The World Health Organization (WHO) has passed a ruling recognising snake bites as a global health priority. WHO says complications from snake bites continue to be one of the most ignored tropical diseases. The resolution moves towards ensuring that countries follow a common strategy in dealing with snake attacks.

Researchers have revealed why mosquitoes will feast on individuals who drink alcohol more than those who drink just water. In a report by Time Magazine, entomologist Joseph M. Conlon, a technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association gives some of the reasons why mosquitoes bite some set of people and ignore others.

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say two more people have died from the Ebola virus. Health ministry spokeswoman, Jessica Ilunga said the fatalities were recorded in the north-east city of Mbandaka and a nurse died in the village of Bikoro, where the outbreak was first detected.

The US Food and Drug Administration warned parents on Wednesday about the dangers of using teething products that contain the popular numbing agent benzocaine. The FDA said that benzocaine can have a rare, but serious side effect on children, and especially those under 2 years old. The local anesthetic can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, which reduces the amount of oxygen in a person’s blood and can be life-threatening, according to the FDA.

China is on the verge of eliminating malaria; a senior Chinese health official told a side-gathering during the World Health Assembly (WHA) at which Beijing was praised for its efforts in helping other county’s fight the lethal disease. Cui Li, vice minister of China’s National Health Commission, made this known in his address at an event titled “Country-led and country-owned efforts on malaria elimination to achieving universal health coverage” at Geneva’s Palais des Nations during the annual WHA.

Health workers in Democratic Republic of Congo begin a vaccination campaign on Monday aimed at containing an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, a spokeswoman for the health ministry said. Jessica Ilunga said 4,000 doses of vaccine were shipped on Saturday to Mbandaka, which last week registered the first cases in an urban area since the latest flare-up of the disease was announced earlier this month.