Tedros: ‘We Live in Difficult, Dangerous and Divisive Times’ 18/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan “From conflicts to economic crises to climate change and aid cuts, we live in difficult, dangerous and divisive times,” World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the opening plenary of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on Monday. While geopolitical disagreements have delayed Tedros’s official WHA address until Tuesday morning, the Director […] Continue reading -> WHO Declares DRC Ebola Outbreak a Public Health Emergency: ‘May Be ‘Much Larger’ Than Reported 17/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may be “a much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant local and regional risk of spread”, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Sunday. The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on […] Continue reading -> Experts Call for Review of Global Outbreak Response as Passengers Leave Ship Hit By Hantavirus 12/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All passengers were evacuated from the cruise ship, Hondius, by Monday night – and a Spaniard taken to a military hospital in Madrid to quarantine has become the 11th person from the ship to test positive for hantavirus. The evacuation was completed 10 days after the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified about the outbreak […] Continue reading -> Hantavirus: Experts Question Claim that Only ‘Symptomatic’ People are Infectious 11/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Hantavirus has been confirmed in a French citizen evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship on Sunday, while two tests on a US citizen turned up one “weakly positive” and one negative result – but it is still unclear how the virus is being transmitted. The evacuation of passengers from the ship, now docked in […] Continue reading -> First Person Outside Cruise Ship is Suspected of Hantavirus Infection 07/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The first person suspected of contracting hantavirus outside of passengers on the Hondius cruise ship is currently in a Dutch hospital. She is a flight attendant who came into contact with a former passenger who briefly boarded a KLM flight in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was prevented by airline staff from flying to Amsterdam as […] Continue reading -> Two More Reported Cases of Hantavirus Linked to Cruise Ship Hit by ‘Uncommon’ Human-to-Human Transmission 05/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Two more people linked to the cruise ship Hondius were reported to have fallen ill in Switzerland and France, according to Swiss and European media reports Wednesday. In the Swiss case, the infection and its links to the cruise ship were confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. On the reported French case, […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
WHO Declares DRC Ebola Outbreak a Public Health Emergency: ‘May Be ‘Much Larger’ Than Reported 17/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may be “a much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant local and regional risk of spread”, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Sunday. The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on […] Continue reading -> Experts Call for Review of Global Outbreak Response as Passengers Leave Ship Hit By Hantavirus 12/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All passengers were evacuated from the cruise ship, Hondius, by Monday night – and a Spaniard taken to a military hospital in Madrid to quarantine has become the 11th person from the ship to test positive for hantavirus. The evacuation was completed 10 days after the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified about the outbreak […] Continue reading -> Hantavirus: Experts Question Claim that Only ‘Symptomatic’ People are Infectious 11/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Hantavirus has been confirmed in a French citizen evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship on Sunday, while two tests on a US citizen turned up one “weakly positive” and one negative result – but it is still unclear how the virus is being transmitted. The evacuation of passengers from the ship, now docked in […] Continue reading -> First Person Outside Cruise Ship is Suspected of Hantavirus Infection 07/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The first person suspected of contracting hantavirus outside of passengers on the Hondius cruise ship is currently in a Dutch hospital. She is a flight attendant who came into contact with a former passenger who briefly boarded a KLM flight in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was prevented by airline staff from flying to Amsterdam as […] Continue reading -> Two More Reported Cases of Hantavirus Linked to Cruise Ship Hit by ‘Uncommon’ Human-to-Human Transmission 05/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Two more people linked to the cruise ship Hondius were reported to have fallen ill in Switzerland and France, according to Swiss and European media reports Wednesday. In the Swiss case, the infection and its links to the cruise ship were confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. On the reported French case, […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Experts Call for Review of Global Outbreak Response as Passengers Leave Ship Hit By Hantavirus 12/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All passengers were evacuated from the cruise ship, Hondius, by Monday night – and a Spaniard taken to a military hospital in Madrid to quarantine has become the 11th person from the ship to test positive for hantavirus. The evacuation was completed 10 days after the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified about the outbreak […] Continue reading -> Hantavirus: Experts Question Claim that Only ‘Symptomatic’ People are Infectious 11/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Hantavirus has been confirmed in a French citizen evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship on Sunday, while two tests on a US citizen turned up one “weakly positive” and one negative result – but it is still unclear how the virus is being transmitted. The evacuation of passengers from the ship, now docked in […] Continue reading -> First Person Outside Cruise Ship is Suspected of Hantavirus Infection 07/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The first person suspected of contracting hantavirus outside of passengers on the Hondius cruise ship is currently in a Dutch hospital. She is a flight attendant who came into contact with a former passenger who briefly boarded a KLM flight in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was prevented by airline staff from flying to Amsterdam as […] Continue reading -> Two More Reported Cases of Hantavirus Linked to Cruise Ship Hit by ‘Uncommon’ Human-to-Human Transmission 05/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Two more people linked to the cruise ship Hondius were reported to have fallen ill in Switzerland and France, according to Swiss and European media reports Wednesday. In the Swiss case, the infection and its links to the cruise ship were confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. On the reported French case, […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Hantavirus: Experts Question Claim that Only ‘Symptomatic’ People are Infectious 11/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Hantavirus has been confirmed in a French citizen evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship on Sunday, while two tests on a US citizen turned up one “weakly positive” and one negative result – but it is still unclear how the virus is being transmitted. The evacuation of passengers from the ship, now docked in […] Continue reading -> First Person Outside Cruise Ship is Suspected of Hantavirus Infection 07/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The first person suspected of contracting hantavirus outside of passengers on the Hondius cruise ship is currently in a Dutch hospital. She is a flight attendant who came into contact with a former passenger who briefly boarded a KLM flight in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was prevented by airline staff from flying to Amsterdam as […] Continue reading -> Two More Reported Cases of Hantavirus Linked to Cruise Ship Hit by ‘Uncommon’ Human-to-Human Transmission 05/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Two more people linked to the cruise ship Hondius were reported to have fallen ill in Switzerland and France, according to Swiss and European media reports Wednesday. In the Swiss case, the infection and its links to the cruise ship were confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. On the reported French case, […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
First Person Outside Cruise Ship is Suspected of Hantavirus Infection 07/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The first person suspected of contracting hantavirus outside of passengers on the Hondius cruise ship is currently in a Dutch hospital. She is a flight attendant who came into contact with a former passenger who briefly boarded a KLM flight in Johannesburg, South Africa, but was prevented by airline staff from flying to Amsterdam as […] Continue reading -> Two More Reported Cases of Hantavirus Linked to Cruise Ship Hit by ‘Uncommon’ Human-to-Human Transmission 05/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Two more people linked to the cruise ship Hondius were reported to have fallen ill in Switzerland and France, according to Swiss and European media reports Wednesday. In the Swiss case, the infection and its links to the cruise ship were confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. On the reported French case, […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Two More Reported Cases of Hantavirus Linked to Cruise Ship Hit by ‘Uncommon’ Human-to-Human Transmission 05/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Two more people linked to the cruise ship Hondius were reported to have fallen ill in Switzerland and France, according to Swiss and European media reports Wednesday. In the Swiss case, the infection and its links to the cruise ship were confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. On the reported French case, […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Pandemic Talks Extended – But Colombia Appeals for New ‘Method’ to Settle Differences 04/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Colombia has appealed for a new “method” to settle the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement, after World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to reach agreement last week after almost a year of talks. Talks on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system were due to wrap up last Friday night, but have […] Continue reading -> No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
No Pandemic Agreement Annex by World Health Assembly, Says Civil Society 30/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan The final missing piece of the Pandemic Agreement – a pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system – is unlikely to be agreed on by the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. This was the view of civil society observers of the talks taking place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, who […] Continue reading -> Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Ghana Rebuffs US Health Deal – But South Africa and Zambia Struggle Without Aid 29/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Ghana has become the latest African country to reject the United States’ terms for bilateral health assistance, particularly the requirement to share sensitive health data, according to Reuters. Late last year, Zimbabwe rejected US terms for health assistance, particularly the demand to share pathogen data without any “corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations […] Continue reading -> Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Developed Countries Propose ‘Hybrid’ Model Ahead of Pandemic Agreement Talks 26/04/2026 Kerry Cullinan Yet another negotiating session on the outstanding annex of the Pandemic Agreement begins at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters on Monday (27 April) – and developed nations have presented a “hybrid” solution in an attempt to find consensus. The “hybrid” proposal consists of a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures for sharing pathogen information […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts