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Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US)

The latest news and top stories on Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. A prominent US federal agency, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It serves as the national public health agency, dedicated to protecting public health and safety by controlling and preventing disease, injury, and disability globally. Its main activities include combating emerging infectious diseases, promoting environmental health, occupational safety, and health education. The CDC is recognised for its significant contributions to disease eradication, such as smallpox and polio, and its crucial role in responding to public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Displaced people watch a health worker in full personal protective equipment preparing to disinfect the area during the burial of Ebola victims at the Kigonze camp on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Africa

At least 30 deaths at DR Congo camp show Ebola could be spreading fast

All the victims had symptoms including headaches, fever and vomiting, which are associated with Ebola.

20 Jun 2026 - 6:21PM

United States

World Cup puts Ebola outbreak and pandemic lessons to the test

19 Jun 2026 - 5:51AM

Africa

DR Congo’s health workers fight Ebola with little pay and rest as crisis worsens

8 Jun 2026 - 9:54AM

Africa

WHO warns nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in Central Africa outbreak

The figure marks an increase of 100 cases and 20 deaths from Friday, amid growing concern over the scale of the epidemic.

9 Jun 2026 - 11:00PM

A woman walks past the General Referral Hospital in Mongbwalu, DR Congo, on Friday. Photo: AP

Africa

Kenya health minister says US Ebola quarantine centre will proceed amid protests

Kenyans are angry their land is being used by a foreign power in a way that has colonial undertones, and over the risk of Ebola spreading.

3 Jun 2026 - 11:36PM

Africa

Protests over US Ebola centre in Kenya kill 2

A Kenyan court blocked the proposed US Ebola quarantine centre for another three weeks.

2 Jun 2026 - 6:34PM

Africa

Young Kenyans protest Ebola quarantine centre for US citizens

Health Minister Aden Duale has said the quarantine centre was for ‘everyone’ and not exclusively for US nationals.

1 Jun 2026 - 7:05PM

A protester holds up a sign during a rally on Monday against a proposed Ebola quarantine centre to be established by the United States at Laikipia Air Base in Kenya. Photo: AP

Ebola virus

Ebola shows world unprepared for next pandemic, ex-US CDC head says

Tom Frieden called the latest outbreak of the deadly disease a ‘stress test’ that the world is failing so far.

31 May 2026 - 9:58AM

Africa

Uganda shuts border with DR Congo to curb surging Ebola outbreak

Defying WHO guidelines, temporary closure follows exposure of Ugandan health workers to the rare virus strain.

28 May 2026 - 3:34PM

Africa

DR Congo police fire warning shots as protesters burn Ebola patient tents

Angry residents torch a medical facility in a town hit hard by the outbreak as mistrust deepens over burials.

22 May 2026 - 10:45AM

A Congolese police officer stands guard as an Ebola treatment centre burns in Rwampara on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Ebola virus

WHO warns of ‘scale and speed’ of deadly Ebola outbreak

Deaths and cases surge in eastern DR Congo as rare Ebola strain spreads.

19 May 2026 - 7:13PM

A Congolese health worker checks a woman's temperature at a border crossing point. Photo: Reuters

Africa

US to screen for Ebola at airports as American worker is infected

US implements airport screenings and suspends visa services following a WHO declaration over the deadly Ebola strain.

19 May 2026 - 1:14PM

Hantavirus

More passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship test positive

Two passengers, French and American, test positive as governments take extensive precautions for evacuees.

11 May 2026 - 8:48PM

United States

Norovirus outbreak on Caribbean Princess cruise ship sickens over 100 guests

The company has increased cleaning and disinfection on the vessel carrying more than 4,000 people to the Bahamas.

10 May 2026 - 11:30AM

The Caribbean Princess cruise ship makes its way to Port Canaveral, Florida, in 2024. Photo: Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Hantavirus

‘Not another Covid’ says WHO, as new suspected hantavirus cases found

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, is in charge of MV Hondius’ evacuation; latest patient sat on plane near woman infected during cruise.

9 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Sant Joan university hospital, where a woman with symptoms consistent with a hantavirus infection is being treated, is seen in Alicante, Spain, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Editorial | Hong Kong is right to hold the line against US vaccine scepticism

As Hong Kong steps up its fight against viral hepatitis, health authorities are right not to follow a US policy shift on the hepatitis B vaccine.

7 Feb 2026 - 6:45AM

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

‘Don’t blindly follow’ US changes to infant vaccines, Hong Kong parents told

Warning comes after US health authorities scaled back routine child vaccine recommendations, leaving key shots to parental choice.

28 Jan 2026 - 8:22PM

Wellness

The hidden benefits of common vaccines, including reduced dementia, heart risks

Flu, RSV, shingles, Covid and other vaccines have ‘off-target’ benefits for older adults, making them ‘key tools’ for healthy ageing.

19 Jan 2026 - 12:44PM

Various studies around the world have linked jabs for influenza, shingles, RSV and more to a lowered risk of diseases associated with ageing, prompting further research into what doctors call “off-target” benefits. Photo: Shutterstock

United States

Medical groups win right to challenge RFK Jnr’s Covid-19 vaccine policies

Judge lets medical groups challenge Kennedy’s CDC vaccine changes, citing health risks to public health and unlawful panel influence.

7 Jan 2026 - 12:42AM

United States

US vaccine advisers say not all newborns need hepatitis B shot

Scrapping the recommendation for vaccination at birth will reverse decades of public health gains, disease experts say.

6 Dec 2025 - 1:00AM

Science

US fuels brain drain to China with Trump’s anti-science ‘Cultural Revolution’

Chinese-American researchers are finding similarities with chaotic period under Mao Zedong that targeted intellectuals in China.

23 Oct 2025 - 12:07AMvideocam

As the Donald Trump administration slashes research funding and brings institutes under broader political control, some Chinese-American scientists are drawing parallels with China’s Cultural Revolution. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Explainer | How to differentiate between flu types in Hong Kong and protect yourself

Health experts share their advice after death of teen over the weekend raises alarm bells over seriousness of the disease in the city.

14 Oct 2025 - 3:44PM

A woman wears a surgical mask at a bus stop in Mong Kok. Photo: Jelly Tse

India

India on health alert with ‘brain-eating’ amoeba on the rise

19 people died and 72 were infected by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba this year, including nine deaths and 24 cases in September alone.

18 Sep 2025 - 5:34PM

United States

Charlie Kirk killing a watershed moment as US political violence rises

Politically-motivated attacks have nearly doubled in the first half of 2025, with one expert fearing the assassination could be a ‘flashpoint’.

11 Sep 2025 - 3:48PMvideocam

United States

RFK Jnr’s family members say he’s a threat to Americans’ health

Trump’s health secretary is facing scrutiny over his firing of CDC officials and efforts to pull back Covid-19 vaccine recommendations.

7 Sep 2025 - 3:18AM

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jnr testifies during a Senate hearing on Thursday. Photo: EPA

United States

RFK Jnr defends CDC shake-up, as Democrats call for his resignation

The firing of director Sue Monarez, several high-level resignations and hundreds of earlier lay-offs plunged the health agency into turmoil.

5 Sep 2025 - 2:14AM

Robert F. Kennedy

Former CDC heads say Kennedy Jnr ‘endangering’ all Americans

Nine ex-leaders pen essay with warning that the US health secretary’s actions are unprecedented and alarming.

2 Sep 2025 - 2:24PM

United States

Fired US CDC director clashed with Kennedy on vaccine policy

Susan Monarez told a close associate that she had been asked to do things that were illegal or flew in the face of science.

29 Aug 2025 - 6:29AM

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Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US)

At least 30 deaths at DR Congo camp show Ebola could be spreading fast

All the victims had symptoms including headaches, fever and vomiting, which are associated with Ebola.

World Cup puts Ebola outbreak and pandemic lessons to the test

DR Congo’s health workers fight Ebola with little pay and rest as crisis worsens

WHO warns nearly 500 confirmed Ebola cases in Central Africa outbreak

The figure marks an increase of 100 cases and 20 deaths from Friday, amid growing concern over the scale of the epidemic.

Kenya health minister says US Ebola quarantine centre will proceed amid protests

Kenyans are angry their land is being used by a foreign power in a way that has colonial undertones, and over the risk of Ebola spreading.

Protests over US Ebola centre in Kenya kill 2

A Kenyan court blocked the proposed US Ebola quarantine centre for another three weeks.

Young Kenyans protest Ebola quarantine centre for US citizens

Health Minister Aden Duale has said the quarantine centre was for ‘everyone’ and not exclusively for US nationals.

Ebola shows world unprepared for next pandemic, ex-US CDC head says

Tom Frieden called the latest outbreak of the deadly disease a ‘stress test’ that the world is failing so far.

Uganda shuts border with DR Congo to curb surging Ebola outbreak

Defying WHO guidelines, temporary closure follows exposure of Ugandan health workers to the rare virus strain.

DR Congo police fire warning shots as protesters burn Ebola patient tents

Angry residents torch a medical facility in a town hit hard by the outbreak as mistrust deepens over burials.

WHO warns of ‘scale and speed’ of deadly Ebola outbreak

Deaths and cases surge in eastern DR Congo as rare Ebola strain spreads.

US to screen for Ebola at airports as American worker is infected

US implements airport screenings and suspends visa services following a WHO declaration over the deadly Ebola strain.

More passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship test positive

Two passengers, French and American, test positive as governments take extensive precautions for evacuees.

Norovirus outbreak on Caribbean Princess cruise ship sickens over 100 guests

The company has increased cleaning and disinfection on the vessel carrying more than 4,000 people to the Bahamas.

‘Not another Covid’ says WHO, as new suspected hantavirus cases found

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, is in charge of MV Hondius’ evacuation; latest patient sat on plane near woman infected during cruise.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Hong Kong is right to hold the line against US vaccine scepticism

As Hong Kong steps up its fight against viral hepatitis, health authorities are right not to follow a US policy shift on the hepatitis B vaccine.

‘Don’t blindly follow’ US changes to infant vaccines, Hong Kong parents told

Warning comes after US health authorities scaled back routine child vaccine recommendations, leaving key shots to parental choice.

The hidden benefits of common vaccines, including reduced dementia, heart risks

Flu, RSV, shingles, Covid and other vaccines have ‘off-target’ benefits for older adults, making them ‘key tools’ for healthy ageing.

Medical groups win right to challenge RFK Jnr’s Covid-19 vaccine policies

Judge lets medical groups challenge Kennedy’s CDC vaccine changes, citing health risks to public health and unlawful panel influence.

US vaccine advisers say not all newborns need hepatitis B shot

Scrapping the recommendation for vaccination at birth will reverse decades of public health gains, disease experts say.

US fuels brain drain to China with Trump’s anti-science ‘Cultural Revolution’

Chinese-American researchers are finding similarities with chaotic period under Mao Zedong that targeted intellectuals in China.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Explainer | How to differentiate between flu types in Hong Kong and protect yourself

Health experts share their advice after death of teen over the weekend raises alarm bells over seriousness of the disease in the city.

India on health alert with ‘brain-eating’ amoeba on the rise

19 people died and 72 were infected by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba this year, including nine deaths and 24 cases in September alone.

Charlie Kirk killing a watershed moment as US political violence rises

Politically-motivated attacks have nearly doubled in the first half of 2025, with one expert fearing the assassination could be a ‘flashpoint’.

RFK Jnr’s family members say he’s a threat to Americans’ health

Trump’s health secretary is facing scrutiny over his firing of CDC officials and efforts to pull back Covid-19 vaccine recommendations.

RFK Jnr defends CDC shake-up, as Democrats call for his resignation

The firing of director Sue Monarez, several high-level resignations and hundreds of earlier lay-offs plunged the health agency into turmoil.

Former CDC heads say Kennedy Jnr ‘endangering’ all Americans

Nine ex-leaders pen essay with warning that the US health secretary’s actions are unprecedented and alarming.

Fired US CDC director clashed with Kennedy on vaccine policy

Susan Monarez told a close associate that she had been asked to do things that were illegal or flew in the face of science.

Editorial | Hong Kong is right to hold the line against US vaccine scepticism

Explainer | How to differentiate between flu types in Hong Kong and protect yourself