United Nations

WHO renames monkeypox as mpox, citing racism concerns LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization has renamed monkeypox as mpox, citing concerns the original name of the decades-old animal disease could be construed as discriminatory and racist. The U.N. AP NEWS

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The U.N. health agency said in a statement Monday that mpox was its new preferred name for monkeypox, saying that both monkeypox and mpox would be used for the next year while the old name is phased out.

Africa CDC chief urges more COVID-19 testing as cases rise KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The head of Africa's top public health institute is urging authorities across the continent to step up COVID-19 testing amid a concerning rise in new cases in some countries. AP NEWS

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The continent of 1.3 billion people saw a 37% rise in new cases over the past week, Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday.

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The U.N. is mulling another mission to Haiti. Haitians are skeptical. Foreign intervention is a delicate and divisive subject in the beleaguered Caribbean nation. The 2010 cholera outbreak and the U.N. response show why. Washington Post

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WHO reports 90% drop in world COVID-19 deaths since February GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization chief on Wednesday said a nearly 90% drop in recent COVID-19 deaths globally compared to nine months ago provides “cause for optimism,” but still urged vigilance against the pandemic as variants continue to crop up. AP NEWS

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Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that last week just over 9,400 deaths linked to the coronavirus were reported to the WHO. In February of this year, he said, weekly deaths had topped 75,000 globally.

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