WHO Hantavirus Outbreak Ends marks an important milestone for global public health after the successful containment of the virus. While the hantavirus emergency has officially concluded, WHO continues to warn that the worsening Ebola outbreak requires urgent international cooperation and close monitoring.
WHO Hantavirus Outbreak Ends After Final Quarantine
The hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius has been formally closed, with no new cases reported since May 25. In total, 13 people were affected, including three deaths, while more than 650 contacts were monitored across 33 countries.
WHO thanked Argentina, Cabo Verde, Chile, the Netherlands, South Africa, the UK, and Spain for supporting safe repatriation efforts. A 21-country study will now examine hantavirus transmission to support future diagnostics and vaccine development.
Ebola Outbreak in DRC Continues to Expand
The Ebola outbreak in DRC continues to intensify, with an average of 38 new confirmed cases reported daily. According to the latest update, 1,406 cases have been confirmed and 438 people have died.
Testing capacity has expanded to 10 laboratories, while contact tracing has improved significantly, with four out of five contacts now being followed. Treatment capacity currently stands at 650 beds across 22 health centres, although 96% occupancy has prompted plans to add another 300 beds.
Clinical Trial Launched for Ebola Treatment
The PARTNERS clinical trial has begun enrolling patients to evaluate monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both individually and in combination. The study is coordinated by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research with support from WHO.
WHO has also granted emergency use listing to the first molecular diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo virus strain.
Security Challenges Hamper Ebola Response
An Ebola treatment centre in Ituri province was attacked this week, killing two people and forcing patients to flee after the facility was set on fire, disrupting ongoing containment efforts.
To strengthen coordination, Julien Harneis has been jointly endorsed as the new Senior Ebola Coordinator by WHO and the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Marburg Virus Case Confirmed in Uganda
Uganda has reported no new Ebola cases since June 21 but has confirmed one case of Marburg virus disease in the western Kyegegwa District through enhanced Ebola surveillance. Health officials are monitoring all identified contacts, with no symptoms reported so far.
International Cooperation Remains Critical
WHO emphasized that these parallel outbreaks highlight the continued need for global health cooperation. Member states are expected to reconvene next week to continue negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Venezuela Earthquake Response Intensifies
WHO is coordinating emergency medical assistance following a devastating earthquake in Venezuela that has left more than 2,300 people dead, over 5,000 injured, and nearly 16,000 homeless.
WHO has released US$1.5 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies and shipped more than six metric tons of medical supplies, with an additional 28 metric tons expected to arrive soon.
Air Pollution: A Silent Global Health Crisis
New WHO data shows that global air pollution progress has stalled since 2020. Around 6.5 billion people remain exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO safety guidelines, contributing to an estimated 6.7 million premature deaths each year.
Low- and middle-income countries continue to face pollution exposure levels 13 times higher than those in high-income nations, with little improvement seen across sub-Saharan and northern Africa over the past decade.
WHO Addresses Digital Impact on Child Health
In a joint op-ed with French President Emmanuel Macron, WHO highlighted concerns over social media’s impact on youth health. Countries including Australia, Canada, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Spain, and the UK have introduced new online safety measures to better protect children.
The op-ed calls for stronger governance, improved privacy protections, and greater real-world social opportunities to safeguard children’s well-being against addictive online design features and misinformation.
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For the latest global health updates and official guidance, visit the official World Health Organization (WHO).
I am Rukaiya Kadiwala, an experienced News Content Writer with 6+ years of expertise in hospitality, travel, hotel, restaurant, business, and lifestyle news. Skilled in writing, research, fact-checking, headline creation, and digital publishing, I create accurate, engaging, and high-quality content that informs and attracts readers worldwide.
