Efforts to increase access to vaccines delayed

Developed countries question the move of developing countries to introduce amendments in the Global Vaccine Action Plan

Government backtracks on decision to have bigger pictorial warnings on tobacco products

Health activists and experts believe the government has succumbed to pressure from industry

Existing polio vaccines may not always prevent infection

Antibodies normally produced in response to infection are unable to block mutant polio virus

Coordinated international response must to eradicate polio, says WHO

Since May 2014, there has been new spread of poliovirus in central Asia and a poliovirus originating in Central Africa was reported from the Americas

Omicron may already be in most countries, WHO warns

People dismissing omicron infection as mild may fuel spread, says WHO

Uncertain outcome, high cost: Why WHO doesn’t recommend convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19

Studies published in late 2020 and early 2021 made a case for plasma therapy in treating COVID-19

Wealthy nations starved the developing world of vaccines. Omicron shows the cost of this greed

10 high-income countries will be sitting on more than 870 million excess doses by end of 2021

Cervical cancer: 90% deaths in low and middle income countries with least access to HPV vaccine, screening

These countries also have low rates of vaccination against HPV

India’s first bird flu death: Back to zoonotic diseases

The disease has been on India’s radar since 2006; need to strengthen disease surveillance, train workforce and build robust …

WHO, Unicef target to avoid 50 million vaccine-preventable infections this decade

UN and other agencies launch new programme that aims to ensure immunisation benefits are shared equitably by humanity

World Health Assembly to adopt resolution to strengthen preparedness for health emergencies

The resolution urges WHO members to increase domestic investment and ensure public funding for health emergency preparedness

India should not prefer Russian COVID-19 vaccine over own: Vaccinologist Peter Hotez

India has a golden chance to emerge as a superpower; vaccine dissemination would be a paramount challenge, Hotez says in an …

WHO includes an Indian diagnostic test in its global TB programme

The TrueNet assay, a new molecular test to diagnose TB, also checks for resistance to the rifampicin drug in about 90 minutes

New report flags use of antibiotics on animals

Out of 155 countries, 45 acknowledged using antibiotics on animals, says report by World Organisation for Animal Health; wake up call for India

WHO's new African leader could be a shot in the arm for poorer countries

Ghebreyesus needs to use his strong mandate – notably from the Global South – to truly reform the WHO

WHO expresses concern over MERS, urges countries to act

A considerable number of pilgrims travel from India to Mecca-Madina for Haj every year and get exposed to the deadly virus

‘Focus of leprosy control programmes has to shift to address new challenges’

Yohei Sasakawa, chairperson of the non-profit The Nippon Foundation and also the World Health Organization (WHO) goodwill ambassador for leprosy …

Deadly virus triggers fears of SARS-like epidemic

WHO has not declared whether deadly virus, which has caused the death of a Saudi national, is a public health threat

Former UK PM Gordon Brown now WHO ambassador for global health financing

Brown had warned that 100 million COVID-19 vaccines would go waste unless global leaders shared surplus supplies with the poorest countries 

COVID-19: India may see 1.25 million excess deaths by November 1, says IHME

Daily rate of excess deaths due to COVID-19 was greater than 4 per million in Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim, the report …

Big mistake for countries to think COVID-19 danger has passed: WHO chief

At least 10% population of all countries should be vaccinated by September-end, WHO Director-General Tedros said at closing ceremony of 74th&…

Togo first in Africa to end sleeping sickness

The west African country did not report any cases for the past 10 years, achieving this feat after more than 2 decades of disease surveillance

COVID-19: US CDC recommends masks in public, WHO too hints at stance change

Speaking, coughing, sneezing can lead to virus transmission: CDC

Antibiotic resistance: Nigeria stares at a major catastrophe

Coordinated response is the need of the hour

COP24: World can save 1 million lives by meeting Paris goals on air pollution

A WHO report released at the Katowice conference says health benefits far outweigh the costs of meeting climate change goals in India