WHO News

Message by the WHO Director-General to the people of Tenerife regarding the hantavirus response

To the people of Tenerife,My name is Tedros, and I serve as the Director-General of the World Health Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for global public health. It is not common for me to write directly to the people of a single community, but today I feel it is not only appropriate, it is necessary.I want to speak to you directly, not through press releases or technical briefings, but as one human being to another, because you deserve that.I know you are worried. I know that w

health  May 9, 2026

WHO News

WHO’s response to hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, briefed media today on a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship, the MV Hondius.Eight cases have been reported so far, including three deaths. Five of the 8 cases have been confirmed as hantavirus.The hantavirus involved is the Andes virus, the only species known to be capable of limited transmission between humans, linked to close and prolonged contact.Describing the situation, Dr Tedros said, “While this is a serious incid

health  May 7, 2026

WHO News

Joint call by the President of the ICRC, the Director-General of WHO and the International President of MSF

Ten years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286 on health care in armed conflicts. The situation is even worse compared to 10 years ago. Today, we mark not an achievement – we mark a failure. As violence affecting medical facilities, transport and personnel continues unabated, the harm this resolution sought to prevent has not diminished. It has continued and, in many contexts, intensified. As the heads of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Worl

health  May 4, 2026

WHO News

WHO Member States agree to extend negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex

Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have progressed work on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, a key part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and today agreed additional time was needed to finalize the framework for ensuring a better, more equitable, response to future pandemics.Countries today ended the resumed session of the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement in Geneva, focused on the PABS system. The outcome

health  May 1, 2026

WHO News

Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.

health  Apr 29, 2026

WHO News

Efforts to eliminate hepatitis delivers gains but more action needed to meet 2030 targets

Global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released today at the World Hepatitis Summit.Viral hepatitis B and C – the two infections responsible for 95% of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide – claimed 1.34 million lives in 2024, the latest data show. At the same time, transmission continues, with mo

health  Apr 28, 2026

WHO News

Practicing today for tomorrow’s emergencies – WHO convenes countries and partners to simulate response to major disease outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) wrapped up Exercise Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation exercise, based around an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading across the world. Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and over 25 partners, the exercise, which took place on 22 and 23 April, allowed countries to test their preparedness for pandemics and other major health emergencies, including activating their emergency workforce structures, inform

health  Apr 27, 2026

WHO News

WHO prequalifies first-ever malaria treatment for newborns and infants, adds new diagnostic tests

Ahead of World Malaria Day on 25 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a significant step forward in the fight against malaria with the prequalification of the first treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms. The prequalification designation indicates that the medicine meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and will help to expand access to quality-assured treatment for one of the most unders

health  Apr 24, 2026

WHO News

Largest catch-up initiative delivers over 100 million childhood vaccinations

The Big Catch-Up, launched during World Immunization Week 2023, has delivered over 100 million vaccine doses to an estimated 18.3 million children across 36 countriesAround 12.3 million were “zero-dose children” who had not previously received any vaccines and 15 million who had never received a measles vaccine.The initiative concluded in March 2026 and is on track to meet its target of catching up 21 million children – but agencies warn that many infan

health  Apr 24, 2026

WHO News

Algeria eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Algeria as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the 10th country in WHO’s African Region and the 29th country globally to achieve this significant milestone.

health  Apr 23, 2026

WHO News

WHO reports measurable health impact in 2025 amid transition to new strategy

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its Results Report, highlighting measurable improvements in people’s health worldwide in 2025, despite funding cuts affecting both the organization and the broader global health sector.Published at a pivotal moment for global health, the Results Report demonstrates that WHO’s impact was strongest in areas where its technical leadership and comparative advantage were fully leveraged.The report finds significant progress across all thr

health  Apr 23, 2026

WHO News

WHO Director-General visits Jordan to recognize strong collaboration on health system delivery, emergency relief and advancing mental health

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, today concluded the first day of his two-day State visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, underscoring the strong partnership between WHO and Jordan across the areas of universal health coverage (UHC), mental health and humanitarian health action.

health  Feb 25, 2026

WHO News

WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States

WHO regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe. The notification of withdrawal raises issues that will be considered by the WHO Executive Board at its regular meeting starting on 2 February and by the World Health Assembly at its annual meeting in May 2026.

health  Jan 24, 2026

WHO News

Paying tribute to David Nabarro

Tribute to Dr David Nabarro

health  Jul 30, 2025

WHO News

Timor-Leste certified malaria-free by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free, a remarkable achievement for a country that prioritized the disease and embarked on a concerted, nation-wide response shortly after gaining independence in 2002.“WHO congratulates the people and government of Timor-Leste on this significant milestone,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Timor-Leste’s success proves that malaria can be stopped in its tracks when strong po

health  Jul 23, 2025

WHO News

African Union and World Health Organization renew strategic partnership to drive impact and strengthen health systems in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) Commission renewed their longstanding strategic partnership today with the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. This renewed agreement reaffirms the joint commitment to advancing health security, universal health coverage, and sustainable development across the African continent at a time of unprecedented financial challenges in the global health landsca

health  May 24, 2025

WHO News

WHO’s strategic engagement with philanthropies: advancing global health and resilient health systems

Philanthropic support plays a vital role in enabling countries to build stronger health systems and advance towards health equity. From vaccine equity and pandemic preparedness to primary health care, the contributions of philanthropic partners help drive progress across WHO’s key priorities.The importance of philanthropic support was underscored by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in his recent remarks to the Philanthropy Asia Summit, held in Singapore on 5–7 May

health  May 19, 2025

WHO News

Worldwide rally for maternal and newborn health marks World Health Day 2025

On the occasion of the World Health Day 2025 dedicated to the theme of Healthier beginnings, hopeful futures, over 100 global WHO offices have organized wide-ranging public advocacy actions in collaboration with Member States, communities, health workers, partner and donor agencies and civil society organizations.

health  Apr 10, 2025

WHO News

Strengthening public health across Lebanon with EIB Global

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Thomas Östros, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB Global), met at the EIB Group Forum in Luxembourg and signed an agreement for a €10 million grant to strengthen public health across Lebanon. The initiative will re-establish Lebanon's Central Public Health Laboratory and prioritize medication provision and healthcare support to over 50 000 people with chronic diseases like diabetes, car

health  Apr 1, 2025

WHO News

Frank, in-depth discussion as Belgium and WHO map ahead priorities for collaboration

In a three-day strategic dialogue, Belgium and WHO reviewed progress in their longstanding partnership, and agreed to further boost their collaboration on universal health coverage, health-systems strengthening and equitable access to essential vaccines, medicines and health technologies. The Belgian delegation – headed by H.E. Christophe Payot, Ambassador of Belgium to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva – discussed issues of strategic importance, exchanged views

health  Mar 11, 2025