Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen, killing six
Jerusalem Reuters Israel struck multiple targets linked to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen on Thursday, including Sana’a International Airport, and Houthi media said at least six people were killed. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was about to board a plane at the airport when it came under […]
Tuberculosis returns as top infectious disease killer, WHO says
Reuters Tuberculosis replaced COVID-19 to become the top cause for infectious disease-related deaths in 2023, according to a World Health Organization report published on Tuesday, highlighting the challenges in the global effort in eradicating the disease. A sample that tested positive for tuberculosis is seen from a microscope in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 29th March, […]
Civilians bear brunt in ‘catastrophic’ Lebanon conflict, UN official says
Beirut, Lebanon Reuters Civilians are bearing the brunt of a “truly catastrophic” situation in Lebanon, a senior UN official said, urging respect for the rules of war nearly two weeks since Israel launched a major offensive against the armed group Hezbollah. With around a million people in Lebanon impacted, Imran Riza, UN Resident and Humanitarian […]
Mpox vaccines to arrive in DR Congo in next few days, WHO says
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The World Health Organization chief said on Friday that mpox vaccines were set to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the next few days to fight a new strain of the virus. “We hope to have the first delivery in the next few days, and then it will build up,” […]
WHO declares mpox a global public health emergency for second time in two years
Reuters The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries. An emergency committee met earlier on Wednesday to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on whether […]
WHO to convene emergency committee to assess international risk from mpox outbreak
Reuters The head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday an emergency committee will be convened to discuss whether the current mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo represents a public health emergency of international concern. The current mpox outbreak in Congo has already seen around 27,000 cases, and claimed more than 1,100 […]
More than 80 patients evacuated from Gaza in biggest operation of war, WHO says
Cairo, Egypt Reuters At least 85 sick and severely injured Palestinians from Gaza, including 35 children, were evacuated to Abu Dhabi for specialized care, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. “This extremely complex joint evacuation was supported by the [United Arab Emirates], WHO, and partners. It is the largest […]
Death toll from Ethiopian landslides 229, official says
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reuters The death toll from two landslides in southern Ethiopia has reached 229 and could rise further as the search for survivors and casualties continued into a second day, a government official said on Tuesday. Following heavy rain a landslide buried people in Gofa zone in Southern Ethiopia regional state on Sunday […]
Gambia parliament rejects bill to end ban on female genital mutilation
Updated: 9:25am Dakar, Senegal Reuters Gambia’s parliament on Monday rejected a bill that would have ended a ban on female genital mutilation, after lawmakers voted down all the clauses in the proposed law. “The ban on FGM is still firmly maintained in the Gambia,” the Ministry of Information said in a statement after the vote. […]
Global pandemic treaty to be concluded by 2025, WHO says
London, UK Reuters Talks aimed at reaching a global agreement on how to better fight pandemics will be concluded by 2025 or earlier if possible, the World Health Organization said on Saturday. The WHO’s 194 member states have been negotiating for two years on an agreement that could increase collaboration before and during pandemics after […]