Global health

Current and future vaccines could help reduce reliance on antibiotics, AMR says

Vaccine development needs to be incentivised and those already available need to be administered more widely to help reduce the use of antibiotics, according to the latest report by the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance.…

Q&A: The story on the Zika virus and microcephaly so far

David Heymann talks about the Zika virus and microcephaly, the latest global public health emergency, and what is being done to tackle it.…

WHO declares Zika outbreak an international public health emergency as companies step up research efforts

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of the Zika virus, which is spreading across the Caribbean and Latin America, an international public health emergency.…

Pregnant women destined for Americas should reconsider travel plans, advises UK government

Pregnant women and those with severe chronic illness or immune system disorder should consult a health professional before travelling to areas where Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks are reported, according to advice from the UK government.…

UN officials call for pauses in Syrian conflict to vaccinate children

United Nations officials based in Syria have called on the warring sides to implement humanitarian pauses in the conflict to allow aid to reach millions of people and for children to be vaccinated.…

Every stage of the UK government’s response to Ebola epidemic was delayed, MPs report

Every stage of the UK’s response to the Ebola epidemic was undermined by systemic delays, according to a report written by MPs, following an inquiry into the country’s ability to deal with disease emergencies.…

Pharmaceutical industry calls on governments to help tackle antimicrobial resistance

Pharmaceutical companies from across the world have called on governments to work with industry to develop new antibiotics and preserve the effectiveness of existing ones.…

Ebola vaccine deal worth US$5m agreed between Gavi and Merck

Gavi and Merck reached an agreement that will enable Merck’s Ebola virus vaccine to be stockpiled against future outbreaks of the disease.…

Pharmaceutical innovation continues to drive improvements in global health

Over the past 15 years, pharmaceutical innovation, coupled with lower prices and improved access to essential medicines, has driven improvements in global health outcomes, says a World Health Organization report.…

People taking HIV drugs rises to almost 16 million, UNAIDs reports

The number of people receiving HIV treatment reached 15.8 million in June 2015, an increase of 2.2 million on the previous year, says a new report by UNAIDS.…