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David Nabarro, World Health Organisation Special Envoy for Covid-19 Prevention and Response, after he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Covid-19 special envoy David Nabarro dies at 75

Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organization's special envoy for Covid-19 since the early stages of the outbreak in 2020, has died aged 75.

World • 28 Jul

WHO says all Covid-19 origin theories still open

All hypotheses on how the Covid-19 pandemic began remain open, the World Health Organization said Friday, following an inconclusive four-year investigation.

World • 27 Jun

Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli drone strike in Jabalia, in northern Gaza

Israel has only authorised a 'teaspoon' of Gaza aid - UN

Israel has only authorised for Gaza what "amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required," United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has said, who again signalled that the UN will not take part in a new US-backed distribution plan.

Middle East • 23 May

The deal was adopted following three years of negotiations

WHO members adopt global pandemic accord

Members of the World Health Organization have adopted an agreement to better prepare for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to Covid-19, but the absence of the US cast doubt on the treaty's effectiveness.

World • 20 May

WHO has reduced its management team by half

WHO scales back work after funding cuts

The World Health Organization has reduced its management team by half and will have to scale back operations, its director-general said, four months after the United States announced it was leaving the agency and cutting funding.

World • 14 May

The WHO's announcement spurred countries around the world into action

Five years since WHO's Covid call shook world into action

Five years ago, the World Health Organization announced Covid-19 had become a pandemic - a moment when the world finally woke up to the unfolding disaster.

Coronavirus • 11 Mar

International aid groups are grappling with a tight fiscal climate globally, as well as increasing demand for their work, from coping with conflict to responding to climate change

Davos - Global health funds push for more private money

One of the world's biggest global health funders will ask the private sector for a steep increase in donations as concern of a shortfall in government contributions grows following a US decision to exit the World Health Organization.

Business • 22 Jan

The strike flattened part of the UN-run Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat yesterday

International condemnation over strike on Gaza school

Israel has faced international condemnation after a strike killed 18 people at a school-turned-shelter for displaced Palestinians in war-torn Gaza, where the Israeli military said it targeted Hamas militants.

Middle East • 12 Sep 24

WHO is concerned over the rapid spread of clade 1b in DRC (Stock image)

WHO declares mpox a global public health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, sounding its highest possible alarm over the worsening situation.

Health • 15 Aug 24

The tobacco industry was one of four major industries blamed by WHO for 2.7m deaths a year

WHO blames 4 major industries for 2.7m deaths a year

The World Health Organization has blamed four major industries - tobacco, ultra-processed foods, fossil fuel and alcohol - for 2.7 million deaths a year in Europe, accusing them of obstructing public policies that could hurt their profits.

Health • 12 Jun 24

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 'this is not a failure' (file pic)

Talks on global pandemic agreement end without deal

Negotiations on a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics have ended without a deal being finalised, but countries voiced their desire to keep pushing for an accord.

Health • 24 May 24

Aspartame is one of the world's most popular sweeteners

WHO says aspartame is a 'possible carcinogen'

The sweetener aspartame is a "possible carcinogen" but it remains safe to consume at already-agreed levels, two groups linked to the World Health Organization (WHO) have declared.

Health • 14 Jul 23

Aspartame is used in products like diet drinks and chewing (File image)

WHO to call aspartame 'possible carcinogen' - sources

One of the world's most common artificial sweeteners is set to be declared a possible carcinogen next month by a leading global health body, according to two sources with knowledge of the process, pitting it against the food industry and regulators.

World • 29 Jun 23

A man holds tobacco leaves above a bale at the Lilongwe Auction Floors in the Malawi Capital, Lilongwe

WHO backs farmers to grow food instead of tobacco

The World Health Organization has said it was helping a growing number of farmers turn away from tobacco to help strengthen food security, particularly in Africa.

World • 27 May 23

A child receives a polio vaccine at a clinic set up by the World Health Organization in India in 2003

WHO 'at a crossroads' on its 75th anniversary

The World Health Organization was established 75 years ago to ensure healthcare as a basic human right and set global standards in sanitation and nutrition.

World • 07 Apr 23

A Thai health officer sprays chemicals to kill mosquitos in Bangkok, Thailand

Climate change spurring surge in mosquito-borne viruses

The World Health Organization has warned that dengue and other diseases caused by mosquito-borne arboviruses were spreading far faster and further amid climate change, warning global outbreaks could be looming.

Climate Change • 06 Apr 23

The Covid-19 pandemic could settle down this year, says WHO

Covid-19 could become threat similar to flu 'this year'

The Covid-19 pandemic could settle down this year to a point where it poses a threat similar to flu, the World Health Organization has said.

Coronavirus • 17 Mar 23

WHO says passengers should be advised to wear face masks on long flights

WHO backs mask wearing on long flights

Countries should consider recommending passengers wear masks on long-haul flights to counter the latest Omicron subvariant of Covid-19 given its rapid spread in the United States, World Health Organization officials said.

Coronavirus • 10 Jan 23

WHO to phase out the use of the term monkepox

WHO to begin using 'mpox' for monkeypox

Monkeypox is to be renamed mpox in English, the World Health Organization has announced, in a bid to avoid stigmatisation stemming from the existing name.

World • 28 Nov 22

UN agency is convening over 300 scientists to consider evidence on more than 25 virus families and bacteria

WHO identifying potential pandemic pathogens

The World Health Organization has said it was compiling a new list of priority pathogens that risk sparking pandemics or outbreaks and need to be kept under close observation.

World • 21 Nov 22

Premature twins are held by their mother in this file photo

'Kangaroo' care boosts premature babies' chances - WHO

Babies born too early or too small should be kept in "skin-to-skin" contact with their mother or another caregiver rather than being put in an incubator straight after birth to improve their chances of survival, the World Health Organization has said.

Health • 15 Nov 22

The WHO said it is tracking more than 300 Omicron sub-variants

WHO says Covid-19 is still a global health emergency

The World Health Organization has said that Covid-19 remains a global emergency, nearly three years after it was first declared as one.

Coronavirus • 19 Oct 22

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for the products to be removed from circulation

WHO alert over Indian cough syrup after 66 children die

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India.

World • 05 Oct 22

Signs of a decline in cases despite scare vaccine supplies (file image)

WHO says Europe monkeypox outbreak can be eliminated

World Health Organization officials have said it is possible to eliminate the monkeypox outbreak in Europe, highlighting evidence that case counts are slowing in a handful of countries.

World • 30 Aug 22

Experts forecast monkeypox cases in Europe to hit over 27,000 by August

85 cases of monkeypox confirmed in Ireland, says HPSC

Scientists advising the World Health Organization on monkeypox say the window is closing to stop its spread, with cases currently doubling every two weeks.

Ireland • 27 Jul 22