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WHO's new TB guidelines calls for food assistance to tackle disease

The World Health Organisation has released new guidelines to tackle tuberculosis and undernutrition, recommending that food assistance be provided to households with TB patients while the undernourished or food insecure be screened for the disease. The shift in the global TB policy is inspired by the pathbreaking Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status (RATIONS) trial by Indian researchers. The RATIONS trial, conducted in Jharkhand and published in The Lancet and The Lancet Global, highlighted the vital role nutrition plays in reducing mortality among people living with active TB, as well as in reducing incidence among household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The ICMR-supported RATIONS trials were led by a research team headed by Dr Anurag Bhargava and Dr Madhavi Bhargava from Kasturba Medical College and Yenepoya Medical College, respectively. The studies showed that weight gain in the first two months was associated with a 60 per cen

WHO redefines TB care with new focus on food and nutritional support

The new guidelines from WHO call for integrating nutrition into TB programmes worldwide, emphasising assessment, and targeted food support for those in need

WHO asks India if cough syrup linked to child deaths was exported

The children died in India over the past month after consuming cough medicine containing toxic diethylene glycol in quantities nearly 500 times the permissible limit, officials says

New health guidelines aim to end deaths from bleeding after childbirth

The WHO, FIGO and ICM have released new global guidelines to detect and treat postpartum haemorrhage faster, offering hope to save thousands of mothers each year

One shot every six months: India could change HIV prevention forever

A long-acting HIV jab promises near-perfect protection at just $40 a year, but 115 nations must wait for India's approval of generic production

Small steps, big impact: WHO's 'Best Buys' to fight deadly NCDs worldwide

A new WHO report urges governments around the world to adopt low-cost, high-impact steps to curb heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more, warning that delay will cost lives and strain economies

Big alcohol, tobacco and food firms obstruct vital health reforms, says WHO

In a separate report, the WHO found that $3 per person invested by governments on non-communicable diseases could save more than 12 million lives and generate $1 trillion in savings by 2030

Children with parents who smoke face higher risk of stunting: WHO

Second-hand smoke and maternal tobacco use put millions of children at risk of stunted growth, WHO report highlights

Anti-obesity diabetes drugs receive WHO's essential medicine tag

WHO adds GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes to its Essential Medicines List, as Indian pharma firms prepare to launch generics amid surging demand and patent expirations

WHO, CZA teams review measures against spread of bird flu at Delhi zoo

A World Health Organisation team visited the National Zoological Park in Delhi on Thursday to review measures taken against the spread of avian influenza, even as officials said that no new bird deaths have been reported. The zoo administration said intensive sanitation and bio-security measures are being implemented to safeguard the health of birds, animals and staff. The World Health Organisation team held discussions with the zoo director regarding the health screening of frontline staff and measures taken for public safety, and expressed satisfaction with the steps in place, an official said. Meanwhile, a surveillance team from the Central Zoo Authority, along with officials from the Delhi government's animal husbandry department also collected environmental and bird samples from the Delhi zoo for further screening and analysis. The Delhi zoo said it remains on high alert and is taking all necessary measures as per standard guidelines to contain the disease at the earliest. On

WHO-WMO warn extreme heat threatens workers' health and global productivity

Analysing evidence from studies from past five decades that 'have provided conclusive evidence that workplace heat stress directly threatens workers' ability to live healthy and productive lives'

WHO updates recommendations on use of antibiotics for Covid-19 patients

The WHO has recommended against the use of antibiotics even in patients with severe Covid when a concurrent bacterial infection is not suspected. The global health body has released updated recommendations for the clinical management of people with Covid which, it said, are based on evidence generated from recent meta-analysis of outcomes of patients treated with antibiotics for Covid. "For patients with non-severe COVID-19 and a low clinical suspicion of a concurrent bacterial infection, we recommend no empirical antibiotics. For patients with severe COVID-19 and a low clinical suspicion of a concurrent bacterial infection, we suggest no empirical antibiotics," the WHO said. The WHO said that as COVID-19 epidemiology and severity have changed, and as emergency measures have subsided, the evidence behind a number of recommendations has changed. In parallel, evolution of health systems and the global environment have meant that the recommendations are implemented in a very different

World breastfeeding week 2025 calls for better support for new mothers

Global campaign highlights the need for shared responsibility across workplaces, families, and health systems, while emphasising early breastfeeding support as critical to infant survival

World Hepatitis Day 2025: What it is, why it matters, what you can do

From silent infections to deadly outcomes, World Hepatitis Day urges testing, vaccination and awareness

Chikungunya on the rise: WHO flags growing risk of global epidemic spread

Rising infections and expanding mosquito habitats signal potential global health threat with over 5.6 billion people living in areas at risk

US to leave UN's cultural body UNESCO again, citing bias against Israel

The US will leave UNESCO again by end-2026, citing "anti-Israel bias," just two years after rejoining under Biden, marking its third exit and second under a Trump administration

Israeli tanks enter Gaza's Deir al-Balah, raising alarm over hostages

Israel's push into Deir al-Balah prompts concern from hostage families and UN agencies, as WHO confirms staff detentions and Gaza warns of starvation deaths

World Brain Day 2025: Brain health for all ages, push for global equity

From early childhood to old age, this year's campaign pushes brain health as a human right and seeks equitable access to care, awareness, and early intervention worldwide

South Asia achieves record immunisation coverage: WHO, Unicef data

South Asia has achieved its highest-ever immunization coverage for children, with notable progress in India and Nepal, according to new data released on Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF for 2024. India reduced its number of zero-dose children those who have not received a single vaccine by 43 per cent, from 1.6 million in 2023 to 0.9 million in 2024. Nepal achieved a 52 per cent reduction, from 23,000 to 11,000, a WHO statement said. Pakistan also recorded its highest-ever DTP3 (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) coverage at 87 per cent. However, Afghanistan continued to struggle, with the lowest coverage in the region and a one percentage point decline since last year, it added. The progress marks a milestone in the region's efforts to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. "This is a proud moment for South Asia. More children are protected today than ever before, thanks to tireless frontline health workers, strong government leadership, ...

Over 14 million infants missed all vaccines in 2024, warn WHO and UNICEF

Despite stable global coverage, over 14 million infants received no vaccines in 2024, a worrying gap as efforts to meet Immunization Agenda 2030 targets remain off-track