World Health Network

Bringing people, science, and compassion together to solve world problems and protect health. Let's #EndThisPandemic together.

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

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[World Health Network @TheWHN]

WHN’s Kids’ Zone Magazine is a free, downloadable issue packed with kid-friendly stories, art, science, and COVID-conscious lifestyle ideas made for families who are still choosing care.

Download the latest issue for free + explore past editions anytime: https://t.co/vcxcfIYD8K

#PublicHealth #COVID #COVID19 #COVIDConscious

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Join WHN tomorrow, June 2nd 12-1 PM ET for an important discussion on the current Ebola outbreak, featuring insights from Stephane Bilodeau and Yaneer Bar-Yam.

Register here: https://t.co/IuC4MNEJIQ

#Ebola #EbolaVirus #PublicHealth #InfectionPrevention #DiseasePrevention

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Ebola is not a disease that should be chased around the world after it spreads.

Once transmission enters the global transportation network, it can move to anywhere and from there everywhere. Effective management means acting before that happens.

WHN paper:
https://t.co/NIt3yKd33D

#Ebola #PublicHealth #OutbreakResponse #GlobalHealth #DiseasePrevention #InfectionPrevention

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

What is Mask Week?

From May 25 to 31, Mask Week is a collective effort to normalize masking in shared spaces and encourage people to mask up as often as possible to help protect themselves and others.

It’s also a chance to build solidarity, connect with community, inspire local action, and strengthen practices of collective care.

Every Mask Week may look different from place to place, but the message is the same: consistent masking helps keep communities safer.

Masking matters year-round, and Mask Week is meant to help strengthen habits of everyday community protection and care.

Share this graphic to help spread the word about Mask Week and encourage everyday community care through masking.

#MaskWeek #Masking #MaskUp #N95 #PublicHealth #CommunityHealth

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Scientists and clinicians studying the current Andes hantavirus outbreak warn that several factors may increase transmission risk, including unclear timing of infectiousness, possible spread before symptoms appear, unreliable early PCR testing, and incubation periods that may extend beyond 45 days.

In this new editorial, the WHN Science Communications team reviews what is currently known about the outbreak, lessons from prior Argentine outbreaks, the role of quarantine and respiratory protection, and why international coordination and clear public communication matter as the situation evolves.

Read the full article:
https://t.co/IcrFhXgU3g

#Hantavirus #AndesHantavirus #PublicHealth #HealthEducation #GlobalHealth #InfectionPrevention

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

As the Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship expands across multiple countries, researchers are warning that airborne transmission must be taken seriously.

Current guidance in some settings still recommends medical masks, despite respirators such as N95, FFP2, and FFP3 masks being specifically designed to protect against airborne infectious particles. Medical masks are not designed to provide the same level of airborne protection.

With documented person-to-person transmission, uncertain infectious timing, and long incubation periods, the World Health Network is calling for stronger airborne precautions, including universal respirator use and clearer public communication around airborne risk.

Read the full piece here: https://t.co/IcrFhXgU3g

#AndesHantavirus #Hantavirus #PublicHealth #Respirators #CleanAir #AirborneProtection

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Argentine Context for the MV Hondius Outbreak

Andes hantavirus cases are increasing in Argentina, with reported spread expanding beyond historically isolated rural regions into more populated areas including Buenos Aires Province.

Researchers are warning that increasing transmission in denser and more globally connected regions could raise the risk of larger outbreaks and wider international spread. Andes virus is also the only hantavirus strain with documented person-to-person transmission.

The article also examines:
• Rising case numbers and mortality trends
• The historical Epuyén superspreader outbreak
• The MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak
• Why experts are concerned about spread through modern travel networks

Read the full article here: https://t.co/c7ZkxKltQe

#Hantavirus #AndesHantavirus #PublicHealth #MVHondius #GlobalHealth #InfectionPrevention

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

This animation traces the 45-day voyage of the expedition cruise ship M/V Hondius from Ushuaia, Argentina to the English Channel (1 Apr – 15 May 2026), during which an outbreak of Andes hantavirus was identified on board.

Watch the outbreak timeline and tracking animation here:
https://t.co/mXfyJU0k5a

Because the outbreak investigation is ongoing and publicly available information remains incomplete and rapidly evolving, some details may later change as additional reporting and updates emerge.

Corrections or additional sourced information may be sent to [email protected].

#Hantavirus #AndesHantavirus #PublicHealth

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

The Andes hantavirus outbreak is raising urgent public health questions.

In this WHN Town Hall clip, experts discuss airborne transmission risks, why respirators matter, and where current guidance may be falling short as the international situation evolves.

Watch the full discussion:
https://t.co/P2KvGEv97D

#Hantavirus #AndesVirus #AndesHantavirus #PublicHealth #InfectionPrevention

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Join us tomorrow for a special WHN Town Hall featuring Eric Feigl-Ding and Barry Hunt as they discuss current public health developments, ongoing global risks, and the importance of prevention in 2026.

📅 Tuesday, May 12
⏰ 12–1 PM EDT

Register for the Zoom Town Hall here: https://t.co/LFBiSSWNAC

#Hantavirus #PublicHealth #InfectionPrevention #GlobalHealth

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Andes hantavirus has documented human-to-human transmission, yet current WHO guidance still does not recommend airborne precautions or respirator use (such as N95s).

WHN has issued an open letter urging stronger protections for healthcare workers, passengers, and the public, including clearer guidance on airborne risk, respirator use, and prevention measures.

Read the full open letter: https://t.co/gHoupt0W6O

#Hantavirus #AndesHantavirus #PublicHealth #InfectionPrevention

[Yaneer Bar-Yam @yaneerbaryam]

The Andes virus outbreak associated with the MV Hondius should be treated with urgency now, before transmission chains become established internationally. 1/

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

It’s a question more and more people are asking. Constant colds. Lingering coughs. Getting sick again just weeks later. Feeling like your body never fully resets.

This isn’t just “seasonal illness” anymore. Multiple airborne viruses continue to circulate year-round, while many indoor spaces still lack clean, well-ventilated air. Repeated infections can take a toll on the immune system and increase the risk of long-term health impacts, including Long COVID.

The good news: cleaner indoor air, better ventilation, filtration, testing, and masking in crowded spaces can meaningfully reduce risk. Awareness matters. Prevention still matters.

#InfectionPrevention #PublicHealth #LongCOVID #COVID #COVID19 #AirborneVirus

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Dizziness, vertigo, balance problems, feeling unsteady for no clear reason. These are real and increasingly documented symptoms many people experience after COVID-19 infection.

Research shows COVID-19 can affect the inner ear and vestibular system, potentially leading to long-lasting symptoms that continue months or even years later for some patients.

Read the full article to learn more about the connection between COVID-19 and vestibular dysfunction: https://t.co/bMIz7nFyep

#COVID #COVID19 #LongCOVID #PublicHealth #COVIDIsNotOver #LongCOVIDAwareness

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

WHN’s Kids’ Zone Magazine is a free, downloadable issue packed with kid-friendly stories, art, science, and COVID-conscious lifestyle ideas made for families who are still choosing care.

Download the latest issue for free + explore past editions anytime: https://t.co/vcxcfIY5jc

#PublicHealth #COVID #COVID19 #COVIDConscious

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Children should not have to choose between being well and receiving a good education. When students are sick — whether from acute illness, Long COVID, or other chronic conditions — rigid attendance policies can undermine both their health and their ability to learn.

Flexible approaches like remote participation, hybrid learning, and asynchronous work help students stay engaged without worsening illness or increasing the risk of spreading disease. When thoughtfully implemented, these tools support continuity, inclusion, and better outcomes for students and their communities.

Read the full article:
https://t.co/KmZBzXoj2Y

#LongCOVID #COVID19 #COVID #PublicHealth #HealthEducation #Education #EducationSystem

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

COVID hasn’t gone away. It’s still causing infections, long-term health damage, and death in 2026 — but protection works, and it’s not too late to start. Read the full update: https://t.co/aePdRRnKaH

#COVID19 #COVID #LongCOVID #COVIDIsNotOver #COVIDPandemic #PublicHealth #InfectionPrevention #CleanAir #Masking #MaskUP

[World Health Network @TheWHN]

Living with Long COVID means your body stops playing by the rules you’ve known your whole life. Weakness, instability, and sudden loss of strength aren’t “just fatigue” or something you can push through, they’re the result of real, measurable damage happening at a physiological level.

For many patients, even basic tasks can trigger muscle failure, trembling, or collapse — and pushing through often makes things worse, not better.

Read the full article by Becky Ancira Robertson on our website: https://t.co/bMIz7nFyep

#LongCOVID #LongCOVIDAwareness #COVID #COVID19 #PublicHealth

[Yaneer Bar-Yam @yaneerbaryam]

"A huge problem"
"The economy is suffering from the consequences of post-infectious diseases such as Long Covid and ME/CFS. New figures show how much costs have risen. Many affected people will never be able to work again."

https://t.co/MipGcVuwyZ

[Yaneer Bar-Yam @yaneerbaryam]

"We want medications for our lungs, our hearts, our stomachs, our immune systems, our brains — damaged by the Covid virus." "Real care, not cognitive behavioral therapy. Not meditation."
France, this week. At a psychologists' conference, Long Covid patients refused to be ignored. Grabbed. Pushed. Still speaking.
The full statement ⬇️ Translation: @GreeneWendy