Taking the world’s temperature: WHO chief spotlights global health emergencies
Key takewaysHantavirus officially overEbola virus spreads in DR CongoTonnes of supplies delivered in quake-hit VenezuelaAir pollution remains “invisible” killerYouth must be protected onlineTaking the world’s temperature on pressing health matters, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus provided the latest on current global challenges - and successes when it comes to international cooperation.“The outbreaks of hantavirus, Ebola and Marburg all show why there is no alternative to international cooperation in the face of international threats: no country alone can fight,” he said. As regions scramble to respond to these outbreaks, Tedros reiterated that next week offers an opportunity for such collective action as the agency’s Member States will continue negotiations on the pathogen access and benefit sharing system of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. ‘Hantavirus outbreak over’Right now, the total number of cases from the outbreak remains 13, including three deaths, and more than 650 contacts were identified and followed up by health authorities in 33 countries and territories. “Today, the final contact of a person exposed to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius completed their quarantine period, tested negative and returned home,” Tedros said, adding that no further cases have been reported since 25 May. Ebola spread continuesAs of Thursday, 1,406 Ebola cases have been confirmed, and 438 people have died as the outbreak continues to expand in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with an average of 38 new confirmed cases every day for the past two weeks.
