Interviews

What’s believed to be the largest outbreak ever of the deadly bacterial disease Listeriosis — or Listeria — has left more than 60 people dead across South Africa, with nearly 750 confirmed cases.

That’s according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday, which praised the response of the South African Government so far.

WHO Country Representative, Dr. Rufaro Chatora, commended the “openness” of the Government, which has shared detailed information on the outbreak in accordance with International Health Regulations.

Social media companies, in particular Facebook, need to do more to "help explain the dangers" of embarking on migrant journeys in search of a better life.

That’s according to Leonard Doyle, Director of the Media and Communication Division for the UN migration agency, IOM.

He was speaking following reports that close to 200 migrants or refugees are feared dead at sea already this year, along the perilous central Mediterranean migration route.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 40.3 million people were victims of forced labour and modern slavery in 2017.  The 2016 Global Report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that the majority of trafficking victims – 51 per cent ­­– are women.