DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO — Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 3,360 confirmed Ebola cases as of July 27, 2026. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus.

There is no licensed vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola species. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations announced it is committing $8.5 million to Hilleman Laboratories to generate doses of a Bundibugyo vaccine. Hilleman Laboratories is based in Singapore.

The Bundibugyo vaccine will use the same platform employed for Merck’s Ebola Zaire vaccine. It is expected to take approximately 6.5 months to produce the Bundibugyo vaccine doses.

The World Health Organization responds to health emergencies in conflict zones, including parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United States announced the release of $600 million for Gavi while cutting off the World Health Organization from the global vaccine alliance. The US Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services stated the US will not provide US Government funding to the World Health Organization through Gavi.

That funding shift represents a rise from $8.50 million to $600 million, or 6958.8 percent. Gavi agreed to work towards replacing mercury-containing vaccines with mercury-free alternatives in partnership with its board and partner countries.

"It’s hard to see where we are in the outbreak, though, because data are imperfect," podcast host Katelyn Jetelina said in an online post on July 28, 2026. She added that the largest outbreak is being caused by lettuce. "And there’s only so long that lettuce is good for," Jetelina said.

The Federal Trade Commission sued Hims & Hers on July 29, 2026. The Federal Trade Commission filed the lawsuit alongside Los Angeles County and Utah. The Federal Trade Commission alleged that Hims & Hers shared users' sensitive health information with online advertising companies including Meta Platforms and Snap.

The agency also alleged that Hims & Hers engaged in deceptive billing practices by charging users for prescriptions before they met with healthcare providers. The Federal Trade Commission alleged that Hims & Hers made it difficult for users to cancel subscriptions. Christopher Mufarrige is the Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. "The FTC will not hesitate to act on behalf of consumers deprived of their ability to choose which products they want and whether to keep their most sensitive health information private," Mufarrige said.

"This is not enforcement grounded in consumer protection. It is an effort to generate headlines at our expense," Hims & Hers said in an online statement. Hims & Hers stock was trading down approximately 12 percent following the lawsuit announcement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1, 2026. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is aware of at least 11,500 additional reported cases of cyclosporiasis that have not yet been confirmed. Many unconfirmed cyclosporiasis cases are located in Michigan and Ohio.

SpaceX won $1.6 billion in orders from the U.S. Space Force on July 29, 2026. The U.S. Space Force orders cover 18 Falcon 9 launches through 2027. The launches will carry Pentagon satellites for detecting and targeting airborne objects. Eric Zarybnisky is a U.S. Space Force acquisition official.

Prosecutors stated that Tyler Robinson targeted Charlie Kirk for his political views, citing Kirk’s opposition to gay marriage and transgender rights. Richard Novak is Tyler Robinson’s lawyer.

Medicaid work requirements in Nebraska go into effect in early August 2026. Nebraska Medicaid work requirements require verification that a person works, volunteers, or attends school for 80 hours per month. Exemptions to Nebraska Medicaid work requirements include individuals with young children and those deemed medically frail. Individuals deemed medically frail in Nebraska must prove to the state that their sickness prevents them from working to receive an exemption.

The World Health Organization added mycetoma to its official list of neglected tropical diseases ten years ago, in 2016. Mycetoma is caused by bacteria or fungi and enters the body through openings in the skin. "The next 10 years of mycetoma care will determine whether it remains a story of neglect or becomes one of collective action," researcher Borna Nyaoke-Anoke said in an essay on July 30, 2026.

The Ebola case count in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached 3,360, showing the challenge of managing an outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo species without a licensed vaccine. The response involves international health agencies and pharmaceutical developers, while U.S. funding policies have shifted vaccine alliance support away from the World Health Organization. The 6.5-month timeline for producing new vaccine doses sets a timeframe for potential containment tools.

Domestic health and regulatory events also unfolded during this period, including a cyclosporiasis outbreak with thousands of confirmed and unconfirmed cases, federal legal action against a health technology company, and new Medicaid work requirements in Nebraska. These developments reflect ongoing public health monitoring and regulatory enforcement activities across different sectors.