The World Health Organization and UNICEF released the first global community hand-hygiene guideline on October 15, 2025, listing toilet use among five key times to clean hands. Soap and running water remove germs from hands before later contact with food, shared surfaces or the face; sanitizer does not remove every type of germ.
The World Health Organization identifies dehydration as the most severe immediate threat from watery diarrhea. Oral rehydration can replace fluid and electrolytes, while altered alertness, bloody or black stool, severe pain or an inability to keep fluids down require prompt care.
The World Health Organization published a new COVID-19 vaccine position paper on July 31, 2026, directing countries to focus routine vaccination on people at the highest risk of severe disease. Previous doses do not settle current eligibility because protection wanes and age thresholds, schedules, products, funding and availability differ by country.
The World Health Organization issued its 2026-2027 northern hemisphere flu vaccine composition recommendation on February 27, 2026, after reviewing global surveillance data. Annual vaccination addresses changing viruses and waning protection, but effectiveness, products and timing vary by season, age, health and country.
US officials said on August 20 that a Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico had reached 10,930 illnesses in 17 states, including 454 hospitalizations and two deaths. The recalled lettuce should no longer be available, but the source investigation remains open as agencies review cases and inspect growing sites in Mexico.
WHO designated PQ.16.1.1 a SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring on July 27, 2026, after its share of available sequences rose, mainly in the Western Pacific. The agency rated the additional global public health risk as low, while warning that sparse and geographically concentrated evidence limits confidence.
Taiwan added PCV21 to its publicly funded adult pneumococcal vaccination program on August 10, 2026, giving eligible people a choice of PCV20 or PCV21. One PCV20 or PCV21 dose completes Taiwan's current program when a dose is due, but previous vaccines, age and risk still determine eligibility and timing.
WHO's July 2025 position paper recommends herpes zoster vaccination for older adults where shingles is an important public health problem. Countries still set their own age, coverage and access rules, while recombinant vaccine requires a two-dose course.
The World Health Organization published an updated COVID-19 vaccine position paper on July 31, 2026, with recommendations organized by risk group and national context. A practical adult vaccine review starts with documented doses, then applies the age, pregnancy, health, work and travel rules used where care is received.
The World Health Organization's European office said on July 24, 2026, that adults should apply approved mosquito repellent to young children and keep it off their hands, eyes and mouth. Age limits differ among countries, so the locally authorized label must guide product choice and application.
The World Health Organization classifies children under five as being at higher risk of severe influenza and calls for antiviral treatment as soon as possible in high-risk cases. Breathing problems, reduced alertness or dehydration require immediate care, while medicine and school-return rules vary by country.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention renewed its Ebola-related entry suspension for 30 days on August 12. Uganda and South Sudan remain covered even though Uganda ended its outbreak and South Sudan has reported no confirmed cases.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 10 recognizing an 11-disease core childhood immunization list and calling for separate measles, mumps and rubella shots. Separate products are not currently available in the United States, while state school mandates do not change automatically.
The US Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a 51-44 vote on August 5. She takes over after repeated leadership changes and the loss of more than one-quarter of the agency's workforce.
Confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo passed 4,200 by August 9, with more than 1,900 deaths. Tests found no infections among passengers quarantined on a river boat near Kinshasa, but the wider outbreak continues without an approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Australia’s H5 bird flu tally reached 220 confirmed or presumed-positive detections on August 9, all outside poultry and agricultural production. A mass mortality event among greater crested terns in South Australia shows why the number of positive samples does not capture the outbreak’s full toll.
The US State Department apologized after a presentation at AIDS 2026 displayed a map that misplaced and distorted African countries. The department blamed a last-minute slide change, while a Reuters analysis found a watermark indicating likely use of OpenAI tools.
Most sore throats improve within a week without antibiotics, according to US public-health guidance. Breathing or swallowing difficulty, dehydration and worsening symptoms require medical assessment rather than continued home care.
World Health Organization guidance identifies dehydration as the main immediate danger from acute diarrhea. Oral rehydration solution can replace lost water and electrolytes, while blood in the stool, inability to keep fluids down or altered alertness calls for prompt medical care.
World Health Organization guidance says cooked food should not remain at room temperature for more than two hours. United States guidance shortens that window to one hour above 32°C, while WHO advises cold storage below 5°C and hot holding above 60°C.
Taiwan completed a tender in May 2026 for up to 7,050,150 publicly funded trivalent influenza vaccine doses for the 2026-27 season. The program adds adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines for older care-home residents, but its launch date had not been published by July 30.
World Health Organization guidance tells parents to seek medical advice when a child with hand, foot and mouth disease develops high fever, vomiting, lethargy or limb weakness. Sudden weakness or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking requires urgent assessment, while prevention centers on soap-and-water handwashing and cleaning shared surfaces.
The World Health Organization advises households to empty, clean and cover water-holding containers every week to limit dengue mosquito breeding. Rain can refill plant saucers, discarded tires and other small containers, so source reduction depends on repeated checks rather than a one-time cleanup.
