International
Mpox cases decline in Africa as vaccination efforts continue
The mpox epidemic, formerly known as monkeypox, is showing signs of decline in Africa, with a drop in infections recorded during the past week, the African Union’s public health agency reported Thursday.
Authorities described this trend as “very encouraging” on the path toward controlling the outbreak.
Since January 2024, there have been 150,880 suspected cases and 41,292 confirmed infections, along with 1,830 verified deaths and 205 suspected deaths across 26 African countries, according to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“This week, we continue to observe a downward trend in the number of suspected cases as well as confirmed cases,” said Yap Boum, incident deputy manager of Africa CDC, at a press conference. “This is very encouraging as it helps us see the light at the end of the tunnel as we move forward,” he added.
During the last week, 3,113 new cases (879 confirmed) were reported, a decrease from the 3,323 cases (957 confirmed) reported the previous week. The decline was especially notable in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicenter of the epidemic, as well as in Uganda and Sierra Leone.
Boum also emphasized that “we continue to encourage intensified surveillance and other public health measures to sustain and accelerate the decline” in cases. He urged the strengthening of vaccination programs in the most affected countries and called for the mobilization of additional vaccine doses.
Currently, eleven African countries have received mpox vaccines, and seven are conducting vaccination campaigns. According to Boum, just over three million doses have been distributed in total. “We understand,” he added, “that vaccination is not a silver bullet, but it is a key component of the response” to the epidemic.
The African Union health agency declared mpox a continental public health emergency on August 13. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an international health alert the following day, which has remained in effect since June 9.
Mpox is an infectious disease characterized by skin rashes, fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, headaches, back pain, and general fatigue.
International
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 storm on Tuesday but continues to pose a threat to parts of the U.S. East Coast with potentially dangerous flooding, according to meteorologists.
Although the hurricane’s eye is expected to remain offshore, experts are concerned about Erin’s size, as strong winds extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm’s center.
In its 18:00 GMT bulletin, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) lifted tropical storm warnings for the Bahamasand Turks and Caicos Islands, but kept them in effect for parts of North Carolina.
Erin was located several hundred kilometers southeast of North Carolina and was moving northwestward.
“This means there is a risk of potentially life-threatening flooding of 60 to 120 centimeters above ground level,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
He also warned of the possibility of destructive waves, combined with storm surge, that could cause severe damage to beaches and coastal areas, making roads impassable.
International
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
Three U.S. naval vessels are moving toward the coasts of Venezuela, according to international media reports on Tuesday, after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is ready to combat and curb international drug trafficking.
Reports indicate that the ships will reach Venezuelan waters within the next 36 hours as part of a recent U.S. deployment aimed at countering international narcotics operations.
The announcement coincides with Leavitt’s statement that Trump is prepared to “use the full extent of his power” to halt drug flows into the United States. The naval deployment involves approximately 4,000 military personnel.
“The President has been clear and consistent. He is ready to use every element of U.S. power to prevent drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela—it is a narco-terror cartel,” the spokesperson said during a press conference.
International
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing
Salvadoran national Otto René Rodríguez Llerena was released after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in a terrorist attack at a hotel in Cuba in 1997, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
During his trial, Rodríguez Llerena admitted to placing an explosive device at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel under the orders of anti-Castro exile leaders. He was arrested the following year when he returned to Havana with another load of explosives that failed to detonate.
“The Cuban government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism, respecting human rights, and the need for the international community to hold accountable those who promote such acts,” the statement read.
He was released on August 15 and is the second Salvadoran to complete his sentence. In December of last year, another Salvadoran, Ernesto Cruz León, was released after planting bombs at tourist centers, one of which killed an Italian tourist identified as Fabio Di Celmo.
A third Salvadoran, Francisco Chávez Abarca, also received a 30-year sentence from Cuban courts in 2010 after being extradited from Venezuela through Interpol for actions against Cuba.
Rodríguez Llerena had requested conditional release in 2016, arguing that his actions had not caused any direct fatalities, but no further information was released about his situation until now.
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing
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