The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be spreading faster than initially anticipated. At least 131 people have died so far, and more than 513 suspected cases have been reported as of last Tuesday. A WHO representative, Dr. Ann Ancia, said investigations show the virus has reached new areas, while a death has also been confirmed in neighboring Uganda.

A mathematical model from the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis in London suggests that many infections remain undetected, possibly pushing the real number of cases beyond one thousand. The Red Cross cautioned that without rapid identification of patients and improved public awareness, the situation could quickly spiral out of control. Following an emergency meeting, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the outbreak’s scale and speed. The strain currently spreading has no effective vaccine, though WHO is assessing whether other treatments might offer protection.

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease among cattle has been reported in several upazilas of Kurigram district, causing severe concern among farmers and cattle rearers. Over the past two weeks, twelve cows have died from foot-and-mouth disease and two from lumpy skin disease in Kurigram Sadar, Ulipur, and Rajarhat. Hundreds more cattle have been infected, prompting the Department of Livestock to begin field operations and awareness campaigns in affected areas.

Officials have advised farmers on treatment and hygiene measures, including cleaning infected areas with antiseptic solutions and preventing mosquito bites that spread lumpy skin disease. The outbreak comes just before Eid al-Adha, when local farmers traditionally raise cattle for sale. Due to restrictions, infected cattle cannot be taken to markets, and even recovered animals are fetching lower prices because of weakened health.

The district livestock office reported that 116,000 cows and 180,000 goats and sheep have been prepared for Eid markets. Despite the outbreak, officials believe the overall cattle market will remain stable and are monitoring markets to prevent the sale of infected animals.

Students at Rajshahi University and Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur are struggling to access adequate medical care due to severe shortages of doctors, equipment, and essential medicines. The Rajshahi University Medical Center, established in 1958, currently operates with only 21 doctors against 36 sanctioned posts, lacking specialists such as gynecologists and pathologists. Students report long waits, limited medicine supplies, and inadequate emergency services. University officials acknowledge the crisis, citing chronic understaffing and administrative delays in recruitment.

At Begum Rokeya University, the medical center remains at a primary level even after 17 years of establishment, with only four doctors and one nurse serving nearly 9,000 people. The center lacks 24-hour service, modern diagnostic tools, and specialist doctors. Students complain of having to seek treatment outside the campus at additional cost. University authorities admit the need for infrastructure expansion and secondary-level medical facilities to meet growing demand.

Both universities have pledged to improve medical services, but immediate action remains uncertain as recruitment and modernization plans are still pending.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced that a Central Emergency Alarm System will be introduced in government hospitals in Dhaka to enhance the safety of doctors and healthcare workers. The initiative will begin with Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. The minister shared the plan on Tuesday at the Central Medical Stores Depot in Tejgaon during a ceremony to hand over donated ventilators and other medical equipment.

Hossain explained that the system, referred to as a 'Code Blue' or emergency alarm, aims to ensure rapid security support during critical situations in hospitals. Additionally, the government plans to establish a separate police camp in the Mohakhali area to strengthen security for health-related facilities.

Regarding the new medical equipment, the minister said that ten district hospitals will each receive a pediatric ventilator for their ICU units, which are expected to be inaugurated within a week after Eid-ul-Azha.

Global health experts have warned that the world’s capacity to prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks is weakening. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) issued a report on Monday stating that outbreaks are becoming more frequent and severe, while investments in pandemic preparedness are failing to keep pace with rising risks. The warning came amid ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The report highlighted that climate crises, armed conflicts, and geopolitical divisions are worsening the threat of disease spread, while global cooperation is being undermined by political and commercial interests. The World Health Organization (WHO) convened an emergency scientific consultation to guide vaccine and treatment research. WHO officials also reported shortages of protective equipment in Kinshasa, with aid groups such as the International Rescue Committee and Médecins Sans Frontières assisting response efforts.

The GPMB urged world leaders to finalize a pandemic treaty ensuring equitable access to vaccines and treatments and to establish a permanent independent monitoring system. It warned that continued erosion of trust and cooperation could leave every country more vulnerable to the next pandemic.

At least ten people, including children and elderly residents, were injured in stray dog attacks over two days in several areas of Saghata upazila in Gaibandha district. Locals reported that packs of aggressive stray dogs have been roaming freely in markets, roads, and neighborhoods, disrupting daily life and spreading fear. Many victims had to travel to Gaibandha or Bogura to receive rabies vaccinations due to the lack of supply at local facilities.

Residents and business owners expressed growing concern over the uncontrolled stray dog population, noting frequent attacks in crowded market areas. The chairman of Bharatkhali Union Parishad confirmed awareness of the incidents and said the matter had been reported to the upazila administration. Health officials acknowledged that the Saghata Upazila Health Complex has had no rabies vaccine supply for a year, leaving patients in distress.

The upazila livestock officer stated that a special team has been formed to control the situation. Plans include deploying a dog-catching team and initiating vaccination drives for stray dogs to prevent further incidents.

A ten-month-old girl named Wasenat died after a lychee seed got stuck in her throat in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred in the West Para area of Bomubilchhari Union. Wasenat was the daughter of local veterinarian Abu Noman Osmani. Family members said the child was eating lychees with her father when the seed became lodged in her throat, causing her to struggle for breath. Despite attempts to remove the seed, the family rushed her to Lama Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead.

Later that night, around 9 p.m., Wasenat was buried at the local social cemetery after funeral prayers at the Bomubilchhari Union Parishad field. The tragic death cast a pall of grief over the family and the surrounding community.

The report highlights the sudden and devastating nature of the accident, which deeply affected residents of the area.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreak, centered in the eastern Ituri province, has so far resulted in about 246 suspected infections and 80 deaths. WHO reported that the virus, identified as the Bundibugyo strain, has no approved treatment or vaccine. Eight cases have been confirmed in laboratories, and infections have spread to Bunia, Mongwalu, Rwampara, and even the capital Kinshasa. Two confirmed cases have also been detected in neighboring Uganda.

WHO warned that the outbreak could expand rapidly due to population movement, urban transmission, and limited healthcare infrastructure. The organization advised DR Congo and Uganda to establish emergency operations centers to track and isolate cases. Neighboring Rwanda has tightened border health checks, while the U.S. CDC plans to deploy more staff and has issued travel warnings for Ituri province.

WHO urged countries not to impose travel or trade restrictions, emphasizing that such measures lack scientific justification. The agency noted uncertainty about the full extent of infections and geographic spread.

The Narayanganj District Council has extended financial assistance to Sahalam Islam, a pickup van driver injured during the mass uprising of 2024. Sahalam was shot by police while participating in an anti-discrimination protest in the Rayerbag area on August 17, leaving him with multiple bullet wounds and two permanently disabled fingers. Nearly two years after the incident, he remains unable to return to normal work and has been struggling to support his family. On Sunday, District Council Administrator Professor Mamun Mahmud handed him a donation check at the council office.

Sahalam became emotional while receiving the aid, expressing that he had long struggled to afford treatment and had fallen into debt. He said the council’s prompt support gave him hope to recover and resume work. Professor Mahmud stated that helping those who risked their lives during the movement was a moral duty and wished for Sahalam’s quick recovery.

The council’s assistance aims to ease Sahalam’s medical expenses and help him regain stability after months of hardship and surgeries that have yet to restore his full health.

The Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) organized a daylong free medical camp on the university campus on Sunday, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event offered 11 types of health services, including 10 free medical tests, and saw a heavy turnout of students throughout the day. The initiative was supported by the National Doctors Forum (NDF) Dhaka City South branch, aiming to provide quality healthcare and medical advice to students at no cost.

According to JAKSU General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif, this was the first large-scale free medical camp in the university’s history, designed to bring quality healthcare directly to students. Health and Environment Secretary Nur Mohammad said more than 30 experienced doctors provided free consultations and tests, making it one of the largest medical camps among public universities. Students expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting its importance for those facing financial constraints.

The camp included tests such as Hb%, RBS, HbA1c, TSH, Vitamin D, CRP, Troponin-I, Urine Strip Test, ECG, and USG, along with physiotherapy services. Organizers said the program effectively ensured access to essential healthcare for students.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami central executive member and Dhaka South secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud stated that negligence and suffering of patients in government hospitals will not be tolerated. He emphasized that ensuring healthcare for every citizen is a state responsibility. Dr. Masud made these remarks on Saturday, May 17, during the monthly coordination meeting of Community Health Care Providers (CHCP) at the Bauphal Upazila Health Complex auditorium, where he attended as the chief guest.

He urged all healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, to act responsibly and humanely so that no patient faces neglect or denial of service at hospitals or community clinics. Stressing transparency in the distribution of government-supplied medicines, he warned that any irregularity, corruption, or favoritism would face strict legal action. Dr. Masud added that efforts are ongoing to improve grassroots healthcare quality and accessibility for ordinary citizens.

The meeting was presided over by Bauphal Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Abdur Rauf, with local health officials and CHCPs in attendance.

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 people, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it an international public health emergency. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 88 deaths and 336 suspected infections have been reported so far. The WHO said the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and has been classified under the second-highest alert level, though it has not yet been declared a pandemic emergency.

Health authorities confirmed the outbreak in Ituri province near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. The first identified patient was a nurse who showed Ebola-like symptoms on April 24 in Bunia, the provincial capital. The Congolese health minister stated that there is no vaccine or specific treatment for this strain, and the fatality rate could reach 50 percent. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders described the situation as extremely concerning and is preparing a large-scale emergency response.

The WHO warned that the true number of infections and the geographic spread remain uncertain, raising fears that the situation could be more severe than currently known.

Professor Dr. Md. Nuruzzaman Khan (Khosru) has been appointed as the new director of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS). The appointment was announced on May 17, 2026. Before this role, he served as Professor and Head of the Department of Neurosurgery and Intern Coordinator at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

Dr. Khan currently holds several professional positions, including Treasurer of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC), Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Society of Neurosurgeons, and Joint Secretary General of the central committee of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB). He completed his SSC and HSC from Comilla Cadet College and earned his MBBS in 1997 and MS in Neurosurgery from Dhaka Medical College.

He has received fellowship training in Singapore, South Korea, and India, and is recognized for introducing endoscopic spine surgery in Bangladesh. Dr. Khan also serves as an international trainer in this field and has published numerous scientific papers in international journals.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has caused several dozen deaths, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The announcement was made from Geneva, where the organization confirmed that the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus affecting both Congo and Uganda. However, WHO clarified that the situation has not yet met the criteria to be classified as a pandemic.

According to the WHO statement, the decision reflects the seriousness of the outbreak and the need for coordinated international response, but it does not yet indicate a global health crisis. The organization emphasized that while the spread is concerning, current data do not justify declaring a pandemic-level emergency.

The declaration is expected to mobilize additional resources and international support to contain the virus and prevent further cross-border transmission, particularly between Congo and Uganda.

Bangladesh is facing a growing health crisis as doctors report that antibiotics are not working in children suffering from both measles and pneumonia. Pediatric specialists say the number of child deaths is increasing alongside a surge in infections. They warn that even after recovering from measles, children’s immune systems remain weak, leaving them vulnerable to pneumonia, seizures, respiratory problems, and other complications. The situation has prompted renewed concern among health experts about long-term risks and the need for parental vigilance.

Professor Dr. Atikul Islam of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute said measles is spreading rapidly among children, and pneumonia recovery is taking longer even with double antibiotic treatment. Public health expert Dr. Mushtaq Hossain linked the worsening condition to malnutrition, delayed treatment, and antimicrobial resistance. He criticized lapses in vaccination and public health policy as key causes of the current outbreak.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 453 children have died from measles or related symptoms since March 15, with over 56,000 showing symptoms and more than 7,500 confirmed cases. Experts called for urgent improvements in vaccination coverage and pediatric intensive care capacity.