Global health briefs
January/February 2024 | Volume 23 Number 1
Bangladesh records worst dengue epidemic
The People's Republic of Bangladesh reported more than 300,000 dengue cases, including 1,705 deaths, in 2023, a dramatic increase from the 62,000 infections and 281 deaths the nation recorded the previous year. The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades due to more frequent extreme weather events, according to WHO. Most infections are asymptomatic or mild, so the actual burden is under-reported; 70% of illness occurs in Asia.
Gates Foundation approves record $8.6 billion budget for 2024
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s board of trustees approved a
$8.6 billion budget for 2024, the largest annual budget to date. A major focus for the foundation has been funding development of new tools and strategies to reduce the number of cases of infectious diseases and decrease causes of child mortality in low-income countries. The new budget represents a 4% rise over last year, and the foundation has committed to increase its annual spending to $9 billion by 2026. The foundation stated that sub-Saharan African countries saw a nearly 8% decline in aid in 2022.
Cameroon rolls out world first malaria vaccination campaign
In January, Cameroon became the first nation to begin routinely vaccinating children with RTS,S (Mosquirix), the first antimalarial shot recommended by WHO. The Central Africa nation, which boasts an immunization program going back five decades, aims to
inoculate almost 250,000 children against the mosquito-spread disease by 2026. Malaria claimed 18,839 lives, mostly children under 5, in Cameroon in 2021, and the campaign is part of a WHO-supported effort to bring 30 million shots to Africa. The vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, is administered in four doses, each delivered as an injection to the thigh.
Global Health Now celebrates a decade of news sharing
Global Health Now (GHN) celebrated a decade of sharing global health news, reporting and perspectives on January 2. The publication from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reaches more than 50,000 readers in 170 countries and has published more than 600 original articles and commentaries on its website. Throughout 2024, GHN will post special features, campaigns, and events, stated Editor-in-Chief Brian W. Simpson.
WHO releases new ethics guidance for LMMs
WHO is releasing
new guidance on ethics and governance of large multi-modal models (LMMs), a type of artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can understand and create content using text, images, and audio. LMMs are being used for health-related purposes despite documented risks of producing false, inaccurate or biased statements, which could harm people who make health decisions based on the information. The guidance outlines more than 40 recommendations for consideration by governments, technology companies, and health care providers.
WHO celebrates 50th Anniversary of the EPI
Established by WHO in 1974, the
Expanded Programme on Immunization aims to combat and prevent various communicable diseases by providing universal access to life-saving vaccines for children worldwide. At its inception, EPI featured just six shots, but today its portfolio has grown to 13 vaccines intended to safeguard not only children but also teens and adults.
Updated February 14, 2024
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