World Health Organization (WHO)

The 159th session of the Executive Board takes place on 25–26 May 2026. Proceedings can be watched here: who.int/about/governan…

#Ebola Bundibugyo virus update: - So far, 101 cases have been confirmed in the #DRC, including 10 confirmed deaths. But we know the epidemic in the DRC is much larger. There are now more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths. - #Uganda has reported two additional confirmed cases among healthcare workers, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to seven, including one confirmed death. We are continuing to scale up the response with our partners, and we expect more cases to be identified in the coming days and weeks. The sooner we can trace people with infections and identify their contacts, the sooner we can provide the care they need and bring this outbreak under control.

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As surveillance efforts have been scaled up in the #DRC #Ebola response, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified so far, including 101 confirmed cases. In Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, nearly 5 million people live amid ongoing conflict. Today, 1 in 4 people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 1 in 5 are internally displaced. The violence is forcing people to flee, including health and humanitarian workers. This is severely impeding efforts to scale up Ebola contact tracing and identify infections early enough to provide supportive care. Ongoing insecurity and fear are also fueling mistrust within communities. @WHO and humanitarian health partners maintain a presence across Ituri, including in some of the hardest-to-reach and most insecure areas. Communities are facing not only the threat of Ebola, but also a wide range of diseases. Our Health Cluster partners are supporting the delivery of: * maternal, reproductive, newborn, child, and adolescent healthcare * treatment of severe acute malnutrition with complications * mental health services, wound care, and support for survivors of sexual violence * medical supplies * routine immunization * community health services Delivering a comprehensive package of healthcare services is essential - not only to meet urgent health needs, but also to build the trust that is critical for an effective Ebola response.

#Hantavirus update: So far, 12 cases and three deaths have been reported to @WHO. No additional deaths have been reported since May 2. All passengers and crew remain in quarantine and under close monitoring to ensure they receive care if needed. The situation is stable for now. We continue to remain vigilant and in close contact with all relevant governments.

Last night @WHOUkraine office in Kyiv was hit by debris from one of many strikes in the city, damaging windows on the 3rd floor. This building is home to many UN agencies besides WHO. No one got injured.   Multiple deaths and injuries have been reported so far from the attacks on civilian infrastructure over night. Attacks on health and civilians MUST STOP. We urge once again for a ceasefire. Peace is the best medicine.

Tonight, Kyiv came under one of largest attacks since the RF invasion in Feb 2022. Debris from one of many strikes reached our building - home to many UN agencies in the capital - damaging windows on the 3rd floor of WHO Ukraine. Our office reopens Monday. Our work continues.

#WHA79 delegates met this week against a backdrop of outbreaks, conflict, division, uncertainty and constrained resources. That is exactly the point of multilateralism: not to pretend the difficulties of our world are not there, but to address them together. That is not automatic. It is a choice. A choice to prioritise health. A choice to recognise that no country can address today’s health challenges alone. A choice to work through @WHO, not only as an institution, but as a shared platform for shared action. I thank you for that choice.

Q: How does the #Ebola virus spread from one person to another? A: Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of an infected person, including someone who has died from the disease. It can also spread through contaminated objects such as bedding, clothing or medical equipment. Health workers and caregivers are at higher risk if infection prevention measures are not strictly followed. Q: What are the common signs and symptoms of #Ebola infection? A: Common symptoms include sudden fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain and sore throat. As the disease progresses, patients may develop vomiting, diarrhea, rash, stomach pain and, in some cases, bleeding. Symptoms can appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure to the virus. Q: Which groups of people are most at risk of getting #Ebola? A: People most at risk include hunters, family members caring for infected relatives, health workers without adequate protective equipment, laboratory personnel handling samples, and individuals involved in unsafe burial practices. Communities with frequent population movement or limited access to healthcare may also face increased risk during outbreaks. Learn more about #Ebola disease: who.int/news-room/fact…

20+ decisions. 13 resolutions. The 79th World Health Assembly (#WHA79) just set the global health agenda tackling stroke, TB, antimicrobial resistance, liver disease, precision medicine, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, haemophilia, radiation and more. Plus an agreement to reform global health architecture. This is what multilateral health action looks like. 🌍 Read the final recap of the assembly here. See you next year for #WHA80. bit.ly/43vN8aV

Read the latest Disease outbreak news on Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus - Democratic Republic of the Congo. bit.ly/4utYbgY

Multilateralism is not easy. But it’s worth it. #WHA79

Just received the last message from captain Jan Dobrogowski, who is finally leaving the MV Hondius cruise ship today. He remains without #hantavirus symptoms until today. So far, 12 cases in total have been reported to @WHO, and three deaths. No deaths have been reported since May 2. All the passengers and crew are now in quarantine with close monitoring to receive care if need be. I’m deeply grateful for Jan’s cooperation and leadership as he navigated the ship through an extraordinary and scary journey. Thank you, dear Jan, for steering your passengers towards safety.

The Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon rightly so stressed that history will judge us: "And it will say whether we were capable of protecting life when we knew how to do so". We are one humanity. We share the same DNA. We must work together, for #HealthForAll. #WHA79

LIVE: Closing of 79th World Health Assembly with @DrTedros. #WHA79 x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

"This is the moment for change. This is the opportunity to take the road that leads to sovereignty; the road that leads to solidarity; the road that leads to equity. That is the road down which many countries are now walking – and that is the road that WHO is walking with you, every step of the way." - @DrTedros Together for health. #StandWithScience

“You think you are prepared, but nothing prepares you for Gaza,” says @WHO Dr. Van de Weerdt after returning from the enclave. news.un.org/en/story/2026/…

#Uganda has today reported three new confirmed cases of #Ebola in the country, including a Ugandan health worker, a driver and a Congolese national who travelled from Ituri Province, in the neighbouring #DRC, for medical care. This brings the total number of people in Uganda who have been tested positive for Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus to five. I acknowledge @MinofHealthUG for their efforts to detect, monitor and care for people suspected of and confirmed for contracting the Ebola virus. At this critical moment in the outbreak response, it is vital that authorities maintain high vigilance to control expansion of the virus. @WHO is working side by side with @AfricaCDC, and partners in the DRC and Uganda, to contain the outbreak, support affected people, and bolster a coordinated response. x.com/kasujja/status…

Here's why #HealthForAll matters now more than ever. Voices from the World Health Assembly. #WHA79