Nov 27, 2019 - Health

WHO: Measles outbreaks spike globally

MMR vaccination. Priorix immunises against measles, mumps and rubella. Photo: BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Cases of measles around the world continue to spike, with major outbreaks in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, the World Health Organization said in a health update on Wednesday.

By the numbers: The infectious disease can be prevented with two doses of measles-containing vaccine. There have been 440,263 confirmed cases reported to the United Nations health agency as of Nov. 5. In 2018, there were about 350,000 cases.

  • In Congo: More than 250,000 were suspected cases this year, including 5,110 deaths.
  • In Europe: There have been more than 56,000 cases in Ukraine.
  • Several other outbreaks have been reported in countries including Brazil, Bangladesh and the United States.

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Axios
Updated 36 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2:30 p.m. ET: 19,172,505 — Total deaths: 716,327— Total recoveries — 11,608,417 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2:30 p.m. ET: 4,902,692 — Total deaths: 160,394 — Total recoveries: 1,598,624 — Total tests: 59,652,675 — Map.
  3. Politics: Trump floats executive action even if stimulus deal is reached.
  4. Education: Cuomo says all New York schools can reopen for in-person learning.
  5. Public health: Surgeon general urges flu shots to prevent "double whammy" with coronavirus.
  6. World: Africa records over 1 million coronavirus cases.
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General Motors tries to revive incendiary lawsuit vs. Fiat Chrysler

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

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Why it matters: The extraordinary legal battle is occurring amid earth-shaking changes in the global auto industry that threaten to turn both litigants into dinosaurs if they aren't nimble enough to pivot to a future where transportation is a service, cars run on electrons and a robot handles the driving.

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Cuomo says all New York schools can reopen for in-person learning

Gov. Cuomo on July 23 in New York City. Photo: Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that all school districts across the state can choose to reopen for in-person learning because it has so far maintained low enough coronavirus transmission rates.

Why it matters: It’s another sign that the state, once the global epicenter of the pandemic, has — at least for now — successfully curbed the spread of the virus even as infections have surged elsewhere around the country.

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