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Haemorrhage – severe heavy bleeding – and hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia are the leading causes of maternal deaths globally, according to a new study released today by the World Health Organization (WHO). These conditions were responsible for around 80 000 and 50 000 fatalities respectively in 2020 – the last year for which published estimates are available - highlighting that many women still lack access to lifesaving treatments and effective care during and after pregnancy and birth.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today designated the Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands as a WHO Collaborating Centre on artificial intelligence (AI) for health governance.  

AI has the potential to re-shape health care, save lives and improve health and well-being. However, harnessing its benefits for good requires collaboration from stakeholders committed to robust governance, ethical safeguards, and evidence-based policies. 

The WHO Collaborating Centre designation recognizes the Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology's decades-long history of cutting-edge research on responsible innovation, and its leadership in incorporating ethical values into design requirements for digital technologies. This inauguration marks the continuation of a strong partnership between the Digital Ethics Centre and WHO with the two entities jointly organizing international consultations, workshops, and the development of normative guidance and training in the past.  

“WHO is committed to helping Member States plan, govern, and adopt responsible AI technologies,” said Dr Alain Labrique, Director of Digital Health and Innovation at WHO. “We are witnessing remarkable progress, with AI poised to transform health systems and support individuals on their health journeys. To ensure these benefits reach everyone ethically, safely, and equitably, we rely on strong technical and academic partnerships that guide us in this rapidly evolving field.” 

The Collaborating Centre on AI for health governance will be instrumental in WHO’s efforts to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI for health by advancing research on priority topics and providing expert input for WHO’s guidance development and policy-making. The Centre will serve as a hub for education and advocacy for science-driven research and facilitate knowledge-sharing and training through regional and country-level workshops.  

“The fruit of two decades of research in digital ethics and responsible innovation, the Delft Digital Ethics Centre is one of the frontrunners in operationalizing ethical values into design requirements for digital technologies such as artificial intelligence," Professor Jeroen van den Hoven, Scientific Director at Delft Digital Ethics Centre noted. "We look forward to contributing to the global health community and advancing the responsible use of AI in health." 

The Responsible and Ethical AI for Healthcare Lab, a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and its partners, will provide valuable insight into the challenges involved in the successful implementation of WHO guidance in clinical practice. "The designation of the Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology as a WHO Collaborating Centre strengthens our collective ability to ensure AI serves public health equitably and responsibly. This collaboration will play a critical role in supporting Member States to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI, fostering trust, transparency, and innovation in digital health,” said Dr David Novillo-Ortiz, Regional Adviser and Unit Head for Data, Evidence and Digital Health at WHO’s Regional Office for Europe. 

The Collaborating Centre on AI for health emphasizes WHO’s dedication to evidence-based AI governance, promoting its responsible use while upholding the highest ethical standards. 

The Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum 2025 was a significant event that underscored the continued partnership between WHO and KSrelief, as well as with other international partners to address critical humanitarian health crises. The agreements made during the forum are pivotal in combating diseases like malaria, cholera, and polio, and ensuring better healthcare for displaced populations. The forum also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to global humanitarian efforts, reaffirming its leadership role in tackling some of the world’s pressing health crises.

Public health and food safety authorities across Europe are investigating prolonged and widespread outbreaks of Salmonella infection linked to the consumption of sprouted alfalfa seeds.

A cross-border multi-serovar Salmonella enterica outbreak linked to the consumption of sprouted seeds has been ongoing in Europe since 2023.

Recent surveillance data reveal that resistance to commonly used antimicrobials — such as ampicillin, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides— remains persistently high in both humans and animals for key pathogens including Salmonella and Campylobacter.

This report provides an overview of the total number of cases of mpox (monkeypox) reported to ECDC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe through IHR/EWRS mechanisms .

Between 24-28 February 2025, a team of experts from the European Commission, ECDC, EFSA, Epiconcept, the Integrated Quality Laboratory Services (IQLS), along with representatives from two EU Member States visited Serbia to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within a One Health perspective.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced the recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025–2026 influenza season in the northern hemisphere.

A five-day mass polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip concluded on Wednesday, reaching nearly 603 000 children under 10 years of age with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) following comprehensive, simultaneous access to all five governorates during the ongoing ceasefire. The campaign was conducted as part of emergency efforts to end an ongoing poliovirus outbreak and prevent further spread in the Gaza Strip. 

During this round, an additional 40 000 children were vaccinated as compared to the previous two rounds conducted in September and October 2024, after poliovirus was detected in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire enabled health workers to reach more children who had missed vaccinations due to displacement during the phased approach, living in areas that previously required special coordination for access, or being unreachable during the October 2024 round due to insecurity in North Gaza, including Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun.

Strong community engagement and awareness of vaccination benefits had maintained high immunization rates in the Gaza Strip, where 89% of children received the third dose of oral polio vaccine in 2023, before the conflict.  This round drew upon 1660 vaccination teams, 1242 of which were mobile, and deployed 1242 social mobilizers. Despite bad weather conditions, families welcomed the initiative and brought their children to points where they could receive the polio vaccine. 

The campaign was conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and implemented with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and other partners.

As part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s commitment to mount a robust poliovirus outbreak response, surveillance for disease in children and for virus circulation in the environment has also been intensified since July 2024. It was this timely surveillance that detected ongoing environmental circulation of the virus, and the need to conduct additional vaccination to protect children. 

As the ceasefire provides an opportunity to resume critical public health functions, working to recover Gaza’s previously strong disease surveillance and routine immunization are the best ways to protect children from polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Ending polio hinges on fully vaccinating every last child with polio vaccines.  Ensuring uninterrupted access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and proper nutrition will protect children from many diseases including polio.

WHO, UNICEF and partners continue to call for a lasting ceasefire that leads to long-term health and peace.  

Ahead of World Hearing Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are highlighting the first global standard for safe listening in video gameplay and esport activities, which aims to reduce the risk of and prevent hearing loss among gamers. Previously, no safe listening guidelines or standards existed for video gameplay devices or software. 

“Everyone can take steps today to ensure good hearing health throughout their life,” said Dr Jérôme Salomon, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases. “The WHO/ITU safe listening standard supports governments, manufacturers, civil society, and other stakeholders to foster safe listening environments, so that people of all ages can protect their ears and hearing, and even when playing video games, do not risk hearing loss.” 

Video gameplay and esports are rapidly becoming one of the largest entertainment industries worldwide. About 3 billion people play video games on devices such as personal computers, video game consoles, and mobile phones, yet most devices and games lack safe listening features to protect users from harmful noise. However, gamers risk permanent hearing loss from prolonged exposure to loud sounds while gaming or listening to music. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their lower sound tolerance and growing interest in gaming. 

Through the provision of information, warnings and safe listening features, the new standard aims to inform video game players of the risk to hearing loss from loud video gameplay activities and raise awareness about how they can practice safe listening. 

“As video gaming and esports continue to grow and gamers use a wider array of devices to access their content, safe listening standards are vital to help protect the hearing of users, especially children, from sounds which could damage their hearing,” said Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, International Telecommunication Union. “Creating effective technical standards requires collaboration which leverages each other's strengths. We are grateful to our partners at WHO for their insight and experience advancing safe listening, and are pleased to launch this update on World Hearing Day.” 

Standards protect hearing for all types of video game players 

The WHO-ITU Global standard on safe listening for video gameplay and esports is designed to protect hearing for all types of video game players, across a wide range of gameplay scenarios and equipment. The standard provides separate guidelines for video gameplay devices (video game consoles, handheld or mobile devices and personal computers, headphones and headsets), and video game software.  

For video gameplay devices, the standard recommends: 

• Sound allowance tracking to measure the player’s sound exposure.  
• Safe listening messages that provide players with information on sound usage, including predictions on when their sound limit will be reached. 
• A user-friendly volume control system that can be easily adjusted. 
• A “headphone safety mode” that automatically adjusts the volume when a player changes between headphones and loudspeakers. 

For video gameplay software titles, the standard recommends: 

• Safe listening warnings and messages for players about the risk of hearing loss from loud sounds and prolonged exposure during gameplay activities.  
• Independent volume controls for different sound categories, allowing players to adjust levels and mute various sounds within the game. 
• Adapting the soundtrack, genre and sound design of each game with safe listening features 
• A “headphone safety mode” within the software that is capable of detecting a switch of audio output between headphones and speakers and automatically reduces the volume.  

The new standard was developed under WHO’s Make Listening Safe initiative which seeks to improve listening practices especially among young people, drawing on the latest evidence and consultations with a range of stakeholders including experts from WHO, government, industry, consumers, and civil society.  

In addition to the new global standard released today, two other standards for safe listening were launched in 2019 and 2022, including the H.870 WHO-ITU Global standard for safe listening personal audio devices and systems and the WHO Global standard for safe listening in venues and events (also adopted by ITU in 2024).  

Learn more about World Hearing Day 2025 and the Make Listening Safe initiative: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2025  

 

Notes to editors 

About the World Health Organization  

Dedicated to the health and well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere, an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. 

About the International Telecommunication Union

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, it is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. Learn more: www.itu.int  

 

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), following the third meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the upsurge of mpox 2024, held on 25 February 2025, from 12:00 to 17:00 CET, concurs with its advice that the event continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international concern and, considering the advice of the Committee, he is hereby issuing a revised set of temporary recommendations.

The WHO Director-General expresses his most sincere gratitude to the Chair, Members, and Advisors of the Committee. The proceeding of the third meeting of the Committee will be shared with States Parties to the IHR and published in the coming days.

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Temporary recommendations

These temporary recommendations are issued to States Parties experiencing the transmission of monkeypox virus (MPXV), including, but not limited to, those where there is sustained community transmission, and where there are clusters of cases or sporadic travel-related cases of MPXV clade Ib.

They are intended to be implemented by those States Parties in addition to the current  standing recommendations for mpox, which will be extended until 20 August 2025. 

In the context of the global efforts to prevent and control the spread of mpox disease outlined in the  WHO Strategic framework for enhancing prevention and control of mpox- 2024-2027, the aforementioned  standing recommendations apply to all States Parties. 

All current WHO interim technical guidance can be accessed on this page of the WHO website. WHO evidence-based guidance has been and will continue to be updated in line with the evolving situation, updated scientific evidence, and WHO risk assessment to support States Parties in the implementation of the WHO Strategic Framework for enhancing mpox prevention and control. 

Pursuant to Article 3 Principle of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), the implementation of these temporary recommendations, as well as of the standing recommendations for mpox, by States Parties shall be with full respect for the dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons, in line with the principles set out in Article 3 of the IHR. 

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Note: The text in backets next to each temporary recommendation indicates the status with respect to the set of temporary recommendations issued on 27 November 2024.

Emergency coordination

• Secure political commitment, engagement and adequate resource allocation to intensify mpox prevention and response efforts for the lowest administrative and operational level reporting mpox cases in the prior 4 weeks (referred to as “hotspots”). (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Establish or enhance national and local emergency prevention and response coordination arrangements as recommended in the WHO Mpox global strategic preparedness and response plan (2024), and its upcoming iteration, and in line with the WHO Strategic framework for enhancing prevention and control of mpox (2024-2027) to maintain.  (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Establish or enhance coordination among all partners and stakeholders engaged in or supporting mpox prevention and response activities through cooperation, including by introducing accountability mechanisms. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Establish a mechanism to   monitor the effectiveness of mpox prevention and response measures implemented at lower administrative levels, so that such measures can be adjusted as needed. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Strengthen coordination and response mechanisms, particularly in humanitarian and conflict-affected areas, by engaging local and national authorities and implementing partners to ensure integrated mpox surveillance and care delivery in support of vulnerable populations, especially in areas with population displacement and inadequate access to essential services. (MODIFIED)

Collaborative surveillance

• Enhance mpox surveillance, by increasing the sensitivity of the approaches adopted and ensuring comprehensive geographic coverage. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Expand access to accurate, affordable and available diagnostics to test for mpox, including through strengthening arrangements for the transport of samples, the decentralization of testing and arrangements to differentiate MPXV clades and conduct genomic sequencing. (EXTENDED) 

• Identify, monitor and support the contacts of persons with suspected, clinically-diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed mpox to prevent onward transmission. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing) 

• Scale up efforts to thoroughly investigate cases and outbreaks of mpox to better understand the modes of transmission and transmission risk, and prevent its onward transmission to contacts and communities. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing) 

• Report to WHO suspect, probable and confirmed cases of mpox in a timely manner and on a weekly basis. (EXTENDED)
  

Safe and scalable clinical care

• Provide clinical, nutritional and psychosocial support for patients with mpox, including, where appropriate and possible, isolation in care centres and/or access to materials and guidance for home-based care. (EXTENDED) 

• Develop and implement a plan to expand access to optimized supportive clinical care for all patients with mpox, including children, patients living with HIV, and pregnant women. This includes prompt identification and effective management of endemic co-infections, such as malaria, chickenpox or measles. This also includes offering HIV tests to adult patients who do not know their HIV status and to children as appropriate, testing and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among cases linked to sexual contact and referral to HIV/STIs treatment and care services when indicated. (MODIFIED)
  

• Strengthen health and care workers’ capacity, knowledge and skills in clinical and infection and prevention and control pathways – screening, diagnosis, isolation, environmental cleaning, discharge of patients, including post discharge follow up for suspected and confirmed mpox –, and provide health and care workers with personal protective equipment (PPE). (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and availability of water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and waste management services and infrastructure in healthcare facilities and treatment and care centers to ensure quality healthcare service delivery and protection of health and care workers and patients. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

International traffic

• Establish or strengthen cross-border collaboration arrangements for surveillance, management and support of suspected cases and contacts of mpox, and for the provision of information to travellers and conveyance operators, without resorting to travel and trade restrictions that unnecessarily impact local, regional or national economies. (EXTENDED)

Vaccination

• Prepare for and implement the integrated targeted use of vaccine for “Phase 1-Stop the outbreak” (as defined in the WHO Mpox global strategic preparedness and response plan (2024) and its upcoming iteration) through identification of the lowest administrative level reporting cases (hotspots) to interrupt sustained community transmission. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Develop and implement plans for vaccination in the context of an integrated response at the lowest administrative level reporting cases for people at high risk of exposure (e.g., contacts of cases of all ages, including sexual contacts, health and care workers, key populations, and other groups at risk in endemic and non-endemic areas). This entails a targeted integrated response, including active surveillance and contact tracing; agile adaptation of immunization strategies and plans to the local context including the availability of vaccines and supplies; proactive community engagement to generate and sustain demand for and trust in vaccination; close monitoring of mpox vaccination activities and coverage, and the collection of data during vaccination activities according to implementable research protocols. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

Community protection

• Strengthen risk communication and community engagement systems with affected communities and local workforces for outbreak prevention, response and vaccination strategies, particularly at the lowest administrative levels reporting cases, including through training, mapping high risk and vulnerable populations, social listening and community feedback, and managing misinformation. This entails, inter alia, communicating effectively the uncertainties regarding the natural history of mpox, updated information about mpox including about the efficacy of mpox vaccines, the uncertainties regarding duration of protection following vaccination, and any relevant information about clinical trials to which the local population may have access, as appropriate. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Address stigma and discrimination of any kind via meaningful community engagement, particularly in health services and during risk communication activities. (EXTENDED)

• Promote and implement IPC measures and basic WASH and waste management services in household settings, congregate settings (e.g. prisons, internally displaced persons and refugee camps, etc.), schools, points of entry and cross border transit areas. (EXTENDED)

Governance and financing

• Galvanize and scale up national funding and explore external opportunities for targeted funding of mpox prevention, readiness and response activities, advocate for release of available funds and take steps to identify potential new funding partners for emergency response. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Integrate mpox prevention and response measures, including enhanced surveillance, in existing programmes for prevention, control and treatment of other endemic diseases – especially HIV, as well as STIs, malaria, tuberculosis, other vaccine-preventable diseases including COVID-19, and/or non-communicable diseases – striving to identify activities which will benefit the programmes involved and lead to better health outcomes overall. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

Addressing research gaps

• Invest in addressing outstanding knowledge gaps and in generating evidence, during and after outbreaks, as defined in A coordinated research roadmap – Mpox virus - Immediate research next steps to contribute to control the outbreak (2024). (EXTENDED)

•  Invest in field studies to better understand animal hosts and zoonotic spillover in the areas where MPXV is circulating, in coordination with the animal health sector and One Health partners. (EXTENDED, with re-phrasing)

• Strengthen and expand use of genomic sequencing to characterize the epidemiology and chains of transmission of MPXV to better inform control measures. (EXTENDED)

Reporting on the implementation of temporary recommendations

• Report quarterly to WHO on the status of, and challenges related to, the implementation of these temporary recommendations, using a standardized tool and channels that will be made available by WHO. (EXTENDED)

 

 

From 17 to 21 February 2025, the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin hosted the annual Multivariable Analysis (MVA) Module of the ECDC Fellowship Programme. The event brought together EPIET, EUPHEM, PAE, and MediPIET fellows and nominated external experts.

What started as a grassroots initiative by a WHO staff member has grown into a global movement for health. Building on the success of the 1 Dollar 1 World campaign, the World Health Organization (WHO) is now amplifying and evolving the initiative to encourage more people around the world to show their solidarity.

Inspired by an individual’s initiative, WHO is now backing the 1 Dollar 1 World movement, encouraging regions, countries, champions, and its own workforce to unite behind the effort. Together with the WHO Foundation, WHO will strengthen its efforts to create awareness about its critical work and engage communities worldwide.

With this initiative, WHO is embracing a new approach by leveraging crowdfunding to support its mission. For the first time, WHO is activating its existing infrastructure – spanning 150 country offices – alongside the WHO Foundation’s reach, to amplify this grassroots movement. This strategic shift not only strengthens community engagement but also aligns with WHO’s broader strategy to diversify funding sources and support its ongoing Investment Round.

Since its launch in early 2025, almost 5000 people from over 140 countries have contributed to the campaign through the WHO Foundation, created to bring together funders and high impact health initiatives to further the mission of WHO. The high level of success and engagement demonstrates that there is a broad sense of solidarity and shared commitment to global health. This campaign is not just about crowdfunding – it’s about people standing together to remind us that health is a right, not a privilege.

 “The power of the 1 Dollar, 1 World movement comes from the people. In particular, I would like to thank my colleague Tania Cernuschi for her inspiration to launch this initiative,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It shows that in times of crisis, people everywhere can unite and commit to protecting and promoting the health of others. WHO is proud to stand behind this initiative, which embodies the values of solidarity, action, innovation and hope.”

A moment for action

The challenges global health has faced in recent years – from pandemics to humanitarian crises – make it clearer than ever that no one is safe until everyone is safe. The 1 Dollar 1 World movement is a chance for people everywhere to turn concern into action and show that solidarity, just like health, knows no borders.

“This campaign started with one person, but it belongs to all of us,” said Tania Cernuschi, the WHO staff member who launched the original initiative. “It’s proof that individuals can make a difference, and that together, we are stronger.”

Join the movement

Media and the public are invited to support and share this movement. Every action – whether a donation, a post, or a conversation – helps spread the message that health should be for all, not just for some. Every stakeholder – whether a person, an organization, a community or a government – has a role in building efficient and effective collaboration for health.

A grassroots campaign with global impact

The 1 Dollar 1 World movement invites everyone to take action for global health in three simple ways:

• Donate through the WHO Foundation – Every dollar counts. Contributions support WHO’s lifesaving work worldwide.
• Share – Post a photo holding up your index finger to symbolize unity. Use #1Dollar1World & #HealthForAll, and link to the donation page.
• Amplify – Encourage others to join the movement. More information is in the communications toolkit.

All donations, collected by the WHO Foundation, support lifesaving efforts around the world, with a strong focus on country-level initiatives. These resources are essential in driving impactful implementation where it matters most based on the decisions of WHO’s 194 Member States. Together, we can drive real change.

 

Thanas Goga is a specialist in Risk Communication, Community Engagement and Infodemic Management (RCCE-IM) at the WHO Health Emergencies Balkan Hub, WHO Regional Office for Europe.

While a recent study on a novel coronavirus in bats provides valuable laboratory characterisation data, it cannot be seen as evidence of an infection or transmission risk in humans.

Communication and public health experts from across the EU’s Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood gathered from 19-20 February 2025 in Djerba, Tunisia for a workshop on infodemic management during infectious disease outbreaks.

On 11-12 February 2025, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) hosted a workshop of the Cross-agency One Health Task Force, focusing on stakeholder engagement for implementing the One Health approach in Europe.

The emergency polio outbreak response in the Gaza Strip is continuing, with a mass vaccination campaign scheduled from 22 to 26 February 2025. The novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) will be administered to over 591 000 children under 10 years of age to protect them from polio. This campaign follows the recent detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples in Gaza, signaling ongoing circulation in the environment, putting children at risk.  

Pockets of individuals with low or no immunity provide the virus an opportunity to continue spreading and potentially cause disease. The current environment in Gaza, including overcrowding in shelters and severely damaged water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, which facilitates fecal-oral transmission, create ideal conditions for further spread of poliovirus. Extensive population movement consequent to the current ceasefire is likely to exacerbate the spread of poliovirus infection. 

Two previous vaccination rounds in the Gaza Strip were successfully conducted in September and October 2024, reaching over 95% of the target. As poliovirus is found to remain in the environment, additional vaccination efforts are needed to reach every child and strengthen population immunity. The presence of the virus still poses a risk to children with low or no immunity, in Gaza and throughout the region.   

In 2024, health workers faced significant challenges accessing certain areas of central, north and south Gaza, which required special coordination to enter during the conflict. In inaccessible areas such as Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun, where humanitarian pauses for the vaccination campaign were not assured, approximately 7 000 children missed vaccination during the second round. The recent ceasefire means health workers have considerably better access now.   

No additional polio cases have been reported since a ten-month-old child was paralyzed in August 2024, but the new environmental samples from Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, collected in December 2024 and January 2025, confirm poliovirus transmission. The strain detected is genetically linked to the poliovirus detected in the Gaza Strip in July 2024. 

The upcoming vaccination campaign aims to reach all children under 10 years of age, including those previously missed, to close immunity gaps and end the outbreak. The use of the oral polio vaccine will help end this outbreak by preventing the spread of the virus. An additional polio vaccination round is planned to be implemented in April.

The campaign will be led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and implemented with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and other partners. 

Polio vaccines are safe and there is no maximum number of times a child should be vaccinated. Each dose gives additional protection which is needed during an active polio outbreak.   

WHO, UNICEF, and partners welcome the recent ceasefire and urge for a lasting ceasefire that leads to long-term peace.  

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have commenced distribution of critically-needed childhood cancer medicines in 2 of 6 pilot countries, through the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.