measles

WHO

Child vaccinations down in DR Congo, and COVID-19 is not helping: UNICEF

15 May 2020
Health

Fewer children are getting vaccinated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the COVID-19 pandemic is almost certainly going to make matters worse, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says. If the trend continues, it could trigger a resurgence in deadly childhood diseases such as polio, chickenpox, measles, yellow fever, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and meningitis.

© UNICEF/Helene Sandbu Ryeng

COVID-19 isolation threatens life-saving vaccinations for millions of children globally

13 April 2020
Health

As countries around the world continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 117 million children risk missing out on measles vaccines, two UN agencies warned in Geneva on Tuesday.

© UNICEF/Karel Prinsloo

Coronavirus poses latest threat to battered health system in DR Congo

31 March 2020
Health

The looming threat of the new coronavirus disease COVID-19 is just the latest challenge to the beleaguered health care system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is struggling with deadly measles and cholera epidemics that have killed thousands of children over the past year, the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

OCHA/Otto Bakano

News in Brief 5 February 2020

5 February 2020
News in Brief
  • 'Tremendous gap' between refugee resettlement and placements: UNHCR
  • UN refugee chief wraps up visit to three countries in the Sahel
  • WHO and UNICEF support massive measles campaign in South Sudan
Audio -
3'7"
UN News/Elizabeth Scaffidi

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Syria, polio, DR Congo, Sudan updates, and, the art of stealing

7 January 2020
Peace and Security

Tuesday’s top stories include: A “daily nightmare” in Syria’s Idlib; polio remains an international health emergency; Guterres extends condolences as Australia bushfires continue; measles in DR Congo; clashes in Darfur displace thousands; and a celebration of stolen art.

© UNICEF/Diefaga

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Human Rights Day, Samoa measles, COP25, economic slowdown, Myanmar at ICJ

10 December 2019
Human Rights

A recap of Tuesday’s stories includes a day of activism on Human Rights Day; 70 Samoan lives now claimed by measles; COP25 news roundup from Madrid; global trade on the slide; and legal proceedings begin at the ICJ against Myanmar, as Aung San Suu Kyi prepares to defend her country against genocide allegations.

UN News/Daniel Johnson

News in Brief 10 December 2019

10 December 2019
News in Brief
  • Samoa measles outbreak claims 70 lives, majority are children under five  
  • Protecting indigenous people ‘our responsibility’ says activist 
  • World economy ‘in grip of global slowdown after 2018 surge’ 
Audio -
3'17"
© UNICEF/Sa'o Mulivai

Samoa measles outbreak claims 70 lives, majority are children under five

10 December 2019
Humanitarian Aid

Seventy people have now died from Samoa’s measles outbreak, UN humanitarians confirmed on Tuesday, as the organization released emergency funding to help the authorities step up efforts to eradicate the preventable disease.

© UNICEF/Sa'o Mulivai

Thursday’s Daily Brief: Samoa measles epidemic, Dozens die off Mauritania, Volunteer Day and Zambia’s food troubles

5 December 2019
Health

A recap of Thursday’s top stories: Dozens of migrants drowned off Mauritanian coast; measles grip Samoa as social media campaigns spread misinformation worldwide; UN chief on lifting landlocked countries from poverty; Guterres lauds volunteer spirit and millions face food insecurity in Zambia.

©UNICEF/Allan Stephen

UN team aids Samoa response to deadly measles epidemic

5 December 2019
Health

UN teams are on the ground in Samoa as the country combats a deadly measles epidemic. So far, there have been more than 4,200 cases and 62 deaths, mainly babies, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency on 15 November and launch a mass vaccination campaign five days later.