World Health Organisation

Ebola outbreak likely started months ago, spread undetected in Africa: WHO

First confirmed death took place April 20, and experts used social media posts to reconstruct the recent progress of the virus after the super-spreader event on May 5

Two Indian nationals among crew on cruise ship hit by hantavirus outbreak

At least two Indian nationals are part of the crew of the Dutch vessel MV Hondius which reported a hantavirus outbreak with five confirmed cases and three deaths so far, according to the BBC. The luxury cruise ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on April 1 from Argentina's Ushuaia and is expected to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands on May 10. About 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries were initially aboard the luxury cruise, but dozens disembarked on the island of St Helena on April 24, according to the report. Of the 28 nationalities onboard, 38 are from the Philippines, 31 from the UK, 23 from the US, 16 from the Netherlands, 14 from Spain, nine from Germany, six from Canada, and two crew members from India, among others, the BBC reported. The World Health Organization said on Thursday that five of the eight suspected hantavirus cases had been confirmed. A 69-year-old Dutch woman, confirmed to have the virus, has died; her Dutch husband and a German w

World Health Day 2026: Standing with science to build a healthier future

The global campaign urges people to rely on evidence-based care, adopt preventive healthcare and strengthen trust in public health systems

64 killed, including 13 children in strike on hospital in Sudan: WHO

At least 64 people were killed, including at least 13 children, in a strike on a hospital in Sudan's western Darfur region last week, the World Health Organization said Saturday. The strike on the Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur on Friday also injured at least 89 people and rendered the hospital non-functional, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, said on X. Sudan slid into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into war throughout the country. The RSF has blamed the military for the strike on the hospital. The army has denied the attack, but two military officials said the strike was targeting a nearby police station. They spoke on the condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to discuss the matter openly. The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher. The

Low risk of Nipah virus beyond India, no travel curbs as of now: WHO

WHO says risk of Nipah virus spreading from India is low and sees no need for travel or trade curbs after two reported infections

Antimicrobial sales growth set to temper in 2026 over govt's AMR push

Stricter rules to curb antimicrobial resistance may limit antibiotic sales growth in 2026, as India tightens OTC use and pushes prescription-led, responsible consumption

Reasons cited for US decision to withdraw are 'untrue': WHO chief

In a post on X, the WHO Chief hailed the contributions of the United States, a founding member of the WHO, which played a significant role in many of the WHO's greatest achievements

US walks away from WHO leaving behind $260 million in unpaid dues

The withdrawal notice left the health organisation without its top donor. Between 2022 and 2023, the US contributed nearly $1.3 billion to the WHO

How US withdrawal from WHO may affect global health powers, disease threats

The withdrawal is set to take effect this week, although WHO officials may not officially accept it because the US has unpaid dues from the last two years

Centre to restrict cough syrup sales by unlicensed village pharmacists

Draft amendments propose removing "syrup" from Schedule K exemptions, tightening over-the-counter sales in small villages after Madhya Pradesh cough syrup deaths

Explained: How India handles pollution and what WHO air guidelines say

The government says India sets its own air quality standards and does not follow WHO guidelines; cities are ranked under NCAP, with top performers rewarded annually

India sets own air standards, WHO guidelines not binding, says govt

The government on Thursday told Parliament that global air quality rankings cited by various organisations are not conducted by any official authority and that the World Health Organisation's (WHO) air quality guidelines serve only as advisory values, not binding standards. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on India's position in global indices such as IQAir's World Air Quality Ranking, the WHO Global Air Quality Database, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) metrics, the Environment Ministry said no official country-wise pollution ranking is carried out worldwide. Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said the WHO's guidelines are meant to help countries set their own standards, taking into account geography, environmental conditions, background levels and national circumstances. He said India has already notified its National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 pollutants to protect public health and ..

WHO issues first guidelines backing GLP-1 drugs for obesity management

WHO has issued its first guidelines recommending GLP-1 drugs for long-term obesity treatment in adults, while stressing equitable access, health system readiness and lifestyle support

TB-free India is a distant goal as national plan struggles to meet targets

Country's share in global TB burden narrowed from 27% in 2015 to 25% in 2024 but it still has the most cases in the world

India still has a long way to go in curbing toxic cough syrup, says WHO

The children died after taking the Coldrif cough medicine made by Sresan Pharma, which tests showed contained the toxin diethylene glycol in quantities nearly 500 times the permissible limit

WHO alert on cough syrups, Haryana IPS office suicide, Bihar assembly polls & more top

The World Health Organisation has issued an alert on three substandard cough syrups made in India- Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife. This comes after at least 22 children died in Madhya Pradesh

Drug regulator begins pan-Indian inspection of cough syrup makers

The regulator has sought a list of cough syrup manufacturers from all states and UTs following reports of toxic contaminants linked to child deaths in Madhya Pradesh

WHO flags surge in drug-resistant bacteria, warns of innovation crisis

Beyond the lack of new and innovative drugs, significant gaps remain in the types of treatments available

WHO & UNICEF warn billions still lack basic services in health facilities

A UN report on progress in universal access to water, sanitation, hygiene and health care facilities shows that billions of people still visit health care facilities that lack the basics services

WHO, EU dismiss Trump's claim that Tylenol in pregnancy causes autism

After Donald Trump claimed that Tylenol (paracetamol) use in pregnancy may cause autism, WHO and the European Medicines Agency stressed that the evidence is inconsistent and the drug remains safe