Most passengers and crew of the MV Hondius successfully disembarked today. Grateful to Ministers @monicagarciag.bsky.social, Fernando Grande-Marlaska and @avtorresp.bsky.social, their teams, and the whole government of 🇪🇸 for their leadership and technical excellence shown throughout this operation.

I just spoke with Dr Freddy Banza, the @who.int staff still on board of MV Hondius, and captain Jan Dobrogowski to get the latest updates. I used the opportunity to express my appreciation @ecdc.europa.eu and the Dutch medical teams on board. #hantavirus

LIVE from Tenerife: Media briefing on disembarkation of passengers and crew from MV Hondius #Hantavirus www.youtube.com/live/iw2eyv-...

The disembarkment of the first group of MV Hondius passengers has started. @who.int experts on the ground are working with the @sanidad.gob.es on the epidemiological assessment of the passengers and coordinating charter flights with the @interior.gob.es. Together.

#Hantavirus is not COVID, and the risk to the people of Tenerife is low because of the nature of the disease and the actions of the Spanish government. 1/3

MV Hondius cruise ship has reached the shores of Tenerife. We are in the port, coordinating the next steps for the safe disemarkment of the passengers. #hantavirus

LIVE from Tenerife: Media briefing on #hantavirus www.youtube.com/live/CD1g4xy...

My deepest gratitude to you Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for #Spain’s solidarity, leadership and commitment to provide critical care and support to the passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship in the Canary Islands. 1/2

Mi más profundo agradecimiento a usted, señor Primer Ministro @sanchezcastejon, por la solidaridad de #España, su liderazgo y su compromiso de brindar atención crítica y apoyo a los pasajeros del crucero MV Hondius en las Islas Canarias. 1/2

I arrived in #Spain, where I will join senior government officials in a mission to Tenerife to oversee safe disembarkation of the passengers, crew members and health experts from MV Hondius cruise ship. 1/3

Solidarity is our best immunity.

My gratitude to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for his generosity, solidarity and for meeting his moral duty, by accepting MV Hondius cruise ship. #hantavirus

So far, 8 cases of #hantavirus have been reported, incl. 3 deaths. While this is a serious incident, @who.int assesses the public health risk as low We will continue to work with relevant govts to provide care for those affected, protect the safety of passengers & prevent onward spread of the virus

LIVE NOW: @who.int media briefing on #hantavirus: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksOT...

I am hosting a media briefing on #hantavirus today at 15:00h CEST. You can join and watch via @who.int and my social media channels across X, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Swiss authorities have confirmed a case of #hantavirus identified in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship. He had responded to an email from the ship’s operator informing the passengers of the health event, and presented himself to a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and is receiving care. 1️⃣

Three suspected #hantavirus case patients have just been evacuated from the ship and are on their way to receive medical care in the Netherlands in coordination with @who.int, the ship’s operator and national authorities from Cabo Verde, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. (1/4)

Midwives play a vital role in providing safe and good quality care for mothers and babies, yet they remain underutilized in many countries. This International Day of the #Midwife, @who.int calls on all countries to prioritise quality, continuity and respectful care for every woman and baby.

As of 4 May 2026, since 1 April when the ship set sail, there have been seven #hantavirus cases (2 confirmed and 5 suspected), including three deaths. Based on current information, @who.int assesses the risk to the global population as low and will continue to monitor and update on the situation.

@who.int has documented nearly 10 000 attacks on health care since the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2286 on health care in armed conflicts was adopted 10 years ago. This is a mark of collective failure. www.who.int/news/item/04...

Science is a powerful tool, if we choose it, and use it. This #WorldHealthDay, @who.int has a simple message: Together for Health, #StandWithScience.

As a founding member of @who.int, the United States of America has contributed significantly to many of WHO’s greatest achievements, including the eradication of smallpox. WHO has always engaged with the US, and all Member States, with full respect for their sovereignty. 1/4

The @who.int South-East Asia Region has been wild polio-free for 15 years - an achievement made possible by the dedication of govts, health workers & communities, who have worked tirelessly to ensure high vaccination coverage & vigilant surveillance from the smallest villages to the biggest cities.

I am honored to receive the African Unity Nelson Mandela Award, which I accept on behalf of my @who.int colleagues working in Africa and around the world to help people reach the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right.

To everyone celebrating Christmas, may your homes be filled with peace, and may good health, hope, and joy be with you and your loved ones. Merry Christmas!

Here in the heart of the Amazon, the lungs of the earth, we are reminded that healthy people depend on a healthy planet. I am at #COP30 Belem Summit, calling on leaders to make health a formal topic in the UN climate negotiations. Because the #ClimateCrisis is a health crisis.

Yesterday, @who.int evacuated 19 critically ill patients and 93 companions from #Gaza to #Italy for specialised medical care. We urge more countries to receive patients from Gaza, as over 16,500 people still need urgent medical care that is not available in the Strip.

The future of our world is being decided at the Belém Climate Summit. World leaders are at the table. The rainforest is listening. People around the world expect more than promises. It's time for bold #ClimateAction. #COP30

I thank Her Excellency First Lady Olena Zelenska for her leadership on #MentalHealth and for launching the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme. #Ukraine’s experience is shaping global policy, including the World Health Assembly resolution on mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies.

Next week, @who.int, @unicef.org, and @unrwa.org will begin providing routine vaccinations, nutrition screening and treatment, and growth monitoring for 44,000 children across #Gaza, who have been cut off from life-saving care for nearly two years of conflict.

Aid cuts didn't create global health financing emergency but have exposed long-standing vulnerabilities, threatening progress towards #HealthForAll. @who.int guidance provides recommendations on how to shift toward sustainable, domestically-financed & self-reliant health systems: bit.ly/4oOVVgX

Last week, @who.int evacuated five patients and five companions to the #Netherlands, for the first time. We thank 🇳🇱 and 🇪🇺 for their generosity and solidarity. We call on more countries to receive patients from #Gaza and provide them with the urgent medical care they need.

Sudden and unplanned cuts to aid have hit many countries hard, costing lives and jeopardizing hard-won health gains. Today, @who.int issued a guidance to help countries to better mobilize, allocate, prioritize and use funds to support the delivery of health services: bit.ly/47z3hOv #HealthForAll

#Sudan remains the world’s largest food crisis, with: -famine confirmed in El Fasher & Kadugli towns -20 areas across Greater Darfur & Greater Kordofan are at risk of famine -over 21 million people across the country are hungry. An immediate ceasefire & humanitarian access are a must to save lives!

Millions of people in #Sudan are cut off from health care due to the ongoing attacks on health and block of lifesaving aid.

On #WorldCitiesDay, @who.int launches a new guide for decision-makers to meet the demand for integrated urban health solutions. I call on leaders to adopt a more strategic approach to improve the health of billions of city-dwellers, & to make urban areas more livable, more just & more sustainable.

1 billion people depend on health care facilities that have no electricity. Salvatore Vinci leads @who.int's work on electrifying health care facilities with clean energy to change this. I'm glad that the TIME has recognised his work. Salvatore, you make us #ProudToBeWHO! time.com/collections/...

Climate inaction is claiming millions of lives every year, warns @thelancet.com Countdown report. As we prepare for #COP30, @who.int calls on leaders to support the Belém Health Action Plan & strengthen: -surveillance & early warning -workforce capacity -engagement with the affected communities

@who.int is appalled & shocked by reports of the killing of 460+ patients & companions at Saudi Maternity 🏥 in El Fasher, #Sudan Attacks on health MUST STOP immediately & unconditionally All patients, health personnel & facilities must be protected under International Humanitarian Law Ceasefire!

Following the attack on Saudi Maternity Hospital, #Sudan, @who.int received reports about abduction of 4 medical doctors, 1 nurse & 1 pharmacist. We call for immediate & unconditional release of the health workers, protection of health personnel & patients, humanitarian access to deliver health aid.

Unity is the basis for any success. Deeply grateful to #Mozambique's President Daniel Francisco Chapo for recognizing @who.int's efforts to unite the world around our #HealthForAll mission. Unity and peace are the answers in these turbulent times.

Congratulations, #SouthAfrica, on your rapid action to register the use of lenacapavir for prevention of #HIV, a potential game-changer for the epidemic in your country. bhekisisa.org/health-news-...

Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, Darfour, #Sudan — was attacked again yesterday. Reports say one nurse lost her life and three additional health workers have been injured. There is a communication blackout and we cannot verify further developments at and around the hospital. Ceasefire!

The 42-day countdown towards the end of the #Ebola outbreak in the #DRC started last Monday. If no further cases are confirmed, the outbreak will be declared over in early December. Meanwhile, the measures need to be maintained so that we are ready to respond to any new cases.

#Cholera is an ancient disease we know how to prevent, yet it still devastates the poorest countries. Vaccination is vital to control outbreaks, and investing in WASH is key to preventing them. President Hichilema and I urge leaders to help us expand vaccine production and end cholera for good.

Little Maria is one of the seven patients from #Gaza, who arrived in #Switzerland for specialised medical care needed to treat their injuries. They arrived with 27 companions. The patients and companions were evacuated from Gaza yesterday by @who.int. I thank 🇨🇭 for their generosity and solidarity.

A special honour to celebrate #Kazakhstan’s Republic Day with my grandchildren, sharing in their heritage through Kazakh culture and art in Geneva. Proud of their roots and the rich traditions they carry forward. Қазақстан Республикасының 35 жылдығымен құттықтаймыз!

We are on the verge of making #polio the second human disease to be consigned to history.   Decades ago, humanity bridged geopolitical and geographic borders to end smallpox. Let's do the same for polio. Let's finish the job. #WorldPolioDay