Highlights

WHO/Christopher Black Measles deaths drop worldwide by 74% 4 December 2008 -- Measles deaths worldwide fell by 74% between 2000 and 2007. The Eastern Mediterranean region has achieved the UN goal to reduce measles deaths by 90% by 2010, three years early. Read the news release

WHO/Christopher Black Democratic Republic of the Congo: WHO in action 2 December 2008 -- WHO and its partners have launched an intense health operation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This photo gallery provides a snapshot of the operation. View the photo gallery

Essential medicines out of reach for most people
1 December 2008 -- An alarming lack of availability of essential medicines in the public sector drives patients to pay higher prices in the private sector or go without, according to a WHO study reported in today’s online edition of The Lancet.
Read the news release

DISEASE OUTBREAKS Cholera in Zimbabwe 2 December 2008 Yellow fever in Burkina Faso 3 November 2008 EVENTS WHO event on climate change and health at UNFCCC conference 1-12 December 2008 World Cancer Day 4 February 2009 Events calendar CRISES AND EMERGENCIES Avian influenza Full coverage of the evolving situation Emergencies and disasters Health action in crisis situations

EDITOR'S CHOICE World Health Report 2008 Report, data tables and photos for download. Podcast Download, subscribe or listen to recent episodes FEATURES Global burden of disease New fact file Sexually transmitted infections New fact file More features

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