World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO nears consensus on future international pact to prevent pandemics

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is inching closer to a consensus to negotiate an international agreement to prevent future pandemics, although Washington is so far reluctant to make the pact…

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WHO confirms that Tedros lone candidate for director-general election in May

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that its current director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the only candidate nominated for the U.N. agency's elections in May. "WHO can announce…

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WHO’s Tedros looks set to run unopposed for a second term

The World Health Organization's chief looks set to run unopposed for a second term at the helm as tries to guide the world through its biggest health crisis in a…

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WHO proposes fresh mission to China and lab audits

The World Health Organization has proposed a second phase of studies in China into the origins of the coronavirus, including audits of laboratories in Wuhan, but there is no sign…

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WHO panel advises against COVID-19 vaccination proof for travel

The World Health Organization's Emergency Committee on Thursday maintained its stance that proof of COVID-19 vaccination should not be required for international travel, amid a growing debate on blocking the…

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Question open on need for COVID booster shot, data awaited, WHO says

The World Health Organization said on Friday that it was not clear whether COVID-19 booster vaccines will be needed to maintain protection, until further data is collected. Pfizer Inc plans…

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WHO chief scientist disappointed by CureVac trial

The World Health Organization's chief scientist said on Friday that results from the CureVac COVID-19 vaccine's initial trial were disappointing. German biotech firm CureVac' vaccine proved only 47% effective in…

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WHO Europe head warns of the spread of the more transmissible delta variant

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned European countries against becoming complacent in their efforts to put an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Across the continent, governments have been increasingly…

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WHO approves Sinovac COVID shot in second Chinese milestone

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced it has approved a COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech for emergency use listing, paving the way for a second Chinese shot to be…

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WHO faces potential shake-up

The World Health Organization, battling to coordinate the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, agreed on Monday to study recommendations for ambitious reforms made by independent experts to strengthen the…

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WHO issues benchmarks for sodium content in food

Excessive salt in food and beverages is putting people at greater risk of potentially fatal heart disease and strokes, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday, issuing fresh guidelines…

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WHO, agencies urge countries to suspend sale of live wild mammals at markets

International agencies including the World Health Organization urged countries to suspend the sale of live wild mammals in food markets, warning they may be the source of more than 70%…

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WHO chief laments ‘shocking imbalance’ in COVID-19 shot distribution

There is a “shocking imbalance” in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide and most countries do not have anywhere near enough shots to cover health workers and others at high-risk,…

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WHO says Europe vaccine rollout ‘unacceptably slow’ amid ‘worrying’ case surge

Europe's rollout of vaccinations against COVID-19 is "unacceptably slow," the World Health Organization's European head said on Thursday, raising concern that delays in giving shots could prolong the pandemic as…

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UPDATED: WHO Europe urges countries to keep using AstraZeneca COVID vaccine

The benefits of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh any risks and countries across Europe should continue to use it to help save lives, the World Health Organization's European director said…

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WHO vaccine safety panel to issue findings on AstraZeneca on Friday

The World Health Organization's vaccine safety panel is now due to issue its findings on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot on Friday, a WHO spokesman said. The WHO's global advisory committee…

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Italy and France approve J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine, also gets WHO emergency listing approval

Italy’s medicines agency AIFA and France’s health regulator, the Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS), said on Friday they have approved the use of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Johnson &…

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WHO tries to quash nervousness about AstraZeneca vaccine

The World Health Organization squarely endorsed AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine on Friday, as Thailand joined a number of smaller European countries in suspending use of the shot because of sporadic reports…

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UPDATED: WHO says its advisory committee looking at AstraZeneca vaccine issues

A World Health Organization expert advisory committee is currently looking at AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine after some countries paused distribution of it, but there is no reason not to use it,…

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Risk of human spread of H5N8 bird flu deemed low: WHO

The risk of human-to-human spread of the H5N8 strain of bird flu appears low after it was identified for the first time worldwide in farm workers in Russia, the World…

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WHO says working with EC to manage regional COVID vaccine donations

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with the European Commission to coordinate COVID-19 vaccine donations for other countries on the continent, the head of its European office. Hans Kluge,…

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WHO alerts six African countries after Ebola outbreaks

The World Health Organization has asked six African countries to be alert for possible Ebola infections, as Guinea on Tuesday reported new cases and Democratic Republic of Congo said its…

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WHO says new global Covid cases fell 16% last week

The number of new Covid cases reported worldwide fell 16% last week, to 2.7 million, the World Health Organization has said. The number of new deaths reported also fell 10%…

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WHO team member says China refused to provide WHO team with raw data on early COVID cases

China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to a World Health Organization-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, one of the team's investigators said, potentially complicating…

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‘All hypotheses remain open’, says WHO after experts all but dismiss lab leak

The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, appears to have rejected comments made on Tuesday by the team of experts studying the origins of the Covid-19…

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UPDATED: World is on the brink of a ‘catastrophic moral failure’ on vaccines- WHO chief

The world is on the brink of "catastrophic moral failure" in sharing COVID-19 vaccines, the head of the World Health Organization said on Monday, urging countries and manufacturers to spread…

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WHO stops short of advising proof of COVID-19 shots for travel

The World Health Organization refrained from advising proof of COVID-19 vaccination or immunity as a condition for international travel, citing “critical unknowns” regarding their efficacy in reducing transmission and limited…

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WHO Europe urges safe flexibility on timing of COVID-19 vaccine doses

European countries rolling out the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should be flexible on the time between the first and second doses, the World Health Organization's director for the region said on…

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China plays down WHO concern about delay in coronavirus team’s trip

China played down on Wednesday World Health Organization (WHO) concern about a delay in authorisation for a visit by team of experts looking into the origins of the novel coronavirus,…

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WHO reiterates COVID-19 will not be last pandemic

World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday warned that the coronavirus crisis will not be the last pandemic. In a video message marking Sunday's first International Day of…

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WHO reassures Santa is immune to Covid-19 and will be able to deliver Christmas presents

Amid all the daily news bulletins from the World Health Organisation on the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on the Covid-19 WHO Health Emergencies…

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WHO confirms COVID variant ‘substantially’ more infectious

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe met on Wednesday to discuss the new coronavirus variant, which has wreaked havoc on the UK and caused high alert across Europe. The WHO's…

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WHO investigators heading to China in early January to probe virus

World Health Organization (WHO) officials said on Friday an international team led by the U.N. agency would be going to China in the first week of January to investigate the…

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Commit to Quit – WHO launches campaign to help people quit smoking

WHO launched a year-long global campaign for World No Tobacco Day 2021 - “Commit to Quit." The new WHO Quit Challenge on WhatsApp and publication “More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco" are being…

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WHO hopes to have 500 million vaccine doses via COVAX scheme in first quarter of 2021

The World Health Organization hopes to have half a billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines available for distribution by the global COVAX initiative in the first quarter of 2021, its chief…

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WHO warns against pandemic complacency amid vaccine rollout

World Health Organization officials on Friday warned governments and citizens not to drop their guard over the COVID pandemic now a vaccination was close, saying healthcare systems could still buckle…

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WHO issues fresh advice on mask-wearing for public, health workers

People living in areas with where COVID-19 is spreading should always wear masks in shops, workplaces and schools that lack adequate ventilation, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.…

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Adults, children must move more to stay fit in pandemic era – WHO

All adults should do a minimum of 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, even more vital for well-being and mental health in the COVID-19 era, the World Health…

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WHO warns of COVID-19 third wave, says Europe failed to learn from Asia

The World Health Organization's special COVID-19 envoy David Nabarro told the Solothurner Zeitung in Switzerland that Europe was likely to see a third wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in…

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Lockdowns in Europe avoidable, school closures not effective – WHO Europe

Fresh lockdowns in Europe are avoidable, including through near-universal mask-wearing, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe office said on Thursday. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe,…

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WHO chief warns coronavirus is “not tired”, urges vigilance

People are becoming weary of the coronavirus pandemic but should remain vigilant and continue to take precautions while the world awaits a vaccine, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus…

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WHO chief says welcomes efforts to strengthen the organization

The World Health Organization chief opened a key meeting addressing the pandemic on Monday by welcoming efforts to strengthen the Geneva-based body through reform. "We welcome any and all efforts…

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International concern after Danish transmission of the virus between animals and humans

The World Health Organization is looking at biosecurity around mink farms in countries across the world to prevent further “spillover events” after Denmark ordered a national mink cull because of…

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WHO head identified as contact of COVID-19 positive person

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Sunday that he had been identified as a contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, but added that he was…

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WHO says nationwide lockdowns should be treated as a “last-resort option”

The World Health Organization in Europe on Thursday said nationwide lockdowns should be treated as a “last-resort option” even as it noted that the continent was back at the pandemic’s…

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Encouraging signs in vaccine trials but WHO warns it’ll take time to ensure it’s safe for everyone

The World Health Organization has welcomed updates from developers scrambling to deliver a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, but cautioned it is still “going to take time” before one is…

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WHO warns Europe case surge ‘of great concern’

At a press conference in Copenhagen, the WHO’s regional director for Europe Hans Kluge told reporters it was time to “step up the measures” as rising case numbers on the…

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WHO warns young people may not get vaccine until 2022

World Health Organization’s chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, has indicated that young, healthy people may have to wait until 2022 to get a vaccine and, that a despite the many vaccine…

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WHO fears spike in deaths after global COVID-19 surge

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday warned against any complacency in the coronavirus death rate, saying with the increasing number of cases, mortality would also rise. New cases are…

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WHO reports record one-day rise in global coronavirus cases as Europe records the highest total so far

The World Health Organization reported a record one-day increase in global coronavirus cases on Thursday, with the total rising by 338,779 in 24 hours led by a surge of infections…

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WHO says Europe must go beyond science to survive Covid crisis

The World Health Organization has said European countries will need to “move beyond biomedical science” to overcome Covid-19 as “pandemic fatigue” and new infections rapidly rise across the continent. Hans…

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WHO warns Europe experiencing ‘coronavirus fatigue’

Covid is taking an emotional toll across Europe with rising levels of apathy among some populations, the World Health Organization is warning. Survey data reveals the scale of this "pandemic…

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WHO warns that global COVID-19 death toll could hit 2 million before vaccine in wide use

The global death toll from COVID-19 could double to 2 million before a successful vaccine is widely used and could be even higher without concerted action to curb the pandemic,…

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Europe’s Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations head in wrong direction: WHO

Rates of COVID-19 infections and hospital bed occupancy are rising in Europe, where authorities need to work to halt spread ahead of the influenza season, a top World Health Organization…

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Some northern hemisphere countries having difficulty sourcing more flu vaccines – WHO

Some northern hemisphere countries are having trouble obtaining additional flu vaccines amid increased demand, but health workers and elderly should be prioritised in case of any shortages, the World Health…

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WHO endorses protocol for testing African herbal medicines as potential treatment for coronavirus

The World Health Organization has endorsed a protocol for testing African herbal medicines as potential treatments for the coronavirus and other epidemics. Covid-19 has raised the issue of using traditional…

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WHO appeals to keep health workers and patients safe

WHO appeals to keep health workers and patients safe The World Health Organization (WHO) called on governments and health care leaders to address persistent threats to the health and safety…

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