Health

Global Health This Week: Outbreaks, Climate Pressure and a TB Breakthrough

Africa’s worst cholera surge in decades, Ethiopia’s Marburg outbreak, early flu and measles warnings, rising antibiotic resistance and hopeful trial results for a new TB drug define this week’s global health picture.

Suzan Seherin November 21, 2025 3 minutes read

From lethal outbreaks in Africa to early flu waves and a major climate–health push at COP30, this week’s health news highlights how fragile global systems remain. At the same time, scientists have reported promising results for a new tuberculosis drug, even as antibiotic resistance keeps rising.

Cholera surge in Africa deepens health crisis

Africa is in the grip of its worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, according to the Africa CDC. Around 300,000 suspected cases and more than 7,000 deaths have been recorded this year, a jump of over 30% compared with 2024.

Health officials say fragile water systems, conflict and flooding are driving the crisis, with countries such as Angola and Burundi heavily affected. Meanwhile, cholera activity is easing in the Congo, South Sudan and Somalia, showing that strong local responses can reverse trends when resources are available.

Marburg and Ebola outbreaks worry African region

Ethiopia has confirmed its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the southern Omo region, near the South Sudan border. Authorities and the Africa CDC report at least nine cases and several deaths, and they have launched surveillance, isolation and contact-tracing measures with WHO support.

Marburg is a highly lethal viral haemorrhagic fever related to Ebola, with past outbreaks showing fatality rates of up to 80%. As a result, neighbouring South Sudan has issued health alerts and urged communities to avoid contact with bodily fluids and seek care quickly for fever or bleeding.

At the same time, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to battle an Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province. The remote setting slightly lowers the risk of international spread; however, poor roads and limited clinics make it harder for responders to reach affected villages in time.

Climate and health at COP30 move up the agenda

Climate-related health risks were a major focus at the COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil. Philanthropic organisations pledged about US$300 million for climate–health research, targeting the impacts of extreme heat, air pollution and climate-sensitive diseases such as dengue.

UN agencies and governments also launched the Belém Health Action Plan, a blueprint to build climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems. It calls for stronger early-warning systems, climate-proofed hospitals, better protection for vulnerable communities and fresh finance for adaptation.

Experts note that climate change already contributes to an estimated 550,000 heat-related deaths each year, with billions exposed to dangerous temperatures. As a result, health leaders argue that climate policy and public health planning can no longer be treated as separate debates.

Flu, measles and mpox drive respiratory concerns

Infectious diseases are also surging in many countries as winter approaches in the northern hemisphere. European health officials have warned that flu is spreading “unusually early,” driven by a new H3N2 sub-clade known as K, and they fear a tough season if vaccination rates stay low.

Australia is already experiencing the effects of gaps in immunity. Queensland has reported multiple linked measles cases across Brisbane, Toowoomba and regional centres, prompting alerts for exposure sites and renewed calls for MMR vaccination. The United States has logged more than 1,700 measles cases this year, with outbreaks in 43 jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, mpox remains a concern, especially in Africa and parts of Europe. Surveillance reports show tens of thousands of cases across African countries and a smaller cluster in EU states, underlining the importance of targeted vaccination and education for high-risk groups.

Antibiotic resistance and TB breakthrough share spotlight

This week also brought fresh alarms about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A new WHO surveillance report finds that roughly one in six lab-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide is now resistant to standard antibiotics, with levels close to one in three in some regions.

The warning comes during World AMR Awareness Week, which urges countries to turn political promises into concrete steps such as better stewardship, rapid diagnostics and infection prevention. Without decisive action, WHO estimates that drug-resistant infections could cause millions more deaths each year by mid-century.

There is, however, cautious optimism on tuberculosis. Early trial results suggest a new drug candidate, sorfequiline, may work faster and more effectively than current treatments against drug-resistant TB, which killed about 1.23 million people last year. Researchers say larger trials are still needed, but the findings hint at the first major step forward in TB therapy in decades.

Together, these developments show a world juggling acute outbreaks, slow-burn crises like AMR and climate-driven threats, while science races to stay ahead.

Feature Image: The Washington Post