Tobacco responsible for 20% of deaths from coronary heart disease

Just a few cigarettes a day, occasional smoking, or exposure to second-hand smoke increase the risk of heart disease

Every year, 1.9 million people die from tobacco-induced heart disease, according to a new brief released today by the World Health Organization, World Heart Federation and the University of Newcastle Australia ahead of World Heart Day, marked on 29 September. This equates to one in five of all deaths from…

Coronavirus - Mozambique: World Health Organization - 17 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Mozambique

Seven (7) cases were confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the National Institute of Health (INS)

Mozambique has registered seven (7) new positive cases for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the last 24 hours, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to seventeen (17), in which nine (9) are local transmissions, announced the Ministry of Health of Mozambique. The National Director for Public Health, Dr. Rosa Marlene,…

Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations

COVID-19 virus is transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes

Scientific brief According to current evidence, COVID-19 virus is transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes. Droplet transmission occurs when a person is in in close contact (within 1 m) with someone who has respiratory symptoms (e.g.  coughing or sneezing,) and is therefore at risk of having his/her…

Too many babies are born too small

Around one in seven of all babies worldwide are born with a low birthweight

More than 20 million babies were born with a low birthweight (less than 2500g; 5.5 pounds) in 2015—around one in seven of all births worldwide according to the first-ever estimates documenting this major health challenge. These findings and more are documented in a new research paper developed by experts from…

Invitation to a virtual press conference

First Meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee concerning Yellow Fever

On Thursday, 19 March 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) is convening the Emergency Committee (EC) on Yellow Fever under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) for the first time.   The EC is being convened in response to the current outbreak of yellow fever in central Africa   The…

Invitation to a WHO Virtual Press Conference

INFORMATION SESSION ON ZIKA VIRUS     WHAT:  Information Session on Zika virus   Zika virus is an emerging viral disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. The same mosquito also transmits chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever. The virus has been circulating since…