Geneva, 22 October -- The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is alerting governments and the public that the tobacco industry is intensifying efforts to interfere with the work of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the treaty’s decision-making body, to weaken global tobacco control measures.
The WHO FCTC is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO and one of the most widely and rapidly embraced United Nations treaties in history. A total of 183 Parties have joined the Convention, which entered into force 20 years ago.
The Eleventh session of the COP, which will be held from 17-22 November in Geneva, Switzerland, will bring together Parties to the Convention to take the decisions necessary to work towards achieving the objectives of the WHO FCTC, including the discussion of measures to prevent nicotine addiction, and for the protection of the environment and human health, among others.
The Meeting of the Parties (MOP), which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 24-26 November, serves as the governing body of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products—an international treaty that entered into force in 2018 and has 71 Parties. At the MOP, Parties will consider a range of measures aimed at shaping the future of the Protocol and its role in eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products.
“With strategies varying from lobbying to outright attempts to manipulate delegations, the tobacco industry’s tactics are a cause for serious concern,” said Andrew Black, Acting Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC.
“This is not just lobbying; it is a deliberate strategy to try to derail consensus and weaken measures to further the treaty’s implementation. Tobacco industry interference is one of the biggest constraints and barriers to the implementation of the Convention. The Secretariat strongly urges Parties, civil society and other stakeholders working to support tobacco control to remain vigilant against the industry’s tactics and misinformation. Governments have obligations under the WHO FCTC to fully implement Article 5.3, requiring the protection of public health policies from the commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.”
Evidence from independent civil society actors, including those that are observers to the Conference of the Parties, shows the industry’s interference includes:
These tactics mirror those documented in the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, which reports on tobacco industry interference globally.
The WHO FCTC Secretariat urges all Parties to:
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The Fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4), being held at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland from 24-26 November, serves as the governing body of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products—an international treaty that entered into force in 2018.
The Protocol, which comprises 71 Parties, aims to eradicate illicit trade in tobacco products through a coordinated set of measures implemented by countries in cooperation with one another.
At MOP4, Parties will consider a range of measures aimed at shaping the future of the Protocol and its role in combatting illicit trade in tobacco products.
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Please note that non-UN accredited correspondents wishing to cover COP11 and/or MOP4 need to be accredited.
In line with current United Nations policies for media accreditation to the World Health Assembly, and in accordance with COP and MOP decisions FCTC/COP8(12) and FCTC/MOP1(15).
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20 October 2025 - Suva/Manila/Geneva - In a landmark public health achievement, Fiji has been validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer poses a public health threat in the country.
Trachoma is the first NTD to be eliminated in Fiji. Fiji is the 26th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem and the 58th country globally to eliminate at least one NTD.
“WHO congratulates Fiji and its network of global and local partners on reaching this milestone,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Future generations of Fijians have been given a precious gift in being set free from the suffering that trachoma has inflicted on their ancestors.”
Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through personal contact, interactions with contaminated surfaces and on flies that have been in contact with eye or nose discharge of an infected person. Repeated infections can lead to scarring, in-turning of the eyelids, and ultimately blindness. Globally, the disease remains endemic in many vulnerable communities where access to clean water and sanitation is limited.
“Fiji’s success in eliminating trachoma is a beacon of what’s possible when communities, governments, and partners unite behind a shared goal”, said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “This is a celebration of the power of Pacific leadership and the impact of sustained investment in health. WHO congratulates Fiji and is committed to supporting countries across the Region in advancing health for all so that no one is left behind.”
Trachoma was once a significant public health problem in Fiji, with medical reports from the 1930s and community-based surveys in the 1950s documenting widespread disease and risk of blindness. By the 1980s, the condition had declined markedly, with cataract and refractive error emerging as the main causes of vision loss.
Concern however was renewed in the 2000s, when rapid assessments suggested high levels of active trachoma in children, prompting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to launch a comprehensive programme to better understand the situation and take necessary action.
Since 2012, Fiji has undertaken a series of robust, internationally supported surveys and studies, including population-based prevalence surveys and laboratory testing, to understand the local epidemiology of trachoma and distinguish it from other causes of eye disease. This sustained effort, integrated with school health, water and sanitation initiatives, and community awareness programmes, has confirmed that trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Fiji and that systems are in place to identify and manage future cases.
“Fiji’s elimination of trachoma is a defining moment for health equity in the Pacific,” said Honourable Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu, Minister of Health and Medical Services of Fiji. “This achievement reflects years of coordinated action – across villages, health facilities and regional platforms – demonstrating unwavering commitment of our health- care workers, communities leading the change. As we celebrate this milestone, we call on our donors and partners in the Pacific and beyond to continue supporting accelerated action of neglected tropical diseases to address other diseases not only in Fiji, but across the Pacific”.
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of diseases and conditions associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. They are mainly prevalent mostly among impoverished communities in tropical areas. WHO estimates that NTDs affect more than 1 billion people.
The targets included in the Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 cover the prevention, control, elimination and eradication of 20 diseases and disease groups by 2030.
Since 2016, 13 Member States in the Western Pacific Region, which covers 38 countries and areas, have been validated by WHO for eliminating at least one NTD. Of these, six (Cambodia, China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Viet Nam) have successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Trachoma elimination is part of broader progress on NTDs in Fiji and the rest of the Western Pacific Region.
WHO continues to support countries in their efforts to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring healthier lives for all, particularly the most disadvantaged.
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https://www.afro.who.int/news/last-ebola-patient-democratic-republic-congo-discharged
19 October 2025 / Bulape – The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was discharged today, marking an important milestone in the efforts to end the outbreak. The recovery kicks off a 42-day countdown to declaring the outbreak over if no further cases are confirmed.
A total of 19 patients have recovered from the disease. No new cases have been reported since 25 September. In total, 64 cases (53 confirmed and 11 probable) have been reported since the outbreak was declared on 4 September in Bulape health zone, in Kasai Province.
The outbreak occurred in a rural and hard-to-reach locality. Despite the challenges of distance, poor roads, and limited infrastructure, the Ministry of Health, with strong support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, acted swiftly to scale up outbreak response measures.
WHO deployed multidisciplinary teams to strengthen surveillance, clinical care, infection prevention and control, logistics, community engagement and other key response measures. A 32-bed Ebola treatment centre, fitted with a two-bed Intensive Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IIDTM), was set up in record time, the first deployment of its kind outside a simulation exercise setting in the region. Additionally, more than 35 000 people have been vaccinated against Ebola in Bulape.
“The recovery of the last patient just six weeks after the outbreak was declared is a remarkable achievement that shows how strong partnership, national expertise and determination have contributed to overcoming challenges to save and protect lives,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa
WHO and partners remain on the ground, working closely with government to ensure measures are maintained to swiftly detect and respond to any cases as the country counts down to the end of the outbreak.
If no new cases are detected, the outbreak will be declared over in early December 2025.
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B-roll on Ebola treatment centre
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14 October 2025 -- Geneva, Seoul -- The World Health Organization (WHO) today warns that less than one in three countries around the world has a national policy to address the growing burden of neurological disorders, responsible for over 11 million deaths globally each year. The WHO’s new Global status report on neurology released today shows that neurological conditions now affect more than 40% of the global population – over 3 billion people.
The top 10 neurological conditions contributing to death and disability as of 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, idiopathic epilepsy, neurological complications linked to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorders, and cancers of the nervous systems.
Low-income countries have more than 80 times fewer neurologists compared to high-income nations despite the high burden of these diseases. Many low- and middle-income countries lack national plans, budgets and workforce. WHO is calling for urgent, evidence-based and coordinated global action to prioritize brain health and expand neurological care.
“With more than 1 in 3 people in the world living with conditions affecting their brain we must do all we can to improve the health care they need,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General, Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control. “Many of these neurological conditions can be prevented or effectively treated, yet services remain out of reach for most – especially in rural and underserved areas – where people too often face stigma, social exclusion and financial hardship. We must work together to ensure we put patients and their families first and that brain health is prioritized and properly invested in.”
The first-of-its-kind report highlights that only 53% of WHO Member States (102 countries out of 194) contributed to this report – an indicator of the limited attention given to neurology. Just 32% of Member States (63 countries) have a national policy addressing neurological disorders, and only 18% (34 countries) report having dedicated funding to address them.
Without strong policy frameworks, health systems remain fragmented, under-resourced and ill-equipped to meet the needs of patients and families. While public awareness-raising campaigns and advocacy efforts are making progress, there is still significant room to strengthen them – reducing stigma, accelerating reform, and ensuring millions receive the care, and recognition they deserve.
Essential services are out of reach for most people. Only 25% of Member States (49 countries) include neurological disorders in their universal health coverage benefit packages. Critical services such as stroke units, pediatric neurology, rehabilitation, and palliative care are frequently lacking or concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural and underserved populations without access to lifesaving and life-sustaining care.
The report reveals a severe lack of qualified health professionals, with low-income countries facing up to 82 times fewer neurologists per 100 000 people compared to high-income nations. This shortage means that for many patients, timely diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care are simply out of reach.
Neurological conditions often require lifelong care. Yet only 46 Member States offer carer services and just 44 Member States have legal protections in place for carers. As a result, informal carers – most often women – are left without recognition or support, reinforcing social inequities and placing a significant financial strain on families.
Weak health information systems and chronic underfunding of research – particularly in low- and middle-income countries – limit evidence-based decision-making and prevent the design of effective policies on neurological disorders.
In response to these growing public health challenges, Member States adopted the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in 2022 to reduce the burden and impact of neurological conditions.
The action plan provides countries with a roadmap to strengthen policy prioritization, ensure timely and effective care including health promotion and disease prevention, improve data systems, and engage people with lived experience in shaping more inclusive policies and services.
Without action, the burden of neurological disorders will continue to rise, deepening global health inequalities. WHO urges governments to:
Increased commitment to preparedness and investment in primary health care and risk monitoring essential to protect world from pandemics and other health emergencies
13 October 2025 -- Berlin/Geneva -- A new global report launched today outlines preparedness priorities to protect people worldwide from future pandemics and other health crises; it calls for scaled up investment in primary health care, real-time risk assessment, and international cooperation to ensure local and global communities are ready to prevent and respond to the next pandemic.
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) released its 2025 report, ‘The New Face of Pandemic Preparedness,’ during the World Health Summit held in Berlin. It calls for a transformative shift in pandemic preparedness.
The GPMB, established in 2018 following the West Africa Ebola epidemic, monitors the state of the world’s preparedness for pandemics and other health crises. It is an initiative supported by the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
“In our increasingly volatile and uncertain world, real preparedness for pandemics and other health emergencies must be anchored in well-functioning and well financed primary health care systems,” said Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, GPMB Co-Chair and former President of Croatia. “Robust primary health systems reach deep into communities, providing essential health services in peacetime and building the deep trust that is fundamental to an effective health response when crises strike.”
Five years after the onset of COVID-19, the world is still grappling with its aftermath. Meanwhile, significant technological and geopolitical changes present both opportunities and challenges to global health security. Technological advances in data analytics, the means to develop new vaccines and treatments quickly, and the adoption of a generational Pandemic Agreement are all positive developments. On the other hand, the explosion of misinformation, growing mistrust and divisive geopolitical forces weaken preparedness.
In this context, the GPMB in its latest report urges governments and institutions to adopt a paradigm shift to reset the global health architecture for pandemic preparedness, focusing on 3 actions: care, measure and cooperate.
“Pandemics are multidimensional shocks that demand coordinated, multisectoral responses,” said Joy Phumaphi, GPMB Co-Chair and former Minister of Health of Botswana. “Although there will be other pandemics, they will be different from pandemics of the past, and our preparedness needs to keep up with these changes. We must move beyond fragmented efforts and embrace cooperation and innovation as cornerstones of preparedness.”
A shift in “care” is needed to strengthen frontline systems through investments in primary health care, closer engagement with communities, and a protected health workforce.
In terms of “measurement,” the report calls for the establishment of a comprehensive pandemic risk monitoring system that tracks threats, vulnerabilities and preparedness in real time, integrating health, social, economic and environmental data into clear signals for leaders.
On “cooperation,” the report highlights the importance of a global health architecture based on the principles of solidarity and equity, and encourages the ratification, implementation and financing of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, with a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, alongside the continued implementation of the strengthened International Health Regulations, to support the timely and fair sharing of samples, data and medical products.
2026 will be a pivotal year for pandemic preparedness. In the lead-up to the United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, the GPMB will work closely with its co-conveners, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, to ensure these calls for action are implemented and that the HLM agrees concrete steps toward stronger global preparedness.
The 2025 report draws on the GPMB Monitoring Framework, published in 2023 after two years of development and consultation. The framework takes a multisectoral perspective and features 90 indicators grouped into three dimensions: Risk; Prevention, Preparedness and Resilience; and Impact. This year’s report focuses on the Impact dimension, highlighting the need to realign preparedness efforts to meet future challenges.
The 2025 GPMB report is launching today at the 16th World Health Summit in Berlin.
The report is available on the GPMB website.
Geneva, 13 October 2025
This WHO Medical Product Alert refers to three substandard (contaminated) oral liquid medicines identified in India and reported to WHO on 8 October 2025.
The affected products are oral liquid medicines containing active ingredients commonly used to relieve symptoms of the common cold, flu, or cough.
On 8 October the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India reported to WHO the presence of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in at least three oral liquid medicines. This followed information identified by WHO on 30 September 2025 of localized clusters of acute illness and child fatalities in India. CDSCO informed WHO that the contaminated products were reportedly consumed by the affected children.
The contaminated oral liquid medicines have been identified to be specific batches of COLDRIF, Respifresh TR and ReLife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma.
CDSCO has confirmed that relevant state authorities have ordered an immediate halt to production at implicated manufacturing sites and have suspended product authorizations. In addition, a recall of the contaminated products has been initiated by relevant state authorities.
The CDSCO has informed WHO that none of the contaminated medicines have been exported from India and there is currently no evidence of illegal export. Nevertheless, WHO encourages National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to consider targeted market surveillance, with particular attention to informal and unregulated supply chains where products may circulate undetected. NRAs are also advised to carefully evaluate the risks associated with any oral liquid medicines originating from the same manufacturing sites—particularly those produced since December 2024.
WHO continues to collaborate closely with Indian health authorities to monitor the situation, identify the source of the contamination and mitigate any potential public health risks.
The products identified in this alert are considered substandard as they fail to meet their quality standards and their specifications.
How to identify these substandard (contaminated) products
See annex below with list of affected batches.
These contaminated products pose significant risks to patients and can cause severe and potentially life-threatening illness. Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. The contaminated oral liquid medicines referenced in this alert are unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.
To protect patients, it is essential to detect and remove these contaminated products from circulation.
Health-care professionals should report the detection of these substandard products and any incident of adverse effects, or lack of expected effects to their National Regulatory Authorities or National Pharmacovigilance Centre. WHO advises increased surveillance and diligence within the supply chains of countries and regions likely to be affected by these substandard products. Increased surveillance of the informal/unregulated market is also advised.
National regulatory authorities/health authorities, and law enforcement authorities are advised to immediately notify WHO if these products are detected in their country.
If you are in possession of any of these products, WHO recommends that you do not use them. If you, or someone you know, has, or may have, used these products, or suffered an adverse event or unexpected side-effect after use, seek immediate medical advice from a health-care professional or contact a poisons control centre.
All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. If you have any information about the manufacture or supply of these products, please contact WHO via rapidalert@who.int
Berlin- 13 October 2025 -- Today, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with key partners and supporters, launched version 2.0 of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, used globally for the early detection of public health threats. Since its development in 2017, the initiative has grown steadily and is now being used by more than 110 Member States and around 30 organizations and networks around the world.
The update incorporates new data sources and improved functionalities, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Hosted at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, EIOS is the world’s leading initiative for open-source intelligence for public health decision-making. It helps public health teams detect and respond to potential threats daily by analyzing large volumes of publicly available information in near real time.
“Today, we are not just celebrating the launch of a new version of a system, we are entering a new phase in how the world collaborates, innovates and responds to health threats,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. “EIOS system version 2.0 is our bridge to the future: more open, more agile and more inclusive.”
Recent health emergencies, such as the COVID‑19 pandemic, and the mpox and avian influenza outbreaks, have demonstrated how critical early detection is to prevent outbreaks from escalating into global crises. With version 2.0, public health experts around the globe are now better equipped to quickly identify new health threats and monitor ongoing events, whether they are linked to conflict, climate change, or new and re-emerging pathogens.
Version 2.0 is the most significant upgrade to the custom-built technology and includes several new features:
WHO offers the EIOS system as a public good, free of charge to its Member States and eligible organizations and supports them with training and communities of practice. Ministries of Health and public health agencies use the EIOS system to complement information they receive through formal channels, such as laboratories and hospitals. The EIOS system enables them to identify relevant content from websites, social media and other public sources to identify important health events, which authorities can then verify and assess.
The new version was officially launched at the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, alongside long-standing partners including the German Government and the European Commission, and its key collaborating services, namely the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), innovation and development collaborators and members of the initiative’s global Community of Practice, among many others.
"Better data – better analytics – better decisions, we are excited to launch EIOS 2.0 at the WHO Hub Berlin. This will mark a milestone to accelerate the detection, analysis and response to health threats,” said Nina Warken, Germany’s Federal Minister of Health. “Since reliable data and transparent political decision processes are key to build public trust in emergency situations, we are pleased to strengthen the EIOS Initiative and the capacities of the WHO Hub in Berlin."
“In today’s health security landscape, collaboration is key for effective preparedness and response. Detecting public health threats early is essential to prevent new and emerging diseases from becoming endemic, or escalating into a pandemic,” said Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality. “The EU is proud to work closely with WHO to strengthen its public health intelligence system, improve resilience and enhance readiness. Together, we are building a safer, more connected and better prepared global health community.”
To support Member States and organizations during the roll-out of version 2.0, updated guides, multilingual webinars and help clinics have been made available, along with an online training course developed in collaboration with the WHO Academy.
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Geneva - 13 October 2025 -- In a landmark public health achievement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has validated the Maldives for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of hepatitis B, while maintaining its earlier validation (in 2019) for EMTCT of HIV and syphilis. This makes the Maldives the first country in the world to achieve ‘triple elimination’.
"Maldives has shown that with strong political will and sustained investment in maternal and child health, elimination of mother-to-child transmission of these deadly diseases, and the suffering they bring, is possible,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This historic milestone provides hope and inspiration for countries everywhere working towards the same goal.”
Mother-to-child transmission leads to infections that affect millions worldwide. In the WHO South-East Asia Region alone, provisional estimates indicate that in 2024, more than 23 000 pregnant women had syphilis and over 8000 infants were born with congenital syphilis. About 25 000 HIV-positive pregnant women required treatment to prevent transmission to their babies, while hepatitis B continues to affect more than 42 million people in the Region.
“Maldives’ achievement is a testament to its unwavering commitment towards universal health coverage, to provide quality and equitable care across its dispersed islands to all, including migrants.” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office. “This landmark feat is an important step towards ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,’ for improving maternal and newborn health by ending preventable deaths and prioritizing long-term well-being. I congratulate Maldives and look forward to the country pioneering progress in many other areas, while sustaining these gains.”
Integrated care, universal health coverage and partnerships drive historic success
Over years, Maldives has built an integrated and comprehensive approach to maternal and child health. More than 95% of pregnant women receive antenatal care, with nearly universal testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. The country also has a strong immunization system, with over 95% of newborns consistently receiving a timely dose of hepatitis B birth dose and full vaccine coverage, protecting infants from lifelong infection. As a result, no babies were born with HIV or syphilis in 2022 and 2023, while a 2023 national survey confirmed zero hepatitis B among young children (first grade of school), surpassing elimination targets. These achievements are backed by universal health coverage, which guarantees free antenatal care, vaccines and diagnostic services for all residents, including migrants, supported by strong policies and investment of over 10% of GDP in health.
"This historic validation is a moment of immense pride for the Maldives and a reflection of our nation’s steadfast commitment to protecting mothers, children and future generations,” said H.E Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health, Maldives. “Achieving triple elimination is not only a milestone for our health sector, but also a pledge by the Government to our people that we will continue to invest in resilient, equitable and high-quality health services that leave no one behind."
This milestone reflects strong partnerships between government, private health providers, civil society, and international partners, working together on screening, services, outreach, and technical support.
"The Maldives’ triple elimination stands as a powerful example of how sustained investment in health systems, innovation, and community-based care can change the trajectory of public health, said Ms Payden, WHO Representative to Maldives. “WHO is proud to have partnered with the Government of Maldives and will continue to provide technical support to sustain this achievement and ensure that every child across all the islands have a healthy future."
Sustaining progress for the future
Maldives will continue to strengthen its health system by integrating digital health information, expanding targeted interventions for key populations and migrants, enhancing private sector engagement and reporting and improving laboratory quality management. WHO will support Maldives to ensure sustained elimination efforts to advance progress for broader maternal, child and adolescent health goals.
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Geneva - 13 October 2025 --
One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report launched today. Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance rose in over 40% of the pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual increase of 5–15%.
Data reported to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) from over 100 countries cautions that increasing resistance to essential antibiotics poses a growing threat to global health.
The new Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report 2025 presents, for the first time, resistance prevalence estimates across 22 antibiotics used to treat infections of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, the bloodstream and those used to treat gonorrhoea. The report covers 8 common bacterial pathogens – Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, non-typhoidal Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae –each linked to one or more of these infections.
WHO estimates that antibiotic resistance is highest in the WHO South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean Regions, where 1 in 3 reported infections were resistant. In the African Region, 1 in 5 infections was resistant. Resistance is also more common and worsening in places where health systems lack capacity to diagnose or treat bacterial pathogens.
“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “As countries strengthen their AMR surveillance systems, we must use antibiotics responsibly, and make sure everyone has access to the right medicines, quality-assured diagnostics, and vaccines. Our future also depends on strengthening systems to prevent, diagnose and treat infections and on innovating with next-generation antibiotics and rapid point-of-care molecular tests.”
The new report notes that drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are becoming more dangerous worldwide, with the greatest burden falling on countries least equipped to respond. Among these, E. coli and K. pneumoniae are the leading drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria found in bloodstream infections. These are among the most severe bacterial infections that often result in sepsis, organ failure, and death. Yet more than 40% of E. coli and over 55% of K. pneumoniae globally are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, the first-choice treatment for these infections. In the African Region, resistance even exceeds 70%.
Other essential life-saving antibiotics, including carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are losing effectiveness against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter. Carbapenem resistance, once rare, is becoming more frequent, narrowing treatment options and forcing reliance on last-resort antibiotics. And such antibiotics are costly, difficult to access, and often unavailable in low- and middle-income countries.
Country participation in GLASS has increased over four-fold, from 25 countries in 2016 to 104 countries in 2023. However, 48% of countries did not report data to GLASS in 2023 and about half of the reporting countries still lacked the systems to generate reliable data. In fact, countries facing the largest challenges lacked the surveillance capacity to assess their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) situation.
The political declaration on AMR adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 set targets to address AMR through strengthening health systems and working with a ‘One Health’ approach coordinating across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. To combat the growing challenge of AMR, countries must commit to strengthening laboratory systems and generating reliable surveillance data, especially from underserved areas, to inform treatments and policies.
WHO calls on all countries to report high-quality data on AMR and antimicrobial use to GLASS by 2030. Achieving this target will require concerted action to strengthen the quality, geographic coverage, and sharing of AMR surveillance data to track progress. Countries should scale up coordinated interventions designed to address antimicrobial resistance across all levels of healthcare and ensure that treatment guidelines and essential medicines lists align with local resistance patterns.
The report is accompanied by expanded digital content available in the WHO’s GLASS dashboard, which provides global and regional summaries, country profiles based on unadjusted surveillance coverage and AMR data, and detailed information on antimicrobial use.
The External Situation Report N°04 on the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was issued on 7 October, and contains data as reported on 5 October 2025.
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) shows signs of containment, with no new confirmed or probable cases reported since our last update (Situation Report #3). However, one death, a 3-week-old neonate, was reported among hospitalized confirmed cases. As of 5 October 2025, ten days have passed without any newly reported cases (Figure 1), indicating potential control of transmission in the affected areas. The most recent cases were reported from Bulape and Dikolo Health Areas on 26 September 2025, while other previously affected health areas within Bulape Health Zone have not reported new cases for more than one to three weeks. These include Ingongo (24 days), Bulape Communautaire (17 days), Bambalaie (16 days), and Mpianga (13 days).
A total of 1,985 contacts remain under follow-up, of whom 98.6% (n=1 957) were seen on 5 October 2025. Over the past week, six patients have been treated and discharged from the Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC), bringing the total number of recoveries to 15 since the onset of the outbreak. Six confirmed cases remain hospitalized and are receiving clinical care. If no new cases are reported, the country will commence the 42-day countdown to declare the end of the outbreak, once the remaining patients are discharged.
Cumulatively, 64 cases (53 confirmed and 11 probable), including 43 deaths (32 confirmed, 11 probable) have been reported from six affected health areas in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo since the onset of the outbreak. The crude case fatality ratio (CFR) is 67.2%. There have been five cases among health workers (four nurses and one laboratory technician), three of whom have died. The epicentres of the outbreak have been in Dikolo (26 cases, 15 deaths) and Bulape (24 cases, 20 deaths) Health Areas, which together account for 78.1% of the total cases reported and 81.4% of all deaths.