GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization called Monday for a rapid increase in production of the steroid dexamethasone, after British clinical trials found it has life-saving potential for critically-ill coronavirus patients. “The next challenge is to increase production and rapidly and equitably distribute dexamethasone worldwide, focusing on where it is needed most,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference in Geneva. © Agence France-Presse
Tag: WHO
WHO warns of ‘accelerating’ pandemic as Brazil reaches 50,000 deaths
by Mohamad Ali Harissi with Isabelle Tourne in Paris DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — The World Health Organization sent out a fresh warning on Monday over the dangers of the new coronavirus even as France returned to life by staging an annual music festival and sending millions of children back to school. In spite of numerous European countries further easing their lockdown restrictions, cases around the world are rising especially in Latin America with […]
WHO warns of virus danger as Brazil cases hit one million
by Joshua Howat Berger, with Robin Millard in Geneva Agence France Presse RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — The World Health Organization warned Friday of a “new and dangerous phase” of the coronavirus pandemic, as infections continued to surge in the Americas, with Brazil registering more than one million cases. Colombia and Mexico also passed bleak milestones, as their death tolls topped 2,000 and 20,000, respectively, showing how the virus continues ravaging the Americas and […]
WHO warns world in ‘new and dangerous phase’ of pandemic; COVID-19 spread still accelerating
by Robin MILLARD with Elle IDE in Rome Agence France Presse The World Health Organization warned Friday of a “new and dangerous phase” of the coronavirus pandemic with people tiring of lockdowns despite the disease’s accelerating spread. The warning came as it emerged the virus was present in Italy in December, months before its first confirmed cases and about the same time as the disease was first reported in China. The virus, which […]
WHO halts hydroxychloroquine trials on COVID-19 patients
by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization decided Wednesday to halt trials of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, finding it did not reduce the mortality rate. A decades-old malaria and rheumatoid arthritis drug, hydroxychloroquine has been at the centre of political and scientific controversy. It has been touted as a possible treatment for the new coronavirus by high profile figures, including US President Donald Trump. The drug […]
WHO calls for new lockdowns in Pakistan as virus surges
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AFP) — The World Health Organization has told Pakistan it should implement “intermittent” lockdowns to counter a surge in coronavirus infections that has come as the country loosens restrictions, an official said Tuesday. Since the start of Pakistan’s outbreak in March, Prime Minister Imran Khan opposed a nationwide lockdown of the sort seen elsewhere, arguing the impoverished country could not afford it. Instead, Pakistan’s four provinces ordered a patchwork of closures, but last […]
WHO says coronavirus situation ‘worsening’ worldwide
by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization said Monday that the coronavirus pandemic situation was worsening around the globe, as it warned against complacency. The WHO said it had recorded its highest daily tally of new infections, with COVID-19 raging in the Americas. And as mass protests for racial justice sweep across the United States and beyond, the United Nations’ health agency urged anyone demonstrating to do so safely. The novel […]
WHO backs masks where virus widespread, distancing tough
by Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization on Friday backed the use of fabric facemasks in places where the new coronavirus is widespread and physical distancing is difficult, in a change of advice. As the deadly virus continues to spread, the WHO issued updated guidance on who should wear a mask, when it should be worn and what it should be made of. The use of masks […]
Backlash against Trump exiting WHO as world virus cases top 6 mn
by Celine Le Prioux with Daniel Lawler in Paris and AFP bureaus Agence France Presse US President Donald Trump faced a broad backlash on Saturday over severing ties with the UN’s health agency during a pandemic, as coronavirus cases worldwide topped 6 million and infections surged in Latin America. The EU urged Washington to reconsider its decision to permanently cut funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the pandemic, which has […]
Trump cuts ties with WHO mid-pandemic, signals end of US funding for UN agency
by Susan Stumme with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was severing ties with the World Health Organization, signalling the end of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to the UN agency as the deadly coronavirus pandemic rages on. As Europe speeded along the path to reopening after months of crippling lockdowns, Trump’s move is likely to spark dismay, especially in other […]
Dutch mink workers may be first known humans infected by animals: WHO
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization said Tuesday that Dutch workers apparently infected with the coronavirus by minks could be the first known cases of animal-to-human transmission. The WHO told AFP that it was in close contact with Dutch researchers investigating three cases where the virus appears to have been passed to humans from minks. “This would be the first known cases of animal-to-human transmission,” the UN health agency told AFP in an […]
DOH says COVID-19 patients who’ve already started on hydroxychloroquine to finish treatment
But no more new patients to be given the drug (Eagle News) – The Department of Health said that it will not accept new patients for hydroxychloroquine following the decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) to discontinue its use for its Solidarity Trial. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that while the Executive Group of the WHO Solidarity trial in the country has decided not to accept new patients, those COVID-19 patients who […]





