Tedros is in the news for warning about attacks on healthcare amid Gaza and Iran conflicts. He's Ethiopia’s former health minister and WHO director.
As of February 2026, two Nipah virus cases were confirmed in West Bengal, India, involving healthcare workers. Authorities traced 196 contacts, all testing negative. Bangladesh reported a fatal case linked to raw date palm sap. The virus, carried by fruit bats, has a high fatality rate (40-75%) and spreads via animal contact, contaminated food, or close human contact. Neighboring Asian countries have increased airport screenings. No vaccine or approved treatment exists yet.
Fighting in South Sudan's Jonglei State has intensified, causing widespread displacement, attacks on healthcare facilities, and disrupting aid. The UN reports over 370,000 displaced this year, with escalating violence threatening to undermine peace efforts and worsen humanitarian conditions.
Vaccine stocks have increased to nearly 70 million doses, enabling the restart of preventive campaigns in Mozambique and other countries. The move aims to curb ongoing outbreaks, with initial doses allocated to Mozambique, Congo, and Bangladesh amid a surge in cholera cases since 2021.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Jordan, focusing on humanitarian efforts. They met refugees, children evacuated from Gaza, and supported health and food aid initiatives, including the WHO and World Central Kitchen. The trip highlights ongoing regional crises and aid efforts.
Iran faces intensified US and Israeli strikes, damaging civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and killing over 1,200 since Saturday. The conflict expanded with a US submarine sinking an Iranian frigate near Sri Lanka. WHO reports multiple attacks on health facilities, raising international concern.
Israel continues its military strikes in Lebanon and Gaza amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah and Iran-backed groups. Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage rise, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians and medical facilities. The conflict enters its third week, with regional escalation likely.
The UK faces potential medicine shortages within weeks due to disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Experts warn that supply shocks, rising costs, and logistical delays threaten access to essential medicines, with vulnerable populations at risk. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
On March 20, 2026, a drone strike hit Al Deain Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, killing 70 people including 13 children, two nurses, and a doctor. The attack injured 146 others and severely damaged the hospital, rendering it non-functional. This marks the 213th attack on healthcare facilities since Sudan's civil war began in April 2023, with over 2,000 fatalities reported.
A strike on Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur killed 70, including children and women, and injured 146. The attack rendered the hospital non-functional, worsening Sudan's ongoing humanitarian crisis. Both sides blame each other, with the military denying targeting the facility. The war has caused thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.
Countries across Africa are advancing efforts to improve healthcare access through new diagnostics, training, and infrastructure. Namibia is expanding TB detection, Uganda is exploring AI diagnostics, and South Africa trials portable tests. Meanwhile, Africa faces a critical surgical workforce shortage, impacting treatment for conditions like cleft lip and palate.
Cuba's government is engaging in early dialogue with the US, despite threats and sanctions. Cuba faces ongoing power outages and a humanitarian crisis worsened by US sanctions and oil blockades. Cuba's leadership emphasizes dialogue, but US threats and internal political influences complicate progress.
On March 28, 2026, an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed three journalists: Ali Shoeib of Hezbollah's Al Manar, Fatima Ftouni of Al Mayadeen, and her brother Mohammad Ftouni. Israel claimed Shoeib was a Hezbollah intelligence operative, a charge denied by Hezbollah. Lebanese officials condemned the attack as a war crime. The strike occurred during intensified Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.
The WHO warns of multiple attacks on Iran's health facilities, including the Pasteur Institute in Tehran, which has sustained significant damage. The strikes are part of broader assaults on infrastructure amid ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel. The WHO has launched an urgent aid appeal.
The WHO suspended medical evacuations from Gaza after a staff member was killed during a security incident. The incident occurred as tensions remain high following recent clashes and ongoing conflict, with humanitarian efforts hampered by security concerns and border restrictions.
A third-grade student, Ritaj Rihan, was shot in a classroom in Gaza, causing psychological trauma. The incident occurred during ongoing Israeli military operations under a ceasefire since October 2023. Gaza's population remains confined to a small part of the territory, with schools operating in tents amid destruction and shortages. Over 71,000 people have been killed in the conflict since October.
A measles outbreak in South Carolina has been contained after 42 days without new cases. Since October, nearly 1,000 people have been sickened, with vaccination efforts increasing by over 30%. Nationwide, measles cases continue to rise, driven by vaccine hesitancy and recent policy shifts.