By AFP U.S. vaccine maker Moderna announced Monday that it would build its first mRNA jab-manufacturing facility in Africa after signing an agreement with Kenya’s government to produce up to 500 million doses a year. The company said it expected to invest $500 million in the new facility, which will produce vaccines for the continent of 1.3 billion…
By XINHUA The death toll of Lassa fever in Nigeria this year has risen to 98 amid government measures to reduce infections across the country, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Monday. The public health agency said in a statement that 12 additional deaths and 90 new infections were recorded in the country…
The fledgling Basketball Africa League tipped off its second season in Dakar, Senegal, Saturday, with a dozen men’s club teams from as many African countries vying for the 2022 BAL championship title. Guinea’s Seydou Legacy Athlétique Club defeated Senegal’s Dakar Université Club 85-70 in the season opener. Both teams had their eyes on the prize…
By David Ochieng Mbewa South African marathoner Stephen Mokoka on Sunday broke the men’s world record in a 50km race by winning the Nedbank Runified 50km in Gqeberha, South Africa. Mokoka, running in his very first 50km race, finished in a time of 2:40:13 (subject to ratification) eclipsing the previous record set by Ethiopia’s Ketema Negasa…
By CGTN Africa The official global death toll from COVID-19 is on the verge of eclipsing 6 million — underscoring that the pandemic, now in its third year, is far from over. The milestone is the latest tragic reminder of the unrelenting nature of the pandemic even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and…
By Jerry Omondi Saturday marked two years since South Africa recorded its first ever COVID-19 infection, and yet the country continues its efforts to contain the virus. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) announced the first case on March 5, 2020, a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of…
By XINHUA The Rwandan government has lifted a midnight-to-4:00 a.m. curfew on people’s movement, effective Saturday for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020. “Curfew is lifted. However, nightclubs, live bands, bars, receptions, and betting activities shall close by 2:00 a.m.,” said a cabinet communique issued by the Office of the Prime…
By AFP Kenya’s double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge won the Tokyo marathon on Sunday, but an attempt to break his own world record fell short as he crossed the line in 2:02:40. Kipchoge pulled away from countryman Amos Kipruto at around the 35km mark but was unable to beat the 2:01.39 he clocked at the 2018…
By Jerry Omondi Kenya on Saturday reported the deaths of three people attributed to Yellow fever, confirming a new outbreak of the viral hemorrhagic disease and sending health authorities on high alert. According to the country’s Acting Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth, the first case was detected on January 12th this year while 15 patients presenting…
By David Ochieng Mbewa The World Health Organization (WHO) has included a new antiviral medicine as a conditional recommendation in its living guidelines on COVID-19 therapeutics. Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral drug to be included in the treatment guidelines for COVID-19. “Today’s recommendation is based on new data from six randomized controlled trials involving 4796…
