WHO likened to 'Handmaid's Tale' for alcohol advice to 'childbearing' women
A draft "alcohol action plan" from the World Health Organization has sparked fury online—and comparisons to an oppressive regime.
COVID-19 is Spiking in Haiti. Can We Trust the Numbers?
Wary Haitians have been slow to seek vaccinations for past diseases, including diphtheria and tuberculosis. COVID-19 has triggered more of the same behavior.
US COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 600,000, With a Third Occurring Under Joe Biden
While the U.S. is headed in the right direction, the WHO warned 2021 could see more COVID-19 deaths than 2020.
WHO Director Asks Leaders to COVID Vaccinate 70% of Globe by Next G7 Summit
"The virus is moving faster than the global (vaccine) distribution," Tedros said. He called for political leaders to commit to immunizing at least 70% of the world's population by the time of next year's G7 meeting.
After 16 Months With no Polio Cases, Philippines Outbreak Over: WHO, UNICEF
The WHO and UNICEF say the polio outbreak in the Philippines has ended after 16 months have passed with no detected cases. The nation administered 30 million polio vaccines doses since the disease's resurgence in 2019.
China Calls U.S. Probe Into COVID Lab Leak Theory 'Ridiculous Conspiracy'
China called the 90-day review an "attempt at political manipulation" and accused President Biden of getting in the way of an international effort to end the pandemic.
5 African Countries Have not Given any COVID Vaccines Amid Shortages
"It is extremely concerning and at times frustrating," Africa CDC Director Dr. John Nkengasong told the Associated Press.
China State Media Calls Wuhan Lab Leak Theory 'Pathetic Story'
The U.S. national laboratory report cited in a Wall Street Journal story contains no new information or evidence, China's state-owned tabloid, the Global Times, said on Tuesday.
WHO Says Delta COVID Variant from India Spreading in Over 60 Countries
WHO officials said that the COVID-19 delta variant has spread to more than 60 countries and is more transmissible than the alpha variant. At least 80 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated to significantly lower the risks of other variant outbreaks.
Kids Don't Need COVID Vaccine to Go Back to School Safely: WHO Expert
The World Health Organization's top vaccines expert said children don't need a COVID vaccine, and they should be used for adults instead.
China's Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine With 50% Efficacy Rate Gets WHO Approval
Data reviewed by WHO experts showed that two doses of the Sinovac vaccine prevented half of those who received the jabs from getting COVID-19. Sinovac's authorization is the second approval by the WHO for a Chinese vaccine following China' Sinopharm shot approval last month.
Germany Health Minister 'Anything but Happy' Syria Given Seat on WHO Board
Jens Spahn said that he was not pleased that Syria was confirmed for a spot on the World Health Organization executive board, amid decades-long war the Syrian government waged against dissenters.
What We Know About Vietnam's New COVID-19 Variant
"Vietnam has uncovered a new COVID-19 variant combining characteristics of the two existing variants first found in India and the UK," Vietnam's health minister said.
'Very Dangerous' COVID Variant Found in Vietnam Highly Transmissible
Vietnam Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the new variant appears to be a combination of strains first detected in India and the U.K.
U.S., Britain Again Ask China to Commit to COVID-19 Origin Study
Growing skepticism regarding an initial study by the World Health Organization and China, which offered four hypotheses for the pandemic's origins, is prompting world leaders to reopen the matter.
850 COVID-19 Cases in Malaysia Linked To Eid Festival
Malaysian Senior Minister Ismail Sabri said many Muslims ignored the COVID-19 safety rules that prevented them from seeing each other during the Eid festival
China Blasts Joe Biden's Wuhan Lab Probe as 'Smear Campaign'
On May 26, President Joe Biden said the U.S. intelligence community would redouble its efforts to probe the origins of COVID-19 before reporting back to him in 90 days.
WH COVID Adviser Calls on WHO to Assist With Virus Origin Investigation
"We need a completely transparent process from China," he said.
WHO Says Second Year of Pandemic Will Be 'Far More Deadly' Than First
Vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask, but the WHO warned ending the pandemic can't be achieved without public health measures in place.
Gates Foundation Asks U.N. To Investigate WHO Sex Abuse Reports
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the third-largest funder of the WHO, said it expects the U.N. to lead a thorough investigation into the accusations of sexual abuse by doctors working for the organization as soon as possible.
Wuhan Scientist Hits Back at Call for New COVID Origin Probe: 'Really Sad'
In a letter, 18 scientists from around the world have said that more clarity is needed over the origin of COVID-19.
WHO 'Hindered' by World Leaders from Responding to COVID Pandemic: Panel
The panel of independent experts said the U.N. health agency should be granted the rights of access in countries to investigate emerging outbreaks.
Taiwan Blasts China's 'Shameless Lies' After Beijing Blocks Access to WHO
"After what Beijing has done to Xinjiang, Tibet & Hong Kong, no sane person would believe it could take care of Taiwan's health needs or otherwise," Taiwan's foreign minister tweeted on Tuesday.
U.S. Calls for Taiwan to Join WHA, China Warns of 'Separatist Activities'
"All 'Taiwan independence' elements who sell their national interests and split China will eventually face trial by history and a day of reckoning," the Chinese government's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said.
WHO Places Heat-Sensing Sticker on China's Sinopharm COVID Shot
The World Health Organization called the decision to use the sticker a first. It will change colors when exposed to heat to signal if it is safe for use.
China State Media Goes After WHO for Investigating COVID Lab Leak Theory
In a report from a Chinese state media group, an anonymous Chinese scientist called comments made by the director general of the WHO "extremely irresponsible," after he suggested further investigation into the hypothesis that COVID-19 was leaked from a Wuhan lab.
Norway Prime Minister Fined for Birthday Party in Violation of COVID Rules
Police chief: "Solberg is the country's leader and she has been at the forefront of the restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the virus. It is therefore correct to issue a fine in order to uphold the general public's trust in the rules on social restrictions."
North Korea Again Claims That Country Has No COVID Cases
The nation says that since 2020 it has not recorded a single case of the virus because of its efforts to quickly shut borders, prohibit tourism and quarantine tens of thousands of people.
Determining the Origins of COVID-19 is of Paramount Importance
Ascertaining the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is vital in order to address the current pandemic and reduce the risk of future ones.
'Extremely Unlikely' COVID Came From Lab, Draft WHO Report Says
The report, obtained by AP, comes days after Robert Redfield said he believed the global outbreak was the result of a laboratory leak.