Chimpanzees practice wound treatment and herbal medicine
In a striking display of natural health care, wild chimpanzees in Gabon have been observed applying insects to wounds and eating medicinal plants. The behaviour, documented over a year, offers compelling evidence that great apes can self-medicate and treat injuries with a sense of purpose1, the study published in Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution shows.
The research team recorded more than 50 distinct healing acts, including tending to the wounds of others, providing new insights into the cognitive and cultural sophistication of chimpanzees. Beyond expanding our understanding of animal behaviour, these findings may help guide drug discovery and reinforce calls to protect ecologically rich primate habitats, the team says.
Africa’s climate risk made worse by major greenhouse gases
A recent analysis combining machine learning and decades of emissions data of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH4) emissions are amplifying Africa’s vulnerability to climate extremes. The study2 in Humanities and Social Science Communication, analysed data from 1993 to 2024 across all 54 African countries, and found CO2 and CH4 emission patterns, show a continuous increase in the African region. CO2 and CH4 positively impact Mean Surface Temperature (MST) at a 1% significance level, and MST positively impacts Mean Sea Level (MSL) at a 5% significance level.”
The authors call for mitigation policies that address more than just emissions—highlighting the importance of inclusive infrastructure and governance.
Mpox transmission sustained by repeated animal spillovers
Genomic data from hundreds of Mpox virus samples in West Africa point to repeated animal-to-human transmission, followed by continued spread within communities. The report, published in Nature, shows that Mpox is not only zoonotic but also capable of sustained human-to-human transmission3.
This raises red flags for health authorities and reinforces the case for strategies linking human, animal, and environmental health. The study also suggests that the full scale of the Mpox burden may be underestimated, making genomic surveillance a key tool for future outbreak responses.
Geospatial tools find solar-powered water solutions
A new automated mapping tool known as AutoGIS is helping identify ideal locations for solar ponds—sun-powered systems for treating water—in some of Africa’s driest regions. These ponds provide an eco-friendly method for addressing water scarcity, using thermal energy to purify contaminated sources4.
The work, published in Scientific Reports, uses an algorithm that integrates environmental data such as solar radiation, wind speed, temperature, clear sky, cloud cover, and precipitation, to find the best spots for solar ponds. The researchers hope the model will support African governments in planning cost-effective, climate-resilient infrastructure for communities facing mounting resource stress.
Drug resistance threatens malaria prevention
Mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) gene weaken the impact of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP)—a cornerstone of malaria prevention across Africa. Drawing on genomic data from 1639 participants in seven clinical trials in 12 sites in Benin, Malawi, Mozambique, Northern Tanzania, and South Africa, an international team found that the dhps triple-mutant variant is now widespread in high-transmission regions and significantly reduces SP’s protective benefits.
The findings could prompt a rethink of how SP is used in public health campaigns, especially in programmes targeting infants, pregnant women, and children during peak transmission seasons. The research, published in Nature Communications5, argues that localised genomic surveillance and the development of new antimalarial drugs are urgently needed to sustain malaria control gains.
