The End, that week_

El Niño brings the heat. Health is part of the story.

WMO warns that a strengthening El Niño increases the risks of extreme heat, floods and drought, and calls for preparations to limit its health effects.

+1 for the health impact assessment published this week. This is an international warning, not a disaster that has already happened or a new announcement of the phenomenon. We do not add pandemic points for the same signal.

The outbreak continues. The response cannot let its guard down.

ECDC’s weekly report records 7,890 confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC through September 23. Its assessment keeps the likelihood of infection very low for EU/EEA residents.

+3 for persistent transmission and the increase in reported cases from the previous cutoff (7,475 through September 16). This is a serious regional signal; it does not amount to a pandemic declaration or evidence of global spread. Figures may be revised.

Additional evidence ↗

Trump and Xi discuss AI. Safety is still on the table.

AI takes a central role at the Washington summit. China confirms initial contact with the United States on the issue; the US proposal to report incidents does not yet amount to an operational safeguard.

0 points: the summit matters because it involves two major AI powers, but the dialogue and proposals described in the September 24 coverage do not demonstrate a reduction in risk. Media attention does not warrant an increase either. A change requires substantive new evidence about measures and outcomes.