Belgium health ministries act on deadly heatwave as German zoo warns for polar bears

Belgian health ministers reviewed a recent extreme heatwave that caused significant excess mortality across all age groups, including those under 65, and confirmed that heat‑protection phases were correctly activated. They plan to improve coordination for vulnerable populations, expand capacity of emergency services, and enhance public communication on heat‑related risks.

In Germany, the Karlsruhe Zoo faced temperatures near 40 °C, prompting PETA to highlight the risk of heat stress for its polar bears. Zoo officials reported the animals were active and receiving cooling measures such as shade, water, ice blocks and frozen melons, and asserted that the bears were coping with the heat.

Both reports illustrate how the ongoing European heatwave is prompting public‑health responses and animal‑care concerns in Belgium and Germany.