May 02 Most states fall short of coronavirus testing thresholds By Christina A. Cassidy, Matthew Perrone, Jason Dearen, Nicky Forster, Associated Press With no specific guidelines, states are left to figure out what a successful testing program should be while they simultaneously try to reopen their shattered economies. Continue reading
Mar 11 WATCH: WHO declares that COVID-19 crisis is now a pandemic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the U.N. agency, said the WHO is “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about “the alarming levels of inaction.”… Continue reading
Apr 12 Congo's Ebola outbreak not yet a global emergency, WHO says By Jamey Keaten, Maria Cheng, Associated Press A top Red Cross official said Friday he's "more concerned than I have ever been" about the possible regional spread of the Ebola virus after a new spike in cases, as the World Health Organization met on whether to declare… Continue reading
May 10 Congo announces first suspected Ebola death since new outbreak By Associated Press Health officials declared an Ebola outbreak in the country's northwest on Tuesday after lab tests confirmed the deadly virus in two cases from the town of Bikoro in the Equateur province. Continue reading
May 09 Democratic Republic of Congo reports Ebola outbreak, 2 cases confirmed By Jessica Villagomez The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an Ebola outbreak after two suspected cases tested positive for the Zaire strain of the virus. Continue reading
May 24 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus becomes the first African director-general of the World Health Organization By Helen Branswell, STAT Ethiopia’s former health minister -- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -- has been elected to serve as the next director-general of the World Health Organization — the first African picked to lead the global health agency. Continue reading
Oct 31 One in seven of world's children breathe toxic air, UNICEF reports By Ryan Connelly Holmes Using satellite imagery, the children’s aid organization determined that 300 million children worldwide breathe air six times more polluted than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. Continue reading
Aug 12 Nigeria launches emergency measures after first polio cases in 2 years By Emily Wishingrad Nigerian military helicopters rushed emergency polio vaccines to Nigeria’s northern state of Borno on Friday morning, in response to Africa’s first cases of the polio virus in more than two years. Continue reading
Mar 29 The Ebola public health emergency is over, WHO declares By Helen Branswell, STAT Ebola no longer constitutes an international health emergency, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. Continue reading
Mar 11 Florida may use GMO mosquitos to fight Zika. Here's what you should know By Jennifer Kay, Associated Press MIAMI — The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America is giving a boost to a British biotech firm's proposal to deploy a genetically modified mosquito to try to stop transmission of the disease. Continue reading