Health Headlines: Polio, COVID, Mpox, and More

This summary covers current health news, including the UN polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, FDA approval of Novavax’s updated COVID vaccine, arrival of Mpox vaccines in DR Congo, and other key health developments such as the Oropouche virus in Cuba and blood tests for women's cardiac risks.

The United Nations is gearing up to vaccinate 640,000 children in Gaza against polio, utilizing daily eight-hour lulls in the Israel-Hamas conflict to conduct the campaign. This follows a recent case of polio that paralyzed a baby, the first such instance in 25 years within the region.

The U.S. FDA granted emergency use authorization for Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine, targeting the JN.1 strain. Authorized for use in those 12 and older, this shot aims to combat the evolving virus.

The WHO announced that Mpox vaccines will soon arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo to tackle the new strain of the virus. The first shipment is expected within days, and the distribution should ramp up subsequently.

(With inputs from agencies.)