WHO advances Geneva One Health push

The World Health Assembly in Geneva spent May 21 on the mechanics of pandemic preparedness: implementation, financing, surveillance and the systems needed before the next cross-border outbreak. At the same meeting, Chinese state media and allied public-health groups promoted the “Geneva Principles for One Health,” a framework presented as a way to turn broad commitments on human, animal and environmental health into operational prevention. The push comes as two active outbreaks are being cited by health officials and preparedness advocates as evidence that the gaps are not theoretical. WHO has described a multi-country hantavirus cluster linked to cruise travel, and the agency on May 17 determined that the Bundibugyo Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constituted a public health emergency of international concern. (who.int) ### What is WHO actually debating in Geneva this week? The 79th World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva from May 18 to May 23, according to WHO. The assembly’s agenda includes the pandemic agreement, implementation of the International Health Regulations, WHO’s work in health emergencies and financing for the 2026-2027 programme budget. WHO’s May 21 daily update said member states were discussing a range of health-security items alongside other public-health business. (who.int) A related WHO update earlier in the week said the assembly decided to continue drafting and negotiating the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex under the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. ### What are the “Geneva Principles for One Health”? (who.int) The “Geneva Principles for One Health Implementation” were adopted at a May 19 side event during the assembly, according to the World Federation of Public Health Associations. CGTN said the initiative was framed by Chinese experts and commentators as a way to move from pledges to action against pandemics through a One Health approach. WHO defines One Health as an integrated approach linking the health of people, animals and ecosystems. (who.int) In practice, that means prevention work built around surveillance, information-sharing and cross-sector coordination rather than emergency response alone. ### Why are hantavirus and Bundibugyo Ebola being cited together? Helen Clark, the former New Zealand prime minister and co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, said this week that the hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks show the world is still lagging in risk preparedness even if crisis response has improved since COVID-19. (wfpha.org) WHO’s disease-outbreak notice on the hantavirus cluster said seven cases had been identified as of May 4, including two laboratory-confirmed cases and three deaths among passengers and crew linked to a cruise ship. (who.int) WHO said on May 17 that confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola cases had been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including cases in Kampala linked to travel from Congo. The agency said the determination of a public health emergency of international concern was based on the risk to human health and the risk of international spread. (france24.com) ### Why is the Bundibugyo strain drawing so much concern? Infection Control Today reported that the Bundibugyo outbreak is especially difficult because there is no licensed vaccine and no approved treatment for that strain. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said there are also no late-stage vaccines that could be readily deployed, leaving responders to rely on classical public-health controls and supportive care. (who.int) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Bundibugyo Ebola was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and that previous outbreaks have shown mortality rates of about 25% to 50%. BMJ reported this week that the current outbreak had produced more than 300 suspected cases and 100 deaths cited by health officials. ### What is Zambia doing in response? Lusaka-based preparedness work is already moving from policy language to field systems. (infectioncontroltoday.com) WHO’s Africa office said on May 21 that Zambia is strengthening readiness through investments in surveillance, digital tools and pandemic planning as neighboring Congo and Uganda respond to Ebola outbreaks. WHO’s Africa office said Zambia has recently scaled up capacity-building on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, Go.Data and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness. (cdc.gov) The same update said the effort is aimed at earlier detection, stronger contact tracing and better preparedness at points where outbreaks can spread across borders. The next public marker is May 23, when the 79th World Health Assembly is scheduled to conclude in Geneva. (afro.who.int) WHO’s assembly page says daily updates, documents and webcast proceedings are being posted as delegates continue work on the pandemic agreement and related emergency-preparedness items. (who.int)