From public health campaigns to motorsport rallies and severe weather alerts, this dispatch brings a snapshot of global events unfolding Saturday and Sunday. Algeria is pressing forward with a nationwide polio vaccination drive amid ongoing concerns about the virus’s resurgence, while authorities in the United States and Australia are grappling with outbreaks of measles and a fatal shark attack, respectively. Further afield, NASA continues preparations for the Artemis 2 mission, and several Algerian provinces are bracing for strong winds and sandstorms.
Algeria is continuing its nationwide polio vaccination campaign, having already immunized nearly four million children during the first two phases. The ongoing effort aims to bolster immunity and prevent the resurgence of this debilitating disease, which remains a public health concern globally.
During an information session focused on building confidence in vaccination through performance evaluation, Djamel Fourar, Director General of Prevention and Health Promotion at the Algerian Ministry of Health, announced the success of the initial phases. “The first two phases were a resounding success,” he stated, emphasizing strong parental participation and its contribution to strengthening collective immunity.
The third phase of the campaign, launching today and running through July 31, will target children aged two months to five years at 274 public health facilities across the country. This phase will utilize injectable vaccines, a change from the oral vaccine used in the first two phases, to provide more complete protection against polio, according to Pr. Ahmed Nacer Masmoudi, President of the National Polio Eradication Commission. “The vaccination of children concerned during the first and second phases was carried out orally, while the vaccination of the third phase will be done by injection, which will help strengthen immunity against poliomyelitis and make it complete,” he explained.
Nassima Sai, an epidemiologist and specialist in preventive medicine at the Hussein Dey University Hospital Center, highlighted the crucial role played by media outlets, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and preschools in the campaign’s success. Their collective efforts have been instrumental in reaching a broad audience and promoting vaccine acceptance.
Rally Kicks Off in El-Meniaa
The 9th National Tourist Rally of Motocross and Paragliding began Saturday in the commune of Hassi El-Gara (El-Meniaa province). The sporting event, which combines motorsports and aviation, is taking place on a 1.4 km course with technical support to ensure the safety of competitors. Approximately 35 participants from 14 provinces are competing in the event, which aims to promote motorsports and showcase the region’s tourism potential, according to Idriss Bensouici, President of the Gazelle du Sahara club.
Organized by the Gazelle du Sahara club in coordination with the Algerian Federation of Motorsports and the Youth and Sports Directorate of El-Meniaa province, the rally aims to boost tourism and highlight the cultural and natural aspects of the El-Meniaa province. The 9th National Tourist Rally of Motocross and Paragliding is scheduled to conclude Saturday afternoon.
Strong Winds Forecast for Several Provinces
A special weather bulletin issued Saturday by the National Office of Meteorology indicates that strong winds, with frequent gusts and localized sandstorms reducing visibility, are expected to affect several provinces on Sunday and Monday. An “Orange” level alert is in effect for the provinces of Naama, El Bayadh, Laghouat, Djelfa, M’Sila, and Ouled Djellal, with northwest winds expected to reach 60-70 km/h, and potentially exceeding 90 km/h in gusts, from 3:00 AM Sunday to 6:00 AM Monday at least.
Measles Epidemic Continues to Spread in the Southeastern United States
The number of measles cases continues to rise across the United States, particularly in South Carolina, where more than 600 cases have been recorded since last fall, local authorities report. This resurgence of the highly contagious and serious disease is occurring against a backdrop of growing vaccine hesitancy, mirroring trends seen in other developed nations.
After more than 2,200 cases and three deaths, including two young children, in 2025, infections continue to surge in 2026. The situation has drawn criticism of U.S. Health Minister Robert Kennedy Jr., who is accused of contributing to the crisis by fueling fears about the vaccine. In South Carolina, 88 new cases were reported since Friday, bringing the total number of infections since the outbreak was detected last fall to 646. The majority of those infected were unvaccinated, authorities said. Cases have also been identified in schools and on the campuses of two universities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports cases in eight other U.S. states since the beginning of the year. This situation raises concerns that the United States may lose its “measles-eliminated” status, which it achieved in 2000 through widespread vaccination. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) convened a meeting last week with the United States and Mexico, which is also experiencing a resurgence of the disease, to reassess their status in April. PAHO already revoked Canada’s status in November after it recorded more than 5,000 cases in 2025.
Australia: 12-Year-Old Dies Following Shark Attack
A 12-year-old boy who was hospitalized after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Bay has died from his injuries, his family announced Saturday, amid a wave of concern sparked by a series of shark attacks. Nico Antic was critically injured last Sunday by a bull shark while jumping from rocks to swim with friends in a cove in Australia’s largest city. This attack is the third fatal shark attack in Sydney since September, followed by three non-lethal attacks in the following 48 hours in the state of New South Wales, prompting rescuers to urge the public to avoid beaches.
“We are devastated to announce that our son, Nico, has passed away,” parents Lorena and Juan said in a statement. “Nico was a happy, sociable, and athletic young boy who showed great kindness and generosity. He was always full of life, and that is how we will remember him.” Scientists suggest that increasingly frequented waters and rising ocean temperatures, which appear to influence shark migration patterns, may contribute to an increase in attacks, despite overfishing that is reducing populations of some species.
NASA’s Lunar Rocket Rolled Out Ahead of Artemis 2 Launch
NASA moved its giant SLS rocket to the launchpad Saturday, in preparation for tests ahead of the Artemis 2 mission, which will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The 12-hour maneuver is one of the final steps before the highly anticipated mission’s launch, currently scheduled between February and April. The immense orange and white vehicle departed the Vehicle Assembly Building at dawn and slowly progressed to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will undergo a series of tests. If successful, the rocket could launch as early as February 6, the first planned launch window.
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