The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro in Equateur Province today (8 May). The outbreak declaration occurred after laboratory results confirmed two cases of EVD. The Ministry of Health of Democratic of…
South Africa is in the middle of a difficult conundrum with health officials scrambling to locate the source of the deadly listeriosis outbreak. According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases [NICD], listeriosis has so far claimed the lives of 172 people. As of February…
ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR - The Director-General of WHO has outlined his vision for a Madagascar free of plague epidemics during a three-day visit to the island nation that started on 7 January 2018. "Madagascar can make plague epidemics a thing of the past through strategic investments…
* Since August 2017, Madagascar is experiencing a large outbreak of plague affecting major cities and other non-endemic areas. * From 1 August through 30 October 2017, a total of 1801 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of plague, including 127 deaths, have been reported by…
After steadily declining for over a decade, global hunger is on the rise again, affecting 815 million people in 2016, or 11 per cent of the global population, says a new edition of the annual United Nations report on world food security and nutrition released…
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to G20 8 July 2017: It's really a great privilege for me to be with you today to discuss the critical health threats facing our world today. And I thank you, Chancellor Merkel for your leadership in putting health on the…
Malaria outbreak in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Following the malaria outbreaks in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, there has been daily monitoring of the developments through the district outbreak response meetings. However, the overall number of reported malaria cases has declined in the provinces of Mpumalanga and…
On 9 May 2017, WHO was informed of a cluster of undiagnosed illness and deaths including haemorrhagic symptoms in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bordering Central African Republic. Since 22 April, nine cases…
The World Health Organization supports the consideration of Government of South Africa of introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) to help reduce excessive sugar intake. This is one of interventions proposed in the Strategy for the prevention and control of obesity in South…
An experimental Ebola vaccine was highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea, according to results published today in The Lancet. The vaccine is the first to prevent infection from one of the most lethal known pathogens, and the findings add…