Global Health

A woman wearing a protective mask walks past a sign in a cosmetic shop window on March 17, 2020 in London, England.

Health & Safety

These are the 5 things needed to stabilize the pandemic in Europe, WHO expert says

5:30am January 18, 2022

by Wynne Davis

The omicron variant has added a lot of uncertainty to the trajectory of the pandemic. Dr. Hans Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, has what he calls five pandemic stabilizers that could help.

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Here's what's driving the lowest COVID immunization rates around the world

5:24pm January 17, 2022

by Jason Beaubien

Some countries around the globe are still struggling to get people vaccinated. Dozens of countries still haven't gotten 10% of their populations vaccinated.

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A man cries over his mother's grave in the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, on Sept. 29, 2020. Iris Gonçalves Alves died at age 54 the previous day from COVID-19, according to the information on her burial record. During the

What happens when isolation goes beyond a pandemic

8:55am January 17, 2022

Photographer Raphael Alves documented how socioeconomic issues worsen the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Amazonas, Brazil.

Health & Safety

The latest from Israel on vaccinations and the omicron surge

8:14am January 16, 2022

by Sacha Pfeiffer

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer speaks to Dr. Manfred Green of the University of Haifa about what Israel has learned about vaccinations and the new Omicron surge.

Europe braces for the omicron wave

4:31pm January 14, 2022

The World Health Organization said more than half of Europe will be infected with COVID in the coming weeks. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Dr. Hans Kluge of the WHO on what that means for the region.

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Top scientists say Africa may have reached a less threatening phase of COVID

4:31pm January 14, 2022

by Nurith Aizenman

In the United States there's lots of discussion about when the coronavirus will finally become endemic the way colds are. But African scientists say that may have already happened on their continent.

This colorized transmission electron micrograph image shows SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. This specimen was isolated from a patient in the United States. Particles of the virus (yellow) are emerging from the surface of cell

Fact check: The theory that SARS-CoV-2 is becoming milder

4:19pm January 14, 2022

by Michaeleen Doucleff

A look at the data that omicron is less severe. What does that mean for the future of SARS-CoV-2 — and the pandemic?

A world map highlighting the countries that remain below 10% fully vaccinated, mostly in Africa.

For the 36 countries with the lowest vaccination rates, supply isn't the only issue

12:42pm January 14, 2022

by Jason Beaubien

Even as wealthy countries hit 80% vaccination rates, a number of countries have not even vaccinated 1 in 10 citizens. Our interactive map shows the vaccination landscape.

Roqia Qasqari, right, who lives in Gero village in Afghanistan's Bamyan Province, inspects potatoes stored from a previous harvest. Snow was scarce over the winter, raising fears of a severe drought in 2021.

10 global crises to pay attention to in 2022, according to 'The New Humanitarian'

12:09pm January 14, 2022

by Joanne Lu

The New Humanitarian has compiled its list of the conflicts, disasters and threats to watch this year. Editor Josephine Schmidt discusses how they came up with the list.

Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic practices at Margaret Court Arena ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 13, 2022.

Djokovic faces deportation as Australia revokes visa again

3:51am January 14, 2022

by The Associated Press

Tennis star Novak Djokovic faces deportation again after the Australian government revoked his visa for a second time three days before the Australian Open is set to begin.