World Health Organization

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WHO's New Ebola Report Is Grim

Experts fear 'complete breakdown in civic society'

(Newser) - The World Health Organization's latest report on the Ebola outbreak warns of a threat well beyond what was feared. Last month, the WHO suggested that within nine months, the world could see 20,000 cases; now it points to that many cases as soon as early November, barring drastic...

Vaccine Mix-Up Kills Infants Within Hours in Syria

Vaccine may have been mixed with muscle relaxant

(Newser) - At least 15 infants died in northwestern Syria on Tuesday after being administered a measles vaccine that may have been accidentally mixed with an anesthetic. The New York Times reports that the victims reacted within minutes: Recipients experienced a slowed heart rate, wheezing, respiratory failure, and shock, while some swelled...

US Ebola Contribution: 3K Military, $750M

'Significant' response will train hundreds of health workers, build hospitals

(Newser) - As part of his promised "scaled-up response" to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, President Obama is expected to announce during a visit to the CDC today that the US will be sending 3,000 military personnel in an effort that could cost up to $750 million over the...

Every 40 Seconds, Someone Commits Suicide: WHO

'Major public health problem' is No. 2 cause of death among people 15-29

(Newser) - With the suicide of Robin Williams still painfully fresh, the World Health Organization released a startling statistic today: Someone takes his or her own life every 40 seconds—which equates to about 800,000 deaths a year, reports the BBC . Other findings in the WHO study : Suicide is the second-leading...

To Fight Ebola, Experts Look to Blood of Survivors

Method used on Kent Brantly debated at WHO meeting

(Newser) - As the Ebola outbreak reaches apocalyptic proportions , an experimental method to help fight the virus is emerging: injecting victims with the blood of survivors. American Dr. Kent Brantly underwent the procedure in July, though it isn't clear if it improved his condition. Yet with vaccines only just beginning human...

UN: We Could See 20K Ebola Cases

2nd Ebola strain found in Democratic Republic of Congo

(Newser) - Ebola cases in West Africa could multiply sixfold, affecting up to 20,000 as the virus "continues to accelerate," the World Health Organization said today, per Reuters . Some 1,552 people have now died out of the 3,069 cases reported—though the actual number of cases could...

WHO: Ban E-Cigs Indoors
 WHO: Ban E-Cigs Indoors 
Aug 26, 2014 1:54 PM CDT

WHO: Ban E-Cigs Indoors

Organization wants electronic cigarettes regulated more, citing health risks

(Newser) - More support for those who think it's too early to jump on the e-cigarette bandwagon: The vapor-producing devices may still pose a threat to users' and bystanders' health, says WHO, which suggests stronger regulations on the relatively new industry in a report released today, reports Reuters . The health...

Researchers: Yes, You Do Eat Too Much Salt

As two other studies counter: Salt? No big deal

(Newser) - Whether due to a love of processed food or soy sauce, almost every adult on the planet likes salt way too much—on average, we consume almost double the amount of sodium recommended by the World Health Organization, a new study finds. Think that's no big deal? Well, researchers...

UN: Ebola Crisis 'Vastly Underestimated'

Outbreak calls for 'extraordinary measures,' it warns

(Newser) - The worst-ever Ebola outbreak has now killed more than 1,000 people, according to the World Health Organization—but the United Nations agency warns that its own numbers may "vastly underestimate" the scale of the crisis in West Africa. In a press release , the WHO says its workers at...

WHO: Untested Ebola Drugs Are 'Ethical'

Says such meds are needed to fight virus in hard-hit areas

(Newser) - To combat "the largest, most severe, and most complex outbreak of [the] Ebola virus disease in history," the World Health Organization today gave the green light to use untested drugs. Despite questions about skipping the standard approval process, "it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as...

WHO Labels Ebola Outbreak Rare Global Emergency

Requires 'extraordinary response' by world community

(Newser) - The World Health Organization has ratcheted up the alarm over Africa's Ebola epidemic. More than 900 deaths across Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, and Sierra Leone mean this is now an "international emergency" that requires an "extraordinary response," reports the BBC . The move is just the third time...

Ebola Killed 45 in 3 Days; Toll Nears 1K

Virus has now claimed 932, with 1.7K cases: WHO

(Newser) - The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has risen to 932, the World Health Organization says. Most of the new deaths are coming from Liberia and Sierra Leone. The outbreak emerged in March in Guinea and shows no sign of slowing down. Among the latest news:
  • Nigeria
...

WHO: All Gay Men Should Take Antiretroviral Drugs

A pill could cut HIV risk in gay men by up to 25%: WHO

(Newser) - HIV infections are "exploding" among gay men, according to the World Health Organization. In fact, the infection rates are so bad, the organization—for the first time—"strongly recommends men who have sex with men consider taking antiretroviral medicines as an additional method of preventing HIV infection,"...

Ebola 'Out of Control' in Worst Outbreak Ever

Group says drastic action necessary, calls meeting

(Newser) - The World Health Organization is calling an emergency meeting of health ministers from 11 countries next week in hopes of coming up with a plan to combat the worst outbreak of Ebola the world has ever seen. So far more than 390 people have died in the outbreak, which is...

WHO: Alcohol Kills Someone Every 10 Seconds

Total annual toll: 3.3M

(Newser) - The World Health Organization today released a new report on alcohol, and it's full of pretty dour stats. Among the most eye-grabbing ones, per the WHO and the AFP :
  • Alcohol kills 3.3 million people worldwide each year.
  • That's more than AIDS, tuberculosis, and violence—combined.
  • That's
...

WHO Declares Polio a Global Health Emergency

First time the organization has done so

(Newser) - For the first time ever, the World Health Organization today declared the spread of polio an international public health emergency that could grow in the next few months and unravel the nearly three-decade effort to eradicate the crippling disease. The agency described current polio outbreaks across at least 10 countries...

'Post-Antibiotic' Era a Deadlier Threat Than AIDS: WHO

Drug resistance already present all over the world: report

(Newser) - Drug resistance today poses a bigger danger worldwide than did AIDS in the 1980s, the World Health Organization says in a dire-sounding report out today: "Without urgent, coordinated action, the world is headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for...

Only 5% of Your Calories Should Be From Sugar: WHO

Drops recommendation from previous 10%

(Newser) - Just try sugar-coating this: The World Health Organization says your daily sugar intake should be just 5% of your total calories—half of what the agency previously recommended, according to new draft guidelines published yesterday. That includes sugars added to foods and those present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices,...

UN: Cancer Cases to Jump 50% by 2030

Officials slam tobacco companies

(Newser) - Disturbing news on World Cancer Day: Cases are poised to surge in the coming years, jumping 50% by 2030, according to a UN report. That means 21.6 million cases per year, compared to a rate that was 14 million in 2012, AFP reports. By 2035, we're likely to...

Swine Flu&#39;s 2009 Death Toll Not 19K&mdash;It Was 203K
Swine Flu's 2009 Death Toll
Not 19K—It Was 203K
new study
Nov 27, 2013 1:37 PM CST

Swine Flu's 2009 Death Toll Not 19K—It Was 203K

New research finds H1N1 epidemic killed 10 times more than estimated

(Newser) - WHO initially reported 18,631 lab-confirmed deaths from 2009's "swine flu" epidemic—but a new study by epidemiologists finds that H1N1 actually killed as many as 203,000 people. The researchers looked at respiratory deaths in 20 countries and then used that data to calculate a global figure....

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