WHO Declares Hantavirus Outbreak Over After Final Contact Tests Negative
By Michael Gwarisa WHO has officially declared the recent hantavirus outbreak over after the last person known to have been exposed to the virus completed quarantine and tested negative. Announcing the development, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the final identified contact linked to the outbreak had safely completed the required monitoring period.
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Global South Pressures EU to Finalise Equity Clause in Pandemic Agreement
Michael Gwarisa With critical negotiations set to resume, countries in the Global South are ramping up pressure on the World Health Organization and the European Union to resolve a key gap in the Pandemic Agreement, the equitable sharing of vaccines, technologies and scientific benefits. The agreement, adopted in 2025 by the World Health Assembly following
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WHO Member States Advance Key Annex to Pandemic Agreement
Michael Gwarisa After a week of intensive discussions on the draft annex for Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS), countries around the world have outlined a clear roadmap to implement the pandemic agreement effectively. The PABS framework is an essential part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. It is designed to ensure fair and timely access
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WHO Rejects US Claims of COVID-19 Failures After Withdrawal Notice
Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly rejected claims by the United States that it failed during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing the accusations as untrue and misleading following Washington’s formal notification of withdrawal from the global health body. The response comes days after the United States became the first country to exit the
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WHO Pushes for Higher Sugar Taxes on Alcohol and Sugary Beverages in Global NCD Fight NCD Fight
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organisation has called on governments to sharply increase taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages, warning that weak tax regimes are fuelling the global rise in noncommunicable diseases and placing unsustainable pressure on health systems. WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call following the release of the
Read MoreScientists Converge in Record Numbers as 2025 CPHIA Opens in Durban
By Michael Gwarisa in Durban, South Africa Registration data show that approximately 800 scientists and researchers from various scientific disciplines had registered for participation by the opening day of the 2025 Conference for Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban, South Africa. The conference runs from October 22 to 25, 2025 under the theme “Moving
Read MoreSC Johnson Wins WHO Backing for New Tool to Prevent Malaria and Other Insect-Borne Diseases
By Staff Reporter NAIROBI, KENYA, August 15, 2025 – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a policy recommendation for spatial repellents to be used as an innovative tool to help fight insect-borne diseases like malaria. SC Johnson, maker of household brands such as OFF!®, Baygon® and Raid® and leaders in insect science, has been
Read MoreEbola Breaks Out in Uganda as US Halts Foreign Aid
By Nakisanze Segawa, GPJ Uganda KAMPALA, UGANDA — One nurse died from the Sudan Ebola virus in Uganda on Jan. 29. Two more cases were confirmed days later — and hundreds of people were direct contacts. The virus spreads fast, and it’s deadly: The Sudan strain’s fatality rate ranged from 40% to 100% in past
Read MoreThey Earn More Money, But Some Migrant Health Workers Say It’s Not Worth It
By Gamuchirai Masiyiwa, GPJ Zimbabwe HARARE, ZIMBABWE — When Tanya moved to Ireland for care work in 2022, she was certain of three things: Her family would join her soon. Her husband would find work. And her children would attend a good school. Initially, her move was smooth. Visas and permits were no problem. But
Read MoreHealth Resilience Fund Support Enhances Uptake Of Long-Term Family Planning Methods In Matabeleland South
By Michael Gwarisa in Gwanda The risk of unplanned pregnancies is very high in the absence of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) Family planning methods. Women in low-resource settings experience interruptions that may increase the risk of unintended and unplanned pregnancies. In most cases, the poorest couples have the highest fertility, the lowest contraceptive use and
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