All articles tagged with #world health organization
After leaving the WHO, the Trump administration is weighing a domestic, $2 billion-a-year plan to recreate the global disease surveillance and outbreak-response functions the U.S. formerly accessed through the WHO, arguing it would be cheaper and keep these capabilities under U.S. control.
A young woman in Zambia was sent to a maximum-security prison after authorities denied her a legal abortion and she terminated the pregnancy on her own.
The World Health Organization condemned a US-funded trial in Guinea-Bissau that would randomize about 14,000 newborns to receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth or at six weeks, calling the study unethical for withholding a proven, life-saving intervention. The trial, funded with $1.6 million by the CDC to Danish researchers Benn and Aaby, is suspended as Guinea-Bissau plans to adopt a birth-dose schedule in 2028 due to resource constraints, with concerns raised about potential bias and insufficient harm-reduction measures.
The WHO reports a Bangladeshi woman in her 40s died in January from Nipah virus; she had no travel history but consumed raw date palm sap. Thirty-five contacts are being monitored and all tested negative; no additional cases have been detected and international risk is considered low with no travel restrictions advised. Nipah is bat-borne and can be fatal, but human-to-human transmission is limited; Bangladesh also reported four lab-confirmed fatal Nipah cases in 2025.
A World Health Organization analysis published in Nature Medicine says more than a third of global cancer cases in 2022—nearly 19 million—were preventable through medical intervention, lifestyle changes, and reducing environmental/occupational risks. The leading preventable factor is tobacco smoking (about 15% of cancers worldwide, 23% in men), with alcohol, infections such as HPV, and air pollution also contributing. HPV vaccination can prevent many HPV-related cancers, but global coverage remains low. With lung, stomach, and cervical cancers constituting a large share of preventable cases, addressing these risks could significantly cut the global cancer burden.
An Nipah outbreak in India's West Bengal has prompted Australian infectious-disease experts to urge planning and vigilance, including monitoring travellers and being ready to act if a case arrives in Australia. Nipah has no approved vaccine and can cause severe pneumonia or encephalitis with high fatality in serious cases; transmission occurs via bats, pigs, contaminated foods (notably date palm sap), and can spread between people. The World Health Organization says international spread risk is currently low and there have been no confirmed Nipah cases outside India. Australia is watching closely and airport screening has increased, with public health units ready to manage suspected cases. While there are early studies for treatments, no vaccine exists yet. Travellers are advised to avoid implicated foods, practice good food hygiene, and check Smartraveller/DFAT guidance before traveling.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state will join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, marking California’s first formal partnership with WHO and serving as a rebuke to Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the organization. The move underscores California’s push to lead on public health and preparedness, and builds on recent state initiatives like the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange and the Governors Public Health Alliance as it positions California as a counterweight to federal health policy.
The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, finalizing its exit as President Trump applauds the move at a signing ceremony in Davos, with WHO leadership and activities continuing around the World Health Assembly.
The United States announces its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, citing failures during the COVID-19 pandemic and promising to end U.S. funding and staffing of WHO initiatives; engagement with WHO will be limited to facilitating the withdrawal and protecting Americans, as the U.S. pursues a more focused, bilateral approach to global health security and renewed American leadership.
The United States is poised to withdraw from the World Health Organization after failing to pay about $260 million in past-due fees, with one-year notice required by U.S. law. The move would worsen WHO’s budget squeeze, prompting staff cuts and less global health collaboration, while WHO and health leaders warn it could weaken U.S. and global health security. The departure will be discussed by the WHO executive board in February, with some urging a rethink and Gates saying a quick U.S. return is unlikely.
A mystery flu-like disease in Congo has killed 71 people, nearly half of whom were children, prompting the government to be on high alert. The disease, which presents symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, and anemia, has led to deaths primarily due to respiratory issues and lack of blood transfusions. Epidemiologists are investigating the outbreak in the southern Kwango province. This health crisis comes as Congo is already dealing with a significant mpox epidemic, with over 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths, leading to a vaccination campaign initiated in October.
A mysterious flu-like disease has killed at least 27 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Panzi region, with reports suggesting the death toll could be as high as 67. The illness, which causes fever, headaches, and cough, has affected 382 people since October 24. Health officials have dispatched a team of epidemiologists to investigate, and the World Health Organization is collaborating with local authorities to understand the situation. Residents are advised to limit movement and practice good hygiene to prevent further spread.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is investigating an outbreak of a mysterious flu-like illness in Kwango province, affecting at least 376 people and causing between 67 to 143 deaths since late October. Symptoms include fever, headache, runny nose, breathing problems, and anemia, with women and children being the most affected. The DRC has notified the World Health Organization, and the outbreak is particularly severe in rural areas with limited access to medications.
Health officials in southwestern Congo are investigating a mysterious flu-like disease that has resulted in 67 to 143 deaths in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province between November 10 and 25. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. A team of epidemiological experts is being dispatched to collect samples and identify the disease. The provincial health minister has urged caution and requested medical supplies from national and international partners. The World Health Organization is aware of the situation and is collaborating with local health services.
A mysterious disease has claimed at least 67 lives in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province, Congo, over a two-week period. The symptoms include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Local authorities have called for caution and requested medical supplies from national and international partners. An epidemiological team is set to investigate the outbreak, which adds to the ongoing mpox epidemic in the country.