WHO & Regional Offices [to 25 June 2016]

Health advice for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
21 June 2016 – WHO, today, releases health advice for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games geared towards national health authorities and health workers. The health advice gives measures travellers can take to be as safe as possible from any public health risk. WHO provides advice and support to host governments preparing for mass gathering events, including major sporting, religious, and cultural events.
:: Read the health advice

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Highlights
Research and development blueprint to prevent epidemics
June 2016 — WHO’s research and development blueprint is a global strategy that accelerates lifesaving R&D during epidemics. The strategy aims to fast-track the availability of effective tests, vaccines and medicines when they are most needed in emergency situations.

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Antiretroviral therapy reduces risk of life-threatening infections from HIV
June 2016 — Two new WHO studies confirm that HIV-related deaths can be dramatically reduced in both adults and children if access to antiretroviral therapy is provided as soon as possible, regardless of the stage of HIV infection. Opportunistic infections are the major cause of death for people with HIV.

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Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) 24 June 2016, vol. 91, 25 (pp. 317–328)
Contents
317 Maternal and neonatal tetanus validation assessment in Region 4, Indonesia, May 2016

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Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia 22 June 2016
:: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates 21 June 2016
:: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia 21 June 2016
:: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia 19 June 2016

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:: WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: From refusal to promotion: Religious leaders in Lunda Norte, Angola agree to advocate for yellow fever vaccination
The district health authorities, WHO and the Red Cross on 19 June 2016, met with leaders of one religious group based in Estufa neighbourhood, Chitato district, Lunda North province to explain the importance of yellow fever vaccination in protecting members of their communities from the disease.

The religious group is known for refusing any kind of medical assistance including vaccination. In the first encounter, the religious leaders resisted vaccination on the basis of biblical teachings. However following discussions between WHO and the pastors during which WHO’s mission was explained as Ensuring that all people stay healthy, a common ground was reached. WHO also helped the pastors define the meaning of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The group’s religious leader, Abel Moisés concluded that both the partners and they shared the same mission.
“In accordance with our faith, believers may be vaccinated,” said Moisés.

Moisés proceeded to orient the church members on the benefits of yellow fever vaccination, which they accepted to take. Among those who later went to seek vaccination was a pastor from the group. Since then 711 people have been vaccinated in this community.

The social mobilization team then visited three other churches and requested its religious leaders to share information on the benefits of yellow fever vaccination with the congregation. This helped to mobilize church members for vaccination at the nearby booth.

“Collaborating with religious leaders is a priority for WHO because of their influence in the community.” said Dr Hernando Agudelo, WHO Representative Angola. “By bringing religion and health together, we are able to properly inform communities and mobilize them to protect themselves in order to stop yellow fever in its tracks.”

Vaccine refusal puts members of the community at risk of the country’s yellow fever outbreak. To date 861 cases of yellow fever cases have been confirmed in Angola since December 2015…

:: Launch of emergency vaccination campaigns on the DR Congo and Angola border – 22 June 2016

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
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WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
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WHO European Region EURO
:: European countries agree to build on existing systems for rapid response to Zika virus 24-06-2016
:: WHO/Europe stands with refugees on World Refugee Day 20-06-2016

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Syria reaches 2 million children in first ever deworming campaign 24 June 2016
:: Clarification on a MERS-CoV case in Saudi Arabia 23 June 2016
:: Health advice for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games 21 June 2016

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: 7 Million Deaths Averted through Hepatitis B Vaccination
Hong Kong, 22 June 2016 – New data shows that hepatitis B vaccination across the Western Pacific has averted 7 million deaths that would have occurred among children born between 1990 and 2014. This signifies a tremendous public health achievement for the Region. This significant achievement represents an important step towards the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the Western Pacific Region by 2030.