Coronavirus spread 'deeply concerning' but not a pandemic - WHO

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

The sudden rise in novel coronavirus cases in Italy, Iran and South Korea is "deeply concerning", but the virus can still be contained and does not amount to a pandemic, ...

Coronavirus no longer uses 'pandemic' category, but still emergency - WHO

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

The World Health Organisation no longer uses the classification pandemic, but the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak remains an international emergency that is likely ...

Myanmar generals had 'genocidal intent' against Rohingya

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Muslim Rohingya with "genocidal intent" and they should be prosecuted, the UN said.

1300 refugees in Libya urgently need resettlement - UN

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

The UN appealed to countries worldwide to take in 1 300 refugees stranded in Libya, many of them mistreated while kept in appalling conditions.

Libya to set up 'transit facility' for vulnerable refugees

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

The UN refugee agency welcomed Libya's decision to open a transit centre for unaccompanied children and other vulnerable refugees.

North Korean women suffer rape, malnutrition - UN

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

North Korean women are deprived of job opportunities and are often subjected to sexual assault in the workplace, a UN panel revealed.

Plague outbreak in Madagascar kills 20

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

An outbreak of plague has killed 20 people in the space of a month in Madagascar, with a further 84 infected, the World Health Organisation said.

Swiss ready to play mediator role in North Korea crisis

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

President Doris Leuthard said that neutral Switzerland is prepared to act as mediator to help resolve the North Korea crisis.

Rights body sounds alarm over trafficking of Nigerian girls

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Thousands of Nigerian migrant girls being brought to Italy are in great danger of being forced into prostitution in Europe, a UN agency says.

Pakistan must step up fight against polio

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Pakistan and Afghanistan must intensify efforts to halt spread of the crippling poliovirus, says the World Health Organisation.

Ebola risk still remains - WHO

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Tight surveillance and tracing contacts of infected people remain crucial, WHO Assistant-Director Bruce Aylward said.

Ebola to persist in 2015, but funds lacking

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

The WHO lacks more than $100-million towards its $350-million budget for its Ebola operation over the next six months.

How smoking bans could save lives

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Higher taxes on tobacco and bans on tobacco ads could prevent tens of millions of premature deaths, researchers said.

MERS ‘has potential to cause pandemic’

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

WHO urged health workers around the world to be on the alert for symptoms of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

H7N9 virus seen as under control in China

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Health authorities worldwide must be on the lookout to detect the virus, experts said, which could still develop the ability to spread.

WHO issues guidelines for new virus

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

WHO has not recommended any travel restrictions in connection with the new virus, but is working closely with Saudi authorities on health measures for the haj.

Choose the flight, not the hospital

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Going into hospital is far riskier than flying, says the World Health Organisation.

WHO to reach deal on flu vaccine

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Nations are close to a deal to speed up their response to the next flu pandemic by sharing virus samples in return for access to affordable vaccines.

UV-B rays to increase with ozone loss

Stephanie Nebehay|Published

Record loss of the ozone, the atmosphere layer that shields life from the sun's harmful rays, has been observed over the Arctic in recent months.