Ebola 2025 Update: Affected Localities In DRC Have Now Imposed Travel Restrictions, As Case Numbers Continue To Increase, In Kasai Province…

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Just as there is more good news on Mpox to report (see penultimate prior post), we see some tough news out of Kinshasa, DRC — as that capital tries to prevent the current outbreak from reaching perhaps five million households — in the various urban centers.

Towns with ongoing cases in Kasai province are imposing travel bans, even as they ring vaccinate contacts and contacts of contacts, among the known case clusters. Here’s Reuters — of just an hour ago — on it all:

…KINSHASA, Sept 10 (Reuters) – Towns affected by Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak have erected checkpoints to restrict population movements, officials said this week, as cases increased slightly and aid workers warned that the response was underfunded.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s health ministry last week declared the country’s first Ebola outbreak in three years, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths. It is the first outbreak in the country’s Kasai province since 2008….

Now you know — unfortunate, but smiling into the crisp Fall sunshine here — just the same. Bike rides ahead.

नमस्ते

Surprise! Mirengoff Tells The Truth — About Trumpian Tariffs — And Their Pernicious Side-Effects.

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To be certain, it took a minute, but Paul is finally speaking reason, to the malign morons running Trump-World.

Mr. Mirengoff points out that in addition to being the largest tax increase in American history, primarily on US wage earners (but also her businesses), the tariffs are pushing what were friendly, but not close allies — into China’s thrall. Damn.

Here is that — and thanks Paul, for (finally!) speaking truth to power, here:

…Fareed Zakaria argues that President Trump’s tariffs are harming American foreign policy in a serious way. I usually don’t agree with Zakaria, but in this case I think he’s right. Our tariffs and related measures are causing important nations traditionally aligned with the U.S. to tilt towards China, America’s most formidable adversary….

To be sure, little is ever final with Trump. His tariff decisions are subject to change at any time. Deals are subject to renegotiation. The Supreme Court may rule that Trump lacks the power to impose many of his tariffs. And a new American administration might abandon tough tariffs altogether.

But Zakaria warns that now, “countries will always know that Washington could treat them as it has and they will want to hedge their bets and keep strong ties with China and Russia, just in case.” I think he’s right.

And if Trump’s current tariff and sanctions policies persist, the ties with China and Russia will likely become all the stronger….

Yup. That’s right — but I personally think the Supremes will invalidate these vast, extra-legislative tax increases, altogether… this Fall.

O N W A R D.

An Arm of the United Nations Is Also Stepping Up — To Fill Void Created By Trump Gutting USAID… This Time, On Mpox In Africa.

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The very good news here is that large swaths of the globe’s political leadership remain committed to moral, ethical and humane international medical aid, for people in need — in still-developing nations. In sum, the vast majority of leaders on the planet are — and will remain — good people. Good stewards of the roles they been elected into. Trumpism is an execrable aberration — and one that will (eventually) be only an ugly footnote in the history of our nation.

And so, all across West Africa, the International Organization for Migration is working with governments and partners to strengthen health security and preparedness at various in-country points of entry. In Guinea, more than 166,000 international migrants have already received health screenings and vaccinations carried out by 60 community agents deployed across 12 points of entry.

In Sierra Leone, a mobility mapping exercise conducted by IOM and national authorities in Port Loko, Kambia and the Western Urban Area is guiding authorities to better target prevention and outreach. In Togo, disease surveillance and referral systems are being reinforced, with 50 trained community volunteers now active across 15 points of entry. Meanwhile in Ghana, IOM, WHO and partners convened a two-day strategic engagement on the Health, Border and Mobility Management Framework to align preparedness measures, safeguard public health, and ensure safe and orderly mobility. Here’s the presser from the UN, on it all:

“…Health is a right that must extend to everyone, including people on the move,” said Sylvia Ekra, IOM’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “Frontline responders, especially those in border areas, need the tools and training to detect, prevent, and respond swiftly. Mobile communities must not be left behind in access to health services, as protecting their rights is critical to protecting public health.”

Border regions in West and Central Africa are particularly susceptible to the rapid spread of infectious diseases due to a combination of high cross-border movement, porous boundaries, and limited healthcare infrastructure. Gaps in surveillance systems and resource constraints further complicate detection and containment, making targeted interventions and robust cross-border collaboration all the more urgent to safeguard both local and mobile populations….

Now you know — with interesting activity appearing on LinkedIn, on the thirteenth rerunning of the annual Apple iPhone announcement event. Grin. [Hey now! I’ll wait for the 18, though — as the 17 offers only minor camera improvements over my current 16 Pro.]

नमस्ते

Power (Corp. Finance) Alley: Merck Pulls The Trigger On Large US Debt Issuances, This Week… W I L D.

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As Merck last did in November 2017, this US debt could be a means to bring back EU earnings, over time — at tax advantaged rates, via the repayment of this US denominated debt schedule. It runs across three decades of staggered maturities, into 2054.

And it is outsized, even by colossal Merck standards. This is plainly a bet that rates in the US will have to rise, next year — if not before. And stay “up” — for a few years. Note that the smallest tranches are floating rate, and near term maturities. That’s a corporate rope-a-dope, as those can be reset / tendered out — in a few years. No, the bulk of this is long term, fixed rate debt — at over 4.25%. That suggests that Merck expects this is near the bottom of the curve, rate-wise — for longer term debt.

That would be consistent with expecting ugly inflation rates in 2026, as Tangerine 2.0’s tariffs take hold. I would also observe that Merck’s tiny spread over applicable Treasuries makes it not markedly different than a proxy for US Treasury interest rates themselves. [That is, this is not a “risk-on” bond issuer, in any sense — not materially riskier than owning the US debt, itself — at least.] In any event, here’s the SEC Form 8-K, as filed — and a bit from a financial rag:

…On September 9, 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. successfully closed a significant public offering of various notes totaling $6 billion, with maturities ranging from 2027 to 2055. This strategic financial move is expected to strengthen the company’s capital structure and support its ongoing operations and growth initiatives….

On September 9, 2025, Merck & Co., Inc. (the “Company”) closed an underwritten public offering of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2027 (the “Floating Rate Notes”), $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.850% Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”), $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.150% Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”), $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.550% Notes due 2032 (the “2032 Notes”), $1,750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.950% Notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes”) and $1,250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.700% Notes due 2055 (the “2055 Notes” and, together with the Floating Rate Notes, the 2027 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2032 Notes and the 2035 Notes, collectively, the “Notes”) under the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-278066), originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on March 19, 2024, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1, filed with the Commission on May 14, 2024….

Now you know. And so — Mr. Davis must believe that Federal Reserve Chairman Powell is also “rope-a-doping” (with a widely expected small decrease in rates, here in September), and ultimately — longer term rate increases. That is, the view at Merck seems to be that if he does lower them in September… he is likely to raise them anew, come January 2026 (and keep that belt tightening over a few years’ time).

We shall see — but it is also fascinating that Merck took the view in 2017, as Trump 1.0 got underway, that he would force interest rates skyward, just as he has — here in Tangerine 2.0 (though the Donald tries to “boil the ocean with his Zippo lighter”, by yelling at Chairman Powell). It is the Trump policies (1.0 and 2.0) that cause unwelcome calamity — in the interest rate outlook / futures pictures, for the US.

Hilarious!

नमस्ते

UPDATE — On The Spitzer Data, From Trappist-1 System: JWST Has Refined The Probabilities Of Liquid Water, And Thus An Atmosphere, On At Least A Few Exo-Planets…

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We wrote extensively about the Spitzer discovery of Trappist, in 2017-18. Back then, the interstellar space science world was set on fire by the idea that there could be up to six potentially life-supporting planets in a single system. At least that many were in a zone where, for at least a fraction of every orbit, these exo-planets might see ice-melts, and thus liquid water on the surface — under a solar-fueled warmth. That was stupefying, all on its own.

And now, about eight years later — this (below) is a significant boost, to that data — via the ultra powerful JWST ‘scope. [To be sure, you may go judge the relative probabilities for yourself, as the data are displayed (at the link) as bands of computer modeled- v. actual- observed… values. “What is the more likely scenario?”, I found myself asking… myself. Heh.]

It seems possible at least that one (or more?) of the exo-planets, Trappist-e, might have what we call a secondary atmosphere. That is… an Earth-like one. It is so named, because our first atmosphere was likely burned off by solar radiation, and consisted of mostly hydrogen and helium (i.e., not conducive to life, as we know it). Then over billions of years, water evaporation and rain and wind cycles likely slowly generated our thick carbon dioxide / oxygen system — which is VERY conducive to the kinds of life with which we are familiar.

Now to be certain, this is based on only four passes, from JWST — with much more data to be analyzed in the coming years, but it seems at least possible that Trappist e could have a secondary atmosphere. [However, all these Trappist-worlds are likely tidally-locked, so the biology might be very different than what obtains on spinning Earth.] In any event, here is the latest update — from NASA:

…Scientists are in the midst of observing the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Careful analysis of the results so far presents several potential scenarios for what the planet’s atmosphere and surface may be like, as NASA science missions lay key groundwork to answer the question, “are we alone in the universe?”

“Webb’s infrared instruments are giving us more detail than we’ve ever had access to before, and the initial four observations we’ve been able to make of planet e are showing us what we will have to work with when the rest of the information comes in,” said Néstor Espinoza of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, a principal investigator on the research team. Two scientific papers detailing the team’s initial results are published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters….

And… a 2017-era NASA explainer (now largely out-dated, by the above JWST data!), of what Spitzer saw back then, when this Trappist system was first discovered:



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[U] Chicago Sez: “This IS What Democracy Looks Like!” We Are… Resolute, And Ready.

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Look. The advice is good — and I concur. However, I wish to note that no one (who is not driving a vehicle, at the moment of stop), and who is not causing a disturbance, is ever required to show papers, of any sort, on a public sidewalk or street — or in their place of employment or… most of all, one’s own home. [Update: Some early Monday NYT reporting suggests just the normal, relatively low level of ICE enforcement movements are being seen inside city limits… no National Guard seen anywhere, nor swarming ICE agents, of dozens at a time.]

Just the same, if ICE is reputed to be rolling through your city/ward… it is smart to carry lots of official ID, and paperwork, if you are here lawfully — in any form (as you might have it).

Now, these Noemite ICE agents may not respect it, but you’ll create a very large damages award, with proof in your own hands/phones… if they do detain you for more than a few minutes. They will clearly be violating your rights. So do heed the Pilsen neighbors’ advisory at right, if your city is one targeted by Tangerine/Noem.

Yes, we are ready — and the Seventh Circuit federal law (notably, covering Chicago)… is clearly on our side:

…Our role in this case is not to assess the optimal immigration policies for our country; that is not before us today. Rather, the issue before us strikes at one of the bedrock principles of our nation, the protection of which transcends political party affiliation and rests at the heart of our system of government — the separation of powers….

If the Executive Branch can determine policy, and then use the power of the purse to mandate compliance with that policy by the state and local governments, all without the authorization or even acquiescence of elected legislators, that check against tyranny is forsaken….

[Tangerine 1.0] in this case used the sword of federal funding to conscript state and local authorities to aid in federal civil immigration enforcement. But the power of the purse rests with Congress, which authorized the federal funds at issue and did not impose any immigration enforcement conditions on the receipt of such funds. In fact, Congress repeatedly refused to approve of measures that would tie funding to state and local immigration policies. Nor, as we will discuss, did Congress authorize the Attorney General to impose such conditions.

It falls to us, the judiciary, as the remaining branch of the government, to act as a check on such usurpation of power….

On the other side of the coin, the Supremes just this morning left standing (for now) the federal authorities’ (lawless) use of apparent ethnicity as a primary basis for short investigatory stops — but not for longer detentions, without more “articuable suspicions” — beyond just skin color (or apparent ethnicity). Ugh. It is an interim opinion only, but regrettable. [Do read the dissent. It correctly states the “on the merits” legal contours. Ones upon which these plaintiffs will ultimately prevail.] In time, on the merits, we will return to the bedrock “no racial profiling” jurisprudence the Supremes have long endorsed. But it will take a minute or two. Damn. Onward.

नमस्ते

No Surprise. And He Will Lose At The SCOTUS, This Fall, On It As Well: $83.3 Million In A Libel And Slander Verdict, And Rising.

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We note this, just to keep an accurate accounting: Tangerine 2.0 has lost more money judgment verdicts than any preident — and likely, any politician in the history of the United States — over $600 million, and growin’.

Most involve commercial frauds of one form or another. This one ($83 million, plus interest, still accruing) is for libel and slander. He sexually assaulted her — as the jury found, and then proceeded to lie about it, on the campaign trial (in Trump 1.0)… over and over, again. Damn.

Doesn’t anyone who voted for this sociopath (even once, as opposed to thrice). . . regret their miscalculation? In any event, here is Reuters, on it all (and, to be clear, he has until November 2025, to get a brief on file for cert., at the Supremes on it — but he will lose there, too):

…A federal appeals court on Monday refused to throw out an $83.3 million jury verdict against U.S. President Donald Trump for damaging the reputation of the writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019 when he denied her rape claim.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Trump’s argument that the January 2024 verdict should be overturned because he deserved presidential immunity from Carroll’s lawsuit….

Onward. Suck that — dotard.

नमस्ते

DRC Begins Ring Vaccinations — Along With Vaccinating Health Care Workers In Kasai Province: Ebola Response Underway.

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We mentioned this new DRC outbreak on Thursday past, then it clearly was overtaken (on our pages), by local (and loco) political events. We return to Kasai developments now. As we would expect, WHO has begun ring vaccinations, and vaccines for all health care workers — in Kasai province DRC. That is solid bio-science at work.

Here’s the latest, from local reporting in DRC:

…The World Health Organization said it dispatched its experts alongside Congo’s Rapid Response Team to Kasai province to strengthen disease surveillance, treatment and infection prevention and control in health facilities. It is also delivering supplies including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment and medical supplies.

Congo has a stockpile of treatments and of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, WHO said.

“We had previously prepositioned 2,000 doses of Ebola vaccine in Kinshasa, which we are releasing to vaccinate contacts and health workers,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

It’s the 16th outbreak of Ebola in Congo, and Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said the fatality rate, estimated at 53.6%, showed the gravity of the situation….

And in some ways, this too is an echo of the “loco” GOP political events — as USAID remains hamstrung in the region — in its former role, funding the fight against the dread ebola virus.

Now-a-days, about one of two who contract the virus die from it. That is a significant improvement, over 2014 — when nearly nine of ten who got it were quickly fatalities — but this 2025 outbreak would likely already be over, had USAID funding been available on the ground. As it is, 15 are confirmed dead — and that number will grow in the coming weeks. Damn — onward, resolutely, just the same.

Post Scriptum: I am monitoring the local “block reports” [privately vetted, and locally administered apps (with end-to-end secure comms), run by the (312) legal aid societies. . . with input from the fine workers at the Catholic charities] — inside Uptown, Humbolt Park and Pilsen, for any sign that I need to roll over there, on a moment’s notice. I have a go bag all set, at the front door — we are beyond ready. Know that, Manchurian Cantaloupe.

नमस्ते

Power Alley: More Encouraging News — From Barcelona Cancer Confab — On Merck/Daiichi Oncology Candidate, In SCLC…

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With a breakthrough therapy designation already under its belt on another immuno oncology candidate at FDA, the joint venture in discovery and development here is humming along nicely.

Here’s that latest bit, from the beaches at Barcelonetta (in the former Summer Olympics village) — via the expert coverage provided by Fierce staffers:

…Partners Daiichi Sankyo and Merck & Co. are sharing new phase 2 data for their investigational antibody-drug conjugate, findings the partners think will help score accelerated approval in pretreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

“The important take-home message is that this is our registrational trial for the first approval of the drug I-DXd,” Daiichi’s R&D head Ken Takeshita, M.D., told Fierce Biotech Friday.

The primary analysis reveals an objective response rate (ORR) of 48.2% among 137 patients receiving 12 mg/kg of I-DXd, also known as ifinatamab deruxtecan, according to a late-breaking presentation shared at this year’s World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona, Spain.

The ORR is down slightly from the rate seen in an earlier stage of the trial, in which the B7-H3-directed ADC was tied to a 54.8% ORR among 42 patients on the same dose level. Daiichi and Merck reported results from the dose-optimization stage of the phase 2 trial, dubbed IDeate-Lung01, a year ago….

Now you know — onward, smiling… ever, smiling.

नमस्ते

A Supplemental Independent Monitor’s Report — On Juvenile Conditions — In The Flores Litigation (An Open Case Since 1985)…

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The good news is that, at the moment, these Flores facilities are in substantial compliance with what the law and the settlement agreement require — for the treatment of children in their custody.

Here’s that independent monitor’s supplemental report, and a bit:

…The Settlement requires that CBP provide children in custody with age-appropriate meals and snacks. CBP continues to routinely provide adequate water and snacks to children soon after apprehension through their entire time in custody. Infant formula, bottled water, and mixing instructions are also readily available in both the JPFs and other BP stations in the RGV and El Paso sectors that could potentially hold children, even if on a temporary basis. The JCM Final Report documented that the JPF transition in El Paso from the large, soft-sided facility to the current CPC location was associated with the elimination of young-child meals; only adult meals were being provided to young children. In addition, the daily menu never changed, even for children who were in custody for extended periods of time.

Since the extension, JCM visits to the El Paso CPC observed that meals appropriate for young children were routinely being provided. These meals consisted of fruit, chicken or turkey, eggs, served in sandwich or burrito form that has been cut up in child-sized pieces. Milk, juice, granola bars, and fruit puree pouches were also readily available. The menus have been revised to include acceptable daily variety….

That’s all I’ve got. Onward.

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