Health

Edo State Ministry of Health has declared a Lassa Fever outbreak following a spike in confirmed cases and fatalities in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, announced the development in Benin City over the weekend, raising fresh concerns over the recurring viral disease. "We have recorded 29 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, with six deaths with notable increase in Etsako West and Essan West Local Government Areas," Oshiomhole said. The affected councils have emerged as hotspots in the latest wave of infections.

Preventive healthcare took centre state on Tuesday as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nigeria (AHF Nigeria) concluded plans to mark the 2026 International Condom Day (ICD) with the message, "Just Use It!", placing condoms back in focus as a powerful and cost-effective tool in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The 2026 celebration will hold in Awka, Anambra State, and at the Faculty of Media and Communications Study, University of Abuja, blending entertainment, creativity and health education, Organisers say the events will feature free condom distribution and aim to promote sexual health as accessible, stigma-free and empowering.

Unchecked negative self-talk, psychologists note, can quietly undermine focus and problem-solving. That harsh inner monologue many people experience under pressure does more than affect mood, it diverts attention and makes challenges harder to resolve. Experts say meaningful change rarely happens overnight. However, simply becoming aware of the tone of one's inner voice is already a critical first step toward regaining control and improving performance.

Asia has stepped up health surveillance after India confirmed new cases of the deadly Nipah virus, prompting neighbouring countries to tighten border screening and issue public advisories despite having no reported infections of their own. Vietnam's Ministry of Health has urged citizens returning from outbreak-affected regions to monitor their health for 14 days, stressing that the country remains free of Nipah cases but is adopting heightened vigilance due to the virus's high fatality rate and potential for human-to-human transmission.

A major international genetics study has shed new light on the rapid rise of type 2 diabetes across Africa, revealing why the disease is increasing so sharply and how future treatments could be better adapted to African populations. Published in Nature Genetics, the research analysed blood samples from adults in Uganda to examine how genes influence proteins associated with type 2 diabetes. The scientists linked genetic data with protein levels in the blood, offering a detailed picture of disease biology that has been largely missing from global research.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike, which was initially scheduled to take place on January 12.