Vaccinate dogs to save human lives from rabies

27 September 2012 -- On World Rabies Day, 28 September, rabies experts at WHO and around the world are highlighting dog vaccination programmes as the most effective way to reduce the risk of this disease that kills around 50 000 people every year. Worldwide, dog bites are the cause of almost all human rabies’ deaths, with a much smaller number of cases occurring each year from other domestic and wild animals, including bats.

• Read the feature story on rabies
• See the rabies fact sheet

26 September 2012 -- Emergency contraception is intended for emergency use following unprotected intercourse, contraceptive failure or misuse (such as forgotten pills or torn condoms), rape or coerced sex. This recently updated fact sheet has information on when emergency contraception should be used as well as the differences in safety and effectiveness of the two WHO recommended methods of emergency contraception.

• Read the fact sheet on emergency contraception

24 September 2012 – Sierra Leone is in the midst of its worst cholera outbreak in 15 years. As of 19 September, there were more than 19 000 cases reported and 274 deaths. WHO and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation have established a cholera control and command centre to coordinate the response to what has turned into a national emergency.

• Read more about WHO's role against cholera in Sierra Leone

21 September 2012 -- Just six years ago, more than one in three adults in Turkey used tobacco products, which greatly increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory disease. But today Turkey is a success story. A new study of health professionals showing that more than 1 in 2 Turkish health managers have given up tobacco in the past 4 years, reflects what is being seen across the country.

• Read the feature story