Hepatitis C treatment guidelines issued

9 April 2014 -- WHO has issued its first guidance for the treatment of hepatitis C, a chronic infection that affects an estimated 130 million to 150 million people and results in 350 000 to 500 000 deaths a year. The publication of the "WHO Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection" coincides with the availability of more effective and safer oral hepatitis medicines, along with the promise of even more new medicines in the next few years.

• Read the news release about WHO’s first hepatitis C treatment guidelines
• Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection

4 April 2014 – Mosquitoes, flies, ticks and bugs may be a threat to your health – and that of your family - at home and when travelling. This is the message of this year’s World Health Day, on 7 April. This short video highlights simple measures we can take to protect ourselves.

• Watch the video
• Find out more on World Health Day 2014

4 April 2014 – Two patients were released from the Ebola isolation ward at Donka national teaching hospital in Guinea on 3 April, having spent 7 days in the isolation ward after testing positive for Ebola virus. Free of symptoms for 3 days and testing negative for Ebola, they were allowed to re-join their family and friends. This shows that Ebola is not always fatal. Good, early supportive care such as hydration, nutrition and appropriate medication makes a positive difference.

• Read more on health care to Ebola patients in Guinea

2 April 2014 -- More than half the world’s population is at risk from diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, schistosomiasis, and yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, flies, ticks, water snails and other vectors. Every year, more than 1 billion people are infected and more than 1 million die from vector-borne diseases. This World Health Day – 7 April – WHO is highlighting the serious and increasing threat of vector-borne diseases, with the slogan “Small bite, big threat”.

• News release on preventing vector-borne diseases
• World Health Day 2014: vector-borne diseases
• Global brief on vector-borne diseases