The World Health Organization

September 9, 2026 3:50 PM

Bangladesh fights world’s worst measles outbreak as vaccination gaps fuel spread

Bangladesh, which once came close to eliminating measles, is facing its worst outbreak on record, with 999 suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths reported since March as hospitals struggle with overcrowding, shortages and a continuing influx of sick children. The prolonged outbreak, despite a nationwide emergency vaccination campaign launched in April, follows disruption to routine immunisation in 2024 and 2025, experts said, when the country was going through political turmoil after a ...

June 2, 2026 5:54 PM

WHO says suspected Ebola cases drop to 116 after hundreds ruled out

The World Health Organization said there have been 321 confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak and 116 suspected cases, marking a large drop in the number of suspected cases as hundreds were ruled out after investigation. The agency said on Tuesday there had been 48 deaths and six people had recovered in Congo. The Congolese authorities first put out the new case numbers on Monday. In Uganda there have been nine confirmed cases and one associated death, WHO spokes...

June 2, 2026 6:20 PM

WHO says suspected Ebola cases drop to 116 after hundreds ruled out

May 21, 2026 9:16 AM

Ebola likely circulating in Congo for two months, outbreak to grow, WHO says

The Ebola outbreak linked to more than 130 deaths in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo likely started two months ago and is expected to continue to grow, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine, was declared last Friday and has alarmed experts because of how long it went undetected while spreading across a densely populated area, making it difficult to trace and isolate the contacts of infected individuals. T...

May 8, 2026 10:29 AM

Five hantavirus infections detected on Atlantic cruise vessel; WHO issues low-risk assurance

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed five instances of hantavirus linked to fatalities on a cruise vessel currently navigating the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to the confirmed cases, three further individuals are suspected of carrying the Andes strain of the virus. Despite the severity of the situation, the global health body maintains that while more infections could emerge, the broader risk to public health remains minimal. Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, WHO Director-G...

April 7, 2026 9:44 AM

Israeli airstrike kills at least 10 near Gaza school as ceasefire strains

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 10 people and wounded several others outside a school housing displaced Palestinians on Monday, health officials said, the latest violence to overshadow the fragile U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire deal. Before the strikes, some Palestinians had clashed with members of an Israeli-backed militia, who they said attacked the school in an attempt to abduct some people, medics and residents said. In the midst of the clashes, east of the Maghazi refugee camp in the cen...

March 11, 2026 12:09 PM

WHO warns of health risks from ‘black rain’ in Iran

The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that the "black rain" and toxic compounds in the air in Iran after strikes on oil facilities could cause respiratory problems, and it backed Iran’s advisory urging people to remain indoors. The U.N. health agency, which has an office in Iran and works with authorities on health emergencies, said it has received multiple reports of oil-laden rain this week. Tehran was choked in black smoke on Monday after an oil refinery was hit, in an escalation...

March 5, 2026 9:14 PM

WHO says it has verified 13 attacks on health sites in Iran

The World Health Organization chief said on Thursday that it has verified 13 attacks on health infrastructure in Iran amid a U.S.-Israeli campaign and it was checking reports that four medics were killed and 25 others injured. "WHO has verified 13 attacks on health care in Iran and one in Lebanon," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference, without attributing blame or giving details. Dr. Hanan Balkhy added at the same briefing that four ambu...