Kaduna, Nigeria 22 January 2016 - The Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates has applauded the World Health Organization for the support to the Nigeria Government in establishing environmental surveillance and building sustainable institutional capacity needed to ensure that there is no undetected circulation of the wild polio virus (WPV).

Abuja, 22 January 2016 - Traditional leaders from 19 Northern states have resolved to intensify community sensitization efforts in their respective domains and bring to an end, the Lassa fever outbreak, which as of 20 January 2015, recorded a total of 239 suspected cases and 44 confirmed cases, with 82 deaths from both confirmed and suspected cases in 17 states as well as  the Federal Capital Territory.

Lassa Fever is named after Lassa town in Borno State and is endemic in most of the northern states.

Victoria, Seychelles, 20 January 2016 -- The Minister of Health (MOH) signed the biennial plan of work for the period 2016 – 2017 at a media event held on Friday 16th January 2017. The plan was formally approved by Minister Mitcy Larue in the presence of senior Ministry of Health officials and the media, following the endorsement of the plan by the Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. The signed plan was handed over by the Minister of Health on behalf of the Government of Seychelles to the World Health Organization acting WHO Liaison Officer for Seychelles Dr.

Kampala, 19 January 2016 -- The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidisho Moeti paid a courtesy call on the Rt Honorable Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda at his office in Kampala. 
 
Dr. Moeti had come to Uganda to attend and preside over the Joint Action Forum (JAF) for the African Program on Onchocerciasis Control in Africa (APOC).
 

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation confirms a positive swab Ebola case after the death of a 22 year old female student at Magburaka town in Tonkolili district on 12 January 2016. 

A swab team collected a swab sample and after three positive results confirmed at an accredited laboratory in Makeni, a second accreditated laboratory in Kambia reconfirmed the results.

Despite the progress made in controlling the deadly Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in the West African Sub-

Abuja, 15 January, 2016 -- Lassa fever, which is endemic in Nigeria, has between late December 2015 and January 14, 2016 resulted in 53 deaths in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

Lassa fever outbreak is a yearly occurrence during the dry season in Nigeria but, this year’s outbreak is more widespread with 10 states, 140 suspected and 30 confirmed cases. The case fatality rate (CFR) is significantly high at 53 or 37.9% of all cases.

14 January 2016 -- Today, WHO declares the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia and says all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa. But the Organization says the job is not over, more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come

More on the end of the Ebola in Liberia

14 January 2016 -- Today, WHO declares the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia and says all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa. But the Organization says the job is not over, more flare-ups are expected and that strong surveillance and response systems will be critical in the months to come.