Health News Roundup: WHO fears 'silent' virus epidemic unless Africa prioritizes testing; Numbers of French COVID-19 patients fall and more

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

WHO fears 'silent' virus epidemic unless Africa prioritizes testing

Africa has so far been spared the worst impact of the coronavirus, but the World Health Organization is worried the continent could face a "silent epidemic" if its leaders do not prioritize testing for it, a WHO envoy said on Monday. "My first point for Africa, my first concern, is that a lack of testing is leading to a silent epidemic in Africa. So we must continue to push leaders to prioritize testing," special envoy Samba Sow told a news conference.

Numbers of French COVID-19 patients fall; no new death toll reported

The number of people in hospital with coronavirus in France fell by 387 to 16,798 on Monday, resuming a gradual decline that had been interrupted Sunday. The health ministry said numbers in intensive care fell by 46 to 1,609, continuing a more than six-week downtrend.

U.S. marks hushed Memorial Day holiday as virus deaths near 100,000

Americans paid a mostly low-key tribute to those who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces on Monday, with many Memorial Day events canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak that has killed nearly 100,000 people in the United States alone. In some places, scaled-down ceremonies were broadcast over the internet. But the virus overshadowed the national holiday, which is normally a time of flag-waving parades and events to commemorate fallen soldiers.

U.S. CDC reports 1,637,456 coronavirus cases, 97,669 deaths

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday reported 1,637,456 cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 15,342 cases from its previous count, and said that the number of deaths had risen by 620 to 97,669. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of 4 pm ET on May 24 versus its previous report a day earlier.(https://bit.ly/2ZvsoAy)

WHO warns of 'second peak' in areas where COVID-19 declining

Countries, where coronavirus infections are declining, could still face an "immediate second peak" if they let up too soon on measures to halt the outbreak, the World Health Organization said on Monday. The world is still in the middle of the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak, WHO emergencies head Dr Mike Ryan told an online briefing, noting that while cases are declining in many countries they are still increasing in Central and South America, South Asia and Africa.

WHO pauses trial of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients due to safety concerns

The World Health Organization has suspended testing the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients due to safety concerns, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday. Hydroxycholoroquine has been touted by Donald Trump and others as a possible treatment for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The U.S. President has said he was taking the drug to help prevent infection.

Mink infected two humans with coronavirus: Dutch government

Mink with the coronavirus have infected two people in the Netherlands in what are probably the first such cases of transmission during the epidemic, government and health authorities said on Monday. Mink carrying the virus were found on four of the 155 farms in the country where they are bred for their fur, Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten said in a letter to parliament that detailed the two cases.

UK coronavirus death toll rises by 121 to 36,914

The United Kingdom's death toll from confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 36,914, up 121 from a day earlier, official figures showed on Monday.

Thai researcher eyes affordable, accessible coronavirus vaccine for SE Asia

A researcher leading Thailand's push to manufacture a coronavirus vaccine says its aim is to make it cost-effective and accessible to Southeast Asia, and play a part in preventing a supply shortage globally. Thailand's government announced last week its plans to have a vaccine ready for deployment next year after researchers at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University successfully conducted trials on mice.

U.S.' Regeneron to buy back $5 billion stake held by Sanofi

U.S. company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said it had agreed to repurchase approximately $5 billion of its shares directly from French drugmaker Sanofi. Sanofi, which holds about 23.2 million Regeneron shares, said separately it intended to sell its equity investment, and that the move would not change ongoing collaboration between the two groups.

(With inputs from agencies.)