Europe is watching the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a mix of concern and composure. The Bundibugyo strain now circulating in eastern DRC and parts of Uganda has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with more than 700 suspected cases and a rising death toll.
In Brussels, a large part of the workforce spends most of the day sitting. Inside the European institutions and the network around them, work is done at desks, in meetings, and on screens. Hours pass with very little physical movement. This isn’t unusual. It’s the norm.
Over time, that has consequences.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is once again confronting a deadly Ebola outbreak, this time caused by the Bundibugyo strain, as the World Health Organisation intensifies its support to national authorities in an effort to contain the virus in Ituri Province. The outbreak, declared on 15 May, has already resulted in dozens of suspected community deaths and is unfolding in one of the most complex humanitarian and security environments in the region.
The European Parliament’s latest intervention on Europe’s care systems signals a growing political consensus: the gender care gap is no longer a social‑policy footnote but a structural fault line shaping Europe’s economic future. By adopting a report that frames access to quality care as a fundamental right, MEPs are pushing the Commission and member states…
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash Smoking remains one of the major public health hazards of our time, with 8 million people dying from it every year and multiple economical and social implications. For several decades, governments worldwide have tried to tackle this issue with taxation, advertising and public space restrictions and cessation programs. Yet,…
Photo by Ksenia Yakovleva on Unsplash Medicine shortages have been a recurring issue throughout the EU for years, but the EU still lacks a well-oiled system for coming to grips with severe shortages of medicines, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). While EU measures in recent years have proven…
Photo by LexScope on Unsplash The European Commission has promoted its overhaul of tobacco rules for the EU. These are contained in revision of the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) and the new Tobacco Excise Duty on Raw Tobacco (TEDOR). Both are measures specifically designed to improve public health and curb illicit trade. The EU says…
Photo by Steven HWG on Unsplash A new Women’s Brain Foundation study reveals substantial sex and gender differences across key stages of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient journey, from diagnosis to treatment and emotional response. Based on a research survey conducted in the United States and Germany, the study offers valuable insights for advancing precision…
Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash Eating breakfast cereals is good for you, according to a new study. The study, which coincided with the recent World Breakfast Day, highlighted the nutrition and health benefits of breakfast cereals. The comprehensive analysis is said to have shed a light on the role that breakfast cereals can play…
Photo by Bruno Aguirre on Unsplash The impact of Europe’s rapidly ageing population is coming under increasing scrutiny, including by British peers. The UK House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has just concluded an inquiry into Preparing for Ageing. Britain is an ageing society, the birth rate is declining and life expectancy increasing. It can…
