Measles vaccination has saved an estimated 17.1 million lives since 2000
The number of measles-related deaths has decreased 79% from 546 800 at the beginning of the century to 114 900 in 2014. New data released by WHO for the Measles & Rubella Initiative, estimates that 17.1 million lives have been saved since 2000, largely due to increased vaccination coverage against this highly contagious viral disease. Measles vaccination has played a key role in reducing child mortality and in progress towards Millennium Development Goal 4. However, the new data published in this week’s edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC), "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" ...
Source: WHO news - November 12, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: immunization [subject], vaccination, immunization [subject], vaccination, measles [subject], measles [subject], rubella [subject], german measles, congenital rubella syndrome, rubella virus, vaccines [subject], vaccine, vaccine safety, vaccine quality, Pr Source Type: news
Maternal deaths fell 44% since 1990 – UN
Maternal mortality has fallen by 44% since 1990, United Nations agencies and the World Bank Group reported today. Maternal deaths around the world dropped from about 532 000 in 1990 to an estimated 303 000 this year, according to the report, the last in a series that has looked at progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This equates to an estimated global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 216 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, down from 385 in 1990. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - November 12, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: maternal health [subject], maternal mortality, maternal, antenatal care, mother, childbirth, maternal welfare, mortality [subject], death, death rate, adult mortality, child mortality, neonate mortality, fatal outcome, mortality [subject], death, death ra Source Type: news
Sierra Leone stops transmission of Ebola virus
Today, the World Health Organization declares that Ebola virus transmission has been stopped in Sierra Leone. Forty-two days, that is two Ebola virus incubation cycles, have now passed since the last person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease had a second negative blood test. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - November 7, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola Source Type: news
Stop the violence. Protect health care
In the last few months, a number of attacks against health-care workers, medical transports and facilities have taken place in several countries, like Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen to mention a few. These incidents are taking place in countries with fragile health-care systems that are already struggling to treat the numbers of people affected by the ongoing conflicts there. In some cases, the situation is made yet worse by the restrictions placed on aid workers, preventing them from getting to the people who need them. Both the attacks themselves and their consequences are of serious concern. These were attacks on medical...
Source: WHO news - November 4, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: emergencies [subject], emergency preparedness, crises, emergency preparedness, violence [subject], violence prevention, violence [subject], violence prevention, Afghanistan [country], Eastern Mediterranean Region [region], Statement [doctype] Source Type: news
Links between processed meat and colorectal cancer
WHO has received a number of queries, expressions of concern and requests for clarification following the publication of a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) relating to processed meat and colorectal cancer. IARC was established 50 years ago through a resolution of the World Health Assembly as a functionally independent cancer agency under the auspices of WHO. Its programme of work is approved and financed by its participating states. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 29, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: cancer [subject], cervical cancer Source Type: news
WHO condemns attack on MSF hospital in Yemen
WHO condemns the bombing of the Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) supported hospital in Saada province in northern Yemen. MSF estimates that this will leave 200 000 people with no access to lifesaving medical care. The attack violates International Humanitarian Law. It is the second attack on an MSF-run health facility in a month. On 3 October, 30 people were killed when the MSF-supported medical clinic in Kunduz, Afghanistan was bombed. Twenty-seven MSF staff were injured. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 28, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Tuberculosis mortality nearly halved since 1990
The fight against tuberculosis is paying off, with this year’s death rate nearly half of what it was in 1990. Nevertheless, 1.5 million people died from TB in 2014. Most of these deaths could have been prevented, according to WHO’s Global tuberculosis report 2015, which was released today in Washington. To reduce TB’s overall burden, detection and treatment gaps need to be closed, funding shortfalls filled and new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines developed, according to the report. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 28, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: diagnostics [subject], diagnostic procedures, diagnostics, diagnostic imaging, tuberculosis [subject], tb, tuberculosis [subject], tb, vaccines [subject], vaccine, vaccine safety, vaccine quality, vaccines [subject], vaccine, vaccine safety, vaccine quali Source Type: news
Globally, an estimated two-thirds of the population under 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1
More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 – or 67% of the population – are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), according to WHO’s first global estimates of HSV-1 infection published today in the journal PLOS ONE. Herpes simplex virus is categorized into 2 types: herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are highly infectious and incurable. HSV-1 is primarily transmitted by oral-oral contact and in most cases causes orolabial herpes or “cold sores” around the mouth. HSV-2 is almost entirely sexually transmitted through skin-to-skin c...
Source: WHO news - October 28, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: sexually transmitted infection [subject], sti, stis, sexually transmitted infection, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted diseases, std, stds, rti, rtis, sexually transmitted infection [subject], sti, stis, sexually transmitted infection, se Source Type: news
Pilot implementation of first malaria vaccine recommended by WHO advisory groups
The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) jointly recommended pilot projects to understand how to best use a vaccine that protects against malaria in young children. “This was a historic meeting with two of WHO’s major advisory committees working together to consider current evidence about this vaccine,” said Professor Fred Binka, acting chair of MPAC. “The committees agreed that pilot implementations should be the next step with this vaccine.” (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 23, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, immunization [subject], vaccination, immunization [subject], vaccination, m Source Type: news
New report identifies four ways to reduce health risks from climate pollutants
A new WHO report highlights the urgent need to reduce emissions of black carbon, ozone and methane - as well as carbon dioxide – which all contribute to climate change. Black carbon, ozone and methane – frequently described as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) - not only produce a strong global warming effect, they contribute significantly to the more than 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution. The report, Reducing global health risks through mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants, produced in collaboration with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollut...
Source: WHO news - October 22, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: air pollution [subject], air quality, indoor air pollution, indoor air pollution quality, air contamination, outdoor air pollution, dirty air, air pollution [subject], air quality, indoor air pollution, indoor air pollution quality, air contamination, out Source Type: news
Despite progress, road traffic deaths remain too high
Some 1.25 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, according to the WHO's Global status report on road safety 2015, despite improvements in road safety. “Road traffic fatalities take an unacceptable toll – particularly on poor people in poor countries,” says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 19, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: road safety [subject], road safety [subject], Press release [doctype] Source Type: news
Preliminary study finds that Ebola virus fragments can persist in the semen of some survivors for at least 9 months
Preliminary results of a study into persistence of Ebola virus in body fluids show that some men still produce semen samples that test positive for Ebola virus 9 months after onset of symptoms. The report, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, provides the first results of a long-term study being jointly conducted by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 14, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola Source Type: news
World Mental Health Day – 10 October: Dignity in mental health
9 OCTOBER 2015 ¦ GENEVA – Thousands of people with mental health conditions around the world are deprived of their human rights. As well as being discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised, they are also subject to emotional and physical abuse in both mental health facilities and the community. Poor quality care, due to a lack of qualified health professionals and dilapidated facilities, leads to further violations. The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October, is "Dignity in mental health". This year, WHO is raising awareness of what can be, and is being, done to ensure that peo...
Source: WHO news - October 9, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: mental health [subject], mental health promotion, mental health [subject], mental health promotion, Note for media [doctype] Source Type: news
WHO/UNAIDS launch new standards to improve adolescent care
New Global Standards for quality health-care services for adolescents developed by WHO and UNAIDS aim to help countries improve the quality of adolescent health care. Existing health services often fail the world’s adolescents (10-19-year-olds). Many adolescents who suffer from mental health disorders, substance use, poor nutrition, intentional injuries and chronic illness do not have access to critical prevention and care services. Meanwhile, many behaviours that have a lifelong impact on health begin in adolescence. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 6, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: adolescent health [subject], adolescent, youth, young people, teen health, teenager, adolescence, adolescents, health eduction [subject], health policy [subject], national health programmes Source Type: news
Statement on the 7th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa
The 7th meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa took place by teleconference on Thursday, 1 October 2015, and by electronic correspondence from 1-3 October 2015. As in previous meetings, the Committee’s role was to advise the WHO Director-General as to: (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - October 5, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Tags: ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola virus disease, ebola [subject], ebola haemhorragic fever, ebola virus, ebola fever, ebola Source Type: news
