JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In a story April 24 about tests in Africa for a malaria vaccine, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the World Health Organization is hoping to wipe out malaria by 2040. In fact, WHO wants to reduce malaria mortality rates by at least 90 percent by 2030. A corrected version of the … Continue reading
BAGHDAD (AP) — The Latest on the battle in Iraq, now entering its fourth week, to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group (all times local): 12:55 p.m. The U.N. health agency says it has set up 82 “rapid response teams” to manage risks of epidemics, chemicals exposure and other health worries … Continue reading
GENEVA (AP) — The UN health agency says “plain packaging” on tobacco products has shown to be an effective complement to health warnings, advertising restrictions, and curbs on misleading packaging to help save lives. The World Health Organization released Tuesday an 86-page report on “plain packaging,” hoping to decrease the lure of smoking on “World No Tobacco Day.” WHO Director General … Continue reading
SAO PAULO (AP) — Spanish Olympic gold medalist Marina Alabau says she got Zika while training in Brazil in December, suffering painful symptoms in an experience that the wind surfer said won’t stop her from competing in the Games in August. In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Alabau described symptoms that her doctor … Continue reading
GENEVA (AP) — The Latest on developments regarding the Zika virus (all times local): 7:30 p.m. The World Health Organization has announced that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an “extraordinary event” that merits being declared an international emergency. The agency convened an emergency meeting of independent experts on Monday … Continue reading
PARIS (AP) — Bacon, hot dogs and cold cuts are under fire: The World Health Organization threw its global weight behind years of experts’ warnings and declared Monday that processed meats raise the risk of colon and stomach cancer and that red meat is probably harmful, too. Meat producers are angry, vegetarians are feeling vindicated, … Continue reading
GENEVA (AP) — Vaccine experts advising the World Health Organization have recommended that further studies be done on a new malaria vaccine to figure out if officials can actually administer the four doses needed. The new vaccine, Mosquirix, received an approval recommendation from the European regulator in July even though it only protects about 30 … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization has revised its HIV guidelines to recommend that anyone who tests positive for the virus that causes AIDS should be treated immediately. That guidance fits with what is already recommended in many developed nations, including the United States. The U.N. health agency had previously said doctors should wait … Continue reading
KENEMA, Sierra Leone (AP) — An Associated Press investigation has found that the World Health Organization and other responders faced avoidable obstacles in their efforts to stop the spiraling Ebola outbreak last summer in Kenema, a pivotal seeding point for the virus and a microcosm of the messy response across West Africa. Their work was … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 