Malaria in children presents significant clinical challenges, with variations in presentation based on the malaria parasite involved and the child's underlying health conditions. The World Health Organization reports high incidence rates, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and emphasizes the import...ance of effective treatment strategies. First-line treatment often involves Artemether-Lumefantrine (ALu), while severe malaria requires careful management and the use of intravenous Quinine. Management protocols emphasize early diagnosis and the monitoring of severe complications to reduce mortality.
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PHSM are vital in reducing the risk and scale of infectious disease transmission and lowering hospitalization and deaths. Examples include contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, mask use, ventilation, school or workplace measures, mobility restrictions and travel requirements.
While these mea...sures are essential, decision-making on PHSM becomes particularly complex during rapidly evolving health emergencies, with incomplete information and under significant public and political pressure, especially when the pathogen is novel or poorly understood. In such contexts, guidance needs to be agile and responsive, developed and adapted based on emerging evidence and shifting epidemiological patterns. Decision-makers are frequently confronted with difficult trade-offs, having to balance measures that are:
─ effective but socially disruptive;
─ cost-effective but logistically burdensome;
─ beneficial for public health but economically disruptive; or
─ practical but inequitable or unethical
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On 4 September 2025, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Kasai Province, following confirmation of Zaire ebolavirus by the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Bulape and Mweka Health Zones. As of 19... September, there have been 48 total cases (38 confirmed, 10 probable) with 31 deaths (21 confirmed, 10 probable) and a CFR of 64.5%. Among laboratory confirmed cases, 16 deaths were recorded (CFR: 45.7%). Four deaths occurred among health workers, underscoring the risk of nosocomial transmission. Most cases (39.7%) are among adults aged 20 years and above, in a densely populated, remote, and under-resourced area.
The outbreak is driven by multiple risk factors, including transmission in health facilities with limited infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and personal protective equipment (PPE), incomplete contact tracing, delayed detection, and unsafe burial practices. High population mobility between Bulape and Tshikapa, reliance on traditional healers, and the concurrent mpox outbreak are further straining the fragile health system and increasing the risk of geographic spread.
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The WHO Global tuberculosis report 2025 provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic and of progress in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, at global, regional and country levels. This is done in the context of global TB commitments, strategies and targets.
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The 2025 edition of the report is, as usual, based primarily on data gathered by WHO from national ministries of health in annual rounds of data collection. In 2025, 184 countries and areas with more than 99% of the world’s population and TB cases reported data.
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Addressing the threat of antimalarial drug resistance. This year’s report spotlights the growing threat of antimalarial drug resistance. Partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives – the backbone of malaria treatments after failures of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine – has now b...een confirmed or suspected in at least 8 countries in Africa, and there are potential signs of declining efficacy of some of the drugs that are combined with artemisinin.
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Addressing the threat of antimalarial drug resistance. This year’s report spotlights the growing threat of antimalarial drug resistance. Partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives – the backbone of malaria treatments after failures of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine – has now b...een confirmed or suspected in at least 8 countries in Africa, and there are potential signs of declining efficacy of some of the drugs that are combined with artemisinin.
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Malgré ces progrès, le paludisme reste toutefois un problème de santé mondial important, avec environ 282 millions de cas et 610 000 décès en 2024, soit environ 9 millions de cas de plus que l'année précédente. La région Afrique de l'OMS continue de supporter la plus grande partie du farde...au, avec 11 pays représentant environ les deux tiers des cas et des décès dans le monde. Les progrès en matière de réduction du taux de mortalité lié au paludisme restent toutefois très insuffisants.
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Este resumen ejecutivo ofrece una visión general completa de los mensajes clave, los datos y las tendencias del Informe mundial sobre la malaria 2025.
The report provides an update on the cholera outbreak in Haiti as of January and February 2024. A total of 79,411 suspected cases have been reported, with 4,608 confirmed cases and 1,172 deaths across all 10 departments. The most affected regions include Ouest, Centre, Artibonite, and Nord, with chi...ldren aged 1-9 being the most impacted. Despite a recent decline in reported cases, underreporting due to security issues remains a concern. Response efforts include coordination meetings, epidemiological surveillance, case management, WASH interventions, vaccination campaigns, and community engagement. However, logistical challenges, insecurity, and funding shortages are hindering effective response efforts.
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Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) is the cornerstone of every health system. As of 2023, 17 Member States have a functioning IPC programme; 19 countries have developed national IPC guidelines; and 13 countries have adopted multimodel intervention strategies to improve th
Ahead of World Malaria Day, the WHO Global Malaria Programme published a new operational strategy outlining its priorities and key activities up to 2030 to help change the trajectory of malaria trends, with a view to achieving the global malaria targets. The strategy outlines 4 strategic objectives ...where WHO will focus its efforts, including developing norms and standards, introducing new tools and innovation, promoting strategic information for impact, and providing technical leadership of the global malaria response.
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Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) are associated with severe, potentially fatal, systemic diseases. During the development of the Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for Ebola Disease and Marburg Disease, the Guideline Development Group (GDG) identified multiple research gaps in key... areas and practices that lacked strong evidence to help in the formulation of recommendations. Because of the lack of strong evidence, there exists an array of research questions related to infection prevention and control (IPC) in the context of Ebola Disease (EBOD) and Marburg Disease (MARD). Identifying those that are priorities would help policy-makers target efforts and funding to support the most relevant studies. The objective of this research prioritization exercise was to identify the short- to medium-term (over the next two years) priority research questions for IPC in health care settings based on the gaps identified during the EBOD/MARD IPC guideline development process.
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At the end of 2023, WHO convened our first-ever annual WHO Stakeholder Review Conference for Prevention and Response to Sexual Misconduct. Aimed at joint learning and frank discussion on challenges faced in the achieving zero tolerance for all forms of sexual misconduct by aid workers, the Conferenc...e brought together Member States, Civil Society Organizations, United Nations Agencies and Programmes, academia and media joined by WHO personnel. A set of recommendations to support all agencies are documented in the Conference Report. In addition, WHO’s Director-General hosted a social engagement segment on the evening of Day 1 to further underscore the centrality of a victim and survivor-centred approach, to celebrate progress however small, and to reaffirm commitment and renew energy for the journey ahead. The Conference took place on 30 November and 1 December 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland
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WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RECORD, NO 23, 7 JUNE 2024, pp.307-318
The most recent estimate of the global number of deaths from dog-mediatedrabies is 59 000 per year.1 Rabies is associated with a 99.9% fatality rate and severe trauma in families in which a rabies death
occurs, and remains a major publ...ic health concern in most of Africa and Asia and some parts of South America
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Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a major challenge for health care systems around the world. There is an important opportunity to reduce avoidable morbidity and mortality through improvements to IPC.
The IPC channel hosts general materials designed for all health workers, as well as more... advanced materials specific to IPC focal points. The goal is to strengthen health workers' IPC knowledge and advance the IPC focal points’ capacity to implement facility-led IPC efforts.
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Indian Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is a 5-year initiative involving the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research, State Governments, and WHO-India.
Pneumonia and diarrhoea account for 23% of under-five mortality and were responsible for an estimated 1.17 million deaths in children under five globally. Furthermore, pneumonia and diarrhoea were responsible for 18% of mortality in children 5–9 years of age, resulting in an estimated 86 000 preve...ntable deaths globally in 2021. Existing World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on the clinical management of pneumonia and diarrhoea has mainly focused on children less than 5 years of age.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region website provides comprehensive information on cholera outbreaks across the continent. In 2024, 14 countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, experienced significant outbreaks, with these three nations categoriz...ed as being in acute crisis.
The site offers access to Monthly Regional Cholera Bulletins, such as the May 2024 edition, which details the status of outbreaks, affected countries, and response measures.
Additionally, the website emphasizes the importance of coordinated responses to cholera outbreaks, highlighting efforts to enhance surveillance, provide medical supplies, and implement vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas.
Overall, the WHO African Region's cholera page serves as a vital resource for understanding the scope of cholera outbreaks and the ongoing initiatives to control and prevent the disease across the continent.
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