U.N. health agency

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...

October 4, 2024 11:07 AM

What is Marburg virus, and how worrying is it?

Rwanda is battling its first-ever outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus, with 36 cases reported so far and 11 deaths. The World Health Organization said this week the risk of the outbreak is very high in Rwanda, high across the African region, and low globally. What is Marburg virus? Marburg is a virus from the same family as Ebola. It causes a haemorrhagic fever and has an average fatality rate of 50%, according to the WHO, although rates have been as high as 88% in previous outbreaks. Early ...