Search

This report aims to investigate the community engagement process so planners can more effectively work with communities and reckon with the historical trauma caused by planners in the past. Planning as an industry is responsible for the forceful removal of communities under the name of “urban decay” and is a direct cause of why some communities remain impoverished today. This history has not been long forgotten; it continues to live on in the communities directly affected, and trust when working with public agencies is low. Public agencies must understand this trauma as they work with these communities to build a better future. This report chronicles the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station joint development process by interviewing Little Tokyo residents and other stakeholders involved with the process and examining archival documents. While relatively small, Little Tokyo has a long history of asserting its autonomy in community development issues. I highlight the history of community-based organization and planning that has sustained Little Tokyo into the community it remains today. Through my findings, I recommend a history-informed planning process among public agencies. A holistic approach to planning must be taken that considers the community context in historical and contemporary terms. While the process of community engagement can be long and expensive, it is a way for public agencies to repair their relationship with communities that have been wronged in the past.

In 2022, an estimated 5 million persons in the WHO Region of the Americas (AMR) were living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis worldwide. Most chronic infections are acquired through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) or horizontal transmission during childhood and are preventable with HBV vaccination, including a birth dose (HepB-BD), followed by 2-3 additional doses (HepB3) in infancy. The aim of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Elimination of MTCT of HBV strategy (EMTCT Plus) is intented to reduce the prevalence of chronic HBV infection (measured as hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]) among children to [less than or equal to]0.1% by achieving 1) [greater than or equal to]95% coverage with HepB-BD and HepB3 and 2) increasing HBsAg testing among pregnant women and provision of hepatitis B immunoglobulin to HBV-exposed neonates to [greater than or equal to]80%. By 2012, all 51 countries and territories (countries) in the AMR had provided HepB3 nationwide; and, by 2021, 34 (67%) had provided HepB-BD nationwide. Mathematical models were used to estimate that the HBsAg prevalence in children is [less than or equal to] 0.1% in 14 (28%) countries and at regional level. Three (6%) of 51 countries met the 95% coverage targets for both HepB3 and HepB-BD during both 2021 and 2022. Of these, 2 have probably met the criteria for EMTCT of HBV infection. In 2022, however, HepB3 coverage was [greater than or equal to] 10 percentage points lower in 15 (37%) of 41 countries with 2012 coverage data for comparison. These decreases in HepB3 coverage and the absence of HepB-BD from the routine immunization schedules in 17 countries threaten the Region's progress towards the EMTCT of HBV infection. Efforts to introduce HepB-BD and to maintain high HepB3 and HepB-BD coverage are necessary. En 2022, on estimait a 5 millions le nombre de personnes vivant avec une infection chronique par le virus de l'hepatite B (VHB) dans la Region OMS des Ameriques, principale cause de carcinome hepatocellulaire et de cirrhose dans le monde. La plupart des infections chroniques sont contractees par transmission mere-enfant (TME) ou par transmission horizontale pendant l'enfance et peuvent etre evitees grace a la vaccination contre le VHB, notamment par l'administration d'une dose a la naissance (DN-HepB), suivie de 2 a 3 doses supplementaires (HepB3) dans la petite enfance. La strategie d'elimination de la transmission mere-enfant du VHB (EMTCT Plus) de l'Organisation panamericaine de la Sante (OPS) vise a reduire la prevalence de l'infection chronique par le VHB (mesuree par une prevalence de l'antigene de surface du virus de l'hepatite B [AgHBs]) [less than or equal to]0,1% chez les enfants) en parvenant a: 1) une couverture [greater than or equal to]95% par la DN-HepB et la HepB3 et 2) une couverture [greater than or equal to]80% du depistage a la recherche de l'AgHBs chez les femmes enceintes et de l'administration d'immunoglobulines antihepatite B aux nouveau-nes exposes au VHB. En 2012, les 51 pays et territoires (ci-apres <>) de la Region des Ameriques administraient la HepB3 a l'echelle nationale; en 2021, 34 pays (67%) administraient la DN-HepB a l'echelle nationale. Des modeles mathematiques ont permis d'estimer que la prevalence de l'AgHBs chez les enfants etait [less than or equal to] 0,1% dans 14 pays (28%) et au niveau regional. Trois des 51 pays (6%) avaient atteint la cible d'une couverture de 95% par la HepB3 et la DN-HepB en 2021 et en 2022, dont 2 remplissaient probablement les criteres de l'elimination de la TME de l'infection par le VHB. En 2022, cependant, la couverture par la HepB3 etait inferieure de [greater than or equal to] 10 points de pourcentage dans 15 des 41 pays (37%) pour lesquels les donnees de couverture de 2012 etaient disponibles a des fins de comparaison. Cette diminution de la couverture par la HepB3 et l'absence de la DN-HepB dans les calendriers de vaccination systematique dans 17 pays menacent les progres de la Region vers l'elimination de la TME de l'infection par le VHB. Il est necessaire de deployer des efforts pour introduire la DN-HepB et maintenir une couverture elevee par la HepB3 et la DN-HepB., Introduction Globally, chronic HBV infection is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. (1) In 2022, an estimated 5 million people in the AMR (2) had chronic HBV infection, [...]

The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) was established in 1999 as an independent expert advisory body to WHO on policies and issues related to the safety of vaccines. [...]

The mission of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and [...]

The recommendations of the Immunization and Vaccines-related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC) are based on discussions during a virtual meeting of IVIR-AC on 26 February-1 March 2024. (1) Four sessions [...]

Tetanus remains a significant cause of mortality among undervaccinated mothers and their infants after unhygienic deliveries, especially in low-income countries. The strategies of the maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) initiative, which targets 59 priority countries, include strengthening antenatal vaccination of pregnant women with tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines (TTCVs), conducting TTCV supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) for women of reproductive age in high-risk districts, optimizing access to skilled birth attendants (SBAs) to ensure clean deliveries and clean umbilical cord care practices and identifying and investigating suspected cases of neonatal tetanus (NT). This report updates a previous report and describes progress towards achieving MNTE during 2000-2022. By December 2022, 47 (80%) of 59 priority countries were validated as having achieved MNTE. In 2022, of the 50 countries that reported coverage with [greater than or equal to]2 doses of TTCV (TTCV2+) among pregnant women, 16 (32%) reported coverage of [greater than or equal to]80%; and, of the 47 validated countries, 26 (55%) reported that [greater than or equal to]70% of births were assisted by SBAs. The number of NT cases reported worldwide decreased by 89%, from 17 935 in 2000 to 1995 in 2021, and the estimated number of deaths due to NT decreased by 84%, from 46 898 to 7719. Global disruption of routine vaccination due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, however, slowed progress. Since 2020, the reported number of NT cases has increased in 18 (31%) priority countries. To achieve and sustain global elimination, MNTE strategies should be integrated into countries' national immunization programmes. Le tetanos demeure une cause importante de mortalite chez les meres sous-vaccinees et leurs nourrissons apres des accouchements ne respectant pas les regles d'hygiene, en particulier dans les pays a faible revenu. Les strategies de l'initiative pour l'elimination du tetanos maternel et neonatal, qui cible 59 pays prioritaires, consistent a renforcer la vaccination prenatale des femmes enceintes contre le tetanos, a mener des activites de vaccination supplementaire (AVS) avec le vaccin antitetanique pour les femmes en age de procreer dans les districts a haut risque, a optimiser l'acces a des professionnels qualifies pour assister les parturientes afin de garantir des accouchements et des soins du cordon ombilical conformes aux regles d'hygiene, et a identifier les cas suspects de tetanos neonatal et mener des enquetes sur ces cas. Le present rapport actualise les informations fournies dans le rapport precedent et decrit les progres accomplis vers l'elimination du tetanos maternel et neonatal (TMN) au cours de la periode 2000-2022. En decembre 2022, l'elimination du TMN avait ete validee dans 47/59 (80%) pays prioritaires. En 2022, 16/50 (32%) pays qui avaient administre [greater than or equal to]2 doses de vaccin antitetanique aux femmes enceintes ont rapporte une couverture [greater than or equal to]80%; sur les 47 pays oU l'elimination du TMN a ete validee, 26 (55%) ont indique que [greater than or equal to]70% des accouchements avaient ete assistes par un professionnel qualifie. Entre 2000 et 2021, le nombre de cas de tetanos neonatal notifies dans le monde a diminue de 89%, passant de 17 935 a 1995, et le nombre estime de deces dus au tetanos neonatal a diminue de 84%, passant de 46 898 a 7719. Mais la pandemie de maladie a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), qui a perturbe les activites de vaccination systematique a l'echelle mondiale, a ralenti cette progression. Depuis 2020, le nombre de cas de tetanos neonatal notifies a augmente dans 18 (31%) pays prioritaires. Pour realiser et maintenir l'elimination a l'echelle mondiale, les strategies d'elimination du TMN doivent etre integrees dans les programmes nationaux de vaccination des pays prioritaires., Introduction Maternal and neonatal tetanus (1) remains a substantial cause of mortality among undervaccinated mothers and their infants after unhygienic delivery, especially in low-income countries. (2) In 1989, the World [...]

Background Trachoma, caused by particular serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis, is the leading infectious cause of blindness. Infection is transmitted by ocular and nasal secretions that are passed from person to [...]

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization convened for an extraordinary meeting on 7 May 2024. This report summarizes the discussions, conclusions and recommendations of the meeting. All [...]

The mission of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks, provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations, and to research, prevent and manage epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases; to strengthen and expand systems to rapidly detect, investigate and assess potential threats to public health; and to respond immediately and systematically to manage acute emergencies. La mission du Programme OMS de gestion des situations d'urgence sanitaire est de renforcer la capacite des Etats Membres a gerer les risques d'urgence sanitaire et, lorsque les capacites nationales sont depassees, de diriger et de coordonner l'action sanitaire internationale pour endiguer les flambees epidemiques, fournir des services efficaces de secours et de relevement aux populations touchees et mener des activites de recherche, de prevention et de prise en charge des maladies a potentiel epidemique etpandemique; de renforcer et d'etendre les systemes permettant de detecter, d'etudier et d'evaluer rapidement les menaces potentielles pour la sante publique; et d'intervenir immediatement et systematiquement pour gerer les situations d'urgence aigues., Summary of published disease outbreak news reports This is a summary of the disease outbreak news (DON) reports that have been published in May 2024. DON reports are WHO's mechanism [...]

Fans of economist Milton Friedman--of whom I'm one--should count themselves lucky that Stanford historian Jennifer Burns has written a detailed biography of him. Based on intensive archival research that only [...]

The child support collection process in the United States has largely failed. According to a 2020 Census Bureau report, only 62 percent of the more than $30 billion in authorized [...]

Boeing has been in the news a lot lately, for all the wrong reasons. The iconic aviation company has been struggling through a series of high-profile quality-control problems, including a [...]

In the US wireless communications market, antitrust regulators blocked so-called four-to-three mergers-mergers of two of the four largest competitors--in 2011 and 2014. But authorities did allow then-No. 3 carrier T-Mobile [...]

Background Three types of equine encephalitis virus circulate in the Americas: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). These 3 related, [...]

Introduction For over 20 years, the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Biosafety (TAG-B, previously called the Biosafety Advisory Group) has provided independent expertise and advice to WHO on strategic priorities [...]

High-quality data from surveillance of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) are critical for timely detection of and response to outbreaks. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) began a change from Epi Info, a statistical software package developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with limited capability to integrate with other information systems, affecting reporting timeliness and data use, to the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), a free, open-source software platform for electronic aggregate Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and case-based surveillance reporting. A national reporting system was introduced to allow countries to adopt this system. Regionally, the Epi Info database will be replaced by a DHIS2 regional data platform. This report describes phased implementation from 2019 to the present. Phase 1 (2019-2021) involved developing IDSR aggregate and case-based surveillance packages and pilot studies in Mali, Rwanda and Togo. Phase 2 (2022) included extending national implementation to 27 countries and establishing the WHO AFRO DHIS2 regional data platform. Phase 3 (from 2023 onwards) comprised building local capacity and support for national reporting to the regional platform. By February 2024, 8 of 47 AFRO countries had adopted both the aggregate IDSR and case-based surveillance packages, and 2 had successfully transferred VPD surveillance data to the AFRO regional platform. The challenges included limited human and financial resources, establishment of data-sharing and governance agreements, technical support for data transfer, and building local capacity to report to the regional platform. Transition to DHIS2 will ensure efficient data transmission to strengthen detection and response of VPD and public health emergencies through greater system integration and interoperability. Il est essentiel de disposer de donnees de surveillance de qualite sur les maladies a prevention vaccinale (MPV) pour detecter rapidement les flambees epidemiques et y riposter. En 2019, le Bureau regional de l'Organisation mondiale de la Sante (OMS) pour l'Afrique a commence a remplacer Epi Info, un progiciel statistique developpe par les Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) des Etats-Unis, s'adaptant difficilement a d'autres systemes d'information et ne permettant pas de bien tenir les delais ou de partager les donnees de maniere optimale, par le logiciel d'information sanitaire de district DHIS2 (District Health Information Software 2), une plateforme logicielle libre et gratuite pour les donnees de surveillance integree des maladies et la riposte et les donnees de surveillance basee sur l'identification des cas. Un systeme de notification au niveau national a ete mis en place, offrant aux pays la possibilite d'adopter ce nouveau systeme. Au niveau regional, la base de donnees Epi Info sera remplacee par une plateforme de donnees DHIS2 regionale. Le present rapport decrit la mise en oeuvre progressive de cette plateforme de 2019 a aujourd'hui. La phase 1 (2019-2021) a consiste a elaborer des modules pour les donnees agregees de surveillance integree des maladies et la riposte et de surveillance basee sur les cas; des essais pilotes ont ete menes au Mali, au Rwanda et au Togo. La phase 2 (2022) a vu l'extension de la mise en oeuvre au niveau national a 27 pays et la mise en place de la plateforme de donnees regionale DHIS2 du Bureau regional de l'OMS pour l'Afrique. Les activites de la phase 3 (a partir de 2023) ont porte sur le renforcement des capacites locales et l'appui aux pays pour la transmission des donnees nationales a la plateforme regionale. Les difficultes recensees concernaient le manque de ressources humaines et financieres, la necessite d'etablir des accords de partage et de gouvernance des donnees, l'appui technique pour le transfert des donnees et le renforcement des capacites locales pour la transmission des donnees a la plateforme regionale. En fevrier 2024, 8 pays parmi les 47 pays de la Region africaine de l'OMS avaient adopte les modules pour la surveillance integree des maladies et la riposte et pour la surveillance basee sur les cas, et 2 avaient transfere avec succes leurs donnees de surveillance sur les MPV vers la plateforme regionale. La transition vers la plateforme DHIS2 favorisera une transmission efficace des donnees pour renforcer la detection des MPV et des urgences de sante publique et la riposte a ces evenements grace a une meilleure integration et interoperabilite des systemes., Introduction VPD surveillance is critical to public health, as it provides data for timely detection of and response to VPD cases and outbreaks. High-quality, timely data are necessary to guide [...]

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization met on 11-13 March 2024. This report summarizes their discussions, conclusions, and recommendations. All SAGE recommendations are made using evidence-based methods, [...]

Poliomyelitis (polio) was first targeted for eradication in 1988. Global efforts have led to eradication of 2 of the 3 wild poliovirus (WPV) serotypes (types 2 and 3), and only WPV type 1 (WPV1) remains endemic and only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This report describes global polio immunization, surveillance activities and poliovirus epidemiology during January 2022-December 2023. Data are current as of 10 April 2024. In 2023, Afghanistan and Pakistan identified 12 WPV1 polio cases, as compared with 22 in 2022. WPV1 transmission was detected by systematic testing for poliovirus in sewage samples (environmental surveillance, ES) in 13 provinces in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2021 and in 7 in 2022. The number of polio cases caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) (circulating vaccine virus strains that have reverted to neurovirulence) decreased from 881 in 2022 to 524 in 2023; cVDPV outbreaks (defined as either a cVDPV case with evidence of circulation or at least 2 positive ES isolates) occurred in 32 countries in 2023, including 8 that had not experienced a cVDPV outbreak in 2022. Despite reductions in the number of cases of paralytic polio since 2022, cVDPVs and WPV1 (in countries with endemic transmission) were more widespread in 2023. Renewed efforts to vaccinate children who are persistently missed in countries with endemic WPV1 transmission, strengthening of routine immunization (RI) programmes in high-risk countries and providing more effective cVDPV outbreak response are necessary to achieve further progress towards global polio eradication. L'objectif d'eradiquer la poliomyelite a ete formule pour la premiere fois en 1988. Des efforts a l'echelle mondiale ont conduit a l'eradication de 2 des 3 serotypes (types 2 et 3) de poliovirus sauvage (PVS), et seul le PVS de type 1 (PVS1) demeure endemique dans 2 pays, l'Afghanistan et le Pakistan. Le present rapport decrit la vaccination contre la poliomyelite, les activites de surveillance et l'epidemiologie des poliovirus dans le monde entre janvier 2022 et decembre 2023. Il s'appuie sur des donnees recueillies jusqu'au 10 avril 2024. En 2023, l'Afghanistan et le Pakistan ont identifie 12 cas de PVS1, contre 22 en 2022. La surveillance environnementale, qui consiste a analyser de maniere systematique des echantillons d'eaux usees a la recherche de poliovirus, a detecte une transmission de PVS1 dans 13 provinces d'Afghanistan et du Pakistan en 2021 et dans 7 provinces en 2022. Le nombre de cas de poliomyelite dus aux poliovirus circulants derives d'une souche vaccinale (PVDVc) (souches de virus vaccinaux circulants qui ont retrouve leur neurovirulence) est passe de 881 en 2022 a 524 en 2023; des flambees epidemiques de PVDVc (definies comme un cas de PVDVc associe a une circulation averee du virus ou comme au moins 2 isolats positifs issus de la surveillance environnementale) sont survenues dans 32 pays en 2023, parmi lesquels 8 qui n'avaient pas connu de flambee de PVDVc en 2022. Malgre la reduction du nombre de cas de poliomyelite paralytique depuis 2022, les PVDVc et le PVS1 ont davantage circule en 2023 dans les pays oU la transmission est endemique. Pour continuer a progresser vers l'eradication mondiale de la poliomyelite, il est necessaire de redoubler d'efforts pour vacciner les enfants qui echappent encore a la vaccination dans les pays oU la transmission du PVS1 est endemique, en renforcant les programmes de vaccination systematique dans les pays a haut risque et en assurant une riposte plus efficace aux flambees de PVDVc., Introduction Since establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, WPV types 2 and 3 have been eradicated, and WPV1 remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In [...]

The mission of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks, provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations, and to research, prevent and manage epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases; to strengthen and expand systems to rapidly detect, investigate and assess potential threats to public health; and to respond immediately and systematically to manage acute emergencies. La mission du Programme OMS de gestion des situations d'urgence sanitaire est de renforcer la capacite des Etats Membres a gerer les risques d'urgence sanitaire et, lorsque les capacites nationales sont depassees, de diriger et de coordonner l'action sanitaire internationale pour endiguer les flambees epidemiques, fournir des services efficaces de secours et de relevement aux populations touchees et mener des activites de recherche, de prevention et de prise en charge des maladies a potentiel epidemique etpandemique; de renforcer et d'etendre les systemes permettant de detecter, d'etudier et d'evaluer rapidement les menaces potentielles pour la sante publique; et d'intervenir immediatement et systematiquement pour gerer les situations d'urgence aigues., Summary of published disease outbreak news reports This is a summary of the disease outbreak news (DON) reports that have been published in April 2024. DON reports are WHO's mechanism [...]

In accordance with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE), WHO has certified 200 countries, areas and territories (including 188 WHO Member States) as [...]

Introduction In accordance with its mandate to provide guidance to Member States on health policy matters, WHO issues a series of regularly updated position papers on vaccines and combinations of [...]

Introduction In accordance with its mandate to provide normative guidance to Member States on health policy matters, WHO issues a series of regularly updated position papers on vaccines and combinations [...]

Ebola virus disease (Ebola) is a rare but severe illness in humans, with an average case fatality rate of approximately 50%. There are currently 2 licensed vaccines against Orthoebolavirus zairense, the virus that causes Ebola: the 1-dose rVSV[DELTA]G-ZEBOV-GP (ERVEBO) and the 2-dose regimen of Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo (Zabdeno/Mvabea). The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommends use of 1-dose ERVEBO during Ebola outbreaks, and, in 2021, a global stockpile of ERVEBO was established to ensure equitable, timely, targeted access to vaccine doses for future Ebola outbreaks. This report describes the use of Ebola vaccines and the role of the stockpile developed and managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on vaccine provision during 2021-2023. A total of 145 690 doses have been shipped from the ICG stockpile since 2021; however, because there have been few outbreaks since 2021, which were rapidly contained, most doses (139 120; 95%) shipped from the stockpile have been repurposed for preventive vaccination of high-risk groups, compared to outbreak response (6570; 5%). Ensuring the availability of sufficient Ebola vaccine doses for emergency outbreak response remains the priority for the ICG stockpile; nonetheless, investments, advocacy and additional research to guide preventive vaccination are crucial for health system preparedness and resilience. La maladie a virus Ebola (MVE) est une maladie rare mais grave chez l'etre humain, avec un taux de letalite moyen avoisinant 50%. Il existe actuellement 2 vaccins homologues contre Orthoebolavirus zairense, le virus responsable de la MVE: le vaccin a 1 dose rVSV[DELTA]G-ZEBOV-GP (ERVEBO) et le vaccin a 2 doses Ad26.ZEBOV et MVA-BN-Filo (Zabdeno/Mvabea). Le Groupe strategique consultatif d'experts sur la vaccination (SAGE) recommande l'administration d'une dose de vaccin ERVEBO pendant les flambees epidemiques de MVE; en 2021, un stock mondial de vaccins ERVEBO a ete constitue pour garantir un acces equitable, rapide et cible aux doses de vaccin pour les futures flambees de MVE. Le present rapport decrit l'utilisation des vaccins contre le virus Ebola et le role du stock constitue et gere par le Groupe international de coordination pour l'approvisionnement en vaccins (GIC) au cours de la periode 20212023. Au total, 145 690 doses ont ete expediees a partir du stock du GIC depuis 2021. Toutefois, du fait que les flambees epidemiques depuis 2021 ont ete limitees et rapidement jugulees, la plupart des doses (139 120; 95%) expediees a partir du stock du GIC ont ete reaffectees a la vaccination preventive de groupes a haut risque, si l'on compare avec la riposte aux flambees (6570; 5%). Assurer la disponibilite d'un nombre suffisant de doses de vaccin contre le virus Ebola pour la riposte d'urgence aux flambees epidemiques reste la priorite du GIC; neanmoins, les investissements, le plaidoyer et les travaux de recherche supplementaires pour guider la vaccination preventive sont cruciaux pour la preparation et la resilience des systemes de sante., Introduction O. zairense, the virus responsible for Ebola, has caused the largest filovirus outbreaks worldwide; the average Ebola case fatality rate is approximately 50%. (1) Currently, 2 licensed vaccines are [...]

Executive summary The purpose of the research overseen by the WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research, as mandated by the World Health Assembly, (1) is to develop medical countermeasures [...]

Introduction The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (STAG-IH), a multidisciplinary group of external experts, was established by the WHO Director-General in 2018 [...]

The reliable and timely detection of poliovirus infection through surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), supplemented by environmental surveillance (ES) of sewage samples, is a critical component of the polio eradication programme. Since 1988, the number of polio cases caused by wild poliovirus (WPV) has decreased by >99.9%, and eradication of WPV serotypes 2 and 3 has been certified; only serotype 1 (WPV1) continues to circulate and transmission remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In this surveillance update, we evaluated indicators of AFP in surveillance, ES for polioviruses and data on the performance of the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) provided by 28 priority countries for the programme during 2022-2023. No WPV1 cases have been detected outside those countries since August 2022, when importation into Malawi and Mozambique resulted in an outbreak during 2021-2022. During 2022-2023, 20 of 28 priority countries (71.4%) met national AFP surveillance indicator targets, and the number of ES sites increased. Low national rates of reported AFP cases in priority countries in 2023 might have been due to lags in surveillance reporting; substantial national and subnational AFP surveillance gaps persist. Maintaining high-quality surveillance is critical to achieving the goal of global polio eradication. Monitoring surveillance indicators is important to identifying gaps and guiding surveillance-strengthening activities, particularly in countries at high risk for poliovirus circulation. La detection fiable et rapide de l'infection a poliovirus au moyen de la surveillance de la paralysie flasque aigue (PFA), completee par une surveillance des echantillons d'eaux usees, est un element essentiel du programme d'eradication de la poliomyelite. Depuis 1988, le nombre de cas de poliomyelite dus au poliovirus sauvage (PVS) a diminue de >99,9% et l'eradication des serotypes 2 et 3 du PVS a ete certifiee; seul le serotype 1 du poliovirus sauvage (PVS1) continue de circuler et la transmission demeure endemique en Afghanistan et au Pakistan. Dans ce rapport faisant le point sur la surveillance, nous evaluons les indicateurs de la PFA a des fins de surveillance pour la recherche des poliovirus et les donnees relatives aux performances du Reseau mondial de laboratoires pour la poliomyelite (RMLP) communiquees par les 28 pays prioritaires pour le programme en 2022-2023. Aucun cas du au PVS1 n'a ete detecte en dehors de ces pays depuis aout 2022, apres une flambee epidemique en 2021-2022 due a l'importation du virus au Malawi et au Mozambique. En 2022-2023, 20 des 28 pays prioritaires (71,4 %) ont atteint les cibles des indicateurs de surveillance de la PFA, et le nombre de sites de surveillance environnementale a augmente. Le faible nombre de cas de PFA signales dans les pays prioritaires en 2023 pourrait etre du a des retards dans la communication des donnees issues de la surveillance; d'importantes lacunes en matiere de surveillance de la PFA a l'echelle nationale et infranationale persistent. Il est essentiel de maintenir une surveillance de qualite afin d'atteindre l'eradication de la poliomyelite a l'echelle mondiale. Un suivi des indicateurs de surveillance est egalement important pour identifier les lacunes et orienter les activites de surveillance, particulierement dans les pays oU il existe un risque eleve de circulation du poliovirus., Introduction Since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was established in 1988, the number of WPV cases has decreased by >99.9%, and WPV serotypes 2 and 3 have been declared [...]

The mission of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and [...]

February 2024 The development of influenza candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs), coordinated by WHO, remains an essential component of the overall global strategy for influenza pandemic preparedness. Selection and development of [...]

Imagine the dilemma of a single mother working as a state accountant, who, amid the rising cost of living, finds herself reaching out to numerous agencies for support, only to [...]

Smoke rises from a burning building--the blare of sirens approaches. Firetrucks arrive on the scene. Firefighters jump out to combat the flames to save precious lives. The community applauds them, [...]

Scioto County, pronounced 'sigh-oh-tah,' is the largest county, geographically, in the state of Ohio. It sits at the southern tip of the state on the Ohio River and just across [...]

Of all commercial renewable generation technologies, offshore wind is the costliest, far more so than solar photovoltaics and onshore wind. The newest incarnation of offshore wind-floating turbines that can be [...]