Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks sign of our ‘dangerous’ times: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) chief highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks during the annual assembly in Geneva. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that these health crises reflect the broader issues of conflict, economic instability, and climate change. The assembly also faced sensitive discussions regarding Taiwan's observer status and the implications of the United States and Argentina's potential withdrawals from the organization.
- ▪The WHO declared a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international health emergency.
- ▪Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing health crises.
- ▪The WHO's budget has been significantly reduced, leading to job cuts and program reductions.
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Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks sign of our ‘dangerous’ times: WHOSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxThe WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the assembly that "we live in difficult, dangerous and divisive times".PHOTO: AFPPublished May 19, 2026, 04:23 AMUpdated May 19, 2026, 04:24 AMGENEVA - The deadly hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks are only the latest crises in “dangerous and divisive” times, the World Health Organization chief said May 18.Opening the body’s annual decision-making assembly in Geneva, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of the new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which he declared an international health emergency over the weekend, and the rare hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.The two “are just the latest crises…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.