Attachments
Overview
This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. This week’s articles cover:
- Cyclone Fytia in Madagascar
- Malaria in Namibia
- Mpox in Madagascar
For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation, is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed.
Major issues and challenges include
- Cyclone Fytia in Madagascar: Cyclone Fytia represents a multi-sectoral shock to an already fragile humanitarian and health context in Madagascar, where climate hazards are compounding existing epidemiological pressures and structural vulnerabilities. Displacement, damaged health infrastructure, disrupted water and sanitation systems, and significant agricultural losses are creating conditions for secondary health crises. Addressing these risks will require urgent high-level attention to restore essential health and WASH services, strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness, ensure food and nutrition support, and mobilize additional resources to sustain coordinated multisectoral response and recovery efforts.
- Malaria in Namibia: Namibia is experiencing a rapid malaria resurgence characterized by intense localized transmission in northern and northeastern hotspot districts, driven largely by favourable vector breeding conditions and reinforced by cross-border importation from endemic neighbouring areas. Operational constraints, including limited transport capacity, shortages of insecticide-treated nets, and human resource gaps, continue to challenge field response. High-level attention is therefore required to accelerate targeted vector control in hotspot districts, strengthen surveillance and cross-border coordination, ensure adequate supplies for case management and prevention, and mobilize additional operational resources to rapidly suppress transmission and prevent further escalation during the peak malaria season.