World Health Organization (WHO) / Press Release

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Jan 18, 2022

Disease outbreak news: Hepatitis E virus - Chad (17 January 2022)

Cases aged less than 10 years (n=90; 23.4%) and 21-30 years (n=89; 23.1%) accounted for the largest proportion of cases

As of 11 January 2022, 385 suspected cases of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) have been reported, of which, 12 are confirmed and two associated deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR): 0.5%) have been reported in six villages in Lai district, Tandjile region, Chad. Health authorities began an investigation on 1 October…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Jan 16, 2022

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVAX delivers its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose

COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date

On 15 January 2021, a shipment of 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda included the billionth dose supplied via COVAX. Together with our partners, COVAX is leading the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history, with deliveries to 144 countries to date. But the work that has gone into…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Dec 24, 2021

Hepatitis E Virus – Republic of South Sudan

In 2021, the number HEV cases have risen significantly in the country, increasing from 564 reported during the triennium 2018-2020, to 1143 suspected cases with five deaths in 2021

Cases of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) have been consistently reported in South Sudan since 2014, with recurrent outbreaks occurring in Bentiu, Rubkona county, Unity state (central-north part of South Sudan), where a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) is located. In 2021, the number HEV cases have risen significantly in…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Dec 17, 2021

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Between 8 October to 16 December, a total of 11 cases (eight confirmed, three probable) including nine deaths and two survivors have been reported from Beni HZ

On 16 December 2021, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak that affected Beni Health Zone (HZ) in North Kivu Province, DRC. The declaration was made in accordance with WHO recommendations , 42-days after the second negative test…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Dec 06, 2021

WHO welcomes historic decision by Gavi to fund the first malaria vaccine

WHO and partners are committed to finding approaches and taking actions to accelerate vaccine availability to increase vaccine access and reduce child illness and deaths

WHO welcomes the historic decision by the Gavi Alliance Board to invest in the first malaria vaccine programme. The decision secures investment in the long-awaited malaria vaccine and assures that many more children at risk will benefit from this life-saving vaccine and additional malaria prevention. The Gavi Board approved an…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Dec 06, 2021

More malaria cases and deaths in 2020 linked to COVID-19 disruptions

Worst-case scenario averted, but urgent action needed to meet global malaria targets

New data from the World Health Organization reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted malaria services, leading to a marked increase in cases and deaths. According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. This represents…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 30, 2021

WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529)

WHO commends South Africa and Botswana for the speed and transparency with which they notified and shared information on Omicron

WHO has issued advice to countries on travel, given the circulation of Omicron variant. WHO commends South Africa and Botswana for the speed and transparency with which they notified and shared information on Omicron, allowing other countries to rapidly adjust their response. While scientific research is underway to…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 30, 2021

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the Member State Information Session on the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

“I thank Botswana and South Africa for detecting, sequencing and reporting this variant so rapidly” - WHO Director-General

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends, The emergence of the Omicron variant has understandably captured global attention. The emergence of any new variant should capture our attention, especially one as highly mutated as Omicron. The WHO Secretariat takes this development extremely seriously, and so should all Member States. But…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 29, 2021

Joint Statement on Dose Donations of COVID-19 Vaccines to African Countries

Dose donations have been an important source of supply while other sources are stepping up, but the quality of donations needs to improve

Building on lessons learned from our collective experience with dose donations over the past several months, the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and COVAX wish to draw the attention of the international community to the situation of donations of COVID-19…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) | Nov 29, 2021

Coronavirus - Africa: Update on Omicron

Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron

On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) (https://bit.ly/317uIkp). This decision was based on the evidence presented to the TAG-VE that Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on…

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