Audio By VocalizeHealth CS Aden Duale addresses the media on Kenya’s Ebola preparedness at Afya House, Nairobi, May 21, 2026. [David Gichuru, Standard] I hope you have returned safely from Geneva, where you attended the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79), and where mental health …
… Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a press conference on Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, in Geneva …
… Meanwhile, WHO leaders met in Geneva to review the status of the outbreak and discuss the approved vaccine protocols for the fast spreading Bundibugyo Ebola variant. …
Audio By VocalizeWHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a press conference on Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, in Geneva, on May 20, 2026. …
… Addressing the media from Geneva, Switzerland, the WHO Director-General and his technical team said the current virus strain identified as Bundibugyo, has not been seen for more than a decade and there is no approved vaccine or therapeutics, limiting treatment and prevention opti …
… e in sufficient quantities at the moment,” said WHO Senior Advisor Dr Vasee Moorthy, noting that development of a suitable vaccine could take up to nine months.Kenya’s Health Ministry has stepped up coordination with WHO, with Duale meeting the organisation’s leadership in Geneva …
… "The new international health regulations are working," she told AFP in an interview in Geneva.As soon as the alert was sounded last Friday over the new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and once the world learned a few weeks ago of the rare hantavirus outbreak …
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has recorded more than 1,000 infections and 267 deaths, the highest number of confirmed cases within the first month of any outbreak on record, according to WHO. The rapid spread has been driven by the outbreak's expansion into urban centres including Bunia and Mongbwalu after circulating undetected for months, though some progress has been made in treatment capacity and community engagement.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has recorded more than 1,000 infections and 267 deaths, the highest number of confirmed cases within the first month of any outbreak on record, according to WHO. The rapid spread has been driven by the outbreak's expansion into urban centres including Bunia and Mongbwalu after circulating undetected for months, though some progress has been made in treatment capacity and community engagement.
Kenya has secured hosting rights for the fourth Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit, to be held in Nairobi in April 2027, making it the first African country and first Global South nation to host the meeting. The two-day summit will bring together governments, military leaders, technology firms, researchers and policy experts to discuss practical safeguards around AI use in defence systems.
Kenya has been selected to host the fourth Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit in April 2027, becoming the first African nation to stage this high-level global conference on artificial intelligence in defence and security. The summit brings together governments, defence institutions, technology firms, academia and international organizations to discuss responsible use of AI in military operations and global governance frameworks for emerging defence technologies.
The UN children's agency says 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was declared in October 2025, with UNICEF stating that a child has been killed on average every day for more than eight months despite the supposed ceasefire. According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 992 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was announced.
The US announced that ships will move toll-free through the Strait of Hormuz under an Iran peace deal signed by President Donald Trump, with possible $300 billion reconstruction funds for Iran contingent on the country fulfilling its commitments.
Demonstrators in Geneva threw stones and firecrackers at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons, during protests against the G7 summit set to begin Monday in nearby Evian, France. Thousands from a coalition of over 60 associations, unions and left-wing groups turned out to protest against the gathering of top world leaders.
Gang violence has killed at least 2,300 people in Haiti this year, with 1,100 injured and 99 kidnapped, the UN said Monday. The UN human rights chief urged authorities to tackle impunity and accelerate deployment of the new Gang Suppression Force to address the crisis.
Thousands of protesters from a coalition of more than 60 associations, unions, and left-wing groups are expected to rally in Geneva on Sunday to denounce "fascism and imperialism" ahead of the Group of Seven leaders' three-day meeting in nearby Evian, France. Swiss authorities are deploying heavy police presence, wary of repeating 2003 violence when anti-G7 riots caused millions of dollars in damage.
Guyana has nominated its UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Burkett to run for UN secretary-general, a post that will be vacant at the end of the year when incumbent Antonio Guterres completes two terms. President Irfaan Ali highlighted Rodrigues-Burkett's leadership during Guyana's recent non-permanent Security Council membership.
The World Health Organization warned Friday that an Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading into new areas and is larger than initially detected, with 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths since May 15, and isolation bed capacity far below what is needed.
The World Health Organization warned Friday that the Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading into new areas, with 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Isolation bed capacity is far below anticipated need, and cases are now occurring through local community spread in addition to travel from hotspots.
Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, and Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador are running to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general at the end of the year. All three candidates argued during a Geneva debate that it is time for a woman to lead the UN for the first time in its 80-year history.
Bolder Learner Tech School (BLTS) won both the junior and senior divisions of the AI for Good Robotics Youth Challenge at Kenya's national championships, making history as the first Kenyan institution to sweep both age categories. The school's teams, CYB3R h@CK3RS and FGC, advance to the global grand finale in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 7 to 10.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued an open letter to Vladimir Putin calling for a face-to-face meeting to pursue peace, stating it would be wrong to wait for the US to refocus on the European war. He also called for a full ceasefire during negotiations, which Putin had rejected earlier that day.
Traditional healers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, trusted by local populations, are playing a role in response to an Ebola outbreak declared in May that has infected 359 people and killed 61. Some healers claim to have developed treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, though no vaccine or treatment exists.
Anti-Counterfeit Authority Executive Director Robi M King'a has been elected unanimously as Vice-Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Advisory Committee on Enforcement, placing Kenya at the forefront of international efforts to combat counterfeiting and enforce intellectual property rights.
The UN's World Food Programme is facing a 75-percent funding shortfall amid multiple global crises, with an official stating the funding gaps are "unprecedented" and leaving tens of millions going hungry. The WFP cited European funding cuts as the largest shock to the system, despite the United States remaining its top donor.
The World Health Organization revised the number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo down from 906 to 116 as of May 31, with 321 confirmed cases including 48 deaths; many suspected cases were cleared after testing showed other diseases with similar symptoms or unlinked fever.
Platform workers in Kenya, including gig workers, data labelers, and content moderators, are calling on the government to treat all workers with dignity and expect tripartite discussions at the International Labour Conference 2026 in Geneva to establish a convention for decent work in the platform economy.
An open letter to Health CS Aden Duale argues that mental health represents a critical public health crisis in Kenya, with an estimated five to 10 million Kenyans living with mental health conditions—up to one in five citizens—yet most cases remain undiagnosed or untreated in primary healthcare settings.
The World Health Organisation upgraded the public health risk from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo from high to very high, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported, though only 82 cases have been confirmed with seven confirmed deaths.
The WHO reports that Ebola has killed 82 people, with suspected deaths potentially reaching 17 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, while about 750 cases remain unconfirmed. Kenya has identified 22 high-risk counties and activated public health emergency response measures including border screening, laboratory diagnostics, and health worker training, though no case has been confirmed in the country.
The WHO has raised the risk from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the highest level, with 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths, plus almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
India and the African Union have postponed the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit, scheduled for May 28–31 in New Delhi, citing an emerging public health situation following a deadly Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO says the risk from the outbreak is high in central Africa but remains low globally.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has stepped up national surveillance and response measures following the World Health Organisation's declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health emergency of international concern. The number of suspected cases in DRC and Uganda has risen to 600, with 139 suspected deaths, and Kenya remains free of the virus but faces concern over regional links through transport and cross-border movement.
Deaths from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have risen to 131, with 543 suspected cases and 33 confirmed cases in DRC, plus two confirmed cases in Uganda. The WHO Director-General has declared the rare Bundibugyo strain outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, the first such declaration made before convening an emergency committee.
Kenya has scaled up disease surveillance and emergency preparedness nationwide following a WHO declaration of Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where suspected cases and deaths have risen. The Health Cabinet Secretary confirmed Kenya remains Ebola-free but said the country has heightened screening at all points of entry, with at least 34,500 travellers screened as of May 18, 2026.
Recent hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks show that while global response to declared health crises has improved, awareness of pandemic risks and upstream preparedness—including surveillance and early detection—remain insufficient, according to Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
Kenya has reaffirmed its adherence to the One China Policy after the 79th World Health Assembly rejected Taiwan's proposal to participate as an observer for the tenth consecutive year. Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing'oei said Kenya "associates itself unequivocally with the One China Policy," while China's Foreign Ministry said the repeated rejection reflected broad international support for the One China principle.