Despite Delays, Negotiations Over Critical PABS Annex to WHO Pandemic Treaty Reveal Signs of Progress; Here’s Why 17/06/2026 Suerie Moon, Adam Strobeyko, Daniela Morich & Gian Luca Burci What’s left to tackle in the PABS talks? As the clock ran out, and then was extended for another year, on negotiations over the Pandemic Agreement’s Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS), the diplomacy and the nitty-gritty of the issues faced were deeply linked This edition of the Governing Pandemics Snapshot of the Geneva […] Continue reading -> Countries Differ on Discharge Criteria for Andes Hantavirus Patients 16/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Dutch, Spanish and Swiss medical experts applied slightly different criteria for discharging patients infected with Andes hantavirus during the recent outbreak on a cruise ship – but none required a negative blood test, as this could remain positive “for months”. This emerged during a briefing convened by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Information Network for […] Continue reading -> WHO: Sharp Decline in Number of Suspected Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Cases as Numbers are Refined 03/06/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization’s estimate of the number of suspected, but as yet unconfirmed, cases of the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus has sharply declined from over 1000 a week ago to just 116 today, WHO on Wednesday. That doesn’t mean that the tide has yet turned on the outbreak. But WHO officials sounded notes of […] Continue reading -> Indoor Air Pollution: The Invisible Health Risk to Children, Older People and Vulnerable Groups 22/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy While the health harms of biomass cookstoves, and the smoke they produce inside the homes of developing countries has received significant attention in the past two decades, a wide range of chemical and pathogenic air pollutants create hazards in modern homes and buildings – also threatening health. Investments in ventilation, air filtration, monitoring, and clean […] Continue reading -> Stopping Outbreaks at Source: Pandemic Preparedness Stumbles at Local Level 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The world is not ready for the next pandemic – and it won’t be unless local capacity is strengthened, global health experts agreed at an event in Geneva on Tuesday. Does anyone brief cruise ship captains, cruise operators and passengers from Argentina that hantavirus is an endemic virus? asked Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent […] Continue reading -> WHO: Ebola Outbreak Is a Deadly Regional Threat But Not a Global Pandemic Risk 20/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The Ebola outbreak unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda poses a “low” risk globally, according to an expert committee of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the national and regional risk is “high”, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. Last Sunday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom […] Continue reading -> WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Countries Differ on Discharge Criteria for Andes Hantavirus Patients 16/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Dutch, Spanish and Swiss medical experts applied slightly different criteria for discharging patients infected with Andes hantavirus during the recent outbreak on a cruise ship – but none required a negative blood test, as this could remain positive “for months”. This emerged during a briefing convened by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Information Network for […] Continue reading -> WHO: Sharp Decline in Number of Suspected Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Cases as Numbers are Refined 03/06/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization’s estimate of the number of suspected, but as yet unconfirmed, cases of the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus has sharply declined from over 1000 a week ago to just 116 today, WHO on Wednesday. That doesn’t mean that the tide has yet turned on the outbreak. But WHO officials sounded notes of […] Continue reading -> Indoor Air Pollution: The Invisible Health Risk to Children, Older People and Vulnerable Groups 22/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy While the health harms of biomass cookstoves, and the smoke they produce inside the homes of developing countries has received significant attention in the past two decades, a wide range of chemical and pathogenic air pollutants create hazards in modern homes and buildings – also threatening health. Investments in ventilation, air filtration, monitoring, and clean […] Continue reading -> Stopping Outbreaks at Source: Pandemic Preparedness Stumbles at Local Level 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The world is not ready for the next pandemic – and it won’t be unless local capacity is strengthened, global health experts agreed at an event in Geneva on Tuesday. Does anyone brief cruise ship captains, cruise operators and passengers from Argentina that hantavirus is an endemic virus? asked Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent […] Continue reading -> WHO: Ebola Outbreak Is a Deadly Regional Threat But Not a Global Pandemic Risk 20/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The Ebola outbreak unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda poses a “low” risk globally, according to an expert committee of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the national and regional risk is “high”, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. Last Sunday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom […] Continue reading -> WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
WHO: Sharp Decline in Number of Suspected Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Cases as Numbers are Refined 03/06/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization’s estimate of the number of suspected, but as yet unconfirmed, cases of the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus has sharply declined from over 1000 a week ago to just 116 today, WHO on Wednesday. That doesn’t mean that the tide has yet turned on the outbreak. But WHO officials sounded notes of […] Continue reading -> Indoor Air Pollution: The Invisible Health Risk to Children, Older People and Vulnerable Groups 22/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy While the health harms of biomass cookstoves, and the smoke they produce inside the homes of developing countries has received significant attention in the past two decades, a wide range of chemical and pathogenic air pollutants create hazards in modern homes and buildings – also threatening health. Investments in ventilation, air filtration, monitoring, and clean […] Continue reading -> Stopping Outbreaks at Source: Pandemic Preparedness Stumbles at Local Level 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The world is not ready for the next pandemic – and it won’t be unless local capacity is strengthened, global health experts agreed at an event in Geneva on Tuesday. Does anyone brief cruise ship captains, cruise operators and passengers from Argentina that hantavirus is an endemic virus? asked Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent […] Continue reading -> WHO: Ebola Outbreak Is a Deadly Regional Threat But Not a Global Pandemic Risk 20/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The Ebola outbreak unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda poses a “low” risk globally, according to an expert committee of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the national and regional risk is “high”, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. Last Sunday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom […] Continue reading -> WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Indoor Air Pollution: The Invisible Health Risk to Children, Older People and Vulnerable Groups 22/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy While the health harms of biomass cookstoves, and the smoke they produce inside the homes of developing countries has received significant attention in the past two decades, a wide range of chemical and pathogenic air pollutants create hazards in modern homes and buildings – also threatening health. Investments in ventilation, air filtration, monitoring, and clean […] Continue reading -> Stopping Outbreaks at Source: Pandemic Preparedness Stumbles at Local Level 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The world is not ready for the next pandemic – and it won’t be unless local capacity is strengthened, global health experts agreed at an event in Geneva on Tuesday. Does anyone brief cruise ship captains, cruise operators and passengers from Argentina that hantavirus is an endemic virus? asked Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent […] Continue reading -> WHO: Ebola Outbreak Is a Deadly Regional Threat But Not a Global Pandemic Risk 20/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The Ebola outbreak unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda poses a “low” risk globally, according to an expert committee of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the national and regional risk is “high”, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. Last Sunday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom […] Continue reading -> WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Stopping Outbreaks at Source: Pandemic Preparedness Stumbles at Local Level 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The world is not ready for the next pandemic – and it won’t be unless local capacity is strengthened, global health experts agreed at an event in Geneva on Tuesday. Does anyone brief cruise ship captains, cruise operators and passengers from Argentina that hantavirus is an endemic virus? asked Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent […] Continue reading -> WHO: Ebola Outbreak Is a Deadly Regional Threat But Not a Global Pandemic Risk 20/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The Ebola outbreak unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda poses a “low” risk globally, according to an expert committee of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the national and regional risk is “high”, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. Last Sunday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom […] Continue reading -> WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
WHO: Ebola Outbreak Is a Deadly Regional Threat But Not a Global Pandemic Risk 20/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The Ebola outbreak unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda poses a “low” risk globally, according to an expert committee of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, the national and regional risk is “high”, according to the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee. Last Sunday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom […] Continue reading -> WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
WHO is Alarmed at ‘Scale and Speed’ of Ebola Outbreak as Hantavirus Threat Recedes 19/05/2026 Disha Shetty & Stefan Anderson GENEVA — The outbreak of a deadly strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccine is accelerating through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda at a “scale and speed” alarming the World Health Organization (WHO), as cases climb and authorities scramble to contain the spread. “I’m deeply concerned about the scale and […] Continue reading -> Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Member States Support Extending Talks on Pandemic Agreement Annex, Propose New ‘Method’ 19/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan All World Health Organization (WHO) member states supported the extension of talks on the last outstanding piece of the Pandemic Agreement, the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, at the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) Committee A on Monday. A draft PABS annex was due to have been presented to the WHA for approval, but instead, […] Continue reading -> Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Outbreak Threats, Geopolitical Divides and Financial Crises Hover Over 79th World Health Assembly 18/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher As the World Health Assembly opens on Monday in Geneva, it will have to grapple with shrinking global health budgets, new outbreak threats, including a new WHO declaration of a public health emergency in Africa over an Ebola virus strain that lacks any vaccine, and an increasingly fractured geopolitical space with deep disputes over Iran, […] Continue reading -> WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
WHO to Coordinate Research on ‘Natural History’ of Hantavirus Transmission 15/05/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The World Health Organization said Friday it is embarking on a plan to coordinate studies in more than 20 countries to “better understand the natural history of the disease” following an outbreak of the Andes strain of the hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. While stressing that the risks to the public remain […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts