Tag: World Health Organization (WHO)

Saturday, May 28th 2016 - 07:27 UTC
WHO public health advice regarding the Olympics and Zika virus

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.
Tuesday, February 16th 2016 - 07:55 UTC
President Rousseff with 200.000 troops leads the “Zika Zero” campaign

More than 200,000 troops fanned out across Brazil over the weekend to raise awareness about the mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, which has been linked to a surge in birth defects.
Wednesday, February 3rd 2016 - 06:32 UTC
US reports first known case of Zika virus transmission through sex

The first known case of Zika virus transmission in the United States was reported in Texas on Tuesday by local health officials, who said it likely was contracted through sex and not a mosquito bite, a day after the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency.
Tuesday, February 2nd 2016 - 06:05 UTC
Zika virus declared an international public health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared the mosquito-borne Zika virus to be an international public health emergency due to its link to thousands of suspected cases of birth defects in Brazil.
Monday, February 1st 2016 - 06:12 UTC
WHO Emergency committee meets in Geneva to address the Zika virus situation

The World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan has briefed on the Zika virus situation. In the briefing Ms Chan gave a brief history of the disease and explained why WHO is so deeply concerned.
Saturday, January 30th 2016 - 11:11 UTC
WHO backs British campaign for a 'sugar tax' on sweet drinks

In a new report on rising childhood obesity, the World Health Organization (WHO) has backed the British campaign for a “sugar tax” on sweet drinks. There is “strong evidence” that a sugar tax will work alongside two other measures to tackle childhood obesity: a ban on the sale of unhealthy food by schools, and a crackdown on the marketing of junk food to children, the report states.
Friday, January 29th 2016 - 03:45 UTC
WHO admits as possible four million cases of Zika; emergency meeting Monday

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the Zika virus, which is spreading through the Americas, to affect between three million and four million people, a disease expert said on Thursday. WHO's director-general said the spread of the mosquito-borne disease had gone from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions.
Saturday, November 14th 2015 - 12:02 UTC
World Diabetes Day, 14 November; 350 million people suffer the chronic disease

The World Health Organization is marking World Diabetes Day on 14th November calling for greater action to turn the growing tide of the global diabetes epidemic and has announced that World Health Day, on 7 April will focus on the issue of diabetes.
Friday, October 30th 2015 - 08:03 UTC
WHO clarification: moderate consumption of meat, particularly preserved meat

The World Health Organization, WHO, has received a number of queries, expressions of concern and requests for clarification following the publication of a report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) relating to processed meat and colorectal cancer.
Thursday, October 29th 2015 - 14:50 UTC
Tuberculosis mortality nearly halved since 1990

The fight against tuberculosis is paying off, with this year’s death rate nearly half of what it was in 1990. Nevertheless, 1.5 million people died from TB in 2014. Most of these deaths could have been prevented, according to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2015, which was released on Wednesday in Washington, DC.