France, Germany nominate WHO chief Tedros for a second term

GENEVA (AP) — Germany and France said they and other European Union countries have nominated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia for a second term as director-general of the World Health Organization. This marks the first time that a candidate for the top job at the U.N. health agency...

Afghan Taliban's new UN envoy urges quick recognition

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban’s newly appointed envoy to the United Nations on Wednesday urged quick world recognition of Afghanistan’s new rulers even as the World Health Organization raised the alarm of an impending health care disaster in the war-wracked country. ...

UN health agency sets higher, tougher bar for air quality

GENEVA (AP) — The harmful health effects of air pollution kick in at lower levels than previously thought, the World Health Organization said Wednesday as it set a new standard for policymakers and the public in the first update of its air quality guidelines in 15 years. ...

The Latest: American Samoa reports first case of coronavirus

PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA -- American Samoa reported its first case of coronavirus on Friday. The U.S. territory’s acting governor and health officials said the islands’ first case of COVID-19 was of a resident who returned to America Samoa from Hawaii this week. ...

While urging vaccination, WHO declines jab data on its staff

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations' health agency, which has repeatedly urged the world to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and other illnesses, on Friday declined to say how many of its own staffers have followed that advice. “We won’t have that because it’s...

WHO director: Lebanon's brain drain threat to health sector

BEIRUT (AP) — The World Health Organization’s director general on Friday expressed deep concern about the impact of Lebanon’s economic meltdown and multiple crises on the wellbeing of the nation, and said the brain drain among the country's health workers is particularly worrisome. ...

WHO, partners aim to get Africa 30% of needed doses by Feb

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization and its partners said they hope to provide Africa with about 30% of the COVID-19 vaccines the continent needs by February, badly missing the 60% vaccination coverage goal that African leaders had once hoped for this year. At a...

WHO says Africa's already thin vaccine supply to drop by 25%

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Africa’s already thin supply of COVID-19 vaccines has taken another significant hit, with the World Health Organization’s Africa director saying Thursday that for various reasons, including the rollout of booster shots, “we will get 25% less doses than we were...

WHO chief urges halt to booster shots for rest of the year

GENEVA (AP) — Rich countries with large supplies of coronavirus vaccines should refrain from offering booster shots through the end of the year and make the doses available for poorer countries, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday, doubling down on an earlier appeal for...

World Health Organization chief calls for a ‘moratorium’ on using coronavirus booster shots for rest of the year