United News of Bangladesh

Researchers in Australia have discovered why breast cancer treatment stops working for some patients, uncovering an unexpected role of a key cancer-fighting protein. The study, published in Nature, found that the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, long viewed as a natural brake on cancer growth, can unexpectedly activate genes that respond to the hormone estrogen. Some of these genes can help cancer cells withstand treatment and retain the ability to regrow, according to a statement released Thursday by Australia's Peter MacCallum Cancer Center. The research team found that Rb does more than switch off genes that drive cell division. It can also "switch on biological programs that partially work against its own protective effects," said Peter Mac Associate Professor Shom Goel, the study's senior author. The findings help explain why medicines known as CDK4/6 inhibitors work particularly well with endocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the most common subtype. "The CDK4/6 inhibitor activates Rb to stop cancer cells dividing, while endocrine therapy blocks the unwanted estrogen-driven signals that Rb can also trigger. Together, they allow the tumor-suppressing effects of Rb to dominate," Goel said. However, when cancers become resistant to endocrine therapy, the estrogen-related gene program continues despite treatment, reducing the effectiveness of CDK4/6 inhibitors, researchers found. "Understanding this previously unknown role of Rb gives us an important new way to think about drug resistance," Goel said, adding the discovery could guide new combination therapies that keep these treatments working for longer and improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. 

More than 2,000 people have died in the Ebola outbreak in Congo, which is spreading at the fastest rate recorded in the country, according to the latest government data. The data released early Tuesday showed that the outbreak has so far recorded 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, although health authorities said genetic sequencing indicated that it had begun months earlier, in February. The death toll reached 1,000 within about nine weeks, but doubled in only around three more weeks, highlighting how rapidly the disease is spreading and outpacing efforts to contain it. Dr. Jean-Marie Akandabo, who is involved in treating patients at a clinic in Ituri province, described the death toll as alarming and called for intensified response efforts in affected areas. The outbreak is already the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, after the 2014-16 epidemic in West Africa, which infected more than 28,000 people and killed over 11,000. The current outbreak is caused by the relatively rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Clinical trials for potential vaccines and treatments have begun in Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak in eastern Congo. Aid workers said response efforts have struggled to keep pace with the spread of the virus across five affected eastern provinces. Rebel conflict, poor roads, disrupted communications and work stoppages by health workers over unpaid wages have hampered efforts to reach patients and monitor the spread. The World Health Organization (WHO) said most new cases are still being detected among people who were not being monitored as contacts, suggesting that transmission remains largely beyond the control of health authorities. The outbreak has so far recorded a case fatality rate of 45.9%, higher than the 39.6% rate recorded during the 2014-16 West Africa outbreak. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, said that without an effective vaccine, controlling Ebola depends heavily on identifying patients early and treating them in secure facilities. He said ongoing conflict and poor communications in remote areas make disease surveillance extremely difficult and can prevent cases from being identified early enough to stop further transmission. Dr. Akandabo said limited access to medical care and poor community engagement remain major challenges. The WHO said some cases were initially misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid, while early testing focused on a more common Ebola strain. WHO Africa Regional Director Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi said health workers were struggling to keep up with the virus, noting that they were effectively “chasing” an outbreak that was staying ahead of them. The first Ebola virus was identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now Congo. The current outbreak is the country’s 17th and its largest.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday as the country struggles to contain its rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak, while some frontline health workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages. Tedros was scheduled to meet President Félix Tshisekedi and other partners in the capital, Kinshasa, during his second visit since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, according to the WHO's country office. The outbreak has so far infected 3,874 people and claimed 1,751 lives, according to figures released by Congo's Ministry of Health on Monday. The epidemic is centred in the eastern province of Ituri, where healthcare access has already been disrupted by armed conflict. Local residents say the strike by some frontline health workers has further complicated efforts to contain the disease. Although some workers have begun receiving overdue payments in recent days, many continue to demand better wages. Residents have expressed concern that the disruption to health services is hampering the response. One resident of Bunia, the provincial capital, said two of his brothers died from Ebola during the strike and urged authorities to resolve the issue quickly. The current outbreak is the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic on record and the second-largest overall after the 2014-16 West Africa outbreak, which infected more than 28,000 people and killed over 11,000. The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health officials believe the virus had been circulating in remote communities before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Wednesday that the outbreak continues to spread at an "alarming and unprecedented rate," saying response efforts have yet to reach affected communities quickly enough to interrupt transmission. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said contact tracing remains ineffective, with 60 to 70 percent of new infections occurring outside known monitoring networks. Health officials say delayed detection of cases has contributed to a fatality rate of about 45 percent. The Health Ministry reported 77 new cases in the previous 24 hours, including 44 deaths. Currently, 717 patients remain in isolation, while 749 people have recovered.

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the  DR Congo has become the largest ever recorded in the country, surpassing the 2018-2020 epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. According to the WHO's latest disease outbreak report, the DRC had recorded 3,605 confirmed Ebola cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus as of Thursday, including 1,587 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 44 percent. The previous largest outbreak, which affected eastern DRC between 2018 and 2020, recorded 3,317 confirmed cases. Initially limited to the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri province, the current outbreak has spread over the past two months to 49 health zones across five provinces — Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. The WHO said 151 health workers have been infected during the outbreak, with 44 of them dying, underscoring continuing gaps in infection prevention and control at healthcare facilities. The UN health agency warned that insecurity, population displacement, frequent movement of people and cross-border travel are hampering surveillance and response efforts, increasing the risk of further transmission. The outbreak is unfolding in conflict-affected areas where access to healthcare, clean water, food and shelter remains limited. Attacks on health facilities have also disrupted response operations and increased the risk of undetected spread. Describing the risk within the DRC as "very high," the WHO called for a major expansion of disease surveillance, testing, clinical care, infection prevention, community engagement and logistical support to contain the outbreak.

The death toll from the Democratic Republic of Congo's rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak has surpassed 1,500, according to official figures released Thursday, underscoring the growing challenge facing health authorities. Government data showed that as of Tuesday, the country had recorded 3,442 confirmed cases and 1,521 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15. The outbreak has been linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Health officials said 797 patients remain in isolation or are receiving hospital treatment, while 615 people have recovered. However, contact tracing remains below target, with only about 78 percent of identified contacts under monitoring, short of the 95 percent level considered necessary to contain the disease. Ongoing armed conflict and illegal mining activities in eastern Congo have complicated efforts to identify and monitor people exposed to the virus. Nearly 90 percent of infections have been reported in Ituri province, although cases have also been confirmed in five provinces, including the major city of Kisangani. Neighbouring Uganda, meanwhile, declared an end to its Ebola outbreak earlier this week after the country's last patient was discharged in June. Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, including blood, vomit and semen. Although relatively rare, it can be fatal if not treated promptly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current outbreak is spreading faster than previous Ebola epidemics. The 2014–16 West Africa outbreak, the deadliest on record, took around eight months to surpass 1,000 deaths, whereas the current outbreak has reached more than 1,500 fatalities within a much shorter period. The WHO said the global risk of international spread remains low because Ebola is not airborne and requires direct contact for transmission. However, it continues to classify the risk within Congo as "very high." Health officials have also warned that attacks on medical facilities, misinformation about the virus and insecurity have disrupted response efforts. Several international aid organisations temporarily withdrew staff from Ituri's Nyakunde health zone after an attack on a hospital and treatment centre earlier this month. Authorities said the withdrawal of aid partners has affected disease surveillance, contact tracing and the delivery of essential medical supplies, although security conditions have since improved and officials are urging humanitarian teams to resume operations.

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that could help identify patients at greater risk of recurrent bowel cancer, potentially enabling earlier life-saving treatment. The AI algorithm, called SEMIL (Semantically-Enhanced Multiple Instance Learning), analyzes routine pathology slides using both images and written descriptions to assess tumor growth patterns associated with cancer recurrence, according to a statement released Wednesday by Australia's La Trobe University. Researchers analyzed more than 1,600 pathology slides and validated the findings across 1,220 stage-two bowel cancer patients in three independent cohorts from multiple Australian institutions. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. The study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, found that when AI-based assessments and pathologists' evaluations aligned, they produced the most accurate predictions of relapse risk. Lead author Francis Magisson from La Trobe University said the technology could help identify which stage-two cancer patients are at higher risk of relapse and may need closer monitoring or additional treatment such as chemotherapy. Current Australian clinical guidelines recommend chemotherapy after surgery only for patients considered at high risk of recurrence. The research highlighted the growing role of AI in supporting precision medicine, the researchers said, adding the tool could be "integrated into existing digital pathology workflows without requiring expensive new tests or tissue samples to provide more consistent and objective assessments of cancer pathology."  

A three-day SAARC regional training on “LSD Surveillance and Control Measures in South Asia” began on Tuesday in Kandy, Sri Lanka, aiming to strengthen regional cooperation and capacity development to control lumpy skin disease (LSD). The training programme brought together livestock experts and veterinary professionals from five SAARC member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, according to a press release. The event has been jointly organised by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Sri Lanka, and Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK), Bangladesh. Delivering oping speech, Director General of Sri Lanka's Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) and Chairman of the SAARC CVOs Forum Dr BSS Perera highlighted the critical need for regional collaboration to address transboundary animal diseases. In his keynote presentation, Virologist at the Veterinary Research Institute of Sri Lanka Dr S Puvanendiran explained that LSD is primarily spread by biting insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and ticks. He noted that the virus can survive for long periods in skin lesions and scabs, with warm weather, animal movement, and inadequate vector control contributing to its spread. Speaking in the event as a special guest, GUK Director Md Mokhlesur Rahman stressed the importance of raising awareness among farmers and strengthening collaboration between veterinarians, farmers, and development organisations for effective disease prevention.

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 999, according to the latest official figures, underscoring the severity of what health authorities have described as the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record. Data released by Congo’s Ministry of Health showed that, as of Sunday, the country had recorded 2,473 confirmed and suspected Ebola cases since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Of those, 999 people have died. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments, making containment efforts more challenging. Health officials say the outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented pace. Previous outbreaks, including the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic that claimed more than 11,000 lives, took around eight months to reach 1,000 deaths. The current outbreak has reached that milestone in a significantly shorter period. Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, vomit and semen. It often causes severe illness and can be fatal. Authorities have expressed concern that about 80 percent of newly reported infections are linked to unknown transmission chains, indicating that the virus is spreading faster than health teams can identify and isolate cases. The outbreak is centred in Ituri province but has also spread to four other provinces, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance and response efforts. Response operations have been hampered by insecurity in some affected areas. Attacks on health facilities and medical teams have forced aid workers to suspend operations in certain locations, while some healthcare workers have staged strikes over unpaid salaries since the outbreak began. Speaking at the Africa Health Summit in Ghana on Tuesday, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya urged stronger international support to contain the outbreak. "If we do not stop this outbreak today, it could become one of the worst Ebola outbreaks the world has ever documented," he warned.

India has approved its first dengue vaccine, granting regulatory clearance to Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical’s QDENGA, in a major milestone in the country’s fight against the mosquito-borne disease. Takeda announced on Monday that India’s drug regulator had authorised the vaccine, providing the country with its first approved immunisation option against dengue as cases continue to rise. The company said reported dengue infections in India have increased nearly elevenfold over the past two decades, underlining the growing public health challenge and the need for stronger preventive measures. QDENGA is a live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine designed to protect against all four dengue virus serotypes. According to Takeda, the vaccine can be administered regardless of whether a person has previously been infected with dengue and does not require pre-vaccination screening, making it suitable for large-scale immunisation programmes. India accounts for nearly one-third of the world's dengue cases, making it one of the most important markets for the vaccine. The approval comes as health authorities continue to tackle recurring outbreaks in several parts of the country. To support future supply, Takeda entered into a partnership with Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Biological E in 2024. Under the agreement, Biological E plans to build manufacturing capacity for up to 50 million doses annually, contributing to Takeda’s global goal of producing 100 million doses each year by the end of the decade. Since its international launch in 2022, QDENGA has been approved in 43 countries, with more than 32 million doses distributed worldwide. Source: NDTV

An experimental drug has shown encouraging results in treating advanced pancreatic cancer, offering fresh hope for patients battling one of the deadliest forms of the disease. Researchers reported that the oral medication, known as daraxonrasib, significantly extended survival among patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer whose disease had stopped responding to previous treatments. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study involved 500 patients who were randomly assigned to receive either daraxonrasib or additional chemotherapy. Patients treated with the experimental drug lived a median of 13.2 months, compared with 6.7 months for those receiving chemotherapy. According to researchers, daraxonrasib targets mutated KRAS proteins that drive tumour growth in more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer cases. Scientists have long struggled to develop therapies capable of effectively targeting these mutations. Dr. Zev Wainberg of the University of California, Los Angeles, one of the study leaders, described the results as a major advance, noting that while the drug is not a cure, it represents significant progress in treating the disease. Patients receiving the drug also reported less pain, improved quality of life and fewer severe side effects than those undergoing chemotherapy. The most common side effects included skin rashes and mouth sores. The study was funded by Revolution Medicines, which developed the drug. The company said the US Food and Drug Administration plans to expedite its review, while eligible patients can already access the treatment through a special expanded-access programme. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with the American Cancer Society estimating about 67,000 new cases and more than 52,000 deaths in the United States this year. The disease has an overall five-year survival rate of just 13 percent. Cancer specialists say the findings could mark a turning point in pancreatic cancer treatment and may pave the way for additional therapies targeting KRAS mutations, as well as new vaccine-based approaches currently under development.