“Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly.  A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading ->
WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains.   While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading ->
With plans underway for a new “Independent Panel” on Antimicrobial Resistance, endorsed at September’s UN High-Level AMR Meeting, the new body must become a strong scientific authority. It should have the power to “challenge” the agencies that create it and address both human and animal health factors driving drug-resistant pathogens. That was a key message […] Continue reading ->
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to Israel to reverse this week’s decision by the country’s Knesset, or parliament, to close the Jerusalem-based operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), saying that “there is simply no other alternative to UNRWA.”  Tedros also said that the third phase […] Continue reading ->
The 9th Lancet Countdown report on health and climate change shows that deaths from extreme heat, hunger, and disease, all are rising because of climate change. Authors call out governments and companies that continue “fuelling the fire” with continued investment in fossil fuels and subsidies, leading to all-time high energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, which are […] Continue reading ->
The final phase of a planned polio campaign in northern Gaza has been postponed due to escalating violence in the area, the World Health Organization announced on Wednesday. “Due to the escalating violence, intense bombardment, mass displacement orders, and lack of assured humanitarian pauses across most of northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza… […] Continue reading ->
BERLIN — The World Health Organization is kicking off its first European “investment round” Monday at the World Health Summit, seeking to secure backing for its $11.1 billion four-year strategic plan. The Berlin summit, a marquee event on the global health calendar, draws thousands of health leaders, researchers, and advocacy groups. On the agenda: pandemic […] Continue reading ->