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pneumonia

A baby has his general health recorded by a data clerk, as part of an effort to monitor levels of pneumonia post-vaccination in Kilifi District, Kenya. Photo: GAVI Alliance/Evelyn Hockstein
GAVI Alliance/Evelyn Hockstein

Tuesday's Daily Brief: ‘Forgotten’ pneumonia epidemic, experts urge vigilance over Australia wildfires, Ebola vaccine breakthrough 

A recap of Tuesday’s top stories: Pneumonia number one killer of children; Australia’s wildfires rage on; Ebola vaccine gets green light; new child labour and trafficking study; Malnutrition soars in Latin America and Caribbean; Intellectual Property chief encourages innovation.

UNICEF/ Al-Issa (file photo)

300 million children breathing toxic air pollution

Approximately 300 million children, or one in seven youngsters globally, are living in areas of the world with the most toxic levels of outdoor air pollution, according to a report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Air pollution is linked to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases that can kill children or affect their development, with poor children being most affected.