WHO

Coca-Cola began blending aspartame into Diet Coke in the 1980s. The artificial sweetener is used in lots of products from diet sodas, to low-sugar jams, yogurts, cereals and chewing gum.

WHO says aspartame is a 'possible carcinogen.' The FDA disagrees

6:33pm July 13, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

Moderate consumption of aspartame is OK, scientists say. But heavy consumers may want to reduce their intake. The WHO says aspartame may "possibly" cause cancer. The FDA questions the evidence.

Queue Listen Now

People protest during a rally calling for more government action to combat the spread of monkeypox at Foley Square on July 21, 2022 in New York City.

Critics say 'monkeypox' is a racist name. But it's not going away anytime soon

3:34pm August 01, 2022

by Bill Chappell

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.

Female community health care workers protest in New Delhi, India, in August 2020. The women are part of a government program called Accredited Social Health Activists — and are demanding higher pay and better working conditions. In May, the program won

These female health-care workers won a huge WHO honor. They'd like a raise, too

9:54am June 02, 2022

by Sushmita Pathak

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.

A man wearing a face mask to curb the spread of coronavirus walks past a health campaign poster in the Westminster underground train station, in London.

COVID remains a public health emergency for now, says WHO and Biden administration

9:58pm April 13, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

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, the first woman to lead the the World Health Organization's regional Africa office, sits in her office in Brazzaville, Congo on Feb. 8, 2022.

WHO Africa's 1st woman leader helps continent fight COVID

3:39am March 09, 2022

by The Associated Press

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

Testing blood for malaria at a Doctors Without Borders clinic in Malawi.

Drug-resistant malaria is emerging in Africa. Doctors are worried — yet hopeful

7:00am February 06, 2022

by Pratik Pawar

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

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in August. He called on Western nations on Sunday to scrap travel restrictions placed on southern Africa to stem the spread of the omicron variant. "The prohibition of travel is not informed by science nor will it b

African leaders condemn travel restrictions as omicron variant spreads globally

6:29pm November 30, 2021

by Joe Hernandez

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.

People line up last week to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Kampala, Uganda, after weeks of no supply. In Uganda, only 2.2% of the population had received one dose of a vaccine as of Aug. 15.

Why A Push For Boosters Could Make The Pandemic Even Worse

5:54pm August 18, 2021

by Michaeleen Doucleff

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 of WHO now says that a booster moratorium should be in force until 10% of the population in all countries is vaccinated. Israel had previously announced plans to give a third Pfizer dose to residents age 60 and up after an uptick in COVID cas

Why WHO Is Calling For A Moratorium On COVID Vaccine Boosters

7:15pm August 04, 2021

by Jason Beaubien

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 World Health Organization says it will start assigning new names for variants of the coronavirus based on letters from the Greek alphabet — part of an effort to help avoid stigmatization around the virus.

Science

Alpha, Beta Instead Of Britain, South Africa. Why The WHO Is Renaming COVID Variants

2:51pm June 01, 2021

by Jason Breslow

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.