Health news · 30 October 2026
Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo Surpasses 10,000 Cases, Spreads to Four Countries
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has exceeded 10,000 confirmed cases and nearly 5,000 deaths, making it the deadliest in the DRC's history and the second-largest ever recorded globally.
Eli Lilly's Retatrutide More Than Doubles Ozempic's Weight Loss in Phase 3 Trial
Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide helped people with type 2 diabetes lose up to 47 pounds on average — more than double the weight loss seen with Ozempic — in a large Phase 3 trial, with an FDA application planned for early 2027.
Mutated H1N1 Flu Strain Drives Unusually Early 2026–27 Season Across the United States
A new mutation in the H1N1 influenza A virus is fuelling an early flu season, with activity rising since August and spreading across 44 US states by late October — far ahead of the typical winter timeline.
Global Study Finds PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' Contaminate Freshwater Reservoirs Differently Across Continents
A study of 74 freshwater reservoirs across five continents found PFAS 'forever chemicals' present worldwide but with starkly different contamination profiles in Europe, Asia, and Africa, with researchers calling for urgent international monitoring.
Canada's 2026 Public Health Report Warns That Progress Is Not Permanent
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer released the State of Public Health in Canada 2026 report, finding that while life expectancy has rebounded since the pandemic, years lived in good health have declined and mental health, drug harms, and health inequities remain critical unresolved challenges.