Thread by @WHO

LIVE: Media briefing on global health issues with @DrTedros twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

@DrTedros "WHO is continuing to support the government of 🇺🇬 to respond to #Ebola outbreak in 4 districts. So far:
-63 confirmed & probable cases have been reported, incl. 29 deaths
-10 👩‍⚕️ have been infected & 4 have died
-4 people have recovered & are receiving follow-up care"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros "WHO has released $2 million from Contingency Fund for Emergencies and we are working with our partners to support the @MinofHealthUG to strengthen the response by sending additional specialists, supplies, and resources"-@DrTedros #Ebola #Uganda

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577644843366498306?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG "When there is a delay in detecting an #Ebola outbreak, it is normal for cases to increase steadily at the beginning and then decrease as life-saving interventions and outbreak control measures are implemented"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577645151916367874?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG "The vaccines used successfully to curb recent #Ebola outbreaks in #DRC are not effective against the type of Ebola virus that is responsible for this outbreak [in #Uganda]"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG "However, several vaccines are in various stages of development against this virus, two of which could begin clinical trials in #Uganda in the coming weeks, pending regulatory and ethics approvals from the Ugandan government"-@DrTedros #Ebola

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577645418111975425?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG "Although the waters have stopped rising [in #Pakistan], the danger is only increasing. Over 1,500 lives were lost in the floods, but many more could be lost to disease in the coming weeks, without a massive and urgent international response"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1577375092006232064?s=20&t=j_U4jMyAI34JrqL9thaejg

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG "WHO’s Executive Director for Health Emergencies, @DrMikeRyan, has just led a team to #Pakistan to assess the needs. Approximately 10% of all of Pakistan’s health facilities have been damaged, leaving millions without access to health care"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan "Stocks of essential medicines & medical supplies are limited or have been washed away;
Damaged roads & bridges are impeding access to services and supplies;
Disease surveillance & referral mechanisms have been severely disrupted"-@DrTedros #Pakistan

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577645941682757634?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan "There are now outbreaks of malaria, cholera and dengue, an increase in skin infections, and we estimate that more than 2000 women are giving birth every day, most of them in unsafe conditions"-@DrTedros #Pakistan

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577646163590774784?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan "WHO’s focus is on supporting:
-Those in camps
-Those who are living along the 🛣️ for hundreds of kilometres
-Those in areas cut off by flood, who are very difficult to access
-Those in areas where the water is receding & are returning 🏠 to destroyed villages"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan "In August, WHO released $10 million from our Contingency Fund for Emergencies, but this massive and unprecedented disaster needs a massive and unprecedented response"-@DrTedros #Pakistan

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan "Today we've issued an appeal for $81.5 million to support WHO’s work to support the delivery of immunization and other life-saving health services;
To address severe acute malnutrition;
To enhance disease surveillance;
And to strengthen water and sanitation"-@DrTedros #Pakistan

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan "We urge our donors and partners to support this effort. In the words of the @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres, this is not about generosity, this is about justice"-@DrTedros #Pakistan

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577647360112484352?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "Several countries in Europe are reporting an increase in #COVID19 cases, hospitalizations & deaths. This is to be expected as the weather cools & people spend more time together inside, & most countries no longer have measures in place to limit the spread of the virus"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "We expect reported cases of #COVID19 to increase. But the deaths don’t have to, given we have vaccines and therapeutics that can save lives.
Omicron remains the dominant variant globally, and WHO and our partners are tracking more than 300 sub-variants"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "But surveillance, testing and sequencing remain weak globally, which makes tracking this virus like chasing shadows. So we continue to call on all countries to increase surveillance, testing and sequencing, and to ensure the most at-risk groups are vaccinated"-@DrTedros #COVID19

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "At the same time, the Northern hemisphere #influenza season is starting. Measures introduced to curb the spread of #COVID19 during the pandemic also helped to reduce the burden of flu. But with most of those measures lifted, flu is back, and shouldn't be taken lightly"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "#Flu vaccines are safe and effective in reducing severe disease and death - especially among the most at-risk groups. So please, get your flu vaccine"-@DrTedros #VaccinesWork

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "Another disease making an unwelcome comeback is #cholera. After years of declining cases 🌍, we've seen a worrying upsurge of cholera outbreaks around the globe over the past year. In the first 9 months of this year alone, 27 countries have reported cholera outbreaks"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "Not only are we seeing more outbreaks, but more deadly outbreaks. The data we have – which are limited – show the average case fatality rate so far this year is almost three times the rate of the past five years"-@DrTedros #cholera

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577648623621472310?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "In #Syria, 10,000+ suspected cases of #cholera have been reported just in the past 6 weeks.
In #Haiti, after 3+ years with no cases of cholera, 2 cases have been officially reported this week, with 20 suspected cases and 7 deaths under investigation in other areas"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "It’s likely the actual number of cases is significantly higher [in #Haiti]. This outbreak is a particular setback as Haiti was preparing to be certified as cholera-free later this year"-@DrTedros #cholera

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577649073959702529?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "Although #cholera can kill within hours, it can be prevented with 💉 & access to safe 💧 & 🚽, & can be treated easily with oral rehydration or antibiotics for more severe cases. But the reality is that many people don’t have access to these simple interventions"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "In 2013, WHO and our partners created an international stockpile of #cholera vaccines, which last year shipped 27 million doses. But with an increasing number of outbreaks, supply cannot keep up with demand"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "We urge the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers to talk to us about how we can increase production"-@DrTedros #cholera

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577649593491329024?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "#Cholera thrives on poverty and conflict, but is now being turbo-charged by #climatechange. Extreme climate events like floods, cyclones and droughts further reduce access to clean water and create the ideal environment for cholera to spread"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "#Cholera is deadly, but it’s also preventable and treatable. With the right planning and action, we can reverse this trend"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "WHO has today issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in #Gambia that have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children. The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India. WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577649953106583552?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "While the contaminated products have so far only been detected in The #Gambia, they may have been distributed to other countries. WHO recommends all countries detect and remove these products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577650046518104065?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres Ebola in 🇺🇬
Outbreaks in 🇵🇰
Cholera around the 🌍
The ongoing #COVID19 pandemic
The 🌍 monkeypox outbreak
The annual threat of influenza
Contaminated 💊
All illustrate why it’s so urgent that all countries invest in strengthening their defences against outbreaks"-@DrTedros

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "In particular, it shows why cost-effective investments in disease surveillance and primary health care are so important"-@DrTedros

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1577650768345284614?s=20&t=GkNn51xF032YKD7WiYBmOA

@DrTedros @MinofHealthUG @DrMikeRyan @UN @antonioguterres "Emergencies are an unfortunate fact of life. We might be able to prevent some, but we can’t prevent them all. But by investing in strong health systems at the local level, we can mitigate the impact emergencies have and save many lives"-@DrTedros