In African health news this week, the continent reported progress against major diseases even as funding gaps continue to weigh on public-health programs. South Africa has begun trials for its first locally developed cholera vaccine, a move seen as a step toward stronger regional health preparedness. Disease outbreaks remain a concern. Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, a highly lethal infection, while Senegal’s Rift Valley Fever outbreak has pushed the death toll to more than 30. Governments are also making structural changes in the health sector. Burkina Faso has introduced a National Ranking Examination to standardize medical training, and Niger has appointed a new World Health Organization representative to steer the country’s health policy efforts.

Africa has made strong progress against tuberculosis (TB), but a growing funding gap now threatens those gains, new data show. The region, along with Europe, is one of only two World Health Organization regions to surpass the initial targets of the End TB Strategy. Between 2015 and 2024, Africa cut TB incidence by 28 percent and TB deaths by 46 percent, marking one of the fastest post-COVID recoveries worldwide.

Globally, 10.7 million people contracted TB in 2024 and 1.23 million died. About 8.3 million cases, or 78 percent of the estimated total, were diagnosed and treated. Bacteriological confirmation improved from 65 percent to 70 percent between 2020 and 2024, and TB-HIV integration reached 89 percent.

Despite these advances, funding has stalled at 5.9 billion dollars, far below the 22 billion dollars needed for 2027. Research financing reached only 1.2 billion dollars. WHO warns that declining support could cause an additional two million TB deaths between 2025 and 2035. Eighteen vaccine candidates are currently in clinical trials, including six in Phase 3.

Local Vaccine Development and Outbreak Responses

South Africa has begun clinical trials for its first locally developed oral cholera vaccine as part of an effort to reduce dependence on global supply chains. Biovac, the Cape Town-based manufacturer, is conducting initial safety tests in adults before comparing the vaccine with existing products. Officials say approval could come by 2028. South Africa recorded 47 deaths and 1,400 cholera cases in 2023, while Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe reported higher tolls. The trials are being carried out in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the Southern region after laboratory analysis of eight suspected cases in Jinka. WHO has sent a team of 11 specialists to support surveillance, testing, infection control, and community outreach. The agency has also provided protective equipment and a deployable isolation tent, backed by 300,000 dollars from its emergency fund. Marburg symptoms include high fever, severe fatigue, dizziness, and muscle pain, and may progress to bleeding that requires urgent care.

Rift Valley fever in West Africa: Livestock situation report for Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia as of 13 Nov 2025

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In Senegal, health authorities reported a 31st death from Rift Valley Fever since the outbreak began in September 2025. Confirmed cases have reached 443 across ten regions, including 331 in Saint-Louis, 30 in Matam, 20 in Louga, and 10 in Dakar. A total of 391 patients have recovered. The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly affects livestock producers, farm workers, and veterinarians, with many infections linked to contact with infected animals. WHO, FAO, and OIE are coordinating a joint One Health response involving rapid response teams, protective equipment, and vector control.

Policy and Institutional Shifts

ECOWAS held its annual technical meeting in Accra from 10 to 14 November to review zoonotic disease surveillance, a key element of the One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health. The talks came as countries step up national systems, including Ghana’s pilot for dog bite monitoring and Côte d’Ivoire’s vaccination campaign, which immunized more than 200,000 domestic carnivores in 2024. The figure stood at about 10,000 in 2016. The effort helped raise Côte d’Ivoire’s SARE preparedness score from 1.6 to 2.4. Dr Diarrassouba Mamadou of the West African Health Organization called for stronger regional mechanisms for early detection and coordinated response. Partners, including the European Union and GIZ, reaffirmed support for cross-border cooperation.

Burkina Faso is overhauling medical training with the introduction of a National Ranking Examination that will become the only route to specialization, replacing the previous hospital internship model. Candidates include sixth-year medical and dental students, fifth-year pharmacy students, recent doctoral graduates, and tenured civil servants. The first session, set for 15 to 16 November 2025, will consist of 360 multiple-choice questions. Of 1,700 applicants, more than 870 submitted complete files. A total of 1,000 trainees will be selected based on exam performance. The reform is part of the national Plan 1000×5, which aims to train 1,000 specialists a year for five years.

Niger has appointed Dr Jean Baptiste Nikiema as its new WHO Representative. With more than 30 years of experience in public health, he has served as Director General of Pharmacy in Burkina Faso, as the WHO Regional Advisor for Africa, and as Deputy Representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has contributed to the development of the African Medicines Agency, promoted local drug production, and coordinated pooled procurement for small island states. In Niger, he plans to focus on strengthening health systems, improving operational efficiency, and mobilizing resources aligned with national priorities.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Read More: 13/11/2025- In a First in 50 Years, Clinical Trial Begins for a New Oral Cholera Vaccine