News and top stories

Syrian Arab Republic: Crossing borders with life-saving support

WHO/R. Ziade

12 January 2016 -- Almost 6.5 million Syrians remain displaced within the country and more than 4 million are living in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. WHO’s Emergency Support Team, based in Amman, coordinates the distribution of medical supplies and equipment to Syrian Arab Republic and neighbouring countries dealing with the crisis.

Cholera vaccine supply set to double, easing global shortage

Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign in Southern Malawi, 2015.
WHO/L. Pezzoli

8 January 2016 -- The global supply of oral cholera vaccines (OCV) is set to double after WHO approved a third producer, helping to address global shortages and expand access in more countries. In 2013 the WHO created the world’s first OCV stockpile. Since then a total of 4 million doses to 11 countries have been used in humanitarian crises, outbreaks, and in endemic hotspots.

Life-saving health supplies blocked in Yemen

Men unloading medical supplies from a truck.
WHO/J. Swan

7 January 2016 -- WHO calls for immediate access to Taiz City for the delivery of life-saving health supplies. The health situation continues to deteriorate as more than 250 000 people have been living in a state of virtual siege since November 2015. All of the city's 6 hospitals have been forced to partially close services and are overwhelmed with injured patients. Humanitarian organizations are struggling to deliver medical and surgical supplies due to the insecurity.

Fighting old diseases in new ways

Group of people exercising in Kampala, Uganda

6 January 2016 -- Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and lung diseases end lives early. WHO plans to reduce the number of premature deaths from these diseases by 25% by 2025. This photo story highlights the efforts of people in Belize, Jamaica, Philippines and Uganda to decrease the risk of NCDs in new and innovative ways.

WHO’s 2015 health highlights

WHO in review 2015
WHO

18 December 2015 -- In 2015, WHO led the health response to major outbreaks and emergencies from West Africa to Iraq. We provided new advice on a broad range of health issues, including dementia, food safety, HIV treatment, sugar consumption, antibiotic resistance and climate change. We marked the end of the 15-year era of the Millennium Development Goals and saw the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals for the next 15 years. Here are a few highlights.

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Outbreaks and emergencies

Ebola outbreak » MERS-CoV outbreak » Emergencies »

WHO fact sheets

Highlights

  • Zika virus infection: Frequently asked questions
    January 2016 -- Zika fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by Zika virus, consisting of mild fever, rash, headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, and non-purulent conjunctivitis, occurring about 3 to 12 days after the mosquito bite.

Disease outbreak news

Emergency reform

WHO is reforming its work in outbreaks and emergencies with health and humanitarian consequences to ensure the Organization can respond rapidly to future crises.

Data


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Commentary

  • New climate change agreement a historic win for human health
    Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health
    Dr Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, WHO Climate Change Lead, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health
    18 December 2015

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Dr Chan, WHO Director-General, visits Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, three of the four countries where indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus has not yet been interrupted.
WHO

Universal health coverage

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