Reuters Health News Summary

Last year, a 50% rise in annual cases was reported across 26 African countries regarded as meningitis hyperendemic countries, according to the WHO. South Africa recalls J&J's cough syrup sold in six African nations after suspected toxicity South Africa's health regulator said on Saturday it is recalling batches of Johnson & Johnson's children's cough syrup after detection of high levels of diethylene glycol.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Peru's dengue deaths triple as climate change swells mosquito population

Deaths caused by the mosquito-borne dengue disease have more than tripled in Peru so far this year, according to data from the South American nation's government, which is redoubling efforts to contain an epidemic that has hit poor areas the hardest. The government of President Dina Boluarte this week said it had approved an "emergency decree" allowing extraordinary economic measures to bolster the plan to counter the outbreak, which experts say is exacerbated by climate change.

Nigeria becomes first country to roll out new meningitis vaccine, WHO says

Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out the "revolutionary" new Men5CV vaccine against meningitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Nigeria is one of the hotspots of the deadly disease in Africa. Last year, a 50% rise in annual cases was reported across 26 African countries regarded as meningitis hyperendemic countries, according to the WHO.

South Africa recalls J&J's cough syrup sold in six African nations after suspected toxicity

South Africa's health regulator said on Saturday it is recalling batches of Johnson & Johnson's children's cough syrup after detection of high levels of diethylene glycol. The affected batches were sold in South Africa, Eswatini, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria, the statement added.

Mexico sounds alarm over 'zombie drug' sedative in opioids

Mexican public health officials are sounding an alarm after a study discovered the presence of animal tranquilizer Xylazine in opioids in cities on the country's northwest border with the United States. Known popularly in English by names like "tranq dope" and "zombie drug," Xylazine cut into heroin and fentanyl has in recent years worsened the opioid scourge in U.S. cities like Philadelphia.

Bayer's patent for blood thinner Xarelto invalid, UK court rules

Bayer's patent covering its best-selling blood thinner Xarelto is invalid, London's High Court ruled on Friday in a blow to the German drugmaker. The company's blockbuster Xarelto drug generated nearly $4.1 billion in revenue in 2023, according to research firm Statista.

US biotech executive sentenced to 7 years in jail for COVID test fraud

The chief executive of a U.S. biotechnology company that falsely promised investors it could produce a quick and accurate COVID-19 test was sentenced to seven years' in jail on Friday, the Justice Department said. Keith Berman, 70, of Westlake Village, California, pleaded guilty last December to securities fraud totaling around $28 million.

EU approves Illumina's plan to divest cancer test maker Grail

U.S. gene sequencing company Illumina's plan to divest cancer diagnostic test maker Grail received the green light from EU antitrust regulators on Friday after having blocked the deal two years ago. The company said it has reached an agreement with the European Commission on specific divestment options, but the method has not been finalised.

Seven children die from bacterial infection at Trinidad hospital

Seven infants have died in four days from a bacterial infection at Trinidad's Port of Spain General Hospital, said the island's health authorities. The Port of Spain General Hospital is the main health care facility in the island's capital city.

UN says waterborne illnesses spread in Gaza due to heat, unsafe water

Waterborne diseases are spreading in Gaza due to a lack of clean water and rising temperatures, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Gaza said on Friday. "It is becoming very hot there," Jamie McGoldrick told reporters via video link from Jerusalem. "People are getting much less water than they need, and as a result, there have been waterborne diseases due to lack of safe and clean water and the disruption of the sanitation systems."

EU regulator rules out link between weight-loss drugs and suicidal thoughts

The European Union drug regulator found no evidence that a class of diabetes and weight-loss drugs such as Novo Nordisk's hugely popular Wegovy, are linked to suicidal thoughts, it said on Friday, ending a nine-month probe. The regulator's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, which monitors drugs' side effects, said that no updates were required to the treatments' product information after reviewing the available evidence.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)