"POLIO"

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) told health ministers on that although reported COVID-19 cases and deaths have declined significantly, it is not time yet for any country to lower its guard. WHO

With the ongoing war leading to severe disruptions to the Ukrainian health system including routine immunizations, WHO is seriously concerned about a potential measles outbreak, which could have devastating health consequences. WHO

Briefing by Collen Vixen Kelapile, ECOSOC President, on Financing for Development Forum the High-level political Forum on Sustainable Development.

WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) reviewed vaccine policy issues including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 vaccination on immunization services, infection and vaccination-induced immunity, use of the Hepatitis A vaccine, Typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs), changes to the HPV vaccination schedule, and the polio eradication programme. WHO

The World Health Oganization (WHO) said the majority of refugees coming to Poland from Ukraine are women, children, and the elderly. WHO

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on the situation in Ukraine, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the disruption to services and supplies in the country “is posing an extreme risk to people with cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV and TB, which are among the country’s leading causes of mortality. Displacement, poor shelter, and overcrowded living conditions caused by the conflict are also increasing the risk of diseases such as measles, pneumonia and polio, as well as COVID-19." WHO

Health authorities in Malawi are currently responding to the wild poliovirus type 1 outbreak after a single case was detected in Lilongwe district. The vaccination campaign, targeting children under-5-years old, began this week and is ongoing. Vaccinators have spread out across the country, including outside of Malawi’s cities, to reach potentially vulnerable children. WHO

WHO’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, WHO’s priority in Ukraine remains to “support health workers and the health system to continue to provide care to meet immediate health needs.” WHO

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said reported cases of COVID-19 are once again increasing globally “after several weeks of declines” and stressed that the “pandemic is not over.” WHO

Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.