WHO

Scientists call the name "discriminatory and stigmatizing." The World Health Organization agrees. But no progress has been made on finding a new name. And some say the name doesn't need changing.

India's all-female task force of community health-care workers won the World Health Organization's Global Health Leaders Awards. But instead of recognition, some want a better salary and benefits.

The WHO and the Biden administration extended the public health emergency for COVID-19, saying the virus is still considered a serious health threat.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti has become one of the world's most compelling voices urging better consideration of Africa's people — especially women.

Resistance to the drug artemisinin was confirmed in Africa. Without better surveillance, experts say it is hard to track the threat.

African nations are bristling at the restrictions imposed on them by rich countries — and say they are harmful to local economies and discriminate against countries in the region.

Public health figures believe a focus on boosters for the already vaccinated will hasten the emergence of new variants among the billions of unvaccinated people — including a vaccine-resistant strain.

The director general is asking for a halt for at least two months. His hope is to use all available doses to vaccinate 10% of the population in every country by the end of September.

The new names won't replace the scientific names already assigned to new variants, but the WHO said it's making the change to help avoid fueling stigma toward nations where new variants arise.

Some scientists worry the possibility the coronavirus escaped from research facilities hasn't gotten enough scrutiny. Others say it appears far more likely to have emerged naturally.