Global Health Update: Polio and Mpox Vaccinations, Bird Flu Impact

Current health news includes Nigeria's upcoming mpox vaccinations, UNICEF's emergency tender for mpox vaccines, fake cows at US fairs due to bird flu, polio vaccinations in Gaza during conflict, and a new study on estimating women's cardiovascular risks earlier. Bird flu also spreads to California dairy cows.

Nigeria is set to begin mpox vaccinations on October 8 following regulatory approvals. The country received 10,000 doses from the U.S. Agency for International Development, marking its first batch of vaccines as 40 cases have been confirmed.

UNICEF has issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for crisis-hit countries in collaboration with Gavi, Africa CDC, and WHO. The agreement could yield up to 12 million doses by 2025, depending on manufacturer capacity.

To mitigate bird flu risks, Michigan state fairs will feature fake cows for milking demos. The state has prepped fiberglass cows due to concerns over bird flu transmission among livestock.

In the Gaza Strip, the U.N. and Palestinian health authorities have commenced polio vaccination for 640,000 children amid ongoing conflict. Israel and Hamas have agreed to cease hostilities briefly to allow the vaccination campaign.

A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology annual meeting suggests that women's cardiovascular risks should be assessed from their 30s. Researchers argue that simple blood tests can predict heart disease risk three decades in advance.

Bird flu has infected cows at three dairy farms in California, marking an expansion of the U.S. outbreak to a 14th state. As of now, over 190 herds and multiple dairy and poultry workers have been affected nationwide.

(With inputs from agencies.)