Designed to be administered by minimally trained workers, it would simplify storage, distribution, and disposal compared with conventional vaccines.
The team documented how experts mistakenly thought the epidemic in West Africa had been halted last year, but the outbreak continued and has claimed more than 10,700 lives in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
The African CDC will be a public health institute supporting the whole continent of Africa
The plan's goal is to achieve major reductions in MRSA and some other threats by 2020.
There were 9,412 new cases reported during 2014, with an incidence rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 persons. This was the smallest percentage decrease in a decade.
A final industry guidance is aimed at helping device manufacturers develop safer reusable devices.
"There has been massive mobilization on the part of the affected countries and all partners to accelerate the development and availability of proven interventions. If a vaccine is found effective, it will be the first preventive tool against Ebola in history," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.
The agency posted an update titled "warning signals from the volatile world of influenza viruses." It said the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic.
Syringes without safety features cost 3 to 4 cents apiece when procured by a UN agency for a developing country. "Smart" syringes cost at least twice that much. WHO called on donors to support the transition to these devices, anticipating that prices will decline over time as demand increases.
The transit agency said some riders may have been exposed because a Contra Costa County resident with measles commuted from home to work in San Francisco while infectious last week.
Blake Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers' leading scorer, will undergo surgery Feb. 9 in Los Angeles to remove a staph infection in his right elbow, the team announced Feb. 8.
The Arizona Department of Health Services' director issued a call to action Jan. 28, asking all Arizonans to be up to date on their vaccinations. He reported more than 1,000 contacts have been identified for the seven measles cases in Arizona as of that date.
Dr. Margaret Chan said "well-functioning health systems are the cushion that keeps sudden shocks from reverberating throughout the fabric that holds societies together, ripping them apart."
CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reported this season's vaccine offers reduced protection, which underscores the need for additional prevention and treatment efforts this season, including the use of influenza antiviral medications.
Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny said Jan. 9 that the two vaccines have undergone Phase 1 testing and have an acceptable safety profile.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed arrived in Accra, Ghana, on Jan. 3 as the newly appointed Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and begins work this week as head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response.
2014 was a year of landmark decisions, calls to action, and unpredictable challenges to overcome. Here are a few of the biggest topics and headlines from the past year.
CDC announced U.S. reports of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths are elevated.
The organization's Tentative Interim Amendment would revise its Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations in order to better protect first responders from the Ebola virus.
The agency's Climate Change Occupational Safety and Health Work Group is working to determine OSH issues, identify gaps in worker protection, and make recommendations for safety and health improvements.