Daily Recap: Health — 24 October 2026

Health news today spans both outbreak response and everyday patient safety, with officials moving quickly on an Ebola vaccine trial in Congo while other alerts focus on delays in care and risks to infants. The day also brings an early cancer-drug signal and a personal cancer upda...

The World Health Organization launches an Ebola vaccine trial in Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the country battles a serious outbreak tied to the Bundibugyo strain. The study tests Ervebo in the outbreak setting, with initial participants receiving vaccinations as health authorities look for tools to contain transmission.

A New South Wales health audit finds about 20,000 endoscopy procedures are overdue, raising concern about delays in diagnosing serious disease. The backlog affects patients waiting for investigations that can detect conditions including cancer, and the review points to postponements significant enough to threaten timely care.

An urgent warning is issued over a baby product that regulators and safety experts say may increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and suffocation. The alert targets parents and caregivers who own the item or may be thinking of buying it, underscoring the need to review infant sleep safety closely.

Johnson & Johnson reports encouraging early trial results for its investigational prostate cancer drug JNJ-6143, with signs of tumour shrinkage and strong PSA declines at a 50-milligram dose. The findings come from an early-stage study, offering a preliminary signal that the treatment may have meaningful anti-cancer activity.

A four-year-old boy dies after treatment for dengue at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital in Tamil Nadu. The death draws attention to the dangers of dengue infection in children and comes amid continued concern over severe cases that can deteriorate quickly even after hospital care begins.

Vanessa Trump says she is cancer-free six months after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She shares that update publicly after receiving clear test results, adding a high-profile personal recovery story to broader public attention on breast cancer detection, treatment and survivorship.

Experts warn parents not to let babies and toddlers play with car keys, saying the common distraction tactic can create hidden safety hazards. The advice is aimed at caregivers trying to calm fussy children, and it highlights how everyday objects can pose risks that are easy to overlook.

Experts say smiling more often can help lift mood and may bring broader social and health benefits. The idea rests on evidence that facial expressions can feed back into emotion, meaning that intentionally changing expression, even briefly, may influence how a person feels.