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Parents and children wait to be treated at a hospital in Beijing

WHO asks China for data on respiratory illness outbreak

The World Health Organization has asked China for more data on respiratory illnesses spreading in the north of the country, but Beijing offered no public comment.

World • 23 Nov 23

Dr Mike Ryan said the WHO was ready to help North Koera but had no power to interfere in a sovereign country

WHO concerned about 'worrying' N Korean Covid outbreak

A senior World Health Organization official has said high levels of transmission of the coronavirus among unvaccinated people, such as in North Korea, creates a higher risk of new variants.

Coronavirus • 17 May 22

The WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan has addressed a virtual session of the World Economic Forum

Endemic Covid would not mean end of danger - WHO

The World Health Organization has warned against the notion that the Covid-19 pandemic becoming endemic would mean the disease was no longer dangerous.

Business • 19 Jan 22

'Without increased control to slow its spread, there will be an increased impact on already stressed and pressurised health facilities'

WHO calls for intensified measures over new variant

The World Health Organization's European branch has said more needed to be done to deal with the alarming situation brought on by the variant of the coronavirus discovered recently in southeast England.

Coronavirus • 07 Jan 21

Six countries reported coronavirus on mink farms - WHO

Denmark and the United States are among six countries that have reported new coronavirus cases linked to mink farms, the World Health Organization said.

Coronavirus • 07 Nov 20

Caution is urged in planning a trip abroad

WHO's Covid-19 envoy urges caution over travel

The World Health Organization's Special Envoy on Covid-19 said if people are in doubt about travelling abroad then they should not go.

Coronavirus • 03 Jul 20

Clear, steady leadership will help us navigate summer

With so much uncertainty about, people rely on accuracy from experts and clear advice. We now require a steady captain to guide us home to safety, writes Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers.

Coronavirus • 23 May 20

Taiwan is currently excluded from the WHO

WHO committee to discuss Taiwan exclusion

The World Health Organization is to raise the question of Taiwan's participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly, which opens virtually tomorrow, before one of its committees.

World • 17 May 20

Dr Michael Ryan and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization

WHO and President Trump at odds over Covid-19 origin

The World Health Organization has reiterated that the new coronavirus was of natural origin after US President Donald Trump claimed he had seen evidence it originated in a Chinese lab.

Coronavirus • 01 May 20

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne believes there is no place for the WHO on any review panel investigating the response to the pandemic

Australia calls for a Covid-19 probe

Australia has called for an independent investigation into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the World Health Organization's handling of the crisis.

Coronavirus • 20 Apr 20

Facebook is battling to control large volumes of misinformation such as posts that say physical distancing will not curb Covid-19

Facebook to notify users who engaged with harmful posts

Facebook said today it would start notifying users who had engaged with false posts about Covid-19 which could cause physical harm, such as drinking bleach to cure the virus, and connect them to accurate information.

Business • 16 Apr 20

Some countries are set to relax their Covid-19 prevention guidelines

WHO urges countries not to lift restrictions too early

The World Health Organisation has no blanket recommendation for countries and regions for easing measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, but urged them not to lift them too early, a spokesman said.

Coronavirus • 07 Apr 20

Robert Mugabe was praised for his efforts on healthcare, much to the dismay of rights groups

WHO chief 'rethinking approach' after Mugabe uproar

The head of the World Health Organisation has said he was "rethinking the approach" as outrage widened over his decision to name Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe a goodwill ambassador.

World • 21 Oct 17

An outbreak of Ebola that began in 2013 killed 11,300 people

Ebola no longer an international emergency - WHO

The World Health Organisation has said that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa no longer constitutes an international emergency, voicing confidence that remaining isolated cases in the affected countries can be contained.

Health • 29 Mar 16

Margaret Chan said part of the challenge in fighting the mosquito-borne virus was the fact that it is so "mysterious"

Zika presents 'formidable' challenge - WHO

The Zika virus, believed to be linked to the serious birth defect microcephaly, presents a "formidable" challenge that will be hard to stamp out, according to World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan.

Health • 24 Feb 16

The Who says the virus could infect as many as four million people in the Americas

WHO declares Zika virus as global emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the mosquito-borne Zika virus to be a global emergency.

World • 01 Feb 16

More than 26,000 people have been infected with Ebola since the outbreak in west Africa began

Ebola drug cures monkeys infected with virus

An experimental Ebola drug cured all three monkeys intentionally infected with the virus, scientists reported yesterday.

News • 23 Apr 15

The WHO said the spread of the Ebola virus has slowed to a crawl

More than 26,000 infected with Ebola - WHO

More than 26,000 people have been infected with Ebola since the outbreak began and more than 10,800 have died, the World Health Organization has said.

News • 22 Apr 15

Airstrikes continue to target Houthi rebels and military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Conflict in Yemen has killed 540 in recent weeks

Fighting in Yemen over the past few weeks has killed more than 540 people and wounded 1,700 as the country sinks deeper into a multi-sided conflict, the World Health Organisation has said.

News • 07 Apr 15

The WHO pointed out that much of the so-called free sugars we consume today are "hidden" in products like ketchup

WHO calls for dramatic drop in sugar consumption

The World Health Organization has called for a dramatic drop in the consumption of sugar, "hidden" in everything from fizzy drinks and ketchup, as it steps up the fight against obesity.

News • 04 Mar 15

The virus was first detected in the south eastern forest region of Guinea early this year

Ebola death toll reaches over 6,000 in worst areas

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the three worst-hit countries in west Africa has reached 6,583 according to the World Health Organisation.

News • 12 Dec 14

Progress against the mosquito-borne infection remains fragile, especially in west African countries

WHO reports dramatic fall in malaria deaths

Malaria deaths have dropped dramatically since 2000, the World Health Organization has said.

News • 09 Dec 14

The battle against Ebola is far from over, according to Barack Obama

Obama says Ebola crisis is far from over

US President Barack Obama has urged Congress to approve $6.18bn (€5bn) to help fight the Ebola outbreak, saying the battle against the virus is far from over.

News • 02 Dec 14

Bruce Aylward praised Sierra Leone government's efforts to combat the Ebola epidemic

WHO: Sierra Leone Ebola prognosis 'very good'

The World Health Organization has said Sierra Leone does not yet have enough beds in treatment centres to isolate Ebola patients in the west of the country.

News • 01 Dec 14

People under quarantine due to the death of over 20 locals from Ebola gather in Jene Wonde, Liberia

Ebola death toll stands at nearly 7,000 - WHO

Nearly 7,000 people have now died from Ebola in west Africa, with the latest numbers from the World Health Organization counting over 1,200 more deaths than in a toll given on Wednesday.

News • 29 Nov 14

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