman were present.

It said that from March 15 to April 11, the total number of confirmed measles patients was 2,489 and the number of suspected measles cases was 14,385. As of March 15, 24 people have died from confirmed measles, it said, adding at the same time 145 people have died from suspected measles. During this time, the highest number of suspected measles cases was reported in Dhaka Division, where 6,078 people were infected. Of these, 1,350 people have been confirmed to have measles.

The DGHS is continuously monitoring the situation and is regularly collecting and analyzing information through the Integrated Control Center. In addition to ensuring necessary medical care for patients, the people have been advised to remain vigilant.

The chief guest at the discussion was Rajshahi Civil Surgeon Dr. S. I. M. Raziul Karim. He stated that there is no alternative to scientific healthcare services, the use of modern technology, and raising public awareness to ensure good health for people. He added that the healthcare system must be made more science-oriented to ensure preventive measures, timely disease detection, and effective treatment. 

The event was organized by the Civil Surgeon's Office, Rajshahi, with support from BRAC, BHP, DASCOH, Tilottoma Women's Voluntary Organization, RIC, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, FPAB, Diner Alo, Bachar Asha, Prochesta Welfare Organization, SWN, Damien Foundation, AHF, and APOS Rajshahi. 

The discussion was moderated by Medical Officer of the Civil Surgeon's Office Dr. S. M. Bayezid Ul Islam, and featured speeches from Additional Deputy Commissioner Belayet Hossain, Additional Superintendent of Police Shariful Islam, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Nasid Farhad, and WHO representative Dr. Mahiuddin Sharif. 

Also present were Medical Officers Dr. Nasrin Akter and Dr. Tamanna Kabir of the Civil Surgeon's Office, BRAC District Coordinator Mohsin Ali, Assistant District Coordinator Farzana Parvin, BRAC Health Program Area Manager Md. Masudur Rahman, Program Officer Rezaul Karim, President of Diner Alo Hijra Association Mohona, APOS Program Manager S. M. Abdullah Al Reza, along with officials from various government and non-government organizations in the district. 

Speakers at the event said that to ensure safe and quality healthcare for all, it is necessary to integrate scientific knowledge, research, and technology at every level of the healthcare system. To build a healthy and secure society, the government, the health sector, and non-governmental development organizations must work together.

Suspected measles cases caused 947 new infections and three additional deaths during the same period, the release added. Between March 15 and April 3, the DGHS confirmed 771 measles cases, while the number of suspected cases reached 5,792.

Nine deaths were confirmed during this period, with 94 suspected deaths linked to measles. The number of patients who have recovered so far stands at 2,527, according to the report.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, three more children died with measles symptoms. As of Wednesday morning, a total of 117 children with measles symptoms were admitted to RMCH, while 56 more were waiting for ICU beds. Dr Biswas said alternative measures have been taken to ease pressure on the ICU. Authorities have decided to temporarily use 10 ICU beds at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute in Rajshahi. 

One non-measles child has already been transferred there from RMCH, and the process of transferring more patients is ongoing. He added that the treatment of transferred patients will be carried out under the supervision of RMCH doctors, nurses and staff, with full cooperation from the National Heart Foundation Hospital authorities.

"Out of the 23 fresh cases, 11 were hospitalised in Barishal division, three in Chattogram division, six in Dhaka division, two in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and one in Khulna division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said. Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year claimed four lives and inflicted 1,816 people.

The dengue last year claimed 413 lives and inflicted 1,02,861 people in the country. Besides, the dengue claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in 2024.

Meningitis is an inflammation of tissues around the brain and spinal cord caused by infection with a range of different viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. Bacterial infections are both rarer and more deadly than viral ones. It was a bacterial infection outbreak in the English county of Kent that prompted more than 10,000 people to get vaccinated in the area over the last two weeks. Since 2000, the widespread availability of vaccines has brought down the number of meningitis cases and deaths across the world.

However 259,000 people were estimated to have died worldwide in 2023, according to the new research by the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The "African meningitis belt", which stretches across the continent from Senegal to Ethiopia, had the highest rate of cases. Nigeria, Chad and Niger were particularly hard hit. Low birthweight, premature birth and air pollution were the biggest risk factors, the study found. It also warned the World Health Organization was unlikely to reach its 2030 target for meningitis.

The WHO has a goal of slashing the global number of bacterial meningitis cases by 50 percent -- and deaths by 70 percent -- from 2015 levels by the end of this decade. However annual deaths and cases were only falling by half the rate needed to meet this target, the study found. "Accelerated efforts -- including expanding immunisation, improving access to care, and strengthening diagnostics and surveillance -- are essential to achieve these targets," it said. Many deaths from meningitis go unreported, particularly in developing countries, meaning that some figures could be underestimated, the researchers cautioned.

The study was based on figures from the Global Burden of Disease study from the IHME, which brings together thousands of researchers across the world and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Under Kennedy the US Department of Health and Human Services has announced sweeping changes to the pediatric vaccine schedule, cutting the number of shots universally recommended including for diseases like flu and hepatitis A. The health secretary additionally stacked a key immunization advisory panel (ACIP) with figures whose anti-vaccine sentiment mirrors his own, having fired the previous members of the influential group. Several leading medical groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians sued over the policy changes, and on Monday Judge Brian Murphy contended that the organizations were likely to succeed in court on their argument that the shifts were "arbitrary and capricious."

"There is a method to how these decisions historically have been made -- a method scientific in nature and codified into law through procedural requirements," the judge wrote. "Unfortunately, the government has disregarded those methods and thereby undermined the integrity of its actions." The decision blocks implementation of the recommendations made by the Kennedy-era ACIP committee. It also said the January memo that upended the childhood vaccine schedule and reduced universal immunization recommendations had not followed proper procedure, as it bypassed the ACIP panel entirely, a move Murphy determined was unlawful.

Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon told AFP in a statement that the department "looks forward to this judge's decision being overturned." An HHS official told AFP a two-day meeting of the ACIP committee scheduled for this week had been postponed. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the order "historic and welcome," saying in a statement the changes had "sowed chaos and confusion for parents and pediatricians across the country."

"This decision effectively means that a science-based process for developing immunization recommendations is not to be trifled with and represents a critical step to restoring scientific decision-making to federal vaccine policy that has kept children healthy for years." The ruling will almost certainly be appealed, opening the door to a lengthy legal roller coaster that will pit major medical organizations against the federal government, as the question of who has the final say on shaping immunization policies weaves its way through the courts.

Since Kennedy's revamped ACIP began meeting last year, they have made numerous decisions that have alarmed the medical establishment. Prominent experts in the medical field have said the panel's advice has endangered public health and the nation's children. For example, the panel no longer recommends that all newborns in the United States receive a hepatitis B vaccine, a highly infectious disease that can lead to incurable liver damage. In his decision Monday, the judge wrote that "of the fifteen members currently on ACIP, even under the most generous reading, only six appear to have any meaningful experience in vaccines -- the very focus of ACIP."

It is one of the most frequently performed surgeries undertaken in high-income countries. However, "half of the world's population in need of cataract surgery don't have access to it", said Stuart Keel, the UN health agency's technical lead for eye care. The situation is worst in the WHO's Africa region, where three in four people needing cataract surgery remain untreated.

In Kenya, at the current rate, 77 percent of people needing cataract surgery are likely to die with their cataract blindness or vision impairment, said Keel. Across all regions, women consistently experience lower access to care than men. Of the 94 million affected, fewer than 20 percent are blind, while the rest suffer from impaired vision. The WHO said that over the past two decades, global cataract surgery coverage had increased by 15 percent.

In 2021, WHO member states set a target of a 30-percent increase by 2030. However, current modelling predicts that cataract surgery coverage will rise by only about 8.4 percent this decade. To close the gap, the WHO urged countries to integrate eye examinations into primary healthcare and invest in the required surgical equipment.

States should also expand the eye-care workforce, training surgeons in a standardised manner and then distributing them throughout the country, notably outside major cities. The WHO was on Wednesday launching new guidance for countries on how to provide quality cataract surgery services. It will also issue guidance to help support workforce development. Keel said the main issue was capacity and financing.

"We do need money invested to get rid of this backlog, which is nearly 100 million people," he told a press conference. While age is the primary risk factor for cataracts, others include prolonged UV-B light exposure, tobacco use, prolonged corticosteroid use and diabetes. Keel urged people to keep up regular eye checks as they get older, with most problems able to be either prevented or diagnosed and treated. The cost of the new lens that goes inside the eye can be under $100.

However, out-of-pocket costs can be higher when not covered by health insurance. "Cataract surgery is one of the most powerful tools we have to restore vision and transform lives," said Devora Kestel, head of the WHO's noncommunicable diseases and mental health department. "When people regain their sight, they regain independence, dignity, and opportunity."

Besides, a total of 21 patients were discharged from hospitals during the period, taking the total number of recovered patients to 1,062 this year.  However, since January 1, 2026, a total of 1,158 dengue cases have been reported. Of them, 63.7 percent are male and 36.3 percent are female. The death toll from the disease stands at three this year.

Last year, 413 people died from dengue while 1,02,861 cases were recorded across the country. In 2024, the disease claimed 575 lives with 1,01,214 reported cases.

The adviser made these remarks as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting titled "NGO Engagement in Health Services", held at the conference room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter and Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Health and Family Welfare Ministry Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman spoke as the special guests with Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman in the chair.

In her speech, Farida Akhter emphasized the need to train midwives to prevent maternal and child mortality, noting that across the country-especially in rural areas-there is heavy reliance on midwives. She also said that focusing solely on environmental movements is not enough; awareness activities to prevent non-communicable diseases must be increased.

Speakers at the meeting stressed the importance of giving attention to mental health and eye health. They also highlighted the need to ensure that fast-food shops are not located near educational institutions. They pointed out that child marriage affects not only girls but also boys, who are being married off at an early age, and emphasized the need to work on this issue as well. The speakers underscored the necessity of Universal Health Coverage and expressed hope that health service centers would become more patient-friendly. 

At the event, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a special honor was awarded to Valerie Ann Taylor, planner and founder of Bangladesh's voluntary physiotherapy organization, the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP).

Hafsa, a mental health student, was spurred to act after an acquaintance delayed seeking medical help for their child, meaning the youth's condition deteriorated by the time they sought help. "I got a call from a mom that that's a immigrant and she was afraid to go to the hospital, and her child is now in the Intensive Care Unit," said the Somali-born American who, like all of the St. Paul-based volunteers, gave only their first name for fear of retaliation. Somalis have been at the forefront of Donald Trump's aggressive anti-immigrant campaign, with the US president branding the community "garbage," questioning its intelligence and calling for deportations to intensify.

Immigration officers have been seen at hospitals and clinics, waiting for patients and questioning them about their legal status, according to a recent article in the American Journal of Managed Care. That has led to a surge in "healthcare avoidance" in the Somali and Hispanic communities, it reported. Beyond connecting people in St. Paul, which along with Minneapolis makes up the Twin Cities, to health care workers willing to make house calls, the volunteers also devote resources to vetting the medical staff themselves.

"It is a lot of work because you want to make sure that whoever you're sending to that person's house is somebody who doesn't have any ill intentions. So you're making a lot of calls," said Hafsa, 25. Care is taken to ensure the travelling health workers are not followed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers as they drive to migrants' homes. The small, informal team of volunteers spends upwards of 12 hours daily answering calls, matching community members to care, and onboarding the professionals.

"You get their skills, and then... there might be an intake form where they can list all that and their availability," said volunteer Cass, 43, a compliance officer in health care. "It's project management 101," she added. Beyond the slick, computerized tools, the volunteers rely on community contacts to raise awareness and receive referrals. "It's just word of mouth," said Musab, 34, an entrepreneur.

He pointed to one of the women supporting the service and said she was "locked in with every single community member." "We're a very collective community, so we know about each other's statuses. So somebody would just call and say 'Hey, this person is sick or whatever'." Hafsa likened the community response in the face of the unprecedented immigration crackdown to giving first aid to a wounded patient. "We need as many hands on our body, patching all the wounds," she said.

After receiving an urgent call, Musab rose and put on his heavy down coat to fend off the bitterly cold conditions. "This brother actually works with people in recovery... So I think one of the kids might be sick, so I'm about to just go see kind of what I can help them out with and what they need," he said heading out. The volunteers' staging space, an events center in St. Paul, has been volunteered by a Somali businesswoman who made sweetened tea for the team.

A room set aside for brides-to-be has been converted into a storeroom for the medical supplies and cold weather gear being donated from across the United States. Hafsa said the well-wishes that have accompanied the donations arriving in Amazon packages were helping to keep her going. "I cry from gratitude," she said.

Of the newly admitted patients, six are from Barishal Division (outside city corporation areas), six from Chattogram Division (outside city corporation areas), three from Dhaka North City Corporation, three from Dhaka South City Corporation and one from Khulna Division (outside city corporation areas). During the same period, 34 dengue patients were discharged, bringing the total number of released persons this year to 733.

So far in 2026, a total of 893 people have been infected with dengue, including 62.7 percent males and 37.3 percent females, with two deaths reported this year. A total of 102,861 people were infected and 413 died of dengue in 2025, while in 2024, 101,214 people were infected and 575 died of the disease.

The country recorded more than 2,200 cases and three deaths in 2025, including those of two young children. Infections have continued to surge in 2026. President Donald Trump's health secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr, has been accused of contributing to the crisis by fueling fears of immunizations. In South Carolina, 88 new cases have been reported since Friday, the state's public health department said Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections to 646 since the outbreak was detected last fall.

The majority of those infected were unvaccinated, the department said. Cases have been identified at elementary, middle and high schools as well as two universities. Measles infections have been reported in eight other states since the beginning of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading health agency in the United States. Health authorities worry the United States could lose its "measles-free" status, which it earned in 2000 after eradicating the disease through vaccinations.

In April, the Pan American Health Organization will reassess the measles status of the United States and Mexico, which is also experiencing a resurgence of the disease. Canada lost its status in November, after recording more than 5,000 cases last year. Measles causes fever, respiratory symptoms and rash. In serious cases, complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation can lead to severe long-term effects and death.

The experts made these remarks at a seminar titled 'Thyroid Nodule and Cancer: Update and Beyond' held at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU). They informed that although the cases of thyroid cancer have increased worldwide in the last three decades, in most cases it can be completely cured through treatment. However, the expected results are not achieved in a very small number of cases.

In the keynote address at the seminar Dr KMM Abdus Sattar, a professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Department at BMU, said research shows that in many thyroid cancers, complete removal of the gland is not necessary. By performing only the operation of the affected part, the patient can live a healthy life for a long time, he said. Dr Sattar said some thyroid cancers remain in a stable state for a long time and do not pose any significant risk. 

So, he said, it is very important to provide treatment by understanding the type and behaviour of the disease. “This significantly reduces both the patient's medical risks and financial costs. Even, in the case of complex or bad types of thyroid cancer, there are currently advanced and effective treatment methods,” he noted. BMU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Admin) Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Dev) Professor Dr Md Mujibur Rahman Hawlader were present at the seminar with seminar sub-committee chairman Professor Dr Afzalun Nessa in the chair.

Prof Mujibur Rahman Hawlader in his speech put emphasis on increasing public awareness about thyroid cancer and strengthening research in this sector. Professor Dr AKM Fazlul Bari, Director of NINMAS and Head of the Thyroid Division, presented an paper titled 'The Thyroid Mystery: Findings and Fixing Nodules'.

During the same period, 29 new dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country, a press release from Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said today. Of the newly admitted patients, seven were hospitalized in Barishal division (outside city corporation areas), five in Dhaka North City Corporation, five in Dhaka South City Corporation, eight in Chattogram division (outside city corporation areas), and four in Khulna division (outside city corporation areas).

Running from 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm, the camp saw a team of doctors providing treatment and distributing medicines at no cost. Every patient who attended received both medical services and the required medicines during the programme. Hakimpur Upazila BNP General Secretary Sakhawat Hossain Shilpi said Dr Zahid Hossain is a humane and well-known physician in the country, and being a local resident, he engaged himself in such humanitarian service after witnessing the sufferings of people affected by cold-related diseases. 

Over the last 15 days, he said, Dr Zahid visited most villages of four upazilas of Dinajpur-6 constituency, including Ghoraghat, Nawabganj, Birampur and Hakimpur, and observed the condition of cold-affected people firsthand.  Many poor families, elderly people and children were suffering without treatment due to cold-related illnesses, which inspired him to initiate free medical services and medicine distribution to ensure healthcare for the people of the area, he said. 

He also added that such initiatives have been receiving appreciation from people of all walks of life. Through the medical camp, children, women, elderly and people from all professions received free treatment, necessary health advice and medicines. Ghoraghat Upazila BNP President SM Shamim Hossain Chowdhury said such initiatives have brought great relief to marginalised people amid prevailing health risks and financial hardship. Under the supervision of experienced doctors, diagnosis, primary treatment and awareness-building health advice are being provided, which is playing an important role in ensuring public health, he noted.

While speaking, Dr Zahid Hossain said humanity can be expressed through service and he only tried to provide some medical services to cold-affected people of his area during the severe winter.  Standing beside people is the real foundation of development, he added, saying that healthy people can build a strong society and a prosperous future. Dr Zahid expressed his sincere gratitude and greetings to all concerned doctors, volunteers and organisers involved in the noble initiative and expressed hope that such humanitarian activities would continue for the people of the area in the future.

Deputy Director Mohammad Ashraful Alam said the reopening came after long-standing efforts by the administration.  He acknowledged that previous attempts had failed due to resistance from influential quarters. "Today, we have finally succeeded in reopening the gate for the overall benefit of the hospital and patients. I sincerely thank the director for his firm stance," he said. The reopening of the Amtala 52 Gate is being seen as both a practical solution to traffic woes and a symbolic restoration of a historic landmark of the Language Movement.

With the reopening of the alternative Amtala Gate, vehicles will now be able to enter through one gate and exit through another, ensuring smoother and faster access for emergency patients. Previously, ambulances carrying patients from Dhaka and various districts were forced to use a single gate, often causing severe traffic jams.  Officials at Dhaka Medical College said the gate had remained closed for almost 40 years, despite being briefly opened about two years ago before shutting again after just 15 days for undisclosed reasons.  This time, following direct instructions from the DMCH Director, the gate has been permanently reopened for public use.

One such case is that of Rokeya, a 60-year-old woman, who was admitted to a hospital after experiencing severe back pain, which worsened with the cold. Health officials noted that cases among children and the elderly have increased during the cold wave. The number of patients has risen in recent days as temperatures continue to remain low.  Authorities are urging residents, especially the elderly and children, to take necessary precautions during the cold spell.

Dr Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Hannan, Deputy Director of Rajbari Sadar Hospital, said, "The drop in temperature is leading to an increase in cold-related illnesses. Patients are being treated according to medical requirements." Residents are advised to keep warm, maintain personal hygiene, and seek medical care promptly if symptoms worsen.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year the disease inflicted 577 people. The dengue last year claimed 413 lives and inflicted 1,02,861 people in the country. Besides, the dengue claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in 2024.

According to the bulletin, among the newly hospitalized patients, nine were admitted in Barishal Division (outside city corporation areas), four in Chattogram Division (outside city corporation areas), one in Dhaka Division (outside city corporation areas), six in Dhaka North City Corporation, seven in Dhaka South City Corporation, five in Khulna Division (outside city corporation areas), one in Mymensingh Division (outside city corporation areas) and two in Rajshahi Division (outside city corporation areas).

During the same period, 71 dengue patients were discharged from hospitals. With this, a total of 257 patients have been released from hospitals so far this year. From January 1 to January 8, 2026, a total of 465 dengue cases were recorded across the country, of which 57.1 percent were male and 42.9 percent were female. Meanwhile, from January 1 to December 31, 2025, a total of 1,02,861 dengue cases were reported in the country, with 413 deaths.

The preservatives included nitrites and nitrates, which are often used to cure ham, bacon and sausages. The second study, published in Nature Communications, also found a link between eating some food additives and developing type 2 diabetes. Both studies were based on an ongoing research project in which more than 100,000 French people fill out regular questionnaires about their diet.

French epidemiologist Mathilde Touvier, who supervised both studies, told AFP that "consuming products with preservatives does not mean you will immediately develop cancer". "But we need to limit how much we are exposed to these products," she said. "The message for the general public is to choose the least processed foods when shopping in the supermarket." The strongest link found in the first study was between sodium nitrite and prostate cancer, which increased the risk by around a third.

However, the level of increased risk remained moderate. For comparison, heavy smoking raises the risk of getting lung cancer by more than 15 times. Potassium sorbate, which is commonly used to stop mould and bacteria from growing in food and drink, was associated with twice the risk of developing diabetes. Researchers not involved in the studies praised its robust methodology but warned it was premature for consumers to change their behaviour until more research is conducted.

Tom Sanders, a nutrition expert at King's College London, cautioned that the results could be "due to an inability to completely correct for other factors already known to contribute to risk". For example, processed meat and alcohol are both already strongly linked to higher cancer rates. This could mean that it was not sodium metabisulphite -- which is used in winemaking to kill yeast -- that was causing cancer, but actually drinking the wine, Sanders suggested.

But one option could be to label foods "that use nitrates/nitrites with a health warning", he added. The studies were published days after the UK banned daytime TV, radio and online advertisements for unhealthy food and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar.

"Out of the 120 fresh cases, 12 were hospitalised in Barishal division, 59 in Chattogram division, six in Dhaka division excluding capital, 18 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 10 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, three in Khulna division, nine in Mymensingh division, one in Rajshahi division and two in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said. Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 413 deaths while the disease inflicted 102,793. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

The FDA had already approved a pill to be used for treating diabetes, but the new development now allows doctors to prescribe the treatment for weight loss. The new generation of appetite-suppressing drugs using GLP-1 agonists -- which include the brands Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro -- have exploded in popularity in recent years due to their ability to help people lose weight.

US President Donald Trump last month announced deals with Novo Nordisk as well as Eli Lilly to lower the prices of some of their weight-loss drugs in exchange for certainty around tariffs. The drugs, which can cost more than $1,000 a month for US residents, could offer starting oral doses for as little as $150 under the deal, though the price for injectables would be higher.

“Out of the 165 fresh cases, eight were hospitalised in Barishal division, 27 in Chattogram division, 24 in Dhaka division excluding capital, 33 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 43 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 10 in Khulna division, 13 in Mymensingh division, four in Rajshahi division, two in Rangpur division and one in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 412 deaths while the disease inflicted 101,956. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

As part of a federal republic, provinces in Argentina have a large degree of autonomy over health services. In August, Mendoza province adopted a new regulation allowing authorities to identify parents who fail to have their children vaccinated. Under the new provisions, health workers and teachers are required to report non-compliant parents, who could face fines of up to 336,000 pesos ($230), be sentenced to community service or even be sent to prison for a few days.

"The idea is not to persecute families and parents but to manage to immunize thousands of children whose vaccines are not up to date," Montero said. He said the punitive approach was producing results, prompting three people targeted in the lawsuits to quickly update their children's vaccinations.

Local authorities said they are witnessing more of a laissez-faire attitude to vaccines than an ideological refusal of immunization on, for example, religious grounds. The overall vaccination rate is 65 percent but for some diseases, like measles, rubella and mumps, it hovers at around 50 percent.

This year, the South American country recorded its first significant outbreak of measles in a generation, with 35 cases reported. Health authorities have also reported hundreds of cases of whooping cough. Seven children have died from the disease.

NHS figures published on Thursday showed flu cases at a record level for the time of year. The number of cases jumped 55 percent in a week to an average of 2,660 patients in hospital each day last week. "With record demand... and an impending resident (junior) doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year," said NHS National Medical Director Meghana Pandit. Health minister Wes Streeting told The Times newspaper the numbers could triple before they peak and said the situation in hospitals was already "inexcusable".

The functioning of the NHS is a major political issue in Britain, with Starmer's beleaguered Labour government under pressure to bring down waiting times. The planned strike from Wednesday will be the 14th walkout by medics since March 2023 if it goes ahead. Attempts to reduce patient waiting lists have been affected in part by the repeated industrial action by both resident doctors and consultants. The resident doctors -- those below consultant level -- are in dispute with the government over pay and a shortage of training opportunities.

Streeting has agreed to the doctors' union's demand that UK-trained medics get priority for training posts over candidates from overseas. The number of training places will also be boosted. "A good deal is on the table," wrote Starmer. "My message to the doctors is simple -- take it." But Streeting insisted the government "cannot and will not move on pay, especially not after a 28.9-percent pay rise over the last three years and the highest pay award across the entire public sector in the last two".

The British Medical Association, which represents resident doctors, is demanding an extra 26 percent it says is needed to achieve pay restoration after years of below inflation pay deals. It is due to put the government's new deal to members in an online survey, which will close on Monday. 

(outside city corporations), 105 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), 75 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), 14 in Khulna Division (outside city corporations), 18 in Mymensingh Division (outside city corporations), 19 in Rajshahi Division (outside city corporations) and two in Sylhet Division (outside city corporations). During the last 24 hours, 413 dengue patients were discharged from different hospitals. With this, a total of 98,282 dengue patients have been released from hospitals, so far, this year. A total of 404 dengue-related deaths have been recorded, so far, this year. In 2024, the country reported 101,214 dengue cases and 575 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.

Nurjahan Begum said the Interim Government has been working relentlessly to address key national issues in different sectors including health sectors. Everybody should work together for creating awareness among common people regarding prevention of diseases, she said. “We’re still lagging behind in many areas including SDG’s though we are supposed to go far in the meantime based on the national potentials,” she pointed out. 

M Abu Tayeb, Dr. Probir Kumer Das of CMCH also spoke on the occasion held with Chattogram Heart Foundation President M A Salam in the chair. Later, the health adviser visited the Lions Charitable Eye Hospital and Chattogram Kidney Foundation Hospital in the city. During her visit, the adviser talked to the patients, and saw herself the present activities as well as future plans of the hospitals.

“Out of the 377 fresh cases, 27 were hospitalised in Barishal division, 55 in Chattogram division, 76 Dhaka division excluding capital, 58 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 88 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 28 in Khulna division, 19 in Mymensingh division, 21 in Rajshahi division, two in Rangpur division and three in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh, this year witnessed so far 401 deaths while the disease inflicted 99,082. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 101,214 people in the country.

The approach has virtually eradicated hepatitis B infections among young people in the United States. Hepatitis B is a viral liver disease that can be transmitted by the mother during childbirth and puts those affected at high risk of death from cirrhosis or liver cancer. After delaying the vote by a day, the panel eventually passed its new recommendation for "individual-based decision-making," in consultation with a health care provider, when children are born to mothers testing negatively for the disease.

The decision should "consider vaccine benefits, vaccine risks, and infection risks." It also recommends that babies who are not vaccinated at birth wait at least two months to get the initial dose. Under Kennedy, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is now composed largely of figures criticized by the scientific community for lack of expertise or their promotion of vaccine-skeptic theories. The vote was 8-3. Trump-appointed officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are widely expected to formally adopt the recommendations at a later date.

Since 1991, US health officials have recommended the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, as is done in countries including China and Australia and is recommended by the World Health Organization. But several ACIP members have argued that Friday's decision aligns the US vaccination schedule with those of other economically developed countries such as France and Britain. Medical experts say such a change is risky in the United States, pointing to shortcomings in maternal screening, with delays likely to cause a drop in vaccination rates in a country where access to health care can be complicated.

"This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children," American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan J. Kressly said in a statement. The repercussions of the ACIP's vaccine recommendations are broad because federal guidelines often dictate whether vaccines are paid for by health insurance companies in the United States, where a vaccine can cost hundreds of dollars.

On Friday, the panel is set to begin a broader review of the childhood vaccination schedule and the composition of vaccines. But the committee's influence is waning amid withering criticism from the US scientific and medical community, with Democratic-led states announcing they will no longer follow its recommendations. Some in Trump's own Republican party have also pushed back against the ACIP's actions, including Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy.

Cassidy, a medical doctor who provided a key vote to allow Kennedy's nomination to succeed, condemned the ACIP's decision, noting the original recommendation was "NOT a mandate" to get the jab. CDC officials "should not sign these new recommendations and instead retain the current, evidence-based approach," he said on X. Ahead of the vote, Dr. Cody Meissner, one of the few dissenting voices on the advisory committee, urged his colleagues not to change the current recommendations. "Do no harm is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording," he warned.

The approach aimed, in part, to prevent transfers from mothers who unknowingly had hepatitis B or had falsely tested negative, and had virtually eradicated infections of the potentially deadly liver disease among young people in the country. After delaying the vote by a day, the panel on Friday passed its new recommendation for "individual-based decision-making," in consultation with a health care provider, when children are born to mothers testing negatively for the disease. The decision to vaccinate at birth should "consider vaccine benefits, vaccine risks, and infection risks."

Trump hailed the move as "a very good decision" on his Truth Social platform. But the new recommendation was immediately condemned by several medical groups who noted widespread shortcomings in US maternal health screening as well as the possibility of infections from others. "This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children," American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan J. Kressly said in a statement.

The vote was 8-3. Trump-appointed officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are expected to formally adopt the recommendations at a later date. The panel also voted to recommend that babies who are not vaccinated at birth wait at least two months to get the initial dose, and that blood tests be done to measure antibodies before a second dose. After becoming health secretary, Kennedy sacked every member of the once-staid Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing them with figures whose vaccine-skeptic views track more closely with his own.

It has since set to work on reviewing prior recommendations -- already tweaking advice on Covid-19 and measles shots. Medical experts fear the push could further contribute to declining vaccination rates in the United States. The panel on Friday also began a broader review of the childhood vaccination schedule, and sparked further controversy by allowing testimony from lawyer Aaron Siri, a close Kennedy associate known for spreading unfounded theories on the subject.

While Trump vocally supports Kennedy's policies, some in the Republican Party have pushed back, notably Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy, a medical doctor, condemned the ACIP decision, noting the original recommendation was never "a mandate" to get the jab. CDC officials "should not sign these new recommendations and instead retain the current, evidence-based approach," he said on X.

Cassidy's expression of alarm, like his prior statements against Kennedy, provoked criticism after he provided the key vote to confirm the health secretary in February. The United States had urged universal vaccination at birth against hepatitis B since 1991, advice also recommended by China, Australia and the World Health Organization. But several ACIP members argued that Friday's decision would align the United States with other economically developed countries such as France and Britain.

The repercussions of the ACIP's vaccine recommendations are broad because federal guidelines often dictate whether vaccines are paid for by health insurance companies in the United States, where a vaccine can cost hundreds of dollars. But the committee's influence is waning amid withering criticism from the US scientific and medical community, with Democratic-led states announcing they will no longer follow its recommendations.

Ahead of the vote, Cody Meissner, one of the few dissenting voices on the advisory committee, urged his colleagues not to change the current recommendations. "Do no harm is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording," he warned.

But the heartbeat of the treaty, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, was left aside in order to get the deal over the line. Countries were given another year to thrash out the details of how it will work. The PABS mechanism deals with sharing access to pathogens with pandemic potential, then sharing the benefits derived from them: vaccines, tests and treatments.

Countries are tasked with getting the PABS system finalised by the next World Health Assembly in mid-May. The annual gathering of member states is the WHO's decision-making body. "This is both a generational opportunity and a generational responsibility," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, after countries wrapped up a week of talks. "As we get ready to close out this year, we are in a strong position to forge consensus, finalise the draft, and prepare for adoption at next year's World Health Assembly.

"Together, we are moving toward a world that is better prepared for future pandemics." Countries will resume their fourth round of talks on January 20-22. Once the PABS system is finalised, the entire agreement can then be ratified by members, with 60 ratifications required for the treaty to enter into force. "As we cross the half-way mark in negotiations on the PABS system, I am encouraged by the progress we've made towards enabling a faster and more equitable global response to future pandemics," said Matthew Harpur, co-chair of the talks.

Co-chair Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil added: "We are confident we can build a strong and balanced PABS system that will benefit all people."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the agreement in Washington with Kenyan President William Ruto, whom he praised for the longtime US partner's assistance in troubled Haiti. "If we had five or 10 countries willing to step forward and do just half of what Kenya has done already, it would be an extraordinary achievement," Rubio said. Kenya has led a security force to stabilize Haiti, wracked by years of violence.

Under the agreement, the United States will provide $1.6 billion over five years to Kenya to work on health issues including combating HIV/AIDS and malaria and preventing polio. Kenya will contribute another $850 million with an agreement to gradually take on more responsibility. Ruto said the agreement would contribute to Kenya's priorities including buying modern equipment for hospitals and boosting the health workforce.

"The framework we sign today adds momentum to my administration's universal health coverage," Ruto said. Trump, on his return to the White House this year, shut down the US Agency for International Development, the world's largest aid agency, as he vowed an "America First" policy. An international group of researchers last month found that cuts by the United States and other countries could lead to the preventable deaths of more than 22 million people, many of them children, by 2030. Rubio has previously denied any deaths from aid cuts and has railed against Western non-governmental organizations with long involvement in the developing world.

"We are not going to spend billions of dollars funding the NGO industrial complex while close and important partners like Kenya either have no role to play or have very little influence over how health care money is being spent," Rubio said. US assistance cuts met wide criticism from the development world, but the United Nations agency in charge of combatting HIV/AIDS praised the Kenya agreement.

UNAIDS said the agreement marks "a milestone in the future of global health cooperation," and is consistent with its goal of reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 90 precent by 2030 compared with 2010 levels. Jeremy Lewin, who is in charge of foreign assistance at the State Department under Trump, said the United States would refuse accords with countries with which it has disagreements and named South Africa, which has the world's largest population of HIV-positive people.

Trump has accused post-apartheid South Africa of targeting killings of the white minority. The government denies the claims, which have been fanned by far-right social media accounts. Lewin said the United States would also direct aid increasingly to religious groups. He rejected criticism that the new approach could sideline marginalized and at-risk people, such as gay men in Uganda, where homosexuality can technically be punishable by death. "We believe that the structure that we've set up will reduce cases, whether they're from the LGBT community or other people that are at high risk," he said.

But it had to postpone until Friday its decision on doing the same for hepatitis B shots due to confusion and resistance from some committee members who sought more time to evaluate the implications of the proposed change. Under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, ACIP is now composed largely of figures criticized by the scientific community for lack of expertise or their promotion of vaccine-skeptic theories. It has initiated a broad review of the safety of several vaccines, some of which have been in use for decades.

The shift led by the nation's health chief -- who has long voiced anti-vaccine rhetoric despite his lack of medical credentials -- is causing alarm in the American medical and scientific community. Experts have warned about dropping immunization rates and the return of deadly contagious diseases like the measles, which caused several deaths in 2025. Since 1991, US health officials have recommended the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, as is done in countries like China and Australia and is recommended by the World Health Organization.

The viral liver disease exposes infected individuals to a high risk of death from cirrhosis or liver cancer. Vaccination of newborns has virtually eradicated hepatitis B infections among young people in the United States. But a proposal unveiled Thursday said the shot should be limited to babies whose mothers are carriers of the disease. Other children would receive their first dose at two months. According to several ACIP members, such a change would align the US vaccination schedule with those of other developed countries like France and Britain.

But medical experts said such a change is risky in the United States, pointing to shortcomings in maternal screening, with delays likely to cause a drop in vaccination rates in a country where access to health care can be complicated. Delaying the hepatitis B vaccine is "irresponsible, disrespectful and very damaging," Flor Munoz of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said Thursday, warning of risks to the most vulnerable patients.

"Ninety percent of babies infected with hepatitis B will go on to have chronic liver disease. Of those, a quarter will die from their hepatitis B infection. These are entirely preventable deaths," said Sean O'Leary, an infectious disease and pediatric specialist who has been critical of the lack of qualifications among ACIP's new members. But anti-vax groups and President Donald Trump have pushed back, with Trump insisting that children should not be vaccinated against hepatitis B until the age of 12, saying: "Hepatitis B is sexually transmitted. There's no reason to give a baby that's almost just born hepatitis B."

Medical experts condemned Trump's assertions, saying newborns can be infected by their mother during pregnancy or childbirth. An analysis published University of Minnesota researchers this week looked at more than 400 studies, concluding there was no benefit to delaying the hepatitis B vaccine, but there are "critical risks of changing current US recommendations." The repercussions of the ACIP's vaccine recommendations are broad because federal guidelines often dictate whether vaccines are paid for by health insurance companies in the United States, where a vaccine can cost hundreds of dollars.

But the committee's influence is waning amid withering criticism from the American scientific and medical community, with Democratic-led states announcing they will no longer follow its recommendations.

According to the notification, among the newly-admitted patients, 14 were hospitalized in Barishal division (outside the city corporation area), 92 in Chattogram division (outside the city corporation area), 14 in Dhaka division (outside the city corporation area), 72 under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), six under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and two in Khulna division (outside the city corporation area). During the same period, 226 dengue patients were discharged from different hospitals, raising the total number of recovered patients this year to 94,624. So far, this year, 96,827 people have been infected with dengue, of whom 63 percent are male and 37 percent female. No dengue-related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. The total number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease this year remains at 394. In 2024, a total of 101,214 people were infected with dengue, while the disease claimed 575 lives that year.

The chikungunya virus emerged in Cuba's western Matanzas province in July, but soon spread to all 15 provinces of the country of 9.7 million people. Simultaneously, the communist island has been afflicted by an outbreak of dengue that hit as Cuba battles shortages of clean water, food, fuel and medicine during its worst economic crisis in decades.

Cuba, long known for its medical and pharmaceutical expertise, was able to deal a swift blow to a previous chikungunya outbreak in 2014. This time, the one-party state reports, the outbreak spiraled out of control due to "lack of hygiene, accumulated garbage" and people storing water in tanks to mitigate the intermittent availability of clean tap water. With the country under US sanctions and its critical tourism sector left in ruins by Covid, a dearth of foreign currency has seen a steep decline in Cuba's medical services and prevention programs such as mosquito fumigation.

Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter and Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Md Huzur Ali were also present. According to the survey, 33 percent of the country's population-332.19 out of every 1,000 people-reported suffering from an illness in the 90 days preceding the survey.  The rate stood at 354.56 per thousand among women and 309.06 per thousand among men. Illness was most prevalent among the elderly, with the rate reaching 744 per thousand in the 75-79 age group, compared to 232 per thousand among infants under one year.

High blood pressure or hypertension emerged as the most common illness, affecting 78.28 per thousand respondents. It was followed by peptic ulcer (63.79) diabetes (43.15), arthritis (39.75), skin diseases (37.23), heart disease (31.32), asthma (30.94), osteoporosis (22.30), hepatitis (22.30) and diarrhea (15.89). The survey covered 47,040 households and 189,986 individuals across the country during November and December of last year. Average per capita medical expenditure during the three months prior to the survey stood at Taka 2,487. Women incurred higher health expenses, averaging Taka 2,576, compared to Taka 2,387 for men.

The study also recorded tobacco use among people aged 15 and above. It found that 26.7 percent used some form of tobacco, with rural prevalence at 27.7 percent and urban prevalence at 24.1 percent. Among women aged 15-49, the survey noted that 5.2 percent were pregnant at the time of data collection, while 6.9 percent had given birth in the previous 12 months. The nationwide caesarean delivery rate stood at 49.3 percent, reaching 53.3 percent in urban areas and 48.1 percent in rural areas. The average cost per delivery was estimated at Taka 22,677. BBS officials said the findings will support policymakers in strengthening healthcare planning and resource allocation.

Of the new cases, 90 were hospitalised in Barishal division, 132 in Chattogram division, 116 in Dhaka division outside the capital, 67 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), 132 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), 32 in Mymensingh division and three in Sylhet division, according to a DGHS statement.

Since the beginning of this year's dengue outbreak, the country has recorded 377 deaths and 93,766 cases. Last year, dengue claimed 575 lives and infected 101,214 people nationwide.

Currently, the only dengue vaccine available worldwide is TAK-003, which requires two doses administered three months apart, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The single dose, developed after eight years of trials across Brazil, will allow for faster and simpler vaccination campaigns. "This is a historic achievement for science and health in Brazil," Esper Kallas, director of the Butantan Institute, a public research center, told a press conference in Sao Paulo.

"A disease that has plagued us for decades can now be fought with a very powerful weapon," he added. The new vaccine showed 91.6 percent efficacy against severe dengue during the clinical trials which involved more than 16,000 volunteers. Dengue's unpleasant symptoms have earned it the nickname "breakbone fever." It can provoke hemorrhagic fever in severe cases, and death.

It is transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, which have expanded beyond their usual areas, leading to dengue cases in Europe or parts of the United States where they were not typically found. Globally, the WHO reported more than 14.6 million cases and almost 12,000 deaths in 2024, the highest number ever recorded. Half of these deaths took place in Brazil.

Researchers at Stanford University in the United States published a study in 2024 estimating that global warming was responsible for 19 percent of dengue cases that year. Brazil has reached an agreement with the Chinese company WuXi Biologics to deliver approximately 30 million doses of the vaccine in the second half of 2026, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha told the press conference. 

According to the DGHS statistics, one died in areas with purview of Chattogram division, one in Dhaka North City Corporation, three in Dhaka South City Corporation and one in Mymensingh division. "Out of the 567 fresh cases, 69 were hospitalised in Barishal division, 86 in Chattogram division, 92 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 86 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 125 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 41 in Khulna division, 37 in Mymensingh division, 25 in Rajshahi division, two in Rangpur division and four in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 377 deaths while the disease inflicted 92,784. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

According to the DGHS statistics, one died in areas with purview of Dhaka division and one in Sylhet division. "Out of the 705 fresh cases, 62 were hospitalised in Barishal division, 116 in Chattogram division, 137 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 77 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 171 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 34 in Khulna division, 53 in Mymensingh division, 34 in Rajshahi division, five in Rangpur division and 16 in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 366 deaths while the disease inflicted 90,969. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

This year, 85,703 patients were released from hospitals after recovery. As of November 20, a total of 88,893 people have been infected with dengue in 2025. Among them, 64.9 percent are male and 35.1 percent female. No dengue-related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. So far this year, dengue has claimed 353 lives. In 2024, the country recorded 1,01,214 dengue cases and 575 deaths, the DGHS said.

Cancer caused by HPV disproportionately affects low-income countries, which often lack screening services and access to treatment. These countries accounted for 90 percent of the 350,000 cervical cancer deaths recorded in 2022, according to Gavi. The organisation's chief executive Sania Nishtar credited the "incredible commitment" by countries and organisations for helping to reach the target of protecting 86 million girls.

Gavi said that across Africa the coverage rate for the vaccine had risen from four percent of girls in 2014 to 44 percent at the end of 2024, higher than for Europe on 38 percent. The alliance said it used economies of scale to bring down prices and make vaccines available to about 50 poorer countries. "Gavi secured commitments from manufacturers to invest in HPV vaccines -- and the price of HPV vaccines in Gavi-supported countries is now between $2.90 and $5.18 per dose, compared with US$100 or more elsewhere," said the statement.

"This collaborative effort is driving major global progress towards eliminating one of the deadliest diseases affecting women," she said, while stressing that the cancer still kills a woman every two minutes. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially backed a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule instead of the previous two doses in 2022, allowing twice as many girls to be vaccinated with existing stocks. 

According to the DGHS statistics, five died in areas with purview of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). “Out of the 792 fresh cases, 125 patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, 136 in Chattogram division, 107 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 121 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 226 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 15 in Khulna division, 60 in Mymensingh division and two in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 331 deaths while the disease inflicted 83,858. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

Concerned persons said that many women in rural as well as urban areas are now regularly visiting health centers, using family planning methods and following menstrual hygiene rules. According to experts, this change has come about as a result of government and private initiatives to expand healthcare, social media campaigns and increasing women's education. Whereas, earlier there was no open discussion about reproductive health, now people from the younger generation to housewives are giving importance to the issue.

According to the Directorate General of Family Planning, the rate of contraceptive use among rural women has increased significantly. The trend of using sanitary napkins for menstrual health care, especially among adolescents and young women, has also increased significantly. However, many women still cannot avail necessary reproductive health services due to poverty, superstitions and lack of adequate healthcare services, said the concerned officials.

Reproductive health expert Dr. Nazneen Ahmed said, currently, women in different regions of Bangladesh are becoming aware of their rights.As a result, eye-catching success has come in all fields which have also touched the health and reproductive sectors.

She said the initiatives taken by the government have been successful mainly due to the awareness of the citizens. The role of some women is especially commendable because they have learned to keep pace with the times instead of treating them in traditional ways, she said. Sources said that despite being a densely populated country, Bangladesh has made significant progress in population control.Bangladesh’s total fertility rate (TFR) is now 2.00 compared to five decades ago when it was over 5. 

Bangladesh is reaping the benefit of low birth rate, which has led to improve reproductive health. It is known that the main problems of the country after independence were population and poverty. Bangladesh has shown success in both these areas. The success in population control has come mainly because of the ability to reduce the total fertility rate (TFR). As a result, women are getting more opportunities for education and are able to spend more time for earning. Public health experts said that TFR is the number of children a woman of reproductive age will have in her lifetime (usually between the ages of 15 and 49). One of the goals of countries that want to control or reduce population is to reduce TFR. Bangladesh has been able to reduce TFR continuously since independence.

According to World Bank statistics, in 1971, the TFR in Bangladesh was 6.9. That means- at that time a mother in Bangladesh gave birth to an average of about seven children. In 1981, the TFR decreased to 6.2. After that, it continued to decrease. World Bank statistics said that the current TFR is 2. Although the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey said that the TFR is now 2.3. The country's first five-year plan was adopted in 1973-1978 when the issue of population control was given great importance. In 1976, the first population policy was formulated in the country. After that, the government gave special importance to population in all the five-year plans.

Dr. Nazneen Akhter, who works on maternal and child health, said that a lot of emphasis has been given to health, population and nutrition sector programs. The population policy has been updated several times. This has made people aware. In addition, reproductive health has improved. Sources said that the field workers of the Directorate General of Family Planning have played an important role in birth control in the country.Apart from their relentless work, the media has also played a major role in the issue of birth control. Many small and large private organizations or NGOs were associated with this across the country. The campaign of small families, happy families was widespread. Whether it is a boy or a girl, two children are enough was also very popular.At the time of independence, 8 percent of able-bodied couples used birth control methods, now that rate has increased to 62 percent.

Professor of the Department of Population Sciences of Dhaka University Mohammad Moinul Islam said, “Women's education and women's empowerment have worked in favour of having fewer children. People have reduced their families thinking of economic progress.” Experts believed that TFR has had a positive impact on women's health, not just the economy. Women's health expert Professor Rowshan Ara Begum told this reporter that, “With fewer children, women are getting more work opportunities and more education opportunities. The health risks of having children repeatedly, giving birth to children, and raising children have decreased compared to before. Women in Bangladesh are enjoying the welfare benefits of the reduced TFR.”

However, TFR is not the same or has not decreased equally in all areas of Bangladesh. TFR is higher in Sylhet, Chattogram and Mymensingh divisions. Government estimates said that the country's population is about 17 crore. If the TFR can be reduced, the population pressure on the country will not increase. Bangladesh was able to control its population mainly by reducing the TFR. But in the last decade, that progress has stalled. From 2011 to the present, the TFR has not decreased or has decreased very slightly.

In this regard, Professor Rowshan Ara Begum said, “Child marriage is very high in the country. Again, the TFR is high among young women.” "The current problems of population control are well known. Birth control programs should be taken up in backward areas or special populations. The unmet demand for birth control products should be eliminated," added Professor Mohammad Moinul Islam.

Mentioning diabetes as a preventable and controllable disease, the CA said if anybody can keep the diabetes under control then the patient can be able to lead active and normal life like other people. But the diabetes patients often suffer various types of mental problem including anxieties. The diabetes patients must have to practice some disciplines to prevent the disease, he said, adding that regular exercise, controlling body weight and taking healthy food timely can help to control diabetes in all sphere, including the working place.

After establishment of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, various programmes including creating awareness are being undertaken for resisting and controlling diabetes.  The present interim government is continuously providing its support to prevent and control the diabetes, he added.

"Out of the 1,139 fresh cases, 179 patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, 115 in Chattogram division, 223 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 143 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 254 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 89 in Khulna division, 82 in Mymensingh division, 46 in Rajshahi division, five in Rangpur division and three in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 323 deaths while the disease inflicted 81,773. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

Under the EPI programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, KCC's Health Department organized the meeting. To ensure effective implementation, the campaign area was divided into four zones under the supervision of 62 supervisors, engaging 252 vaccinators and 350 volunteers. Expressing satisfaction over the progress, the KCC Administrator Md Firoz Shah said the government has undertaken this important initiative to prevent the spread of typhoid fever. He appreciated the efforts of all those involved in the campaign, emphasizing that children are the country's future asset and that ensuring their good health requires sincere efforts from all concerned.

Trump urged pregnant women to "tough it out" rather than take paracetamol, comments which health researchers warned could scare women off their safest option to treat pain -- and risked further stigmatising autistic people. The World Health Organization has emphasised that there is no robust evidence showing that paracetamol -- which is the main ingredient in massively popular painkillers such as Tylenol and Panadol -- causes autism.

On Monday, an "umbrella" review of all the scientific research yet conducted on the subject was published in the British medical journal BMJ. "Existing evidence does not show a clear link between in utero exposure to paracetamol and autism and ADHD in offspring," the UK-lead team of researchers wrote in the review. There have been several previous studies which suggested a possible link between paracetamol and autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

However the quality of those studies was "low to critically low", the review said, partly because they did not take adequate steps to rule out potentially misleading factors such as whether autism runs in the family. These controversial previous studies also could not establish exactly how paracetamol might cause autism. The umbrella review called for better research, pointing out that there has been a "historical and ongoing underinvestment in women's health research".

Several researchers praised the new study. Dimitrios Siassakos, professor in obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London, said the review "confirms what experts around the globe have been saying". "Autistic and neurodivergent people are more likely to experience chronic pain, and they are also much more likely to have neurodivergent children -- but paracetamol doesn't cause neurodivergence," said Steven Kapp of the University of Portsmouth.

"As a researcher and autistic person with ADHD, I think we should not be trying to prevent neurodivergence anyway, but make life better for neurodivergent people," he added. Beyond paracetamol, Trump and his vaccine-sceptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr have repeatedly made unfounded claims about autism, including that there is an "epidemic" of cases. However experts maintain that the recent increase in autism rates is due to improved, broadened diagnosis methods along with growing awareness.

"During the period, (of the 1,147) 132 patients were hospitalized in Barishal division, 98 in Chattogram division, 266 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 145 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 284 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 59 in Khulna division, 65 in Mymensingh division, 70 in Rajshahi division, 19 in Rangpur division and nine in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 288 deaths while the disease inflicted 72,822. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

The study, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Bangladesh Medical Research Council, was conducted between January 2021 and January 2023 in two arsenic-contaminated upazilas of Chandpur, Hajiganj and Shahrasti.  Their findings were published on June 14, 2025 in the international journal Toxicology Reports (Elsevier). Although previous studies in Bangladesh identified arsenic in rice, vegetables, and groundwater, this is the first research to experimentally demonstrate how contaminated food affects health.

The research revealed that arsenic levels in water, soil, and crops from the study areas far exceeded international safety limits. Groundwater samples contained up to 0.373 mg/L of arsenic, almost 30 times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) safe limit of 0.01 mg/L. Soil arsenic levels reached 32.51 mg/kg, over three times the global average, while rice contained up to 0.91 mg/kg, more than double the WHO's permissible limit of 0.37 mg/kg.

Edible ferns showed the highest contamination, with arsenic concentrations reaching 1.93 mg/kg, nearly four times the safe limit. Researchers confirmed a strong positive correlation between arsenic in irrigation water, soil, and crops, showing how contamination travels through the food chain and poses serious risks to both animals and humans. The team conducted controlled experiments on Wistar albino rats divided into six groups, two control groups and four groups fed with arsenic-free and arsenic-contaminated rice and edible fern. 

Over a 120-day period, rats that consumed contaminated food showed reduced appetite, weight loss, low hemoglobin and red blood cell counts, elevated liver enzymes, and increased kidney toxicity markers. Histopathological examinations, led by Prof. Dr. Md. Zillur Rahman, revealed fat accumulation, cellular damage, and necrosis in liver and kidney tissues.  "We observed distorted cells, inflammation, and signs of chronic toxicity-evidence that arsenic damages organs directly, not just through blood," Dr. Rahman said.

Experts warned that arsenic, often regarded only as a groundwater contaminant, has now infiltrated Bangladesh's food chain. "This research proves that food is now a silent source of arsenic exposure," said research assistant Md. Mazharul Alam.  "Immediate actions such as ensuring arsenic-free irrigation, safe soil management, and regular food testing are essential to protect public health," he added. Lecturer Zarin Tasnim described the findings as "a serious warning for public health," saying that contaminated food silently introduces toxins into human bodies, particularly threatening children, women, and the elderly.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan emphasized the national significance of the study. "This is not just an academic study, it exposes a real problem. Arsenic-contaminated irrigation water seeps into the soil, is absorbed by crops, and eventually reaches our plates. It's a direct warning about our future." Lead researcher Prof. Dr. Laila Khaleda said the team's work goes beyond chemical analysis to demonstrate biological damage caused by arsenic exposure through food.  "Feeding arsenic-laden rice and vegetables for several months caused liver and kidney damage in animal models. Prolonged human exposure could lead to cancer, kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, and other chronic diseases," she said.

The researchers urged the government to establish a national monitoring system to regularly test irrigation water, soil, and food crops for arsenic contamination. Prof. Khaleda stressed, "Our findings carry an important message for the people of Bangladesh. Contaminated food causes damage at levels invisible to the naked eye but with lifelong consequences. Without immediate government action, arsenic contamination could pose a long-term national health crisis." Experts also called for greater public awareness, routine testing of food supplies, and sustainable irrigation practices to prevent arsenic from spreading further through the food chain.

As Bangladesh continues to depend heavily on agriculture and rice remains its main crop and staple food, the researchers warn that arsenic contamination is not a localized issue. Rice grown in affected areas is distributed across the country, meaning millions could unknowingly be at risk. "Arsenic is a silent killer," Prof. Khaleda said. "If we fail to act now, we may face an invisible epidemic threatening the health of future generations."

During the period, 1,568 dengue patients were released from different hospitals, raising the total number of recovered patients this year to 66,802. Since the beginning of 2025, a total of 69,862 people have been infected with dengue across the country - of whom 65.2 percent are male and 34.8 percent are female.

No dengue-related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. So far, 278 people have died from the mosquito-borne disease this year in Bangladesh. In 2024, a total of 101,214 people were infected by dengue in the country, with 575 deaths.

“During the period, (of the 950) 191 patients were hospitalized in Barishal division, 118 in Chattogram division, 132 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 129 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 154 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 67 in Khulna division, 56 in Mymensingh division, 83 in Rajshahi division and 20 in Rangpur division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 245 deaths while the disease inflicted 59,849. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

If there is no electricity, the hospital's service activities stop. As a result, patients have to go to private clinics for tests, which increases both time and cost. Rajoir Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Md. Shamim Akhter said, "The 50-bed hospital is receiving double the number of patients against its capacity. However, the manpower is only in the ratio of 31 beds. Still, we are trying our best to keep the services running." He said they have informed the concerned authorities about the shortcomings, and they have assured us of taking prompt measures. The officer said that the electricity and water lines of the old building have become dilapidated. The generator and X-ray machine often break down. As a result, regular medical services are being disrupted.

This health complex, which started with just 10 beds in 1968, was expanded to 31 beds after independence and to 50 beds in 2010. Currently, several thousand people from different parts of Rajoir Upazila and its surrounding upazilas are receiving medicare services from here. As a result, the existing infrastructure has become very inadequate. The walls of the old building are damp, and the quarters are uninhabitable. There are also security problems as the post of night watchman is vacant. According to the available information from the Rajoir Upazila Health Complex, only 8 people are currently working against 19 doctor posts. Only two are working out of 11 junior consultant posts, 5 instead of 7 assistant surgeons, and there is one dental surgeon.

There is no gynecologist, and even though there is an anesthesia specialist, he is not available regularly. Although there is an operation theatre, surgical activities are almost closed. Most of the posts in the cardiology, ENT, eye, and skin departments are vacant. Nursing Supervisor Biva Rani Baroi said that the number of patients is so high that they are being forced to keep patients on the floor. She believes that it will be difficult to control the situation if the manpower is not increased. Local resident Tutul Biswas said that the hospital needs to be upgraded to 100 beds immediately, the necessary manpower needs to be recruited, and modern equipment needs to be provided. Otherwise, the services will be disrupted.

“During the period, (of the 556) 137 patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, 70 in Chattogram division, 79 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 113 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 101 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 28 in Mymensingh division, 25 in Rajshahi division and three in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 198 deaths while the disease inflicted 47,342. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

However, no one has died from COVID-19 during this period. The cumulative death toll since the pandemic began in 2020 stands at 29,531. The first case of corona virus was detected in the country on March 8, 2020. Ten days later, on March 18 of the same year, the first person died from the virus in the country.

"During the period, (of the 622) 131 patients were hospitalized in Barishal division, 98 in Chattogram division, 104 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 99 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 100 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 14 in Khulna division, 19 in Mymensingh division, 51 in Rajshahi division, and six in Rangpur division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 161 deaths while the disease inflicted 39,814. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

Scheduled to begin on October 12, the 18-day campaign aims to vaccinate approximately five crore children. School-going children under the age of 15 will receive the vaccine at their respective educational institutions, while out-of-school children aged 9 months to under 15 years will be vaccinated at designated EPI centers nationwide.

Health authorities expect the campaign to substantially reduce typhoid-related illnesses and child mortality, while further strengthening the country's overall immunization coverage.

"During the period, 131 patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, 92 in Chattogram, 131 in Dhaka division, 105 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), 97 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), 29 in Khulna, six in Mymensingh, 34 in Rajshahi, seven in Rangpur and four were admitted to different hospitals in Sylhet division," said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The total number of cases rose to 38,527 while 155 deaths from dengue, the mosquito-borne disease, were reported this year.

Last year, the total number of cases rose to 1, 01,214, while 575 deaths from dengue disease were reported, the release added.

"During the period, (of the 586) 109 patients were hospitalized in Barishal division, 58 in Chattogram division, 104 in Dhaka division excluding the capital, 103 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 144 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 12 in Mymensingh division, 44 in Rajshahi division, 10 in Rangpur division and two in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 145 deaths while the disease inflicted 36,682. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

"There has never been an effort like this across all the government agencies," said Kennedy during a Washington event where he released the plan, calling chronic illness "an existential crisis for our country." President Donald Trump later signed a memorandum directing agencies to step up enforcement of existing rules on online pharmaceutical advertising to curb misleading claims, backing one of the report's priorities. Kennedy, however, had previously called for an outright ban on drug marketing. Experts also criticized what they called the vague and voluntary nature of the "Make Our Children Healthy Again" strategy, a follow-up to an initial assessment published this spring.

"The administration is trying to have it both ways," Scott Faber, senior vice president of government affairs at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, told AFP. "In May, they described a hellscape of junk food and toxic exposures that put all our children at risk. In September, they are calling for more studies and plans and proposals." The new 20-page report highlights many of Kennedy's signature causes: reviewing fluoride in drinking water, revisiting childhood vaccine schedules and expanding parental opt-outs, and raising doubts about antidepressants.

Many of these positions sit well outside mainstream medicine, particularly his take on vaccines. Other eye-catching ideas include a MAHA fertility education campaign -- reflecting right-wing anxieties over declining birth rates -- and a call to probe "electromagnetic radiation," apparently a reference to cellphone use, though it is not spelled out. The first report was widely ridiculed after it was found to contain numerous fabricated citations, apparently from using AI tools. The new paper avoids that pitfall by omitting citations altogether. Critics said the plan was thin on specifics, even for areas that enjoy broad consensus, like tackling America's junk-food addiction.

One section calls for a government-wide definition of ultra-processed foods, without saying what should follow. "This is such an opportunity. I sure wish they had taken it," Marion Nestle, a professor emerita of nutrition at New York University, told AFP. It also says the government wants to boost breastfeeding rates, reduce animal testing, and promote innovation in the sunscreen market, where the United States lags behind many countries. On the use of pesticides, the report on the one hand evokes the possible use of "precision technology" to "decrease pesticide volumes," while elsewhere it calls for deregulation to help bring "chemical and biologic products to protect against weeds, pests, and disease" to market faster.

It comes as Trump's Environmental Protection Agency is bringing a new wave of pesticides to market despite experts warning the proposed substances constitute harmful so-called "forever chemicals." Zen Honeycutt, a health activist aligned with the MAHA movement, did not hide her disappointment at the fact pesticides were barely mentioned -- but said she did not blame Kennedy. "It was not as strongly worded about pesticides as it would have been had it been only Bobby writing the report," she told AFP, adding this was a "glaring example of chemical company corruption."

Similarly, even as the MAHA report urges higher birth rates, the EPA's weakening of air-pollution standards risks undermining fertility, given the well-established harms of contaminants to sperm and egg health.

Former professor and gynecologist at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Farhana Dewan, said, “Many people think that the uterus only functions during childbirth. This is not true. Special care must be taken at certain stages of life, including menstruation, intercourse, pregnancy, and before and after menopause.” She explained, “It is necessary to use sanitary napkins during menstruation. Using dirty or wet napkins is harmful. Occasionally using hot water during this time provides additional protection to the uterus. Since the cervix remains open during menstruation, cleanliness is crucial to avoid infections and other complications.” 

She added, “It is not advisable to have intercourse with excessive force, as this may injure the uterus and cause infection. The vagina should be washed thoroughly before and after intercourse, and intercourse during menstruation should be avoided to prevent complications.” Dr. Dewan further said, “During pregnancy and after delivery, special attention must be given to the uterus. The fetus stays and grows in the uterus. Therefore, prenatal checkups are essential to confirm the fetus’s position, as sometimes it grows in the ovary or fallopian tube, leading to complications. For this reason, doctors usually perform an ultrasound initially. Cleanliness and safe sexual practices during pregnancy are also important to protect both the fetus and uterus.” 

She added, “Before and after menopause, changes in the uterus are common. Many women experience heavy bleeding before menopause, while others face vaginal dryness and mistakenly assume it is a uterine issue. After menopause, some women’s uterus enlarges, giving the feeling that it is coming out. In such cases, consulting a doctor is necessary. ”Eminent gynecologist Dr. Maliha Rashid said, “Excessive menstrual bleeding, lower abdominal pain, missed periods, foul-smelling discharge, pus-filled menstruation, bleeding after intercourse, or bleeding between cycles are all signs of uterine problems. If you experience such symptoms—or stomach issues such as gas, constipation, or persistent abdominal pain—you should consult a gynaecologist.” 

She advised immediate consultation in cases of pressure in the lower abdomen, frequent urination, indigestion, constipation, feeling full after eating small amounts, bloating, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, unexplained weight change, pain during intercourse, fatigue, or post-menopausal complications. She noted that uterine diseases often result from early marriage, childbirth at a young age, frequent pregnancies, multiple sexual partners, lack of hygiene, infections, smoking, or hereditary factors. 

Gynecologist Dr. Ashrafun Nesa said the government is paying special attention to this issue. Free uterine and breast cancer screening is available at district and central hospitals, along with low-cost treatment facilities. She added that women should immediately visit hospitals, health centers, or doctors if such problems arise.

The statistics, however, showed that the number of women diagnosed with cancer and dying from the disease is higher than that of men in the country. Studies have also shown that 59.5 percent of adults with cancer are women and 40.5 percent are men. Among cancer patients, 74.8 percent are adults and 25.2 percent are children. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a younger age than men.

Among adult men, 10.2 percent are affected by bladder cancer, 9.9 percent by prostate cancer, and 8.5 percent by oral cancer.  On the other hand, among women, 23.3 percent are affected by breast cancer, 21.5 percent by cervical cancer, and 8.9 percent by oral cancer. The rate of reproductive system cancer is 11.2 percent in men and 31.9 percent in women.

A study was conducted recently on 1,656 people using a hospital-based cancer registry. Of these, 1,238 were adults and 418 were children. The incidence of lung cancer in men was 9.6 percent, leukemia was 9.4 percent, and lymphoma was 9 percent.  Breast cancer in women was 28.1 percent, thyroid cancer was 16.1 percent, and cervical cancer was 12.2 percent. Besides, Leukemia was 71.5 percent in boys and 10.3 percent in lymphoma. Leukemia was 66.5 percent in girls and 11.6 percent in bone cancer.

The results of the study further show that women are getting affected by cancer from the age of 15 and most patients are being found by the age of 46. From this point of view, most of the men are getting affected after the age of 20, and most patients are being detected by the age of 50. Dr. Habibullah Talukder Raskin, Professor at the National Cancer Research Institute, said that a major reason for the increase in the rate of infection among women is the change in their lifestyle. Now girls are going out more often, many are getting used to smoking or drinking alcohol, he said.

He said they are now working on the streets and in the dust. Not breastfeeding the child, eating irregular meals or fatty foods are also one of the main reasons for the increase in the rate of cancer, he added.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 118 deaths while the disease inflicted 29,944. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

Salma Akhter has to depend on milks bought from markets. She is an officer in a private office. She spends most of the day in the office, so to 'ensure nutrition’; Salma feeds her five-month-old son powdered milk. A sentence is written in its packet saying 'Can be given from birth'! Salma uses a plastic feeder to feed her baby where it is written that it is “For Angel” Confused by such flashy advertisements and misinformation, many parents also give alternative baby food to their beloved children.But, these can’t ensure nutrition for babies. So, many children are suffering from malnutrition, and their immunity is also decreasing.

There is a ban on in publishing tempting advertisements or promotion of canned or packaged powdered milk, other foods and equipment for children as an alternative to breast milk. The law clearly stated that the packaging and canned products must bear the words 'There is no food equivalent to or better than breast milk for children.' It must also be written 'This (can/packet) food is not completely free of pathogens. There is a risk of the child getting sick if it is consumed.' There are also guidelines for the marketing and purchase of alternative baby food. However, various general stores and supermarkets in the capital showed that the companies and sellers marketing alternative baby food and equipment are not following these guidelines.

None of the buyers and sellers knows much about the law in this regard.There is also no government or private initiative to promote the law that is beneficial for child health. Therefore, this law called 'Sale and Marketing of Breast Milk Alternative Baby Food' seems to be limited to paper. Those concerned said that even after several years, there is not much publicity about the Alternative Baby Food Act. Therefore, ordinary shopkeepers are displaying and selling these powdered milk and other foods in shops without knowing it. At the same time, those are being sold in various super shops. Parents and guardians of children are also not aware of these foods as an alternative to breast milk.

Doctors and nutritionists said that breast milk is the best nutritious food for a child from birth to two years.Powdered milk as an alternative is very harmful for children. This milk reduces the immunity of newborns.Children get sick frequently, and their physical development does not occur properly, they said. There are generally two types of alternative baby food available in the market. One is powdered milk made with a 'special formula' for children aged six months, one year or two years from birth. The other is 'formula food' given as a supplementary food along with breast milk for children over six months.

In this context, Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed said, "Any food that has nutritional value will help in mental development. But alternative baby food is of no importance for the development of a child up to two years. For this, mother's breast milk is sufficient”. “No other food has the nutrition that is close to the nutrition in mother's breast milk. However, in cases where the mother is ill or the mother is taking any medication that prevents the child from being breastfed, measures should be taken according to the doctor's advice. There are initiatives all over the world to ensure that children are breastfed after birth. In 1981, the World Health Organization in Geneva developed a policy to control the marketing of alternative foods to breast milk, which is known as the 'International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes'.”

Ahmed said in light of that policy, the 'Breast Milk Substitutes (Marketing Guidelines) Act' was enacted in Bangladesh in 1984. “The law was amended on October 22, 2013. The law stipulates the control of the marketing of alternative foods to protect the health of children up to five years.” Bangladesh Breast Feeding Foundation (BBF) oversees the marketing activities of alternative baby foods with its own initiative and cooperation from the government. Former Chairperson of BBF SK Roy said that about three million children are born in the country every year.Therefore, the number of two-year-old children reaches about 6 million every year, he said.

He said it’s a challenge to ensure each of this large number of children is breastfed for two years. Parents themselves are unaware of this issue, he added. Moreover, he said, the promotion and awareness activities of the law depend on the allocation of manpower and money. The government is trying to increase the allocation, he added. He said that BBF and the Public Health Nutrition Institute are preparing a five-year strategy to increase the promotion in this regard.

The first case of corona virus was detected in the country on March 8, 2020. Ten days later, on March 18 of the same year, the first person died from the virus in the country.

Alberta's government, which releases its weekly figures on Thursdays, said it had registered 1,790 cases, making it the hardest-hit area per capita. The United States, confronting its worst measles epidemic in 30 years, has confirmed 1,375 cases, the Centers for Disease Control said this week. The Pan American Health Organization, WHO's regional office, said this month that 71 percent of confirmed cases occurred in unvaccinated people, with an additional 18 percent among people whose vaccination status was not known.

Canadian experts have pointed to several factors driving the outbreak, including the proliferation of vaccine misinformation. Canadian physicians have criticized US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has spent decades spreading false information about vaccines. But the bulk of the Canadian epidemic has occurred among Anabaptist Christian communities -- of whom Mennonites are one -- where vaccine hesitancy is historic. The beginning of the outbreak has been linked to a Mennonite wedding in the eastern province of New Brunswick.

Outside of Ontario and Alberta, which have larger Mennonite communities, cases have been isolated, with British Columbia the third-hardest hit province with 190 cases. The only suspected measles-related death in Canada during the 2025 outbreak was that of a newborn baby whose mother was unvaccinated, but officials noted the baby was born pre-term and had other medical conditions. 

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 110 deaths. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

The level of radioactivity detected was minimal and the product would not pose "an acute hazard" to consumers, the FDA said. No shrimp imported by the company and stocked for sale in US stores has tested positive for radioactivity, the agency said.

But shrimp from the firm "appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with Cs-137 and may pose a safety concern." Over the long term, even low-dose Cesium exposure is linked to an elevated risk of cancer, it added. The FDA asked Walmart to stage a recall of the shrimp and urged people who already bought the product to throw it away.

With the new cases, the total number of dengue infections this year rose to 23,735, while the death toll reached 98. In the last 24 hours, 306 patients were released from hospitals across the country after receiving treatment. Last year, the country reported 1,01,214 dengue cases and 575 deaths, the DGHS statement added.

Healthier Future supported by the European Union. Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib addressed the session as the chief guest while Pro-VCs Prof Main Uddin and Prof Farid Uddin Khan as special guests with Team Leader of the VECTORACT Project Prof Jalal  Uddin Sarder in the chair. Dean of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Faculty Prof Mozaffor Hossain and DVAS Chairman Prof Moizur Rahman also spoke on the occasion. During his keynote presentation, Coordinator of VECTORACT Project Dr Gabor Kemensi illustrated the burdens of VBDs, adding the diseases lead to significant economic losses due to healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and tourism decline. VBDs can disrupt communities, limit access to education and work, and exacerbate existing social inequalities and these disproportionately affect poorer regions, with poverty and lack of access to healthcare contributing to the problem. Eliminating or managing mosquito breeding sites, using natural predators or pathogens to control vector populations and employing insecticides for larval and adult mosquito control can be the effective and sustainable controlling strategies.

Apart from this, using bed nets, repellents, and protective clothing and improving sanitation and hygiene to reduce vector habitats are also needed. Disseminating his expertise, Prof Jalal Uddin Sarder said monitoring disease outbreaks and vector populations is crucial for timely interventions. Empowering communities to participate in vector control efforts is essential for long-term success. Developing new tools and strategies, such as novel insecticides, vaccines, and diagnostic methods, is vital for addressing emerging challenges like insecticide resistance and climate change. Strong political commitment and financial resources are needed to support vector control programs and research. "We can significantly reduce the burden of vector-borne diseases and improve global health outcomes through implementing these strategies," he added. 

In his remarks, VC Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib mentioned that vector-borne diseases are a major public health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, including Bangladesh. They can have a devastating impact on communities, particularly in resource-limited settings. He also said climate change is also influencing the spread and distribution of vectors, potentially increasing the risk of these diseases. Apart from this, educating the public about the risks of vector-borne diseases and how to prevent them are needed.

"We're shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate." The changes affect Moderna's mRNA bird flu vaccine -- a move the company itself disclosed in May -- as well as numerous other programs, including "rejection or cancellation of multiple pre-award solicitations" from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Sanofi. In total, the affected projects are worth "nearly $500 million," the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said. Certain late-stage projects were excluded from the move "to preserve prior taxpayer investment." "Let me be absolutely clear: HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them," Secretary Kennedy said. "That's why we're moving beyond the limitations of mRNA and investing in better solutions."

Since taking office, Kennedy, who spent two decades sowing misinformation around immunization, has overseen a major overhaul of US health policy -- firing, for example, a panel of vaccine experts that advise the government and replacing them with his own appointees. In its first meeting, the new panel promptly voted to ban a longstanding vaccine preservative targeted by the anti-vaccine movement, despite its strong safety record. He has also ordered a sweeping new study on the long-debunked link between vaccines and autism. Unlike traditional vaccines, which often use weakened or inactivated forms of the target virus or bacteria, mRNA shots deliver genetic instructions into the host's cells, prompting them to produce a harmless decoy of the pathogen and train the immune system to fight the real thing.

Though in development for decades, mRNA vaccines were propelled from lab benches to widespread use through President Trump's Operation Warp Speed -- a public-private partnership led by BARDA that poured billions into companies to accelerate development. The technology's pioneers, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work contributing "to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times."

A total of 111 samples were tested during this time, yielding a positivity rate of 0 percent, the statement added. The cumulative death toll since the pandemic began in 2020 stands at 29,530. The first case of Coronavirus was detected in the country on March 8, 2020. Ten days later, on March 18 of the same year, the first person died from the virus in the country.

The viruses that cause hepatitis B and C are expected to remain the leading causes of liver cancer in 2050, according to the study, published on World Hepatitis Day. Vaccination at birth is the best way to prevent hepatitis B, but vaccine coverage remains low in poorer countries including in sub-Saharan Africa, the study said. Unless vaccination rates are increased, hepatitis B is expected to kill 17 million people between 2015 and 2030, it added. Alcohol consumption is estimated to cause more than 21 percent of all cases of liver cancer by 2050, up more than two percentage points from 2022. Cancer due to obesity-linked fat in livers will rise to 11 percent, also up more than two percentage points, the researchers calculated. The large-scale study, which reviewed the available evidence on the subject, underscored "the urgent need for global action" on liver cancer, the authors said. The experts called for more public awareness about the preventable danger of liver cancer, particularly by warning people with obesity or diabetes about fatty-liver disease in the United States, Europe and Asia.

The disease spreads through close physical contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials. A Ghanaian government agency responsible for public health is expected to receive vaccines from the World Health Organization this week. "Our at-risk populations have already been identified, and we are ready to roll out vaccination as soon as doses arrive," a director with the service, Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, told AFP. The outbreak in Ghana mirrors a broader trend across West Africa, where health officials are struggling to contain the disease. Thousands of cases have been recorded this year in the region, with Sierra Leone registering a total of 3,350 cases, including 16 deaths - from January to late May of this year. Elsewhere thousands more cases have also been detected this year across DR Congo, Uganda and Burundi, according to WHO. Africa CDC figures released last week show over 47,000 confirmed cases and 221 deaths reported across the continent since January last year. At least 27,000 of those cases were recorded this year alone. Last month WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus remains an international health emergency amid the rise in West African cases.

Executive Director of Bio TED Dr. Muhammad Saugatul Islam was present as keynote speaker. Professor Dr. ATM Rezaul Haque said through this programme, general students will be aware of Thalassemia disease and their future generations will be protected. President of Danesh Blood Bank Zakir Hossain Raju said Thalassemia is a genetic blood disease and its treatment is expensive. A Thalassemia patient may have to take one to two bags of blood every month. Therefore, it is possible to protect yourself from this disease through awareness. 

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 62 deaths while the disease inflicted 17,582. The DGHS, however, said 333 patients were discharged from different hospitals across the country after their recovery. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 62 deaths while the disease inflicted 17,582. The DGHS, however, said 333 patients were discharged from different hospitals across the country after their recovery. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

The total number of cases rose to 10,296 while 42 deaths from dengue disease were reported this year. Last year, the total number of cases rose to 1,01,214 while 575 deaths from dengue disease were reported, the statement added.

The health ministry said it would announce the minimum distance for smoking in these areas in the coming days as well as reveal the sign used to designate such areas. Violators of the ban could face a fine of 135 euros ($160) up to a maximum of 700 euros. However the health ministry is expecting an initial grace period as the new rules are explained. "Tobacco must disappear from places where there are children. A park, a beach, a school -- these are places to play, learn, and breathe. Not for smoking," Health and Family Minister Catherine Vautrin said. This is another step "towards a tobacco-free generation", she added, which France is targeting from 2032. The ban "is a step in the right direction, but remains insufficient," said Yves Martinet, president of the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT), criticising the continued permission to smoke on cafe terraces. "The minister points to the protection of children," but children "also go to the terraces," Martinet, a pulmonologist, said.

He lamented the absence of e-cigarettes from the text, saying flavours are used to "hook young people". "For a measure to be effective, it must be clear -- no consumption of products containing tobacco or nicotine in public," Martinet said. But Frank Delvau, president of the Union of Hotel Trades and Industries (UMIH) for the Paris region, said a ban on smoking on cafe terraces "would only shift the problem because people on terraces would go smoke next to these establishments". "Smokers and non-smokers can coexist" on terraces, the "last places of conviviality and freedom," said Franck Trouet, of hospitality association Hotels and Restaurants of France (GHR). In France, passive exposure to tobacco smoke causes 3,000 to 5,000 deaths per year, according to official figures. Smoking is steadily declining in France with "the lowest prevalence ever recorded since 2000", according to France addiction agency the OFDT. Less than a quarter of adults aged 18 to 75 reported smoking daily in 2023, according to the agency. Smoking causes 75,000 deaths per year in France and, again according to the OFDT, costs society 156 billion euros annually, counting factors including lost lives, quality of life, productivity, prevention, law enforcement, and healthcare. According to a recent opinion survey, 62 percent of French people favour a smoking ban in public places.

The panel's first major test comes Thursday, when it votes on whether to recommend a newly approved antibody shot against RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, for infants whose mothers did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy. Weissman was one of dozens of Nobel prize winners who sent an open letter to the US Senate in December opposing Trump's nomination of Kennedy as health secretary due to his "lack of credentials" and anti-vaccine beliefs. While vaccine skeptics have always existed, it is the first time that one has been given such a prominent role, Weissman said. "What's new is that this is the first time a government has sponsored and hired an anti-vaccine person to be in charge of vaccines. That's incredibly hypocritical and dangerous," he said. "In 2000, we had no measles in the United States. Now it's running rampant. There are thousands and thousands of cases because people aren't taking vaccines. So we need a government who recognizes the importance of vaccines, not who promotes anti-vaccine people," Weissman said.

During clinical trials, the drugs have been found to reduce people's weight by an average of 15 to 20 percent. However these drugs do have some limitations, including side effects. The semaglutide drug used in Ozempic has been approved for diabetes since 2017, so there is now nearly a decade of research on its use. A large study using health data from hundreds of thousands of US veterans published in January found that GLP-1s are not linked to a higher risk of heart problems or suicidal thoughts, as had previously been suggested. However there are rare cases of serious side effects, such as damage to the pancreas, it said. More commonly, they can also cause nausea, vomiting, migraines and disturb sleep, which can turn some patients off the drugs. They also do not work for everyone -- some people taking the drugs do not lose weight. And the effect only lasts when people are taking the drug, meaning that they potentially need lifelong treatment. They are also expensive, sometimes costing over $1,000 a month in the United States to 300 euros ($340) in France.

The drugs are also only available in injectable forms -- though pharma firms are developing daily pills that have shown promise in early trials. National health agencies have emphasised that these drugs should only be prescribed to overweight or obese people for whom things like exercise and diet have failed. However there is plenty of evidence that some people who are not overweight use the drugs simply to lose a few extra kilos. France's ANSM medications authority said that these drugs should "not be used for weight loss for aesthetic purposes," warning that inappropriate use could expose people to "adverse effects that are sometimes serious". Steven O'Rahilly, head of Cambridge University's Institute of Metabolic Sciences, told AFP he was confident there will be "a pretty rapid evolution of drugs that are more effective, with fewer side effects, cheaper and more convenient". "It may be more of a challenge to combine all those four advances in a single medicine," he added. With billions of dollars at stake, pharma firms are racing to be the first to market with a new treatment.

Novo Nordisk's experimental drug amycretin could be even more effective than existing GLP-1s, according to early trial results published in The Lancet on Saturday. There has also been a growing field of research revealing the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond obesity. They have been linked to improvements for a range of maladies, including dementia and addiction. It is still unclear if these are a direct effect of the drugs, or are linked to improvements with obesity or diabetes.

During clinical trials, the drugs have been found to reduce people's weight by an average of 15 to 20 percent. However these drugs do have some limitations, including side effects. The semaglutide drug used in Ozempic has been approved for diabetes since 2017, so there is now nearly a decade of research on its use. A large study using health data from hundreds of thousands of US veterans published in January found that GLP-1s are not linked to a higher risk of heart problems or suicidal thoughts, as had previously been suggested. However there are rare cases of serious side effects, such as damage to the pancreas, it said. More commonly, they can also cause nausea, vomiting, migraines and disturb sleep, which can turn some patients off the drugs. They also do not work for everyone -- some people taking the drugs do not lose weight. And the effect only lasts when people are taking the drug, meaning that they potentially need lifelong treatment. They are also expensive, sometimes costing over $1,000 a month in the United States to 300 euros ($340) in France.

The drugs are also only available in injectable forms -- though pharma firms are developing daily pills that have shown promise in early trials. National health agencies have emphasised that these drugs should only be prescribed to overweight or obese people for whom things like exercise and diet have failed. However there is plenty of evidence that some people who are not overweight use the drugs simply to lose a few extra kilos. France's ANSM medications authority said that these drugs should "not be used for weight loss for aesthetic purposes," warning that inappropriate use could expose people to "adverse effects that are sometimes serious". Steven O'Rahilly, head of Cambridge University's Institute of Metabolic Sciences, told AFP he was confident there will be "a pretty rapid evolution of drugs that are more effective, with fewer side effects, cheaper and more convenient". "It may be more of a challenge to combine all those four advances in a single medicine," he added.

With billions of dollars at stake, pharma firms are racing to be the first to market with a new treatment. Novo Nordisk's experimental drug amycretin could be even more effective than existing GLP-1s, according to early trial results published in The Lancet on Saturday. There has also been a growing field of research revealing the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond obesity. They have been linked to improvements for a range of maladies, including dementia and addiction. It is still unclear if these are a direct effect of the drugs, or are linked to improvements with obesity or diabetes.

The report said that members who share the same home are at higher risk of infection than other members of their community. As the study provides new knowledge about the disease, TLMI is going to change its course of leprosy disease-related activities in Bangladesh. The practices in the country have already begun to change as MB houses receive regular follow up calls from the case workers. The regular follow up calls mean that TLMI Bangladesh can diagnose and treat leprosy infected people at an earlier stage than before, which reduces the chances of transmission within a household or community. According to national leprosy control reports, the region has high leprosy prevalence as it had 4.57/10000 leprosy cases in 1995 and in 2017 it was 0.74/10000. Health experts said leprosy can be cured now if the affected man or woman takes multi drug therapy following the suggestions of physicians. Leprosy is an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms, legs, and skin areas around the body, said the researchers.

They emphasized for creating much awareness among the people and building social movement without delay in a bid to build a leprosy free healthy nation in the days ahead. TLMI report shows that a leprosy infected person, undergoing Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) treatment will stop being infectious within 72 hours of starting treatment and, even before treatment, only a minority of those affected by leprosy are infectious. They suggested educating people about the early signs and symptoms of leprosy and to attempt to reduce any misconceptions or under fear about the diagnosis. They also recommended annual re-examinations, and priorities MB index households before PB index households in order to detect the highest number of new cases.

When Ansar members tried to intervene and calm the situation, scuffles broke out, leading to physical altercations between hospital staff and patients. As tensions escalated throughout the hospital, security personnel locked the collapsible gates of all wards for safety reasons. Fearing potential attacks, the July injured protesters broke the locks and began assaulting doctors, staff, and patients with sticks and rods. Some protesters from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) also joined the attack. Fifteen people, including doctors, were injured in the violence. In fear, most doctors, nurses, and staff quickly left the hospital. Some who were trapped inside were rescued by army personnel. Following these events, all hospital services were completely shut down. Since that day, the entire hospital has been under the control of the July injured protesters. Doctors, nurses, and other staff have not returned to work there. Currently, only the July injured protesters remain inside the hospital, receiving food supplied routinely by the interim government.

Besides, 268 dengue patients were released from different hospitals in the last 24 hours. Besides, a total of 4,832 dengue patients have been released so far across the country. Last year, the total number of cases rose to 1,01,214 while 575 deaths from dengue disease were reported, the statement added.

Initially, the test will begin at Dhaka Medical College and Hospitals, Mugda Medical College and Hospitals and Chattogram Medical College and Hospitals and hospitals in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisional headquarters, the Director said. Those who have symptoms of Covid-19 or prescribed by registered physicians, would be tested at the health facilities, he said adding that the examination centres would be increased if the infection rise. He called upon all to remain alert and maintain health practices including the use of face masks, frequent hand washing and staying at home if Civid-19 symptoms are shown.

The funding rollback, part of a broader U.S. budget shift, has already led to the scaling down of critical programs that provide life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), nutritional support, and maternal HIV prevention services. In countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Mozambique—where USAID has historically played a leading role in HIV response—clinics are reporting medicine stockouts, staffing shortages, and an increase in treatment interruptions among pediatric patients.

“We are seeing children who had been stable on treatment suddenly return to clinics with dangerously high viral loads,” said Dr. Angela Njoroge, a pediatric HIV specialist with a Nairobi-based nonprofit supported by USAID. “When a child with HIV goes without medication even for a few weeks, their health can deteriorate rapidly.”

USAID has long been one of the world’s largest funders of HIV/AIDS programs, operating under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was launched in 2003. Over the last two decades, PEPFAR has helped save more than 25 million lives and dramatically reduced transmission rates. But advocates say recent administrative decisions to redirect USAID funds away from global health toward domestic and geopolitical priorities have quietly undermined these gains.

According to internal documents seen by aid organizations, USAID’s funding for pediatric HIV programs is expected to decline by nearly 20% in fiscal year 2025. While adult HIV programs have also been affected, the cuts have disproportionately impacted services for children and adolescents—groups that already face significant barriers to care.

“Children are not just little adults. They need specialized formulations, close monitoring, and community support to stay healthy. These cuts ignore those realities,” said Michel Baya, regional director for a children’s health NGO operating in West Africa.

The funding shortfall has caused ripple effects beyond the clinics. Community health workers, many of whom are funded through USAID grants, are being laid off or having their hours reduced. Outreach campaigns aimed at early diagnosis and treatment adherence have been paused. In rural areas, where USAID-supported mobile clinics often serve as the only access point to HIV care, services have ceased altogether.

“Without USAID’s support, we’ve had to make heartbreaking decisions,” said Lillian Tambo, who manages HIV programs in northern Uganda. “We’re prioritizing the sickest children, but that means others—those who are stable but still need daily meds—are falling through the cracks.”

International health organizations, including UNAIDS and the Global Fund, have joined the call for the U.S. government to reverse the funding cuts. In a joint statement, they warned that the rollback threatens to undo decades of progress toward controlling the HIV epidemic.

“The U.S. has been a global leader in the fight against HIV. Turning away now, especially from children, would be not just a policy failure—it would be a moral one,” the statement read.

U.S. lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern, with some urging Congress to hold hearings on the impact of the funding changes. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), a longtime PEPFAR advocate, said, “If these reports are accurate, we need to act urgently. American leadership in global health saves lives and builds stability.”

For children like eight-year-old Amina in western Kenya—who was born HIV-positive and had been thriving thanks to consistent ART—the consequences of the funding gap are painfully real. Her mother, Esther, now makes weekly trips to clinics hoping to find the medication that once arrived without fail.

She made the remarks while addressing a discussion at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here today marking World No Tobacco Day 2025. The health adviser further said, “Despite signing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the government representatives are holding positions in the tobacco company boards, facilitating their business growth. This contradiction is unacceptable.” “We must speak out clearly. If we remain silent now, it will never be possible,” she added.

Highlighting the exploitation of workers by tobacco companies, she said the companies exploit our laborers and contaminating our land, air, and environment. We cannot accept this under any circumstances. Calling for raising voice together against tobacco, Nurjahan stressed the amendment of the Tobacco Control Act for its effective enforcement, saying work is going on for the amendment. She added “Tobacco companies are targeting our youths and teenagers in various ways to attract them to their products... we must confront these challenges together.”

The health adviser urged everyone, from government and private sectors to individuals to step forward and help protect the country from the dangers of tobacco. Speaking at the event Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said although e-cigarette imports are banned, tobacco companies are attempting to produce them locally and workers in these factories are also being exploited. “They try to make it appear as if the government runs on the income from tobacco industries, which is completely false. Our government runs on public money,” she added.

She said tobacco is often grown on fertile lands near rivers, which is damaging forests, reducing fish reproduction, and harming cattle farming. The health of children, teenagers, and women is also adversely affected by tobacco, she said, adding, “I hope our youth will stand up against this destruction.” Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, noted that smoking is the gateway to all addictions, saying “Tobacco companies conduct research to grow their market, but we are not doing enough to protect our children.”

He emphasized that the Ministry of Education should play a major role in the anti-tobacco campaign, adding “Children should be taught from the age of 8–10 about the harmful effects of smoking.” Dr. Rahman also warned that tobacco companies are slowly gaining influence over the state, and strong measures are needed to resist this trend. With Health Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman in the chair, Railways Secretary Fahimul Islam, and DG of Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr. Abu Jafar also spoke.At the end of the event, individuals and organizations were awarded the National Tobacco Control Award 2025 in various categories for their contribution to tobacco control in Bangladesh.

The decision was taken in the second meeting of the taskforce formed to formulate work plans and execute programmes to check air pollution at the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry office in the capital with its Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in the chair on May 14.

The Adviser said they have decided to take numerous measures that include planting environment friendly trees in empty places, purchasing modern equipment to clean waste and roads aimed at preventing air pollution.   

“We have also decided to formulate short, mid and long-term work plans to prevent air pollution,” she said.

Rizwana, also Water Resources Adviser said they have also decided to form a committee with representatives from city corporations, department of forests, department of environment, department of housing and public works, armed forces division and Dhaka metropolitan police (DMP) for the tree plantations.
 
“A pilot project has been taken to cover the bare places of Dhaka North and South, Narayanganj and Gazipur City Corporations with grasses”, she said.   
 
The adviser said youth representatives and civil society personnel will be entrusted with taking care of the trees and the best caretakers of the trees will get stimulus on the basis of annual evaluation.
 
Dhaka North and South City Corporation will sprinkle water on roads two times every day to check dust pollution, she said, adding that the schedule of removing solid waste and sweeping the roads will be fixed to address the sufferings of the city dwellers.
 
The meeting has also decided to carry sand in packets instead of an open truck, she said.
 
The adviser said they will ensure use of blocks instead of bricks in all the public constructions except construction of roads by 2025.
 
Required legal action will be taken against those who burn waste in open places, she said.
 
The policy to include a chapter on citizen awareness and their role to check air pollution in the textbooks and scrapping will be finalized, she said, adding that instruction of giving sermons on cleanliness during Jummah prayers on Friday in mosques across the country will also be given.

The surgery, performed May 4 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, is a promising development for other patients suffering from serious bladder disorders.

The recipient of the innovative procedure was Oscar Larrainzar, 41, a father of four who had a large portion of his bladder removed due to cancer several years ago, the University of California, Los Angeles, said in a statement Sunday.

Larrainzar later had both of his kidneys removed due to cancer and end-stage kidney disease and was on dialysis for seven years.

He received both a bladder and a kidney from an organ donor and had them successfully transplanted in an eight-hour operation.

"The surgeons first transplanted the kidney, followed by the bladder; they then connected the kidney to the new bladder using the technique they had pioneered," the UCLA statement said.

Dr. Nima Nassiri, one of the surgeons involved in the historic transplant, said the procedure yielded positive results almost instantaneously.

"The kidney immediately made a large volume of urine, and the patient's kidney function improved immediately," Nassiri said.

"There was no need for any dialysis after surgery, and the urine drained properly into the new bladder."

Nassiri and fellow surgeon Inderbir Gill said full bladder transplants had not been performed previously due to the complex vascular structure of the pelvis, making it a technically difficult procedure.

"This first attempt at bladder transplantation has been over four years in the making," Nassiri said.

Previously, patients in need of bladder reconstruction could have one artificially created using a part of the intestines or have a stoma bag inserted to collect urine.

Those techniques had several short-term and long-term risks that doctors hope will be circumvented with the full bladder transplant, Nassiri said.

Of the new cases, 45 were reported in Barishal division (excluding BCC area), 20 in Chattogram division (excluding CCC area), three in Dhaka division (excluding city corporations), seven in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), two in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), two in Khulna division (excluding 
KCC area), four in Rangpur division (excluding RpCC) and one patient in Sylhet division (excluding SCC), said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The total number of dengue cases rose to 3,536 while 22 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease were reported this year. 

During the 24-hour, 79 patients were released from different hospitals across the country after receiving treatment.

Last year, a total of 1,01,214 people were infected with dengue while 575  deaths from the disease were reported, the statement added.

To mark the relaunch of the radiotherapy, BMU oncology department organized an inauguration ceremony today at Block F which was addressed by BMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shahinul Alam.

Pro-VC (Research and Development) Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman Hawlader, Treasurer Professor Dr. Nahreen Akhter, Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, and the founding chairman of the Oncology Department Professor Dr. Syed Akram Hossain addressed the occasion.

Chaired by the chairman of the Oncology Department Prof Dr. Md. Nazir Uddin Mollah, it was also attended by Associate Professor Dr. Md. Jamal Uddin, Professor Dr. Sarwar Alam and Associate Professor Dr. Sadia Sharmin.

The Vice-Chancellor, in his speech, emphasized the importance of conducting medical education, research, and services in the public interest. "We must prioritize the public interest in our approach to medical education, service, and research," he said.

"Healthcare providers must refrain from discriminatory behavior and move away from elitist attitudes. Every patient deserves dignity and transparency," he added. 

He added, "Patients must be fully informed about treatment costs, expected outcomes, and have a say in their care. This is not only ethical but crucial to building trust in our healthcare system." 

Professor Dr. Shahinul Alam directed oncology professionals to enhance their focus on research and proposed the development of treatment guidelines tailored to the country's socio-economic context, in addition to adhering to international protocols. 

He further stressed the need for integrated collaboration among all related departments and support staff to elevate oncology services to global standards.

Pro-VC Prof Dr. Mujibur Rahman Hawlader acknowledged the challenges in cancer treatment and noted the trust patients place in BMU, urging healthcare professionals to strive to meet their expectations and ensure a better quality of life for them.

Treasurer Dr. Nahreen Akhter stated that the reactivation of the LINAC machine underscores BMU's commitment to affordable and accessible care, rather than profit. She called for accelerated research and emphasized the importance of ensuring that patients can return home healthy and satisfied.

Associate Professor Dr. Md. Jamal Uddin reported that between 2020 and 2024, over 8,000 patients received chemotherapy at BMU's oncology department, while approximately 2,000 underwent radiotherapy. In 2023 alone, 70 patients were treated through brachytherapy.

Dwarfism is not mere a physical problem, rather it creates obstacles at every period of life. But this challenge can be overcome with proper treatment, awareness and the support of family and society.

Dwarfism is a physical condition in which a child's height and body structure do not grow normally by age. Usually, if the height is less than 4 feet 10 inches (147 centimeters) in adulthood, it is identified as dwarfism. It can be due to genetic defects, hormonal deficiencies or malnutrition.

The main causes of dwarfism are genetic defects, hormonal problems, malnutrition, birth defects and other physical problems. In most cases, dwarfism is caused by a hereditary condition known as achondroplasia that limits bone growth.

When body produces less growth hormone, child's physical growth is hindered. Lack of proper nutrition hinders the physical growth of the child. Some children are born with defects in the structure of the bones or brain, which affect their growth. Thyroid problems or chronic diseases also negatively affect the child's growth.

The symptoms of dwarfism are clearly seen in the child's physical structure and growth. Besides, height is less than normal, uneven structure of the body parts, relatively large head, problems with walking, defects in the structure of teeth and curvature of the spine.

Dwarfism hinders children in their daily activities. They get tired easily and have difficulty moving due to structural problems in the body. Dwarfism has a major impact on the child's self-confidence. They may suffer from inferiority complex due to ridicule, mockery and bullying in society. Sometimes depression and stress become a part of their lives. Due to physical limitations, they often lag behind in education and professional competition.

If the child's growth seems abnormal, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Growth hormone therapy is effective for children whose dwarfism is caused by hormone deficiency. However, it needs to be done with regular monitoring.

Surgery is an effective method to correct bone structure defects. Physiotherapy is helpful in increasing physical strength and making walking easier. A psychologist or counselor can help boost the child's confidence. Proper nutrition helps improve the child's overall health.

Professor at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology at Bangladesh Medical University Dr. Mohammad Abdul Haye said, "Dwarfism is mainly caused by genetic or hormonal reasons. However, timely treatment and family support can bring a big change in the child's life. We have to be aware to give every child a chance at a normal life".

 Associate Professor at the National Children's Hospital Dr. Saima Ahmed said, "If a child has problem with growth retardation, the first thing to do is to visit expert. Early detection and necessary treatment help bring the child back to a normal life".

Family and society play the biggest role in the mental development of children. Love for the child and normal behavior strengthens him mentally. Misconceptions about dwarfism should be removed and they should be sympathetic. It is important to give them equal opportunities in education and work.

Despite physical limitations, many have reached the pinnacle of success with their talents. Peter Dinklage became famous worldwide for his role in the series 'Game of Thrones'. Many have also overcome dwarfism and established themselves in various fields.

Dwarfism is not a curse; it is a physical condition that can be easily dealt with proper treatment, family and social support. Our responsibility is to have an equal attitude towards them and create an inclusive environment for them. Despite physical limitations, these children can make extraordinary contributions to society with their talents.

Of the new cases, 18 were reported in Dhaka division, 40 in Barishal division, 14 in Chattogram division, six in Khulna division and one in Sylhet division, according to a Directorate General of Health Services press release on Saturday.

Meanwhile, one death from dengue was reported and 70 patients were released from hospitals after receiving treatment.

With the latest figures, the number of dengue cases in the country this year has risen to 3,666. Of them, 3,066 have recovered and 22 died.

According to DGHS data, Bangladesh recorded 1,01,214 dengue cases and 575 deaths in 2024.

Heart disease is responsible for 34 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh, a large number of which is preventable. Availability of anti-hypertensive medicine at the grassroots level can reduce the risk of heart disease to a great extent. 

Specialists and other medical practitioners concerned revealed these issues while addressing a discussion and seminar titled "Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease Risk" to mark World Hypertension Day 2025.

National Heart Foundation, Rajshahi, organized the meeting at its conference hall here on Saturday. Main theme of the day this year is "Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer!" 

Prof Roish Uddin, Director and Chief Consultant of National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Rajshahi, addressed the meeting as the focal person, saying that many diseases can be prevented by controlling diabetes and hypertension.

Prof Latifur Rahman, Dr Rafiur Rahman, Dr Wasim Hossain, Dr ASM Sayem, Dr Rezwanul Islam, Dr Taniia Akter, Dr Nafisa Lubaba and Dr Gaziul Alam also spoke at the seminar, disseminating their expertise on the issue. 

The meeting was told that one in every four adults in Bangladesh is suffering from hypertension.

According to the first Global Report on Hypertension 2023 by the World Health Organization (WHO), 273,000 people die of cardiovascular diseases every year in Bangladesh and 54 percent of these fatalities are attributable to hypertension.

The reports also revealed that half of the individuals (aged 30-79 years) with hypertension are not even aware of their condition.

Heart Specialist Prof Roish Uddin said increased awareness programs, along with other activities, have become an urgent need to control hypertension.

"Heart disease causes more than 40 percent of premature deaths in Bangladesh. Controlling hypertension is the most effective way to reduce this mortality rate", he added.

In his remarks, Prof Latifur Rahman said empirical studies by region, age and gender are highly required to accurately determine the prevalence of hypertension nationwide.

He also opined that assessment of the number of hypertensive patients across the country is important to ensure the supply of anti-hypertensive medicine at the grassroots level.

Prof Rahman said a healthy dietary habit is essential to control hypertension and heart disease.