World Health Organization

Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly closes

WHO Director-General Dr Chan at the World Health Assembly, 25 May 2016

28 May 2016 -- In her closing remarks, Dr Margaret Chan highlighted some main achievements of the Health Assembly, including approval of the new programme for health emergencies. Other important decisions were taken relating to the Sustainable Development Goals and on the new WHO framework on engagement with non-state actors.

Zika and Olympics
Zika in Cabo Verde
Statistics report
Yellow fever

WHO public health advice regarding the Olympics and Zika virus

WHO

28 May 2016 - Based on current assessment, cancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus. Brazil is one of almost 60 countries and territories which to-date report continuing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes. People continue to travel between these countries and territories for a variety of reasons. The best way to reduce risk of disease is to follow public health travel advice.

Zika virus strain imported from the Americas to Cabo Verde

20 May 2016 -- Sequencing of the virus in Cabo Verde by Institut Pasteur, Dakar confirms that the Zika virus currently circulating in Cabo Verde is the same as the one circulating in the Americas - the Asian type- and was most likely imported from Brazil. This is the first time that the Zika strain responsible for the outbreaks linked to neurological disorders and microcephaly has been detected in Africa.

Life expectancy increases by 5 years, but inequalities persist

19 May 2016 – Dramatic gains in life expectancy have been made globally since 2000, but major inequalities persist, according to WHO’s “World Health Statistics 2016.” This new report provides data on the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including current information on life expectancy, pregnancy, neglected tropical diseases, suicide, road traffic injuries, air pollution, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

Emergency Committee meeting on yellow fever

EPA

19 May 2016 – The first WHO convened Emergency Committee on yellow fever has met in response to the ongoing outbreak of the disease in central Africa. The Committee emphasized that the urban yellow fever outbreaks are a serious risk that warrant intensified national action and enhanced international support.

Outbreaks and emergencies

Ebola outbreak » MERS-CoV outbreak » Yellow fever » Zika virus and complications » Emergencies »

World Health +SocialGood

During this year's World Health Assembly, WHO, in collaboration with UN Foundation, will produce 3 live, 45-minute broadcasts including interviews with experts about the key health issues of the assembly.

Watch from May 24–26 at 16:00 CEST.

Alternate link to watch World Health +SocialGood

Highlights

Double burden of malnutrition
May 2016 – Addressing undernutrition along with overweight and obesity, or diet-related noncommunicable diseases, within individuals, households and populations will be key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In low- and middle-income countries, roughly 5 million children die of undernutrition-related causes every year. These same populations are also experiencing a rise in childhood overweight and obesity – increasing 30% faster than high-income countries.

IHR Emergency Committee on the international spread of poliovirus
May 2016 -- The 9th meeting of the Emergency Committee reviewed data on wild poliovirus as well as circulating vaccinederived polioviruses (cVDPV).

Strengthening the coordination of emergency medical teams
May 2016 – To further strengthen the coordination of emergency medical teams (EMTs), WHO will roll out EMT Coordination Cell training to 3 regions in 2016: Europe, the Americas, and South-East Asia.

Recovery toolkit: Achieving health service resilience after Ebola
May 2016 -- Online library of tools and resources for the recovery of health systems in the aftermath of a public health emergency, such as the Ebola outbreak.

Disease outbreak news

Lassa Fever – Nigeria
27 May 2016
Haemorrhagic fever syndrome – South Sudan
19 May 2016
Lassa Fever – Liberia
18 May 2016
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China
17 May 2016

All outbreak news

Emergency reform

WHO is reforming to be better equipped to address the increasingly complex challenges of health in the 21st century through changes in programmes, governance, and management.

Zika virus and complications

After a spike in cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome, strongly suspected to be associated with Zika virus, WHO declared a public health emergency.