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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.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has barred the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its members from embarking on the strike scheduled to begin on 12 January 2026. Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the restraining order on Friday while ruling on a motion ex parte filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation in suit number NICN/ABJ/06/2026.

Southwest Florida Proton has administered its first therapy treatment, becoming the first cancer center on Florida's west coast to offer the highly precise form of radiation therapy. The inaugural treatment, delivered on Dec. 30, represents a significant milestone for cancer care in the region, providing patients with access to advanced technology that previously required hours of travel to Florida's east coast or out of state. Proton therapy uses charged proton particles to target and destroy cancer cells with exceptional accuracy, often minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and reducing side effects.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has endorsed a new strategic policy that extends the retirement age of qualified clinical healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years, or from 35 to 40 years of service, effective January 1, as part of its efforts to mitigate the shortage of healthcare personnel in federal health institutions.