Disease outbreaks - news, press releases, features

WHO Director-General reiterates commitment to Ebola response despite another attack

WHO

9 March 2019 - WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today visited an Ebola treatment centre in Butembo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that was attacked by armed groups last week and again earlier today.

• Read the statement

WHO expresses concern over damage to Ebola treatment facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

WHO

28 February 2019 - WHO is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on the Médecins Sans Frontierères (MSF)-run Ebola treatment centres on 24 February in Katwa and on 27 February in Butembo in DRC. WHO and partners are working to ensure the safety of the patients and staff.

• Read the press release

Recommended composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2019-2020 northern hemisphere influenza season

WHO

21 February 2019 - The periodic replacement of viruses contained in influenza vaccines is necessary in order for the vaccines to be effective due to the constant evolving nature of influenza viruses, including those circulating and infecting humans.

A programme of care for Ebola survivors

20 February 2019 - As he does every month, Faustin Kalivanda, a father of four, returns to the Beni General Hospital for a check-up. But this isn't a routine check-up. Kalivanda has survived Ebola and was under treatment at this very hospital until November.

Social science training enhances community engagement in health emergencies in 11 countries of the European Region

WHO

6 February 2019 - The SocialNET training, a global initiative of WHO, was the first of its kind in the European Region and was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 10-14 December 2018.

• Read the story

Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States in Nigeria declare end of cholera outbreaks

WHO/AFRO

21 January 2019 - In a synchronized event, the Commissioners of Health in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States recently declared the end of the cholera outbreak. It has been over 2 weeks since the last cases were detected.

• Read more

Women join hands to oust Ebola from Democratic Republic of the Congo

WHO/AFRO

11 January 2019 - For the past 12 years, Mama Mwatatu has hosted a call-in radio talk show called “Women and Development”. Recently, she teamed up with WHO's community engagement team to get the answers to more technical questions that were coming from her audience.

• Read the story